Explore how Murabahah trade finance works: a cost-plus sale that ties profit to genuine risk and real goods, distinguishing Islamic banking from conventional lending.

Switzerland's 2026 ordinance gives electronic documents of title statutory force in commodity trade, creating a complete legal framework for digital trading.

The G2 world of US and China dominance has reshaped global trade. A new inclusive model is needed to serve the rest of the world competitively.

Correspondent banking de-risking has stripped 60% of relationships from the Pacific. Africa, stablecoins, and blockchain offer alternatives.

Stablecoins now shape global trade and pose geopolitical challenges as US dollar dominance extends through digital assets into emerging and developed markets.

A panel of industry experts discusses the accelerating digitalisation of trade, highlighting progress in legal reform, the need for interoperable data standards, and the practical challenges facing SMEs, regulators and technology providers as the sector moves toward trusted, end‑to‑end digital trade.

An instant payment is a credit transfer that makes funds available to the payee within seconds. Unlike legacy payment methods like Automated Clearing House (ACH) or wire transfers, which typically rely on batch processing cycles and specific banking hours, instant payments operate in real time on a continuous basis.

Learn more on our instant payments topic page

We're celebrating excellence in trade finance, recognising the corporates driving real impact in global markets.

Banks, advisory firms, technology providers, insurers, and development partners are invited to nominate their corporate partners for outstanding work delivered between 2025 and 2026.

What's new in 2026?

🥇Over 20 categories across trade, treasury, and payments areas 🥇Connect with 100+ industry leaders 🥇Ceremony: 7 October 2026 at The Lansdowne Club, London

For corporates, reach out to your banks and counterparts to explore how your success can be recognised on the industry stage.

Nominations close in August 2026.

Visit our website to find out more. Link in the comments.

Global supply chains continue to operate under intense strain, with the latest CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Pulse Survey for Q2 2026 revealing that a slight easing in short-term anxiety does not signal a return to stability but rather a new normal of elevated risk.

Ben Farrell MBE, Global CEO of CIPS, said: “The tectonic plates of global trade are shifting. The world we knew has gone. Regionalisation is rising, globalisation is being reshaped, and those organisations that build resilient regional partnerships will be best placed to thrive.”

Dr John Glen the chartered institute of procurement supply, Chief Economist at CIPS, said: “The easing in short-term anxiety should not be misread as a return to normality. A short-term concern score of 4.95 is still higher than any Pulse reading before Q1 2026, and the 12-month outlook remains at one of the highest levels we have recorded. The direction of travel may have softened, but the level of concern remains elevated.”

Reported by Devanshee Dave for Trade Treasury Payments (TTP).

Barclays, HSBC, Lloyd's, and NatWest become the first UK banks to implement a new consumer payments initiative from Swift, reports Devanshee Dave from Trade Treasury Payments (TTP).

Swift has introduced this initiative to set a new standard for international retail transfers.

Adam Bealey, Chief Executive for UK & Ireland at Swift, said, “This framework represents an important step forward for the UK payments ecosystem. As expectations around international payments continue to rise, customers are seeking greater transparency, predictability and confidence throughout the payment journey.”

Sofie Petersen, Head of FIG Payments Products at Barclays, said, “Enabling near real-time settlement of cross-border payments through domestic payment schemes—while preserving end-to-end transparency and traceability—unlocks significant value for clients and the global financial institutions community.”

Mark D. Evans, Global Head of Payment Products at HSBC, added, “HSBC has always been focused on making international money movement simpler, faster and more transparent. The new Swift consumer payments initiative is an important step forward for all UK retail customers.”

Kim Verhaaf, Managing Director for Group Payments at Lloyds Banking Group Bank, noted, “Sending and receiving money from overseas should feel just as simple, fast, and secure as paying someone at home.”

Simon Eacott, Head of Payments at NatWest, quoted, “At NatWest, we’re focused on what matters most to our customers—making payments simpler, faster, and more transparent. Swift’s scheme is a key enabler of that vision.”

Taiwan’s leadership in AI, semiconductors and ICT is shaping its global role, supported by targeted industrial strategy, deeper EBRD collaboration and growing investment across Central and Eastern Europe.

A natural UK English overview of Jan Müller’s reflections at ICISA’s centenary, exploring the scale of trade credit insurance, rising insolvencies, the polycrisis and the industry’s role in supporting global trade through risk absorption and market development.

Trade Treasury Payments presents Issue 05 Fine Print, a publication exploring the deeper forces shaping global trade, treasury and payments at a time of rapid change across financial markets. This edition looks beyond surface level headlines to examine the structural realities influencing liquidity, cross border finance, payment systems and risk management. Through expert analysis and industry reporting, it highlights how finance professionals are navigating an increasingly complex environment where regulation, digital infrastructure and global economic uncertainty continue to reshape decision making. The issue brings together a broad range of perspectives on the future of trade finance, treasury operations and payment innovation, covering subjects such as digital trade adoption, foreign exchange risk, fraud prevention, supply chain finance, private credit and the evolving legal frameworks surrounding modern financial instruments. With coverage spanning global markets and emerging economies, the publication offers practical insight into the trends, challenges and strategic shifts defining the future of real economy finance in 2026.