Author: Editorial Desk

The Shanghai Used Car International Trading Comprehensive Service Platform was launched on Thursday in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, marking a new stage in the city’s push to expand secondhand vehicle exports. The initiative reflects Shanghai’s position as a major automotive hub and the world’s largest trading port, where overseas demand for used vehicles has continued to strengthen. According to data from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the city exported more than 20,000 used vehicles in the first 11 months of this year, more than doubling year-on-year. In September, the commission issued an action plan to accelerate…

Korea’s dried seaweed industry is poised to hit a record export milestone, with shipments on track to reach $1.1 billion this year as global appetite for the product rises. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Customs Service reported on December 17 that exports of dried seaweed totaled $1.04 billion, or 35,000 tons, as of the end of November. This is the first time annual exports have surpassed the $1 billion mark. The figure represents roughly 60% growth in just three years, up from $648 million. Demand has surged in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia,…

China is set to expand its pear exports in the 2025/26 marketing year despite a dip in production and a sharp fall in imports of Western pear varieties, according to the USDA’s latest Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual report. The marketing year runs from July to June. The report estimates China’s pear production will fall to 20.5 million tons in 2025/26, a 2% decline from the revised estimate for 2024/25. Weather played a decisive role in the uneven output across major producing regions. Anhui, a key production area in southern China, benefited from a favorable climate and improved cultivation practices, resulting…

Italy’s wine sector is pressing the government to back the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, warning that delaying ratification would mean losing access to a major growth opportunity. The push comes just days after France stated its opposition to the deal, raising the risk of a political block at the EU level. The agreement between the European Union and Mercosur states Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay has been in negotiation for years and would create one of the world’s largest free trade areas. It is designed to phase out tariffs, ease non-tariff barriers, and increase market access for European exporters. In…

The United States has criticized the World Trade Organization, arguing that it is no longer a practical or effective forum for resolving modern trade disputes and has contributed to deep global trade imbalances. In a policy paper outlining proposed reforms, the U.S. government said the WTO lacks the tools and authority needed to address current and emerging challenges in the global trading system. The document claims that the WTO has overseen a system that has produced severe structural imbalances, leaving many countries exposed to economic dependencies and supply chain vulnerabilities. According to the U.S., these imbalances stem from practices such…

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, marking a major step toward simplifying and modernizing global trade. Approved on December 16, the Convention allows the use of a single negotiable document for goods transported by road, rail, air, or sea, and permits its use in both paper and electronic form. The new treaty introduces a unified cargo document that can be used while goods are still in transit, enabling them to be bought, sold, or pledged as collateral. This approach is expected to streamline trade processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve access…

The U.S.–Ghana partnership is entering a new phase focused on expanding trade, attracting strategic investment, strengthening health sustainability, and deepening security cooperation, as Washington recalibrates its broader engagement with Africa toward mutual benefit and reduced aid dependency. Will Stevens, Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, said Ghana remains a priority partner in the region, citing sustained high-level engagement, rising trade volumes, and close alignment with U.S. policy objectives under the current administration. Speaking at a policy interaction in Accra, Stevens said bilateral trade between the two countries has grown from…

The United Kingdom and South Korea have finalized a free trade agreement aimed at boosting exports, supporting thousands of jobs, and strengthening economic growth, UK officials said. The deal was announced in London by UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant and South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo following high-level talks between the two governments last week. It marks the fourth trade agreement concluded by the UK government this year, after deals with India, the European Union, and the United States. The agreement with South Korea, the world’s 12th largest economy, is expected to increase UK services exports by £400 million, including…

Products bearing the ‘Made in Saudi’ logo have reached about 19,000 and are now exported to 180 countries, reflecting the growing international footprint of Saudi-made goods, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources said. Speaking at the opening of the third edition of the ‘Made in Saudi’ exhibition, Minister Bandar Alkhorayef said the program currently includes 3,700 registered national companies. He noted that the first half of 2025 marked the highest semi-annual level of non-oil exports on record, valued at SR307 billion ($81.8 billion), following total non-oil exports of around SR515 billion in 2024. Launched in 2021, the ‘Made in…

Nigeria earned N3.63 trillion from cocoa exports over a one-year period despite volatility and a recent slump in global prices, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The earnings were recorded between June 2024 and June 2025, driven by sustained demand from key European markets, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Germany. The data shows strong export momentum across multiple quarters, underscoring cocoa’s growing role in Nigeria’s non-oil trade. In the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria exported raw cocoa beans worth N1.32 trillion, followed by N485.5 billion in the second quarter. In 2024, exports stood at N624.71…