#germany supply chain act

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The new globalism is global labor

For the rest of May, my bestselling solarpunk utopian novel THE LOST CAUSE (2023) is available as a $2.99, DRM-free ebook!

Depending on how you look at it, I either grew up in the periphery of the labor movement, or atop it, or surrounded by it. For a kid, labor issues don't really hold a lot of urgency – in places with mature labor movements, kids don't really have jobs, and the part-time jobs I had as a kid (paper route, cleaning a dance studio) were pretty benign.

Ironically, one of the reasons that labor issues barely registered for me as a kid was that my parents were in great, strong unions: Ontario teachers' unions, which protected teachers from exploitative working conditions and from retaliation when they advocated for their students, striking for better schools as well as better working conditions.

Ontario teachers' unions were strong enough that they could take the lead on workplace organization, to the benefit of teachers at every part of their careers, as well as students and the system as a whole. Back in the early 1980s, Ontario schools faced a demographic crisis. After years of declining enrollment, the number of students entering the system was rapidly increasing.

That meant that each level of the system – primary, junior, secondary – was about to go through a whipsaw, in which low numbers of students would be followed by large numbers. For a unionized education workforce, this presented a crisis: normally, a severe contraction in student numbers would trigger layoffs, on a last-in, first-out basis. That meant that layoffs loomed for junior teachers, who would almost certainly end up retraining for another career. When student numbers picked up again, those teachers wouldn't be in the workforce anymore, and worse, a lot of the senior teachers who got priority during layoffs would be retiring, magnifying the crisis.

The teachers' unions were strong, and they cared about students and teachers, both those at the start of their careers and those who'd given many years of service. They came up with an amazing solution: "self-funded sabbaticals." Teachers with a set number of years of seniority could choose to take four years at 80% salary, and get a fifth year off at 80% salary (actually, they could take their year off any time from the third year on).

This allowed Ontario to increase its workforce by about 20%, for free. Senior teachers got a year off to spend with their families, or on continuing education, or for travel. Junior teachers' jobs were protected. Students coming into the system had adequate classroom staff, in a mix of both senior and junior teachers.

This worked great for everyone, including my family. My parents both took their four-over-five year in 1983/84. They rented out our house for six months, charging enough to cover the mortgage. We flew to London, took a ferry to France, and leased a little sedan. For the next six months, we drove around Europe, visiting fourteen countries while my parents homeschooled us on the long highway stretches and in laundromats. We stayed in youth hostels and took a train to Leningrad to visit my family there. We saw Christmas Midnight Mass at the Vatican and walked around the Parthenon. We saw Guernica at the Prado. We visited a computer lab in Paris and I learned to program Logo in French. We hung out with my parents' teacher pals who were civilian educators at a Canadian Forces Base in Baden-Baden. I bought an amazing hand-carved chess set in Seville with medieval motifs that sung to my D&D playing heart. It was amazing.

No, really, it was amazing. Unions and the social contract they bargained for transformed my family's life chances. My dad came to Canada as a refugee, the son of a teen mother who'd been deeply traumatized by her civil defense service as a child during the Siege of Leningrad. My mother was the eldest child of a man who, at thirteen, had dropped out of school to support his nine brothers and sisters after the death of his father. My parents grew up to not only own a home, but to be able to take their sons on a latter-day version of the Grand Tour that was once the exclusive province of weak-chinned toffs from the uppermost of crusts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour

My parents were active in labor causes and in their unions, of course, but that was just part of their activist lives. My mother was a leader in the fight for legal abortion rights in Canada:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/8882641733

My dad was active in party politics with the New Democratic Party, and both he and my mother were deeply involved with the fight against nuclear arms proliferation, a major issue in Canada, given our role in supplying radioisotopes to the US, building key components for ICBMs, testing cruise missiles over Labrador, and our participation in NORAD.

Abortion rights and nuclear arms proliferation were my own entry into political activism. When I was 13, I organized a large contingent from my school to march on Queen's Park, the seat of the Provincial Parliament, to demand an end to Ontario's active and critical participation in the hastening of global nuclear conflagration:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/53616011737/

When I got a little older, I started helping with clinic defense and counterprotests at the Morgentaler Clinic and other sites in Toronto that provided safe access to women's health, including abortions:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/morgentaler-honoured-by-order-of-canada-federal-government-not-involved-1.716775

My teens were a period of deepening involvement in politics. It was hard work, but rewarding and fundamentally hopeful. There, in the shadow of imminent nuclear armageddon, there was a role for me to play, a way to be more than a passive passenger on a runaway train, to participate in the effort to pull the brake lever before we ran over the cliff.

In hindsight, though, I can see that even as my activism intensified, it also got harder. We struggled more to find places to meet, to find phones and computers to use, to find people who could explain how to get a permit for a demonstration or to get legal assistance for comrades in jail after a civil disobedience action.

What I couldn't see at the time was that all of this was provided by organized labor. The labor movement had the halls, the photocopiers, the lawyers, the experience – the infrastructure. Even for campaigns that were directly about labor rights – campaigns for abortion rights, or against nuclear annihilation – the labor movement was the material, tangible base for our activities.

Look, riding a bicycle around all night wheatpasting posters to telephone poles to turn out people for an upcoming demonstration is hard work, but it's much harder if you have to pay for xeroxing at Kinko's rather than getting it for free at the union hall. Worse, the demonstration turnout suffers more because the union phone-trees and newsletters stop bringing out the numbers they once brought out.

This was why the neoliberal project took such savage aim at labor: they understood that a strong labor movement was foundation of antiimperialist, antiracist, antisexist struggles for justice. By dismantling labor, the ruling class kicked the legs out from under all the other fights that mattered.

Every year, it got harder to fight for any kind of better world. We activist kids grew to our twenties and foundered, spending precious hours searching for a room to hold a meeting, leaving us with fewer hours to spend organizing the thing we were meeting for. But gradually, we rebuilt. We started to stand up our own fragile, brittle, nascent structures that stood in for the mature and solid labor foundation that we'd grown up with.

The first time I got an inkling of what was going on came in 1999, with the Battle of Seattle: the mass protests over the WTO. Yes, labor turned out in force for those mass demonstrations, but they weren't its leaders. The militancy, the leadership, and the organization came out of groups that could loosely be called "post-labor" – not in the sense that they no longer believed in labor causes, but in the sense that they were being organized outside of traditional labor.

Labor was in retreat. Five years earlier, organized labor had responded to NAFTA by organizing against Mexican workers, rather than the bosses who wanted to ship jobs to Mexico. It wasn't unusual to see cars in Ontario with CAW bumper stickers alongside xenophobic stickers taking aim at Mexicans, not bosses. Those were the only workers that organized labor saw as competitors for labor rights: this was also the heyday of "two-tier" contracts, which protected benefits for senior workers while leaving their junior comrades exposed to bosses' most sadistic practices, while still expecting junior workers to pay dues to a union that wouldn't protect them:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/11/25/strikesgiving/#shed-a-tier

Two-tier contracts were the opposite of the solidarity that my parents' teachers' union exhibited in the early 1980s; blaming Mexican workers for automakers' offshoring was the opposite of the solidarity that built transracial and international labor power in the early days of the union movement:

https://unionhall.aflcio.org/bloomington-normal-trades-and-labor-assembly/labor-culture/edge-anarchy-first-class-pullman-strike

As labor withered under a sustained, multi-decades-long assault on workers' rights, other movements started to recapitulate the evolution of early labor, shoring up fragile movements that lacked legal protections, weathering setbacks, and building a "progressive" coalition that encompassed numerous issues. And then that movement started to support a new wave of labor organizing, situating labor issues on a continuum of justice questions, from race to gender to predatory college lending.

Young workers from every sector joined ossified unions with corrupt, sellout leaders and helped engineer their ouster, turning these dying old unions into engines of successful labor militancy:

https://theintercept.com/2023/04/07/deconstructed-union-dhl-teamsters-uaw/

In other words, we're in the midst of a reversal of the historic role of labor and other social justice movements. Whereas once labor anchored a large collection of smaller, less unified social movements; today those social movements are helping bring back a weakened and fragmented labor movement.

One of the key organizing questions for today is whether these two movements can continue to co-evolve and, eventually, merge. For example: there can be no successful climate action without climate justice. The least paid workers in America are also the most racially disfavored. The gender pay-gap exists in all labor markets. For labor, integrating social justice questions isn't just morally sound, it's also tactically necessary.

One thing such a fusion can produce is a truly international labor movement. Today, social justice movements are transnational: the successful Irish campaign for abortion rights was closely linked to key abortion rights struggles in Argentina and Poland, and today, abortion rights organizers from all over the world are involved in mailing medication abortion pills to America.

A global labor movement is necessary, and not just to defeat the divide-and-rule tactics of the NAFTA fight. The WTO's legacy is a firmly global capitalism: workers all over the world are fighting the same corporations. The strong unions of one country are threatened by weak labor in other countries where their key corporations seek to shift manufacturing or service delivery. But those same strong unions are able to use their power to help their comrades abroad protect their labor rights, depriving their common adversary of an easily exploited workforce.

A key recent example is Mercedes, part of the Daimler global octopus. Mercedes' home turf is Germany, which boasts some of the strongest autoworker unions in the world. In the USA, Mercedes – like other German auto giants – preferentially manufactures its cars in the South, America's "onshore-offshore" crime havens, where labor laws are both virtually nonexistent and largely unenforced. This allows Mercedes to exploit and endanger a largely Black workforce in a "right to work" territory where unions are nearly impossible to form and sustain.

Mercedes just defeated a hard-fought union drive in Vance, Alabama. In part, this was due to admitted tactical blunders from the UAW, who have recently racked up unprecedented victories in Tennessee and North Carolina:

https://paydayreport.com/uaw-admits-digital-heavy-organizing-committee-light-approach-failed-them-in-alabama-at-mercedes/

But mostly, this was because Mercedes cheated. They flagrantly violated labor law to sabotage the union vote. That's where it gets interesting. German workers have successfully lobbied the German parliament for the Supply Chain Act, an anticorruption law that punishes German companies that violate labor law abroad. That means that even though the UAW just lost their election, they might inflict some serious pain on Mercedes, who face a fine of 2% of their global annual revenue, and a ban on selling cars to the German government:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/10/an-injury-to-one/#is-an-injury-to-all

This is another way reversal of the post-neoliberal era. Whereas once the US exported its most rapacious corporate practices all over the world, today, global labor stands a chance of exporting workers' rights from weak territories to strong ones.

Here's an American analogy: the US's two most populous states are California and Texas. The policies of these states ripple out over the whole country, and even beyond. When Texas requires textbooks that ban evolution, every pupil in the country is at risk of getting a textbook that embraces Young Earth Creationism. When California enacts strict emission standards, every car in the country gets cleaner tailpipes. The WTO was a Texas-style export: a race to the bottom, all around the world. The moment we're living through now, as global social movements fuse with global labor, are a California-style export, a race to the top.

This is a weird upside to global monopoly capitalism. It's how antitrust regulators all over the world are taking on corporations whose power rivals global superpowers like the USA and China: because they're all fighting the same corporations, they can share tactics and even recycle evidence from one-another's antitrust cases:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/05/big-tech-eu-drop-dead

Look, the UAW messed up in Alabama. A successful union vote is won before the first ballot is cast. If your ground game isn't strong enough to know the outcome of the vote before the ballot box opens, you need more organizing, not a vote:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/23/a-collective-bargain/

But thanks to global labor – and its enemy, global capitalism – the UAW gets another chance. Global capitalism is rich and powerful, but it has key weaknesses. Its drive to "efficiency" makes it terribly vulnerable, and a disruption anywhere in its supply chain can bring the whole global empire to its knees:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/21/eight-and-skate/#strike-to-rule

American workers – especially swing-state workers who swung for Trump and are leaning his way again – overwhelmingly support a pro-labor agenda. They are furious over "price gouging and outrageous corporate profits…wealthy corporate CEOs and billionaires [not] paying what they should in taxes and the top 1% gaming the system":

https://www.americanfamilyvoices.org/_files/ugd/d4d64f_6c3dff0c3da74098b07ed3f086705af2.pdf

They support universal healthcare, and value Medicare and Social Security, and trust the Democrats to manage both better than Republicans will. They support "abortion rights, affordable child care, and even forgiving student loans":

https://prospect.org/politics/2024-05-20-bidens-working-class-slump/

The problem is that these blue-collar voters are atomized. They no longer meet in union halls – they belong to gun clubs affiliated with the NRA. There are enough people who are a) undecided and b) union members in these swing states to defeat Trump. This is why labor power matters, and why a fusion of American labor and social justice movements matters – and why an international fusion of a labor-social justice coalition is our best hope for a habitable planet and a decent lives for our families.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/20/a-common-foe/#the-multinational-playbook

[reasonsforhope]

"Nasir Mansoor has spent 40 years fighting for Pakistan’s workers. Whether demanding compensation on behalf of the hundreds of people who died in a devastating 2012 factory fire in Karachi or demonstrating against Pakistani suppliers to global fashion brands violating minimum wage rules, he’s battled many of the country’s widespread labor injustices.

Yet so far, little has improved, said Mansoor, who heads Pakistan’s National Trade Union Federation in Karachi... Regulations and trade protocols look good on paper, but they rarely trickle down to the factory level. “Nobody cares,” Mansoor said. “Not the government who makes commitments, not the brands, and not the suppliers. The workers are suffering.”

Change on the Horizon

But change might finally be on the horizon after Germany’s new Supply Chain Act came into force last year. As Europe’s largest economy and importer of clothing, Germany now requires certain companies to put risk-management systems in place to prevent, minimize, and eliminate human rights violations for workers across their entire global value chains. Signed into law by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January 2023, the law covers issues such as forced labor, union-busting, and inadequate wages, for the first time giving legal power to protections that were previously based on voluntary commitments. Companies that violate the rules face fines of up to 8 million euros ($8.7 million)...

...As governments come to realize that a purely voluntary regimen produces limited results, there is now a growing global movement to ensure that companies are legally required to protect the people working at all stages of their supply chains.

The German law is just the latest example of these new due diligence rules—and it’s the one with the highest impact, given the size of the country’s market. A number of other Western countries have also adopted similar legislation in recent years, including France and Norway. A landmark European Union law that would mandate all member states to implement similar regulation is in the final stages of being greenlighted.

Although the United States has legislation to prevent forced labor in its global supply chains, such as the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, there are no federal laws that protect workers in other countries from abuses that fall short of forced labor. That said, a proposed New York state bill, the Fashion Act, would legally require most major U.S. and international brands to identify, prevent, and remediate human rights violations in their supply chain if passed, with noncompliance subject to fines. Since major fashion brands could hardly avoid selling their products in New York, the law would effectively put the United States on a similar legal level as Germany and France...

The Results So Far

As of January, Germany’s new law applies to any company with at least 1,000 employees in the country, which covers many of the world’s best-known fast fashion retailers, such as Zara and Primark. Since last January [Jan 2023], German authorities say they have received 71 complaints or notices of violations and conducted 650 of their own assessments, including evaluating companies’ risk management.

In Pakistan, the very existence of the German law was enough to spark action. Last year, Mansoor and other union representatives reached out to fashion brands that sourced some of their clothing in Pakistan to raise concerns about severe labor violations in garment factories. Just four months later, he and his colleagues found themselves in face-to-face meetings with several of those brands—a first in his 40-year career. “This is a big achievement,” he said. “Otherwise, [the brands] never sit with us. Even when the workers died in the factory fire, the brand never sat with us.” ...

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

Article continues below, with more action-based results, including one factory that "complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses"

With the help of Mansoor and Zehra Khan, the general secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, interviews with more than 350 garment workers revealed the severity of long-known issues.

Nearly all workers interviewed were paid less than a living wage, which was 67,200 Pakistan rupees (roughly $243) per month in 2022, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Nearly 30 percent were even paid below the legal minimum wage of 25,000 Pakistani rupees per month (roughly $90) for unskilled workers. Almost 100 percent had not been given a written employment contract, while more than three-quarters were either not registered with the social security system—a legal requirement—or didn’t know if they were.

When Mansoor, Khan, and some of the organizations raised the violations with seven global fashion brands implicated, they were pleasantly surprised. One German retailer reacted swiftly, asking its supplier where the violations had occurred to sign a 14-point memorandum of understanding to address the issues. (We’re unable to name the companies involved because negotiations are ongoing.) The factory complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses.

In February [2024], the factory registered an additional 400 workers with the social security system (up from roughly 100) and will continue to enroll more, according to Khan. “That is a huge number for us,” she said.

It’s had a knock-on effect, too. Four of the German brand’s other Pakistani suppliers are also willing to sign the memorandum, Khan noted, which could impact another 2,000 workers or so. “The law is opening up space for [the unions] to negotiate, to be heard, and to be taken seriously,” said Miriam Saage-Maass, the legal director at ECCHR.

Looking Forward with the EU

...Last month [in March 2024], EU member states finally approved a due diligence directive after long delays, during which the original draft was watered down. As it moves to the next stage—a vote in the European Parliament—before taking effect, critics argue that the rules are now too diluted and cover too few companies to be truly effective. Still, the fact that the EU is acting at all has been described as an important moment, and unionists such as Mansoor and Khan wait thousands of miles away with bated breath for the final outcome.

Solidarity from Europe is important, Khan said, and could change the lives of Pakistan’s workers. “The eyes and the ears of the people are looking to [the brands],” Mansoor said. “And they are being made accountable for their mistakes.”"

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

[2treez]

There was a time when almost every rural British family who kept bees followed a strange tradition.

Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family.

Failing to do so often resulted in further losses such as the bees leaving the hive, or not producing enough honey or even dying.

Traditionally, the bees were kept abreast of not only deaths but all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. If the bees were not told, all sorts of calamities were thought to happen. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

The practice of telling the bees may have its origins in Celtic mythology that held that bees were the link between our world and the spirit world. So if you had any message that you wished to pass to someone who was dead, all you had to do was tell the bees and they would pass along the message.

The typical way to tell the bees was for the head of the household, or “goodwife of the house” to go out to the hives, knock gently to get the attention of the bees, and then softly murmur in a doleful tune the solemn news.

Little rhymes developed over the centuries specific to a particular region. In Nottinghamshire, the wife of the dead was heard singing quietly in front of the hive,

“The master's dead, but don't you go; Your mistress will be a good mistress to you.”

In Germany, a similar couplet was heard,

“Little bee, our lord is dead; Leave me not in my distress”.

But the relationship between bees and humans goes beyond superstition. It’s a fact, that bees help humans survive. 70 of the top 100 crop species that feed 90% of the human population rely on bees for pollination.

Without them, these plants would cease to exist and with it all animals that eat those plants. This can have a cascading effect that would ripple catastrophically up the food chain.

Losing a beehive is much worse than losing a supply of honey. The consequences are life threatening.

The act of telling the bees emphasizes this deep connection humans share with the insect.

Art: The Bee Friend, a painting by Hans Thoma (1839–1924)

🌳🐝🌳

[eretzyisrael]

by Debbie Weiss

An Israeli cyber and national security expert has claimed that the exploding pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon, which left thousands wounded and killed at least nine people on Tuesday, were part of a sophisticated attack that was planned at least half a year before the war in Gaza erupted.

Dr. Eyal Pinko, a former navy commander and senior research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, dismissed theories that the blasts were caused by lithium batteries that were hacked to become overheated, and said that the nature of the wounds seen in footage emerging from Lebanon was consistent with those caused by explosives such as TNT and HTB.

“To get this kind of wound you need to have between one to two grams of type of explosives, which is not a big technological issue — you just need to open the beeper,” Pinko said during a briefing with reporters on Tuesday evening. He added that a stable explosive that wouldn’t detonate accidentally would have been inserted into the device, along with a small control mechanism capable of receiving remote commands via a call or page.

Such an operation would have required significant infiltration of Hezbollah’s communication systems, according to Pinko, and planting explosives in pagers would necessitate a serious breach of the supply chain. “This is an intelligence operation that was very well planned, prepared for more than one and a half years,” Pinko said.

Pinko alluded to the possibility of a coordinated effort, suggesting that Israel may not have acted alone if it was behind the attack in Lebanon, where Hezbollah wields significant political and military clout. He noted efforts by Germany, France, the US, and the UK to prevent escalation in the region.

Israel has so far been quiet about the explosions, but senior Lebanese officials have blame the Jewish state. So too has Hezbollah, which said Israel would receive “its fair punishment.”

[mariacallous]

Perhaps it was only a matter of time. Now the Swedish Security Police, which is in charge of counterintelligence, reports that Russia is scouting out Swedish arms-makers. Kremlin-linked operatives are also conducting disinformation campaigns against defense companies and are even engaging in acts of sabotage. 

In Germany, the authorities have alerted the logistics industry to a sudden spate of incidents involving parcels catching fire in transit. Even those of us used to worrying about threats to Western societies have been taken aback by such developments. Weapons businesses in particular should realize that these days they too are prime targets for hostile actors.

“We [the Swedish Security Police] have for some time been seeing indications of an increased willingness by Russia to take risks concerning its activities that threaten our security. It’s everything from influence operations all the way to sabotage, and it’s directed against the West and as a result also against Sweden,” the Swedish Security Police’s spokesman Karl Melin told Swedish National Television on August 29. At particular risk of such activities, the Swedish Security Police warns, are arms-makers. Undermining the West’s support is one of Russia’s key objectives.

The Swedish Security & Defence Industry Association (SOFF), which represents the country’s defense companies, reports that some of its members are already noticing Russian attempts to harm them. And in Germany, someone has been flying as many as five surveillance drones a night above gas and chemical facilities. This is not the work of some benign drone enthusiasts.

Swedish defense companies have also been subjected to cyber-attacks initially directed not against them (leading defense manufacturers unsurprisingly have good cyber defense) but against smaller companies in their supply chain. Such so-called supply-chain attacks are increasingly popular with hostile states and their helpers. They target the weakest link, and once that company is infected, it inadvertently spreads the harm. 

And it doesn’t end there. Swedish defense manufacturers are also being subjected to malign influence campaigns attempting to discredit them and their weapons. Such campaigns are, of course, designed to harm people’s confidence in the companies — not to mention Ukrainians’ confidence in the ability of its Western allies to supply them with useful equipment. 

Intruders are also trying to, digitally or physically, access the manufacturers’ sites to get information about their operations or sabotage them. While it’s the Swedish Security Police and SOFF who have raised the alarm this time (and Sweden has a disproportionately large defense industry), other countries’ defense manufacturers are of course being targeted too. In Germany, Russia even planned to assassinate the chief executive of the German arms maker Rheinmetall, one of several murder plots uncovered by US intelligence.

Indeed, they’re a priority target because they’re producing the wares that will increase Western deterrence of Russian aggression and because in many cases Western governments buy their weapons to send to Ukraine. The Nordic and Baltic states of Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Sweden, claim the top spots in the percentage of GDP given in aid to Ukraine.

The problem is far broader than just weapons manufacturers. In Germany, the BKA (the federal criminal police) and the BfV (the domestic intelligence service) recently alerted aviation and logistics companies to the sudden appearance of parcels that had caught fire while in transit to European destinations. 

These were not accidents: the parcels contained flammable liquids and incendiary devices. In July, for example, a package sent from a Baltic state to an address elsewhere in Europe caught fire at DHL’s logistics hub in Leipzig, which spread to the rest of the container carrying it. The BKA and the BfV have asked German aviation and logistics companies to ensure their employees are aware of the increased risk. Logistics companies say they’re enhancing scrutiny.

Companies are used to the occasional competitor engaging in destructive and even illegal behavior, but like the harm directed against arms-makers, the incidents involving logistics firms point in another direction: Russia. 

To be sure, we shouldn’t automatically assume that the Kremlin is behind every mysterious incident. Continuing arguments as to whether Ukraine might have sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines act as a reminder. 

However, the Swedish Security Police decided to speak publicly about the targeting of defense companies only after ascertaining the nature of the perpetrators. In a letter to the industry, the BKA and the BfV note that the significant cost of sending the fire-developing parcels that caught fire far exceeded their value. 

The senders, in other words, sent the packages with the intent to cause harm. “The improvised incendiary devices were deliberately sent to damage freight service companies and other logistical infrastructure in Western countries,” the two agencies stated in their letter.

That’s exactly the point. To be successful, hostile states and their proxies don’t need to disable entire industries. They just need to sow fear among ordinary citizens. Learning that their defense manufacturers are targeted by Russia may prompt many Europeans to think that aiding Ukraine and enhancing our own defenses isn’t worth the price. 

That, though, would allow intimidation to prevail. 

A better course is to make sure everyone is aware of the threats. The Swedish Security Police, BKA, and BfV have done good work. We’ll no doubt see many more interventions very soon.

[geezerwench]

There was a time when almost every rural British family who kept bees followed a strange tradition.

Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family.

Failing to do so often resulted in further losses such as the bees leaving the hive, or not producing enough honey or even dying.

Traditionally, the bees were kept abreast of not only deaths but all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. If the bees were not told, all sorts of calamities were thought to happen. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

The practice of telling the bees may have its origins in Celtic mythology that held that bees were the link between our world and the spirit world. So if you had any message that you wished to pass to someone who was dead, all you had to do was tell the bees and they would pass along the message.

The typical way to tell the bees was for the head of the household, or “goodwife of the house” to go out to the hives, knock gently to get the attention of the bees, and then softly murmur in a doleful tune the solemn news.

Little rhymes developed over the centuries specific to a particular region. In Nottinghamshire, the wife of the dead was heard singing quietly in front of the hive,

“The master's dead, but don't you go; Your mistress will be a good mistress to you.”

In Germany, a similar couplet was heard,

“Little bee, our lord is dead; Leave me not in my distress”.

But the relationship between bees and humans goes beyond superstition. It’s a fact, that bees help humans survive. 70 of the top 100 crop species that feed 90% of the human population rely on bees for pollination.

Without them, these plants would cease to exist and with it all animals that eat those plants. This can have a cascading effect that would ripple catastrophically up the food chain.

Losing a beehive is much worse than losing a supply of honey. The consequences are life threatening.

The act of telling the bees emphasizes this deep connection humans share with the insect.

Art: The Bee Friend, a painting by Hans Thoma (1839–1924)

[alphaman99]

Dete Meserve 

There was a time when almost every rural British family who kept bees followed a strange tradition.

Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family.

Failing to do so often resulted in further losses such as the bees leaving the hive, or not producing enough honey or even dying.

Traditionally, the bees were kept abreast of not only deaths but all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. If the bees were not told, all sorts of calamities were thought to happen. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

The practice of telling the bees may have its origins in Celtic mythology that held that bees were the link between our world and the spirit world. So if you had any message that you wished to pass to someone who was dead, all you had to do was tell the bees and they would pass along the message.

The typical way to tell the bees was for the head of the household, or “goodwife of the house” to go out to the hives, knock gently to get the attention of the bees, and then softly murmur in a doleful tune the solemn news.

Little rhymes developed over the centuries specific to a particular region. In Nottinghamshire, the wife of the dead was heard singing quietly in front of the hive,

“The master's dead, but don't you go; Your mistress will be a good mistress to you.”

In Germany, a similar couplet was heard,

“Little bee, our lord is dead; Leave me not in my distress”.

But the relationship between bees and humans goes beyond superstition. It’s a fact, that bees help humans survive. 70 of the top 100 crop species that feed 90% of the human population rely on bees for pollination.

Without them, these plants would cease to exist and with it all animals that eat those plants. This can have a cascading effect that would ripple catastrophically up the food chain.

Losing a beehive is much worse than losing a supply of honey. The consequences are life threatening.

The act of telling the bees emphasizes this deep connection humans share with the insect.

Art: The Bee Friend, a painting by Hans Thoma (1839–1924)

[kimberly40]

🐝 Telling the Bees: A Traditional Custom-

There was a time when almost every rural British family who kept bees followed a strange tradition. Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family. Failing to do so often resulted in further losses such as the bees leaving the hive, or not producing enough honey or even dying.

Traditionally, the bees were kept abreast of not only deaths but all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. If the bees were not told, all sorts of calamities were thought to happen. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

The practice of telling the bees may have its origins in Celtic mythology that held that bees were the link between our world and the spirit world. So if you had any message that you wished to pass to someone who was dead, all you had to do was tell the bees and they would pass along the message.

The typical way to tell the bees was for the head of the household, or “goodwife of the house” to go out to the hives, knock gently to get the attention of the bees, and then softly murmur in a doleful tune the solemn news.

Little rhymes developed over the centuries specific to a particular region. In Nottinghamshire, the wife of the dead was heard singing quietly in front of the hive,

“The master's dead, but don't you go; Your mistress will be a good mistress to you.”

In Germany, a similar couplet was heard,

“Little bee, our lord is dead; Leave me not in my distress”.

But the relationship between bees and humans goes beyond superstition. It’s a fact, that bees help humans survive. 70 of the top 100 crop species that feed 90% of the human population rely on bees for pollination.

Without them, these plants would cease to exist and with it all animals that eat those plants. This can have a cascading effect that would ripple catastrophically up the food chain.

Losing a beehive is much worse than losing a supply of honey. The consequences are life threatening.

The act of telling the bees emphasizes this deep connection humans share with the insect.

(Read more from Carolina Honeybees at: https://carolinahoneybees.com/telling-the-bees/)

[enerdatics]

Renewable Energy M&A hits a record high of $100bn!

The global deal value surged by 48% y/y to $108bn in 2022; transacted capacity more than doubled to 740 GW. Corporate consolidations in the US and acquisitions of offshore wind assets in Europe were the major contributors to this rise.

Enerdatics has published its annual analysis of renewable energy transactions, globally. To access the full copy of this report, kindly visit enerdatics.com.

In the US, large, integrated power producers and oil majors expanded their presence in the onshore wind, solar and biofuels segments, fueled by incentives offered under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Biden administration’s waiver of import tariffs on solar panels from certain Southeast Asian countries improved the outlook for the US’s solar sector, contributing to a 309% y/y rise solar deal value during the year. Meanwhile, clean fuel tax credits and the rising demand to decarbonize domestic heating and power spurred billion-dollar investments in renewable natural gas (RNG) and alcohol fuels assets by bp and Chevron.

In Europe, private equity (PE)-led farm-ins in offshore wind assets, primarily in the UK and Germany accounted for ~40% of the region's transaction value. Ambitious government targets and supportive legislation, such as Germany’s Easter Package, drove deal activity. Further, the EU's plan to offset 3.5 billion cubic metres of Russian gas annually and efforts to decarbonize fossil fuel-based power and heating is spurring investments in renewable natural gas and energy-from-waste platforms. Shell and KKR led activity in the sector during the year.

APAC accounted for $19bn of transactions during the year, with India emerging as the premier market in the region. Onshore wind M&A activity surged by 69% y/y, as countries in the region overcame supply chain bottlenecks due to proximity to steel and equipment manufacturing hubs. Additionally, continued elevated prices of oil, coal, and LNG drove C&I customers to turn to corporate power purchase agreements, leading to a surge in interest for assets backed by bilateral contracts

LatAm deal value surged by 314% y/y, with Brazil accounting for 84% of the region’s transaction value. A 2021 regulation that allows companies to sign dollar-denominated PPAs incentivized foreign investment in Brazil's renewables sector by reducing forex risk. Meanwhile, Chile recorded $1bn of deals in 2022, however, transmission bottlenecks continue to impact investor appetite in the country.

PS: The above analysis is proprietary to Enerdatics’ energy analytics team, based on the current understanding of the available data. The information is subject to change and should not be taken to constitute professional advice or a recommendation.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The unexpected upside of global monopoly capitalism

I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me TODAY (Apr 10) at UCLA, then Chicago (Apr 17), Torino (Apr 21) Marin County (Apr 27), Winnipeg (May 2), Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), and beyond!

Here's a silver lining to global monopoly capitalism: it means we're all fighting the same enemy, who is using the same tactics everywhere. The same coordination tools that allow corporations to extend their tendrils to every corner of the Earth allows regulators and labor organizers to coordinate their resistance.

That's a lesson Mercedes is learning. In 2023, Germany's Supply Chain Act went into effect, which bans large corporations with a German presence from using child labor, violating health and safety standards, and (critically) interfering with union organizers:

https://www.bafa.de/EN/Supply_Chain_Act/Overview/overview_node.html

Across the ocean, in the USA, Mercedes has a preference for building its cars in the American South, the so-called "right to work" states where US labor law is routinely flouted and unions are thin on the ground. As The American Prospect's Harold Meyerson writes, the only non-union Mercedes factories in the world are in the US:

https://prospect.org/labor/2024-04-08-american-workers-german-law-uaw-unions/

But American workers – especially southern workers – are on an organizing tear, unionizing their workplaces at a rate not seen in generations. Their unprecedented success is down to their commitment, solidarity and shrewd tactics – all buoyed by a refreshingly pro-worker NLRB, who have workers' backs in ways also not seen since the Carter administration:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/14/prop-22-never-again/#norms-code-laws-markets

Workers at Mercedes' factory in Vance, Alabama are trying to join the UAW, and Mercedes is playing dirty, using the tried-and-true union-busting tactics that have held workplace democracy at bay for decades. The UAW has lodged a complaint with the NLRB, naturally:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/alabama-mercedes-benz

But the UAW has also filed a complaint with BAFA, the German regulator in charge of the Supply Chain Act, seeking penalties against Mercedes-Benz Group AG:

https://uaw.org/uaw-files-charges-in-germany-against-mercedes-benz-companys-anti-union-campaign-against-u-s-autoworkers-violates-new-german-law-on-global-supply-chain-practices/

That's a huge deal, because the German Supply Chain Act goes hard. If Mercedes is convicted of union-busting in Alabama, its German parent-company faces a fine of 2% of its global total revenue, and will no longer be eligible to sell products to the German government. Chomp.

Now, the German Supply Chain Act is new, and this is the first petition filed by a non-German union with BAFA, so it's not a slam dunk. But supermajorities of Mercedes workers at the Alabama factory have signed UAW cards, and the election is going to happen in May or June. And the UAW – under new leadership, thanks to a revolution that overthrew the corrupt old guard – has its sights set on all the auto-makers in the American south.

As Meyerson writes, the south is America's onshore offshore, a regulatory haven where corporations pay minimal or no tax and are free to abuse their workers, pollute, and corrupt local governments with a free hand (no wonder American industry is flocking to these states). Meyerson: "The economic impact of unionizing the South, in other words, could almost be placed in the same category as reshoring work that had gone to China."

The German Supply Chain Act was passed with the help of Germany's powerful labor unions, in an act of solidarity with workers employed by German companies all over the world. This is that unexpected benefit to globalism: the fact that Mercedes has extrusions into both the American and German political spheres means that both American and German workers can collaborate to bring it to heel.

The same is true for antitrust regulators. The multinational corporations that are in regulators' crosshairs in the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and beyond use the same playbook in every country. That's doubly true of Big Tech companies, who literally run the same code – embodying the same illegal practices – on servers in every country.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has led the pack on convening summits where antitrust enforcers from all over the world gather to compare notes and collaborate on enforcement strategies:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cma-data-technology-and-analytics-conference-2022-registration-308678625077

And the CMA's Digital Markets Unit – which boasts the the largest tech staff of any competition regulator in the world – produces detailed market studies that turn out to be roadmaps for other territories' enforces to follow – like this mobile market study:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63f61bc0d3bf7f62e8c34a02/Mobile_Ecosystems_Final_Report_amended_2.pdf

Which was extensively referenced in the EU during the planning of the Digital Markets Act, and in the US Congress for similar legislation:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2710

It also helped enforcers in Japan:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Japan-to-crack-down-on-Apple-and-Google-app-store-monopolies

And South Korea:

https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-considers-505-mln-fine-against-google-apple-over-app-market-practices-2023-10-06/

Just as Mercedes workers in Germany and the USA share a common enemy, allowing for coordinated action that takes advantage of vulnerable flanks wherever they are found, anti-monopoly enforcers are sharing notes, evidence, and tactics to strike at multinationals that are bigger than most countries – but not when those countries combine.

This is an unexpected upside to global monopolies: when we all share a common enemy, we've got endless opportunities for coordinated offenses and devastating pincer maneuvers.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/10/an-injury-to-one/#is-an-injury-to-all

[bopinion]

2022 / 52

Aperçu of the Week:

"Let he who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her."

(Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 8)

Bad News of the Week:

A remarkable shift to the right is currently taking place in Israel, of all places. And not in dim backyards, but in the political spotlight. The day before yesterday, the Knesset gave its blessing to Benjamin Netanyahu's government. An immortal reincarnation of political Israel, he became prime minister for the first time back in 1996 and is the subject of various criminal proceedings, including those for corruption and taking advantage of office.

Now, out of pure will to survive, he has formed a governing coalition that is so ultra-right that even Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog warns against its "extremism." And the opposition is sounding the alarm in view of the present coalition agreements: The new government is illiberal, homophobic and is undermining Israeli democracy with the planned judicial reform. Unfortunately, these accusations must be taken seriously.

Take religious fanaticism, for example: Government member Orit Strock of the right-wing "Religious Zionist Party" has declared that hotels should be allowed to refuse services to people on religious grounds. And even worse, doctors to treat patients if this is against their religious beliefs. This is supposed to be the most democratic state in the Middle East?

Speaking of states. Or rather, the two-state solution, for every normal-thinking person the only way to make peace possible between Israelis and Palestinians in the long term. That can now be safely stored, because gasoline is being poured on the fire with two personalities who both advocate the expansion of Israeli territory into the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir of the ultranationalist "Jewish Strenght" party, who has already been convicted of anti-Arab terrorism, will become security minister with responsibilities for the police. And Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the "Religious Zionist Party" and known, among other things, for his position "I am a proud homophobe." will be finance minister with control over "planning in the West Bank." He knows his stuff, after all his family lives outside the Kedumim settlement in the West Bank - in a house that was illegally built outside of state land and in breach of the settlement's master plan.

I find this more than just creepy. Do I, of all people, as a German, have to reproach a government of the State of Israel for denying human rights to a part of the population through extremism and discrimination? Yes, unfortunately I must.

Good News of the Week:

After a long run-up, the so-called Supply Chain Act is finally becoming mandatory in Germany. Initially applicable to large companies (with more than 3,000 employees, from 2024 it will apply to companies with more than 1,000), it is intended to significantly reduce abuses in foreign purchasing. The "Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains" obliges companies that procure intermediate goods or finished products abroad to take responsibility for production processes and working conditions at their suppliers, to trace abuses and to avoid or remedy them from the outset or as soon as they become aware of them.

This will be felt above all by the textile industry, which traditionally has its production carried out in low-wage countries with hardly any environmental requirements. And then washes its hands of this because the administrative staff in Germany is paid according to the collective wage agreement and there is a photovoltaic system on the warehouse. The law obliges every importer - including foreign companies that have a subsidiary or branch office in Germany - to ensure that defined standards are met throughout their supply chain. In future, anyone who tolerates child labor or environmental damage at their suppliers, for example, or simply looks the other way, will be asked to pay a hefty fine: Fines in the millions are envisaged. That's a good thing.

Personal happy moment of the week:

The day before yesterday was our first wedding anniversary. According to a widespread prejudice, only husbands forget this day. Not so with us. My wife had wondered before why I asked what we were going to do on this day. And although very happy about the flowers that were on the table in the morning, but still did not understand. Then around three o'clock in the afternoon the penny dropped. And I got it in writing, as she was just out for a walk: she says "Yes!" to us once again.

I couldn't care less...

...that Deutsche Post is discontinuing its "Telegram" service today. Why? Due to lack of demand, of course, because of the Internet. This means that some 170 years after the American E. P. Smith established the telegram in 1852, a form of communication long considered the fastest in the world is disappearing. The most recent price was at least 12.57 euros - for 160 characters. In the age of free messaging services, that no doubt explains the slump in demand. I even still have a telegram in one of my memory boxes in the basement: one of my French Canadian sisters had sent it to me from Italy in 1989 to coordinate my trip to see her - which I hitchhiked. Also such a dinosaur, which hardly exists anymore.

As I write this...

...2022 comes to an end. You can classify this year however you like - the adjective "normal" is certainly not one of them. And what people like to call "the new normal" (hot and cold wars, lack of action against climate change, threatened democracies, permanently higher energy and food prices, insecure human rights, etc.) is not something I feel like at all. In this respect, I find it hard to wish for more normality in the new year. Even if it is actually what I would like to have.

Post Scriptum

Serbia and Kosovo. The region in the Balkans, which even after the official end of the Yugoslav wars in 2001 is still not at peace. NATO peacekeepers are still stationed there today. The reason is still the same as it was from the beginning: minorities feel oppressed. In this case, in a double sense: Kosovo considers itself Albanian, its minority oppressed by Serbia, and has repeatedly declared its independence - now recognized by 115 of 193 UN members. But Serbia sees Kosovo as a breakaway province where a Serbian minority in the north is oppressed. The conflict flares up again and again; during the Christmas season, there were roadblocks in the Mitrovica area in response to Serb arrests by Albanian security forces.

Both countries see their future in the European Union. Serbia has been formally recognized as a candidate country since 2012, while Kosovo submitted its application only this December. And both can only move forward in this process together. In order to be admitted to the EU, the "Copenhagen criteria" must be met. These explicitly include respect for and protection of minorities. This is precisely the shortcoming that Serbia and Kosovo are accusing each other of. The European Union sees itself as a democratic entity that seeks to achieve peace and prosperity on the continent through cooperation and collaboration. Recognizing this would be a win-win for all parties.

[39minormovements]

excerpts from "economic migration: the root problem is not smugglers but global inequality" by seb rumsby in the conversation (4 feb 2022)

"[W]hile smugglers do contribute to undocumented migration, the root cause is actually global inequality. This inequality is reproduced and perpetuated by many multinational companies within a wider economic system that serves to directly benefit the most wealthy and, indirectly, industrialised countries, at the expense of others."

"A report from 2017 found workers at a Samsung factory in Vietnam reported extreme fatigue, fainting, dizziness and even miscarriages due to poor working conditions... Meanwhile, Samsung has made huge profits in Vietnam. This happens all across the world: multinational corporations take advantage of cheap labour in poorer countries through global supply chains."

"Multinational corporations represent a continuation of historical exploitation and wealth flow from developing countries to Europe under colonialism, which funded the west’s dramatic rise to prosperity in the first place. In an unequal world, it makes sense for those in poorer countries with limited options to follow the money to a more developed country, find a low-skilled job, work hard and then send some money back home. This may lead Vietnamese migrants to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany – or all the way to the UK. Such movement, however, is often forbidden, forcing people to risk potentially deadly border crossings under the radar."

"In fact, considering the mass exploitation of Vietnamese labour by foreign corporations (which has exacerbated global inequality), it could be argued that economic migration is a matter of justice and that it’s only fair and reasonable that migrants should seek a portion of the extracted labour value that should have stayed in Vietnam. So if we really want to reduce migration, we must treat it as an inevitable by-product of inequality and address the root causes – instead of simply blaming smugglers or washing our hands of the migrants’ plight."

image: protest against the "safety of rwanda (asylum and immigration) act" passed in apr 2024 via right to remain

[image description: a photograph of several protest signs of various colours placed on the floor on the street. the signs read: "no to rwanda," "refugees are welcome here," "these walls must fall," "no one is illegal," "this is our home," "together we are stronger, solidarity!"]

[trendingrepots]

Chromium Market - Forecast (2024 - 2030)

The Chromium Market size is forecast to reach US$ 15.7 billion by 2027, after growing at a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Chromium can be used in a wide range of applications which include metal ceramics, chrome plating, refractory materials, dyes and paints, synthetic rubies, along with alloys such as ferrochromium, stainless steel, and other applications. Ferrochromium alloy is produced from chromite through silicothermic or aluminothermic reactions with chromium metal. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), the total global automobile production reached 80.2 billion units in 2021, an increase of 3% as compared to 77.7 billion units in 2020. Chromium is commonly used for electroplating and conversion coatings in the exterior and interior of automobile parts such as steering wheel trims, gear shifts, license plate frames, bumpers, headlights, and other similar parts. Likewise, the anticorrosive properties of chromium make it ideal for electroplating electrical and electronic equipment. Thus, an increase in demand from the electronic industry along with an increase in automobile production acts as the major driver for the market. On the other hand, health hazards associated with the use of chromium may act as a constraint for the market.

 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 

COVID-19 Impact

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 lockdown has significantly reduced manufacturing, and production activities as a result of the country-wise shutdown of manufacturing sites, shortage of labor, and the decline of the supply and demand chain all over the world, thus, affecting the market. Studies show that the outbreak of COVID-19 sharply declined the production of raw materials in 2020 due to a lack of operations across multiple countries around the world. However, a slow recovery in the metallurgy industry has been witnessed across many countries around the world since 2021. Chromium is primarily used in the metallurgy industry during the production of metals in order to provide corrosion resistance and a glossy finish to the metals. For instance, according to the World Steel Association, the annual production volume of steel in Spain reached 14 million metric tons in 2021, an increase of 27.7% in comparison to 2020. Furthermore, in September 2021, Emirates Steel, based in Abu Dhabi, announced its plans for the development of a new steel manufacturing plant in the country. Once completed, the new plant is expected to increase the company’s total steel production capacity to over 5 million tons per year. In this way, a steady increase in the production of steel is expected to increase the demand for chromium as it is crucial for the production of stainless steel, owing to its hardening and corrosion resistance properties. This indicates a steady recovery of the market in the upcoming years.

Report Coverage

The report: “Chromium Market Report– Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Chromium Industry.

By Type: Trivalent Chromium, Hexavalent Chromium.

By Application: Metal Ceramics, Chrome Plating, Refractory Materials, Dyes and Paints, Synthetic Rubies, Alloys (Ferrochromium, Stainless Steel, Others), and Others.

By End-Use Industry: Metallurgy, Hydraulics & Heavy Machinery, Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Construction, Electronics, Others.

By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and the Rest of South America), the Rest of the World (the Middle East, and Africa).

Key Takeaways

Trivalent Chromium held a significant share in the Chromium market in 2021. Its wide range of characteristics, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance properties made it stand out in comparison to other types of chromium in the market.

Metallurgy industry held the largest share in the Chromium market in 2021, owing to the increasing demand for chromium for the production of metals such as steel, aluminum, and more. According to the World Steel Association, the annual production volume of steel in Belgium reached 7 million tons in 2021, an increase of 13.6% in comparison to 2020. The total steel production in Belgium reached 6.1 million tons in 2020.

Asia-Pacific dominated the Chromium Market in 2021, owing to the increasing demand for chromium from the metallurgy sector of the region. For instance, according to the World Steel Association, Japan is considered to be the third-largest country in steel production with 96.3 million tons of steel produced in 2021.

[trendingreportz]

5G IoT Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

5G IoT Market Overview

The 5G IoT Market size is forecast to reach $40.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR 61% from 2022 to 2026. Increased proliferation of technologies like predictive maintenance, data analytics, digital twins and others in manufacturing sector has been eventually driving the need for 5G IoT. Rising demand for connected cars equipped with advanced in-vehicle infotainment and telematics system along with increasing penetration of advanced communication infrastructure in healthcare sector to optimize surgical robots, asset tracking, telemedicine, remote health monitoring are some of the prime factors driving the global 5G IoT Market. Furthermore, with growing adoption of precision farming, agricultural drones and greenhouse automation, global 5G IoT has gained a huge traction. Rise in adoption of IoT and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop fully connected smart cities offering high speed data transmission and data analytics as a part of improving real-time monitoring is analyzed to drive the market in future years.

5G IoT Market Report Coverage

The report: “5G IoT Industry Outlook – Forecast (2022-2026)”, by IndustryARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the 5G IoT Industry.

By Solution: Hardware, Cellular Connectivity, Software, Services

By Organization Size: SME, Large Enterprises

By Radio Technology: 5G New Radio Standalone Architecture, 5G New Radio Non-Standalone Architecture

By Range: Short Range 5G IoT devices, Wide Range 5G IoT devices

By Application: Predictive Maintenance, Business Optimization, Asset Tracking and Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation Control and Management, Others

By End Users: Manufacturing (Medical & Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Food & Beverage, FMCG, Metal, Machinery & Equipment, Semiconductor & Electronics, Others), Transportation & Logistics, Consumer, Oil & Gas, Automotive, Ports, Energy, Smart City, Smart Building, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, Smart Events & Stadia, Mining, Utilities, Others

By Geography: North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, U.K, France, Spain, Italy, Others), APAC (China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Others), South America (Brazil, Argentina and others), RoW (Middle East and Africa)

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Key Takeaways

5G New Radio Standalone architecture is analyzed to witness highest growth in the 5G IoT Market during 2022-2026 owing to increased performance, super-fast response times and faster access to higher data rates.

APAC 5G IoT Market held the largest share in 2021, attributing to factors like rising demand for more reliable connectivity and more bandwidth between devices among manufacturers as a part of optimizing smart industrial operations including process automation, remote monitoring, collaborative robots, predictive analytics, augmented reality, additive manufacturing.

Increased proliferation of technologies like predictive maintenance, data analytics, digital twins and others in manufacturing sector along with rise in demand for connected cars equipped with advanced in-vehicle infotainment and telematics system are analyzed to significantly drive the global 5G IoT Market during the forecast period 2022-2026.

5G IoT Market Segment Analysis- By Radio Technology

By radio technology, 5G IoT Market has been segmented into 5G New Radio Standalone Architecture, 5G New Radio Non-Standalone Architecture. 5G New Radio Standalone Architecture is analyzed to grow with the highest CAGR of 72% during the forecast period 2022-2026. As compared to 5G non-standalone architecture, standalone architecture acts as a more efficient solution, which includes increased performance, better flexibility, and reduced complexity, attributing to its market growth. Rising adoption of connected cars, immersive media, automated guided vehicles or cobots control need super-fast response times and faster access to higher data rates, which is enabled by SA architecture, and thus such beneficiary capabilities of 5G standalone technology are boosting its market growth. In May 2021, Swisscom announced its plans to strengthen its long-term strategic partnership commitment to Ericsson with a deal including 5G Standalone (SA) rollout. This 5G SA is analyzed to enable Swisscom to deliver superior network performance and new use cases comprising logistics, energy, factory, mining, and airport and so on. Such factors are further set to propel the market growth of 5G IoT Market in the long run. 

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5G IoT Market Segment Analysis- By End Users

By end users, 5G IoT market has been segmented into Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Consumer, Oil & Gas, Automotive, Ports, Energy, Smart City, Smart Building, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, Smart Events & Stadia, Mining, Utilities and Others. Automotive sector is analyzed to witness the highest growth with a CAGR 70% during 2022-2026. The demand for future mobility and automated driving coupled with enhanced multimedia and infotainment features in the car is attributing to the market growth. Rising investment towards infotainment solutions with 5G connectivity for seamless and delay-free video and music streaming along with the integration of weather forecasts, or information on the current traffic situation is another prime factor contributing towards market growth. Expansion of digital infrastructure is set to lead to a huge increase in data in the automotive sector. According to a report published by Acta Verba, in advanced connected cars, the data flow is to reach 1 GB per vehicle per day, and it will further explode by 30 times to 1 TB of data per vehicle, per month, by 2025. This creates a need for significantly more bandwidth and faster data processing capabilities close to end users and mobile devices at the digital edge, and such factors are contributing towards expansion of 5G IoT Market. In December 2021, Volkswagen announced the deployment of Nokia’s industrial-grade private 5G wireless network at the company’s main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. This development was done to help the facility achieve real-time connectivity for IoT sensors, connected vehicles and machinery, supporting intelligent networking of production robots and wireless assembly tools. Such factors are set to drive the market forward in the coming years.

5G IoT Market Segment Analysis- By Geography 

By Geography, 5G IoT Market has been segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, South America and Others. APAC dominated the 5G IoT Market with a share of 34% in 2021, owing to burgeoning demand for next-generation high-speed mobile internet among manufacturers in this region for more reliable connectivity and more bandwidth between devices. Rising partnerships between telecom operators and IoT network providers in APAC region with an aim to enable enterprises running more automated, productive, sustainable and safer businesses with harmonized service level agreements, while providing real-time insights is resulting in speedy expansion of the market. Although 4G can accommodate Industry 4.0 capabilities, 5G is analysed to be the true accelerator for digitalization and the key to implementing features like IoT, advanced robotics and remote machine control, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) to enterprises, with the manufacturing and energy sectors taking the lead in its adoption. According to GSMA, APAC 5G Industry Community is formed by 12 Contributing members and the existing IoT community and 5G emerging market community with over 500 members in more than 30 countries with an aim to build a platform for people who are passionate about 5G benefits to industries and enterprises, to connect with peers and share their knowledge, requirement, and build the ecosystem to support each other to drive businesses forward with the new technologies in APAC. Furthermore, growing investment towards smart city infrastructure, equipped with advanced security features for real-time surveillance, large scale monitoring by local authorities and backed up by analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet-of -Things (IoT) and data-driven insights is one of the key factors driving its market growth within the region. In January 2022, Qualcomm announced collaboration with Cybertrust Japan Co., Ltd. and SB Technology Corp. through the Qualcomm IoT Services Suite offering to proliferate smart Cities and 5G IoT solutions in Japan. This collaboration was done to explore projects with Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program ecosystem members and develop smart solutions for use cases across smart cities, smart campuses, smart parking, smart energy-management, smart security, smart factories, and more in this country. Such developments are set to create significant growth opportunities for the market during 2022-2026.

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5G IoT Market Drivers

Increased proliferation of technologies like predictive maintenance, data analytics, digital twins and others in manufacturing sector are impacting the market growth

Increasing penetration of advanced technologies like predictive maintenance, data analytics, digital twins and others as a part of improving business insights for greater operational efficiency, better product quality, optimized supply chain performance and so on acts as major factor driving the market growth towards 5G IoT Market. The burgeoning demand for predictive maintenance in manufacturing sector leveraging critical communication infrastructure provides data analysis tools and techniques, which are used to monitor equipment condition for regular operational wear and tears, and such factors are analyzed to elevate the 5G IoT Market. Furthermore, rising investments towards connected asset monitoring enabling real-time asset data analysis assists in providing a powerful tool for productivity improvement, which in turn can also aid the market growth overtime. 5G’s enhanced bandwidth compared with other wireless communications technologies help robots and cobots to be monitored and updated in real-time as the environment changes. 5G’s low latency allows for actions to be monitored close to real-time, and such benefits of 5G are propelling the growth of the market. In November 2021, Huawei and China Mobile jointly deployed 5G enabled manufacturing solutions powered by mobile edge computing (MEC) at Haier’s smart factories. Haier is leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine vision at seven smart factories in China and has planned to expand in 20 factories by the end of 2022. Such new development is set to fuel the market growth in the long run.

Rise in demand for connected cars equipped with advanced in-vehicle infotainment and telematics system drives its market forward

Growing demand for connected cars equipped with advanced in-vehicle infotainment and telematics system act as a major driver boosting its market growth. The enhanced bandwidth of 5G New Radio enables richer infotainment and more immersive in-car entertainment experiences. Adoption of multi-access edge computing (MEC) platform puts processing power at the edge of the network, for faster gaming and higher quality video. Such beneficiary capabilities of 5G IoT is analyzed to positively impact the market growth overtime. Furthermore, with the substantial growth of C-V2X technology, 5G network for C-V2X infrastructure for use on on-board platforms is evolving. The rise in adoption of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), equipped with on-board sensors, is also set to significantly trigger the growth of 5G IoT Market. Rising investments towards autonomous driving (AD) with an aim to harmonize and accelerate the introduction of intelligent transport and communication solutions is augmenting the growth of the market. According to the Economic Times, connected car shipments in the U.S. is expected to cross 80 million units during 2020 to 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10%. They moreover state that 5G cars will account for 27% of the market by 2025. In August 2021, Honda collaborated with Verizon to explore how Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) can ensure fast, reliable communication between road infrastructure, vehicles and pedestrians. Verizon’s 5G and MEC platforms bring the power of the cloud closer to the vehicle, lowering latency, offering massive bandwidth, and improving communications and connectivity between drivers, other cars, traffic lights, pedestrians and emergency vehicles to improve threat detection and avoid accidents. Such developments are analyzed to propel the 5G IoT Market growth in the coming years.

5G IoT Market Challenges

High infrastructure cost related with 5G deployment and coverage hinders its market growth

5G offers a significant increase in speed and bandwidth, but its more limited range requires further infrastructure. 5G antennas and base stations are smaller in the 5G era, but more of them would have to be installed on buildings or homes to compensate for their shorter range. Cities need to install extra repeaters to spread out the waves and extend range, while also maintaining consistent speeds in more densely populated areas, and thus, deployment of additional infrastructure requires high cost, which in turn create a negative impact on the growth of the market. A small tower and 5G cell site costs $30,000–$50,000 and due to such high costs small and medium enterprises are not opting for 5G. Investments needed in key components for a 5G network coverage includes spectrum, sites, power distribution and resilient strength fibre. Such factors have been creating an adverse impact on its market growth.

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5G IoT Market Landscape

Product innovations, acquisitions, Partnerships and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the 5G IoT Market. 5G IoT top 10 companies include: 

Qualcomm

Ericsson

Nokia Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

AT&T Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc.

Vodafone Group Plc

Telefonica S.A.

Deutsche Telekom

SK Telecom

Recent Developments

In November 2021, Samsung announced about the launch of its latest automotive chip solutions, the Exynos Auto T5123 for 5G connectivity to enhance smarter and more connected automotive technologies for enriched in-vehicle experiences including entertainment, safety and comfort and other critical features on the road. This product is specifically designed to bring fast and seamless 5G connectivity in both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) mode to the next generation of connected cars.

In October 2021, Ericsson announced about the launch of end-to-end time critical communication for real time 5G experiences such as cloud gaming, AR/VR, and unlock new ones in remote control, mobility automation, and industrial control. With the launch of its new Critical IoT product, Ericsson is enhancing its 5G capabilities ensuring consistent low latency and high reliability demanded by time-critical applications and services for consumers, enterprises, and public sector. 

In August 2021, Qualcomm announced about the launch of Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G Platform to offer both 5G and AI-capabilities for delivering a solution which will drive the next generation of high-performance, low-power, 5G drones. With this launch, Qualcomm combines heterogeneous, low-power computing and camera systems with AI, and long-range connectivity such as 5G, and Wi-Fi 6 to bring together the unparalleled power of 15 TOPS with advanced imaging capabilities and drone-to-drone communication.

[mariacallous]

Nasir Mansoor has spent 40 years fighting for Pakistan’s workers. Whether demanding compensation on behalf of the hundreds of people who died in a devastating 2012 factory fire in Karachi or demonstrating against Pakistani suppliers to global fashion brands violating minimum wage rules, he’s battled many of the country’s widespread labor injustices.

Yet so far, little has improved, said Mansoor, who heads Pakistan’s National Trade Union Federation in Karachi. Despite spending most of his time dealing with issues in the country’s garment sector, labor laws are still routinely flouted inside factories. Not even European Union trade schemes such as the Generalized Scheme of Preferences—which benefits developing countries such as Pakistan but requires them to comply with international conventions on labor rights—have helped curb violations in an industry notorious for them. Regulations and trade protocols look good on paper, but they rarely trickle down to the factory level. “Nobody cares,” Mansoor said. “Not the government who makes commitments, not the brands, and not the suppliers. The workers are suffering.”

But change might finally be on the horizon after Germany’s new Supply Chain Act came into force last year. As Europe’s largest economy and importer of clothing, Germany now requires certain companies to put risk-management systems in place to prevent, minimize, and eliminate human rights violations for workers across their entire global value chains. Signed into law by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January 2023, the law covers issues such as forced labor, union-busting, and inadequate wages, for the first time giving legal power to protections that were previously based on voluntary commitments. Companies that violate the rules face fines of up to 8 million euros ($8.7 million).

For decades, Western companies based in countries with highly paid workers and strong labor protections have sourced from low-income countries where such laws don’t exist or are weakly enforced. While this business model cuts costs, it’s made it incredibly difficult for workers to seek justice when problems arise. Given the garment sector’s long history of poor labor conditions—whose victims are a predominantly female workforce—rights groups say the industry will feel some of the highest impacts of new due diligence laws such as Germany’s.

Until now, promises made by fashion brands to safeguard workers stitching clothes in factories around the world have been largely voluntary and poorly monitored. If the promises failed or fell short and that information became public, the main fallout was reputational damage. As governments come to realize that a purely voluntary regimen produces limited results, there is now a growing global movement to ensure that companies are legally required to protect the people working at all stages of their supply chains.

The German law is just the latest example of these new due diligence rules—and it’s the one with the highest impact, given the size of the country’s market. A number of other Western countries have also adopted similar legislation in recent years, including France and Norway. A landmark European Union law that would mandate all member states to implement similar regulation is in the final stages of being greenlighted.

Although the United States has legislation to prevent forced labor in its global supply chains, such as the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, there are no federal laws that protect workers in other countries from abuses that fall short of forced labor. That said, a proposed New York state bill, the Fashion Act, would legally require most major U.S. and international brands to identify, prevent, and remediate human rights violations in their supply chain if passed, with noncompliance subject to fines. Since major fashion brands could hardly avoid selling their products in New York, the law would effectively put the United States on a similar legal level as Germany and France.

Abuses in textile manufacturing have been well documented. Horror stories about brutal violence or building collapses make the news when there’s a major incident, but every day, members of a predominantly female workforce live on low wages, work long hours, and endure irregular contracts. Trade unions, when they are allowed, are often unable to protect workers. A decade ago, the European Parliament described the conditions of garment workers in Asia as “slave labour.”

As of January, Germany’s new law applies to any company with at least 1,000 employees in the country, which covers many of the world’s best-known fast fashion retailers, such as Zara and Primark. Since last January, German authorities say they have received 71 complaints or notices of violations and conducted 650 of their own assessments, including evaluating companies’ risk management.

In Pakistan, the very existence of the German law was enough to spark action. Last year, Mansoor and other union representatives reached out to fashion brands that sourced some of their clothing in Pakistan to raise concerns about severe labor violations in garment factories. Just four months later, he and his colleagues found themselves in face-to-face meetings with several of those brands—a first in his 40-year career. “This is a big achievement,” he said. “Otherwise, [the brands] never sit with us. Even when the workers died in the factory fire, the brand never sat with us.”

Nearly 12 years on from the 2012 fire, which killed more than 250 people, violations are still rife for Pakistan’s 4.4 million garment sector workers, who produce for many of the major global brands. Several of these violations were highlighted in research conducted by FEMNET, a German women’s rights nonprofit, and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a Berlin-based nongovernmental organization, into how companies covered by the Supply Chain Act were implementing their due diligence obligations in Pakistan. With the help of Mansoor and Zehra Khan, the general secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, interviews with more than 350 garment workers revealed the severity of long-known issues.

Nearly all workers interviewed were paid less than a living wage, which was 67,200 Pakistan rupees (roughly $243) per month in 2022, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Nearly 30 percent were even paid below the legal minimum wage of 25,000 Pakistani rupees per month (roughly $90) for unskilled workers. Almost 100 percent had not been given a written employment contract, while more than three-quarters were either not registered with the social security system—a legal requirement—or didn’t know if they were.

When Mansoor, Khan, and some of the organizations raised the violations with seven global fashion brands implicated, they were pleasantly surprised. One German retailer reacted swiftly, asking its supplier where the violations had occurred to sign a 14-point memorandum of understanding to address the issues. (We’re unable to name the companies involved because negotiations are ongoing.) The factory complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses.

In February, the factory registered an additional 400 workers with the social security system (up from roughly 100) and will continue to enroll more, according to Khan. “That is a huge number for us,” she said.

It’s had a knock-on effect, too. Four of the German brand’s other Pakistani suppliers are also willing to sign the memorandum, Khan noted, which could impact another 2,000 workers or so. “The law is opening up space for [the unions] to negotiate, to be heard, and to be taken seriously,” said Miriam Saage-Maass, the legal director at ECCHR.

After decades of issues being swept under the carpet, it’s a positive step, Mansoor said. But he’s cautious. Of the six remaining global fashion brands contacted, three are in discussions with the union, while three didn’t respond. Implementation is key, he said, particularly because there has already been pushback from some Pakistani factory owners.

Last month, EU member states finally approved a due diligence directive after long delays, during which the original draft was watered down. As it moves to the next stage—a vote in the European Parliament—before taking effect, critics argue that the rules are now too diluted and cover too few companies to be truly effective.

Still, the fact that the EU is acting at all has been described as an important moment, and unionists such as Mansoor and Khan wait thousands of miles away with bated breath for the final outcome. Solidarity from Europe is important, Khan said, and could change the lives of Pakistan’s workers. “The eyes and the ears of the people are looking to [the brands],” Mansoor said. “And they are being made accountable for their mistakes.”

[onnsynexftz]

Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs) as Catalysts for Economic Development: A Regional Analysis

Trade dynamics and logistical efficiency rule in the worldwide economy of today. Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs) have become essential infrastructure that improve trade facilitation, supply chain operations, and investment to so stimulate economic growth. This paper explores the several effects of FTWZs by means of a regional analysis emphasizing their importance in promoting economic growth.

Understanding Free Trade Warehousing Zones

Free Trade Warehousing Zones are designated spaces under loosened customs rules with warehouse and distribution capabilities for both domestic and foreign trade. Strategically placed close to ports, airports, and major trade routes, these areas provide firms easy logistics and lower running expenses. Offering tax benefits, streamlined customs processes, and world-class infrastructure, FTWZs draw both domestic and foreign capital.

Historical Context and Evolution of FTWZs

The idea of FTWZs originated in the old trade routes where traders sought safe havens for commodities storage and commerce. With the first notable change happening in the middle of the 20th century, this changed over time into contemporary FTWZs. Countries established FTWZs all around different areas since they realized they needed specialized zones to enable international trade.

Key Features of FTWZs

·        Simplified customs processes lower clearance times, therefore improving efficiency.

·        FTWZs appeal to companies because of exemptions from several taxes and obligations.

·        Modern facilities support manufacture, distribution, and storage in line with state of the art.

·        Strategic Location: Close proximity to important transit centers guarantees quick and reasonably priced logistics.

FTWZs in Asia

Asia has been at the forefront of leveraging Free Trade Warehousing Zones to boost its economic landscape. Rising nations like India, China, and Singapore have created vast FTWZ systems acting as doors to foreign trade.

India’s FTWZ Model

Strategic location and large consumer market of India make it a perfect choice for FTWZ growth. Policies developed by the Indian government to support FTWZs have led to the creation of many zones all throughout the nation.

JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust): JNPT, India's biggest container port, features a notable FTWZ that helps to enable significant trade flows.

Mundra FTWZ: This FTWZ, which located in Gujarat, makes use of its close proximity to the Mundra Port to improve commercial links with Africa and the Middle East.

China’s Pioneering FTWZs

China's economic progress has been much aided by its FTWZs. Important hubs in China's Belt and Road Initiative, these zones promote trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa by means of connectivity.

Shanghai FTWZ: Shanghai's zone, one of the first FTWZs in China, reflects efficiency and creativity and draws many multinational companies.

Tianjin FTWZ: This FTWZ, deliberately close to Beijing, emphasizes high-tech sectors and advanced manufacturing.

Singapore’s Logistics Hub

Singapore's effective FTWZs help to support its global logistics hub status. These areas help the city-state fulfill its transshipment and distribution center function for the Asia-Pacific area.

·        Jurong FTWZ: Crucially linked in worldwide supply chains, this zone provides modern warehouse and distribution capabilities.

Tuas FTWZ improves Singapore's connection with its integrated logistics facilities and deep-water port.

FTWZs in Europe

Europe has also embraced Free Trade Warehousing Zones as ways of enhancing its economic competitiveness and trade infrastructure. FTWZs tailored for several sectors have been created by nations like Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Germany’s Efficient FTWZs

Germany, with its industrial backbone and technical mastery, has set FTWZs for sophisticated manufacturing and high-value products.

Hamburg FTWZ: Making use of Hamburg's third-largest port in Europe, FTWZ helps commerce with the Americas and Asia.

Frankfurt FTWZ: Located next to the busiest airport in Europe, this FTWZ helps commodities to be distributed around the continent.

The Netherlands’ Trade Facilitation

The geographic position of the Netherlands and sophisticated logistics system help to naturally serve FTWZs. The exports-oriented economy of the nation depends much on these zones.

·        Rotterdam FTWZ: Handling major trade volumes and linking Europe with worldwide markets, Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe.

·   Amsterdam Schiphol FTWZ uses the closeness to Schiphol Airport to help air freight distribution.

United Kingdom’s Emerging FTWZs

Aiming to improve its worldwide trade connections, the UK is looking into FTWZs as part of its post-Brexit trade plan.

·        London Gateway FTWZ: Near the capital, this FTWZ provides modern trade route connections and excellent logistical facilities.

·        Liverpool's FTWZ, which positions itself to service the Atlantic trade lines, focuses on a range of sectors including automotive and pharmaceuticals.

·         

FTWZs in North America

North America boasts a well-established network of Free Trade Warehousing Zones, most especially in Mexico and the United States. These zones help the strong commerce activity and industrial basis of the continent.

United States’ Strategic FTWZs

The US has developed a comprehensive FTWZ network that spans key economic regions, supporting diverse industries and trade routes.

Miami FTWZ: Serving as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, Miami’s FTWZ specializes in perishable goods and high-tech products.

Los Angeles FTWZ: Positioned near the busiest port in the US, this FTWZ supports trade with Asia-Pacific and handles substantial import-export volumes.

Mexico’s Industrial FTWZs

Mexico’s FTWZs are integral to its manufacturing and export-oriented economy, providing seamless trade links with the US and other global markets.

Veracruz FTWZ: Located near the Gulf of Mexico, this FTWZ facilitates trade with the Americas and Europe.

Tijuana FTWZ: Bordering the US, Tijuana’s FTWZ supports the maquiladora industry, enhancing cross-border trade.

 

FTWZs in Africa

Africa is increasingly recognizing the potential of Free Trade Warehousing Zones to promote economic growth and fit into worldwide trade systems. Leading FTWZ development are nations such Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Kenya’s Strategic FTWZs

Kenya’s FTWZs are designed to leverage its position as a trade gateway to East Africa, supporting regional and international trade.

Mombasa FTWZ: Located near the busiest port in East Africa, Mombasa’s FTWZ facilitates trade with Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Nairobi FTWZ: Positioned near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, this FTWZ supports air cargo logistics.

Nigeria’s Emerging FTWZs

Nigeria is investing in FTWZs to diversify its economy and enhance its role in global trade.

Lagos FTWZ: As Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos’ FTWZ supports diverse industries and leverages its maritime connectivity.

Lekki FTWZ: This FTWZ focuses on manufacturing and petrochemicals, attracting significant foreign investment.

South Africa’s Advanced FTWZs

South Africa’s FTWZs are integral to its trade infrastructure, supporting its position as a leading economy in Africa.

Durban FTWZ: Located near Africa’s busiest port, Durban’s FTWZ handles substantial trade volumes with global markets.

Johannesburg FTWZ: Positioned near OR Tambo International Airport, this FTWZ supports air cargo logistics and distribution.

Economic Benefits of FTWZs

Free Trade Warehousing Zones offer numerous economic benefits that contribute to regional and national development. These benefits include:

Increased Trade Volumes: FTWZs enhance trade by providing efficient logistics and customs facilitation, leading to higher trade volumes.

Attracting Investment: Tax incentives and advanced infrastructure attract foreign and domestic investments, driving economic growth.

Job Creation: FTWZs generate employment opportunities in logistics, manufacturing, and related sectors.

Technological Advancements: FTWZs promote the adoption of advanced technologies in logistics and supply chain management.

Regional Development: FTWZs stimulate economic activity in their surrounding regions, fostering balanced regional development.

FAQs

Free Trade Warehousing Zones serve mostly for what?

Mostly acting as centers for storage, delivery, and sometimes manufacture of commodities, free trade warehouses For international commerce operations, they provide tax benefits, simplified customs procedures, and logistical conveniences.

How may FTWZs help to promote economic growth?

By raising trade volumes, drawing investments, generating employment, and advancing technology, FTWZs help to support economic growth. They boost regional development and increase a nation's worldwide trade competitiveness.

Give a few instances of effective FTWZs.

Successful FTWZs abound from Shanghai FTWZ in China, Rotterdam FTWZ in the Netherlands, to Miami FTWZ in the United States. These areas have drawn big investments and greatly increased commercial activity.

What difficulties does FTWZ experience?

Challenges FTWZs confront include security issues, infrastructural shortages, and legal obstacles. Maximizing the advantages of FTWZs depends on addressing these obstacles.

In what ways may FTWZs affect local economies?

By generating job possibilities, encouraging regional growth, and thereby supporting corporate activity, FTWZs help local economies. In their particular regions, they often become hubs of economic activity.

FTWZs: Where are they headed?

FTWZs' future calls on digital transformation, environmental projects, and global trade dynamic adaptability. These areas will always be very important for promoting commerce and stimulating local businesses.

Final Thought

Offering a multitude of advantages ranging from higher trade volumes to investment attraction, job creation, and technology breakthroughs, Free Trade Warehousing Zones are indispensible drivers of economic growth. FTWZs will remain essential in the global economy as long as they solve problems and welcome new developments. As this regional study has shown, FTWZs are not just logistical centers but also engines of growth pushing global progress and wealth.