Author: Editorial Desk

Global stock markets are preparing for renewed volatility when trading resumes on Monday after former U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh tariffs on eight European countries unless they support his proposal to acquire Greenland. Trump has outlined plans to levy a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, rising to 25% from June 1. The announcement has unsettled investors and raised concerns among European businesses about renewed trade disruption and geopolitical instability. Weekend trading indicators from brokerage IG suggest the London Stock Exchange is likely to…

India is seeking easier access to steel scrap from the European Union as part of negotiations under the proposed India–EU free trade agreement, aiming to soften the impact of the EU’s new carbon-linked import levy that took effect on January 1, according to people familiar with the discussions. Indian negotiators have raised concerns that the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), combined with the bloc’s recycling policies, is effectively creating a non-tariff barrier. While CBAM imposes additional costs on imports produced with higher carbon emissions, the EU’s recycling framework also limits the export of metal scrap in order to…

European and South American leaders have signed a landmark free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, concluding 25 years of negotiations and creating one of the world’s largest trading areas at a time of growing global protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty. The agreement, finalized on Saturday by the 27-nation EU and Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is expected to become the EU’s largest trade deal once fully ratified. It must still receive approval from the European Parliament and the national legislatures of the Mercosur countries before entering into force, which officials project could happen by…

China’s AI exports of high-end electronics and manufactured goods surged in 2025, helping the country post a record trade surplus despite softer demand from the United States, according to a new report by ICICI Securities. The report said China’s export mix has shifted sharply toward higher-value products, with AI-linked electronics, mechanical equipment, electrical goods, and other advanced manufacturing items now accounting for nearly 85% of total shipments. This transformation has strengthened export resilience and reduced the impact of U.S. tariffs. Exports rose 6.6% year-on-year in December 2025, beating market expectations and bringing full-year export growth to 5.5%. The shift toward…

India needs a comprehensive overhaul of its import tariff framework and customs administration to reduce trade costs, strengthen manufacturing competitiveness, and revive export growth, according to a new report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The study, titled ‘A Blueprint for Modernizing India’s Import Tariffs and Customs Regime,’ stated that the country’s existing tariff and customs system has become overly complex, inefficient, and misaligned with India’s broader manufacturing and supply-chain ambitions. Instead of facilitating trade, customs operations continue to function largely as a control-driven mechanism, creating friction for businesses. The report comes as India’s merchandise trade has crossed $1.16…

Canada has agreed to reduce its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs (Electric Vehicles) in exchange for lower Chinese tariffs on key Canadian agricultural exports, marking a clear departure from its previous alignment with the United States on trade policy, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday. Carney announced the deal after two days of meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing. Under the agreement, Chinese electric vehicle exports to Canada will initially be capped at 49,000 units annually, rising to about 70,000 vehicles over the next five years. In return, China will cut its total tariff on Canadian canola seeds from…

Turkey has terminated its anti-dumping investigation into Indonesian cold-rolled stainless steel, exempting the products from punitive duties and opening the door for expanded exports into the Turkish market. The Turkish authorities formally closed the case on December 27, 2025, concluding that imports of Indonesian cold-rolled stainless steel involved only negligible levels of dumping and did not cause material injury to Türkiye’s domestic industry. The investigation, launched on June 28, 2024, covered shipments from both Indonesia and China. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the outcome reflected the growing competitiveness of the country’s steel industry and the government’s active engagement throughout…

The global economy continues to show resilience despite recent trade shocks, although risks remain tilted to the downside, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said during a visit to Kyiv on January 15. Georgieva said the IMF’s forthcoming World Economic Outlook update will reaffirm that trade disruptions have not derailed overall global growth, even as uncertainty persists. The update is scheduled for release on January 19, alongside the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Washington. “More of the same, that the world economy is remarkably resilient, that trade shock has not derailed global growth, that risks are more…

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has urged the government to adopt structural tax and policy reforms to position India as a global diamond trading hub on the lines of Antwerp and Dubai, including the possible introduction of a carat-based tax model similar to Belgium. In a representation submitted to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of the Union Budget, the council outlined a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the sector at a time when global demand pressures and trade disruptions are weighing on exports. GJEPC said India already cuts and polishes around 90% of the world’s…

Saudi EXIM Bank has signed a reinsurance agreement with Germany’s official Export Credit Agency, managed by Euler Hermes Aktiengesellschaft, aimed at strengthening credit risk insurance coverage to support Saudi exporters of capital goods and production inputs sourced from the Federal Republic of Germany. The agreement forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to expand cooperation with international export credit agencies, ensuring the secure and sustainable flow of essential raw materials and capital equipment while improving the efficiency and reliability of export activities for local enterprises, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The agreement was signed by Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb,…