All Govt policy/regulation articles – Page 2
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FeaturePSA Group to start assembling cars in Kenya again
The signing ceremony took place at the Kenyan State House, the president's official residence in NairobiFrench carmaker PSA Group is to begin producing Peugeot vehicles in Kenya from June this year. The news marks a return to the East African country for the company, which last assembled Peugeot cars ...
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FeatureMexico conference: Nafta concerns slow supply chain investment
Carmakers, tier suppliers and logistics providers are becoming increasingly cautious about investment in Mexico, downgrading some plans or holding back on decisions amid the uncertainty of Mexico’s future trade relations with the United States and potential changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta).Mexico has been one of the ...
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FeatureMexico conference: Trump’s taxes and tariffs ‘a negotiating ploy’
The past week has seen tensions escalate between the US and Mexico over trade terms, with a number of tariff and tax proposals suggested by the administration of Donald Trump that would have significant impacts on the automotive supply chain, both in North America and globally.However, while the administration rolled ...
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FeatureEU and Mexico to accelerate trade talks
The European Union and Mexico have announced an intention to accelerate trade talks and are planning two additional rounds of discussion on a “reformed free trade agreement” before the northern hemisphere summer.In a joint statement on the move, EU commissioner for trade, Cecilia Malmström (pictured), and Mexico’s minister of the ...
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FeatureNew Russian import rules lead to cars being stopped at customs
Several car shipments have been blocked on their way into Russia by its Federal Customs Service because they are not equipped with the Era-Glonass accident emergency response system.According to Yuri Ladygin, head of the Customs Service’s Far East Department, amendments to Russia’s customs regulations require all cars imported into the ...
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FeatureVehicle logistics: Why the only certainty is uncertainty
Constantly shifting political, industrial and logistical currents will ensure change remains the only constant in vehicle logisticsFinished vehicle logistics, perhaps more than other supply chain disciplines, is focused on operations at hand and responding flexibly to changes rather than speculating about future trends. While 2017 could be a year of ...
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FeatureECG column: More of the same or all change?
This year will be one of substantial change, but change brings opportunity… including the opportunity to treat our drivers better Wolfgang Göbel is president of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) Welcome to a new and probably rather interesting year. We entered 2017 in Europe with a ...
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FeatureFor UK carmakers, ‘Global Britain’ may not be enough
Production of Nissan Juke and Qashqai at Nissan Sunderland PlantThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK automotive trade body, has welcomed the UK government’s ambitions to develop new free trade deals that could benefit the automotive industry, including with large markets like the US and China, ...
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It may not be popular, but collaboration is still the only smart option
Despite the rise in populist protectionism so clearly underlined by the UK's recent vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's surprising US election win, working together remains the only sensible way forwardSupply chain experts will spend 2017 dealing with the aftermath of the protectionist sentiments that helped propel the ...
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FeatureTrump withdraws from TPP and prepares to renegotiate Nafta
As promised in his election campaign, US president Donald Trump has issued his first executive order by officially withdrawing the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.The future of the TPP is now uncertain, with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggesting China could replace the US but Japan ...
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FeatureAutomotive and logistics in focus for UK industrialisation strategy
UK prime minister Theresa May’s plan for the future of British industry following the country’s exit from the European Union (EU) has included guidance on the development of its “world-leading” automotive sector.However, while the 132-page plan gives an approximation of where its competitiveness should be enhanced, the real detail has ...
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FeatureKansas City Southern counts the cost of Mexican fuel price rise
Kansas City Southern (KCS) has said it is paying 70% more for its fuel in Mexico than it does in the US, following price hikes of 15-20% in some parts of the country at the start of this year, which have led to widespread protests.Speaking at his company’s fourth quarter ...
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FeatureEmerging market growth overshadowed by protectionism concerns
China topped the index once again, based on market size, ease of doing business and logistics infrastructureThe outlook for growth in emerging markets is decidedly mixed, according to a recent survey of logistics and supply chain professionals, with economic uncertainty compounded by worries over rising protectionism and restrictions to ...
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FeatureRo-ro carriers given the right to jointly negotiate US tugboat prices
The US Federal Maritime Commission has decided to permit major ro-ro carriers to jointly negotiate the pricing of tug services at US ports from now on.The news comes after the commission voted to amend the existing cooperative working agreement that shippers Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WWL), Eukor, American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) ...
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FeatureUS tariffs ‘of limited long-term impact’ on Mexico, says WWL
Export tariffs to the US will be of limited long-term impact on Mexico’s automotive sector despite some short- to medium-term concerns, the head of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) in Mexico has suggested.Commenting on an analysis of the Mexican market produced by WWL recently, including the threat of tariffs being imposed ...
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FeatureVW admits diesel emissions scandal spelt an end to C-TPAT status
Volkswagen Group of America has revealed that it was removed from the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) programmes, following the diesel emissions scandal in 2015.Companies on the C-TPAT list are considered low risk, resulting in expedited processing of their cargo, including fewer customs examinations. The programme ...
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FeatureBrexit: Why a nod of recognition is not enough to calm the nerves
Insights from British prime minister Theresa May this week into how she sees the UK's exit from the European Union panning out have done little to address the main concerns of the automotive sectorYou might accuse the current British government of many things in its strategy for leaving the European ...
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FeatureCarmakers continue with investment plans for US plants
GM and Hyundai have both announced substantial investments in the US this week – but despite incoming US president Donald Trump using Twitter to shower himself with praise for these investments, their plans have been in place for some time, according to the OEMs themselves.Following Trump's criticism of GM’s production ...
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FeatureTrump threatens BMW with import tax; turns criticism to EU trade
US-president elect Donald Trump has turned his criticism of carmakers importing vehicles to the country from Mexico on BMW. As with Ford, GM and Toyota, Trump has threatened BMW with an import tax of 35% should it move vehicles to the US from its planned new plant in San Luis ...
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FeatureUK car industry needs to avoid ‘cliff-edge’ in hard Brexit
Fresh insights into prime minister Theresa May’s plans for the UK’s exit from the European Union have reignited concerns over just what deal can be struck and what terms of international trade will apply...Confirmation this week by UK prime minister Theresa May (pictured) that the country would leave the European ...