🤖 Tech in Procurement

Compri Tariff – and Now Tariffs Just Got Bitter!

New day, new tariffs from Mr. President! 😅 We’ve had enough of talking about this endlessly, so we built a solution.

Introducing our new tool that lets you calculate and track U.S. tariff changes in real time. So whenever Mr. President pulls his latest trick out of the hat, you’ll be in full control! 📉

Why you’ll love it:

• Real-time updates!

• Simple and customizable – Filter by category and country of origin

• Free – at least you’ll save money here 😉

Click the link: https://tariffs.compri.ai/

🌎 Global Outlook

🚗 Engine Stalling: Europe’s Auto Industry Slows Down Amid Tariffs, Decline, and Global Shifts

Europe’s car market hit reverse in 2024. According to the latest Eurostat report, both exports and imports of passenger vehicles have slowed down in the EU and in Italy. By the numbers: 5.4 million cars exported (–13.2% compared to 2019) and 4 million imported (–3%). It’s a clear sign that the sector—already tested by global crises and technological transformations—is struggling to regain momentum.

The value is there, but the surplus is shrinking: exports totaled €165.2 billion, while imports reached €75.9 billion. The result? A positive trade balance of €89.3 billion, mainly driven by sales to the United States (€38.9 billion) and the United Kingdom (€34.3). But the landscape is shifting: exports to China have dropped by 22.3%, while those to Turkey have skyrocketed by +364.1%, signaling a new trade axis in the making.

On the import side, China leads with €12.7 billion in vehicle exports to the EU, followed by Japan, the UK, Turkey, and the U.S. It’s a major shake-up that reflects China’s explosive export growth—up by +1591.3% since 2019. The European car industry now finds itself squeezed between falling market share in China and an invasion of Asian vehicles on its home turf.

And Italy? Holding on, but just barely. Extra-EU exports sit at €8.1 billion, with imports at €7.1 billion. The surplus with the U.S. (+€3.3 billion) leaves Italy exposed to potential tariffs. With China, the country already faces a €700 million deficit—a gap that’s likely to grow. Chinese manufacturers are aggressively targeting Italy as a key market, expanding their distribution networks. The risk? It could become harder for Italian cars to break into China, while Asian cars gain a stronger foothold in Europe.

🔗 Source: https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/auto-cinque-anni-sono-calate-produzioni-e-esportazioni-paesi-dell-ue-AHLt52K

⚠️ Procurement Scandal in Ukraine: Deputy Minister Resigns Amid Corruption Allegations

Following the April 11 resignation of Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, the First Deputy Minister in charge of procurement, new details have emerged linking his departure to a much broader story: a full-blown corruption investigation in the procurement sector.

🔎 On April 2, Ukrainian authorities formally charged five individuals, including a former Ministry of Defense official, with alleged misconduct tied to food supply contracts for the troops during the early months of the Russian invasion. The accusations? Inflated prices and embezzlement exceeding $17 million, between August and December 2022.

According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the fraud was made possible with the help of internal officials who allegedly “turned a blind eye” to pricing irregularities in the contracts.

👉 This development casts further doubt on the management of military procurement and adds fuel to suspicions that internal tensions led to Havryliuk’s resignation.

Meanwhile, debate is heating up around Defense Minister Rustem Umerov’s attempt to merge two key agencies (DPA and DOT)—a move many fear could undermine the structural reforms backed by NATO and the EU to ensure transparency in procurement.

🔗 Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-prepares-corruption-charges-high-profile-procurement-case-2025-04-02/
https://kyivindependent.com/first-deputy-defense-minister-resigns/

🖼️ Meme of the Day