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How One Trade Document Rewrote Global Cotton Trade
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the surprisingly complex history of the cotton certificate of origin — a single piece of paperwork that has shaped global cotton trade for over a century. They trace its origins to the 1920s and the U.S. Cotton Futures Act, explain how it became a de facto quality seal, and reveal how its misuse in the 1980s led to the creation of the modern International Cotton Association rules. Specific examples include the 1985 'Egyptian Cotton' labeling scandal and the rise of the ICA Bylaws as the industry standard. The episode explores how this document has quietly governed billions in trade and why it matters for today's supply chain transparency debates.