The coming weeks will see the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) host events on sustainable trade, customs modernisation and more, with plenty for traders to learn as IOE&IT experts and external guest speakers deliver practical insights and predictions for the year ahead in international trade.

Here, the Daily Update looks at some of the highlights these events have to offer.

Public webinar

The next IOE&IT public webinar takes place on 28 February and sees IOE&IT experts and special guests focus on risk management in a session titled ‘Anticipating change and managing risk in trade in 2024’.

As well as being another year of regulatory change for traders, there are also countless other external risk factors to contend with, from elections to war in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the growing influence of new technologies such as AI. As such there is plenty of scope for uncertainty facing those working in international trade.

This free webinar, which you can register for here, will look at the potential effect of all these events and also consider the outlook for the global economy. It will also introduce the idea of “core risk engineering” and look at the growing importance of sustainability in trade.

Environment insights

Last month, IOE&IT kicked off its 2024 schedule of Lunchtime Learning webinars with a handy look at the changes brought by the introduction of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), with tips on how to successfully comply. You can watch that here.

The next in the Lunchtime Learning series, titled ‘Sustainable trade – what you need to know for 2024’, will give traders a better understanding of the growing area of carbon emission-related regulation and takes place at noon on 22 February.

The session, presented by IOE&IT environmental and social governance (ESG) specialist Sandra Cooper, will look at the importance of ESG goals in the supply chain, as well as issues of compliance with carbon regulations. It will also look forward to what the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ might mean for businesses, as well as its carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and what will be required to comply with it.

Those interested can register here, while questions for Cooper can be sent in advance to editor@export.org.uk.

A week later, on 29 February, the next Lunchtime Learning session will explore CBAM in greater depth, with practical tips for traders on reporting requirements, as well as looking at how the UK may implement its own CBAM by 2027. You can register for that episode here.

Customs modernisation

The third Lunchtime Learning in the series will focus on the modernisation of UK customs and takes place on 7 March. It will look at how the government is implementing the proposals it first put forward in its 2023 Spring Budget to “streamline customs procedures”.

The government’s consultation on ‘The Future of Customs Declarations’ will come under the spotlight, with analysis of how the shift in procedures could affect your business. Delivered by IOE&IT trade and customs specialist Matt Vick, you can register for the session here.

Importing in depth

This month also sees IOE&IT hold another of its Advanced Importing training course on 27 February. On this one-day course traders can get a more sophisticated understanding of the complex and changing requirements around importing.

The course takes an in-depth look at everything from the fine detail of customs compliance through to duty relief schemes and tariff quotas, Incoterms and methods of payment. It offers valuable lessons for people working in logistics, accounts, import administration and production planning. See here for a full outline of the course.