China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), in coordination with eight other government departments, announced a set of measures on Wednesday aimed at strengthening the nation’s services export sector, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The announcement followed the conclusion of the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), held in Beijing from September 12 to 14, where officials highlighted the role of services in driving high-level opening-up and fostering new growth momentum in foreign trade. The newly introduced 13-point framework provides support through financial tools, tax incentives, credit services, visa facilitation, and international data flow management. Local governments have…

Global maritime trade is bracing for a period of fragile growth, rising costs, and heightened uncertainty, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned on Wednesday. According to the Review of Maritime Transport 2025, launched in Geneva, seaborne trade volumes are projected to increase by just 0.5% in 2025, marking the slowest pace in years. The slowdown reflects the combined impact of geopolitical tensions, new trade barriers, and climate challenges that are reshaping routes and driving up expenses. “The transitions ahead – to zero carbon, to digital systems, to new trade routes – must be just transitions,” said…

Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) has presented its assessment of the potential impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on the country’s export sector. The opinion was shared during a session held in Rabat on Wednesday, bringing together representatives from ministries, public institutions, international and national organizations, civil society, and CESE members. The meeting was attended by CESE Secretary General Younes Benakki, Moncef Ziani, chair of the permanent commission on economic affairs and strategic projects, and rapporteur Amine Mounir Alaoui. CESE President Abdelkader Amara highlighted that the Council’s opinion was prepared through a participatory process,…

The Port of Los Angeles, the United States’ busiest trade hub with China, is grappling with mounting pressure from tariffs and new fees, even as hopes for improved talks between Washington and Beijing remain alive. Eugene Seroka, executive director of the port, highlighted China’s central role in its operations. “Today at the Port of Los Angeles, China is our largest trading partner, and has been in that No. 1 position now for more than three decades. Over 40% of our business is import and export with China-based ports,” he said. Seroka noted that the outcome of recent China-U.S. trade talks…

Paysafe, a leading payments platform, has partnered with CMC Markets, a global provider of online trading and investment services. The collaboration enables CMC Markets to extend its payment options across the European Economic Area (EEA), Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other international markets, excluding the UK and the U.S. As part of the agreement, Paysafe’s digital wallets, Skrill and Neteller, become the first alternative payment methods available to CMC traders in these regions. Both wallets, with more than 20 years of experience serving the forex and financial trading industry, provide customers with fast, secure, and trader-focused funding solutions. CMC…

Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El-Khatib, has said that the country is working to secure a place among the world’s top 50 nations in trade and investment competitiveness within the next two years. Speaking at the Egypt–Rwanda Business Forum, held in the presence of Rwandan Minister of Trade Égide Gatera, El-Khatib outlined Egypt’s progress in modern infrastructure, citing advanced railways, road networks, energy systems, and the development of new cities. He also highlighted achievements in agriculture, where the adoption of smart irrigation systems and modern farming techniques has strengthened productivity and food security. El-Khatib reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment…

Global rice prices are falling as record-high production levels flood the market, but Thailand is moving in the opposite direction with export prices continuing to climb. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Rice Outlook report projects global rice production at a record 541.1 million tons for 2025/26. Combined with carryover stocks, this will push total global supply to 729.5 million tons, the highest ever recorded, and the third straight year of growth. The oversupply has pushed down values in several exporting nations. During the week of 9 September 2025, U.S. rice prices for the Latin American market fell by $45…

As much as 80% of vapes or illicit e-cigarettes circulating in the Philippines may be smuggled or counterfeit, a trade expert has warned, raising concerns over health risks and losses to legitimate businesses. Rodney Van Dooren, regional illicit trade expert at Philip Morris International (PMI), made the remarks during a recent Financial Times forum on illicit trade held in Taguig City. He cited a ‘massive discrepancy’ between China’s e-cigarette export figures and the Philippines’ official import data, indicating that most products bypass formal entry channels. While around 20% of the country’s cigarette market is already illicit, Van Dooren said counterfeit…

Republican Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi have introduced the India Shrimp Tariff Act, legislation aimed at protecting Louisiana’s shrimp and catfish farmers from what they describe as India’s unfair trade practices. The bill seeks to counter the alleged dumping of low-priced Indian shrimp into the U.S. market, which lawmakers say threatens domestic seafood producers. “People come from all over to try Louisiana gumbo, jambalaya, and shrimp and grits. That’s because our shrimpers and catfish farmers meet high standards,” Cassidy said in a statement. “By leveling the playing field, this bill protects Louisiana seafood and the…

Vietnam’s government has approved a five-year pilot program for a regulated crypto trading market, a move experts say reflects the country’s cautious embrace of fintech and its ambition to shape international governance standards in the sector. Adopted under Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP, the initiative establishes strict oversight aimed at protecting the rights and interests of both domestic and foreign participants while mitigating risks tied to digital assets. Colonel Dr. Hoang Van Thuc, director of the Academy of Cryptography Techniques and senior advisor to the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association, described the pilot as a demonstration of “smart risk governance.” He…