Author: Editorial Desk

CUTS International has launched a new global initiative, ‘Trade Not Just Aid: Winners and Losers in the WTO’ (TRaNJA), aimed at fostering a constructive narrative around the World Trade Organization and revitalizing the multilateral trading system. The initiative was unveiled at a high-level event titled Shaping the Future of Global Trade in an Era of Shifting U.S. Engagement, Emerging Powers and Digital Innovation, held from 2 to 4 December 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. The program was organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German political foundation known for its long-standing engagement in equitable global trade policy. Nearly 30 experts from 16…

A senior delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, led by Deputy USTR Ambassador Rick Switzer, will arrive in India on December 9. The three-day visit is part of the ongoing India–U.S. trade engagement, according to official sources cited by ANI. Formal negotiations are set for December 10 and 11. Both sides will review the full spectrum of trade issues as they push to advance the India–U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, India’s Chief Negotiator, will lead the Indian team through the latest round of talks. India remains confident that the first tranche of the…

Malaysia’s banking sector closed 2025 in a strong position, supported by stable profitability, steady loan growth, and resilient asset quality, even as the global economy faced persistent trade tensions. Analysts say the sector’s outlook for next year remains steady, backed by diversified loan portfolios and favorable domestic conditions. A major development in 2025 was Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd’s acquisition of Export-Import Bank of Malaysia (Exim Bank) and SME Bank, completed in May based on their net tangible assets as of December 2023. The consolidation is expected to strengthen the banks’ mandates in addressing national development financing needs. Solid performance in…

India’s reliance on arecanut imports has risen sharply over the past ten years, with inbound volumes and value expanding far faster than the country’s exports, according to new government data. The trend has widened the trade gap in the commodity and heightened concerns among growers despite a 100% import duty. Data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, shared in response to an unstarred Lok Sabha question from MP B. Y. Raghavendra, shows that India exported 2,396.26 metric tons of arecanut worth Rs 105.84 crore in 2024–25. A decade earlier, exports were 6,284.91 MT valued at Rs 78…

Vietnam’s book exports remain modest even as the global publishing industry experiences renewed growth, according to findings released at a recent summary conference on publishing imports and exports from 2023 to 2025. The event, organized by the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted both progress and persistent challenges for the sector. Deputy Director Nguyen Ngoc Bao reported that 28 units across the country currently hold import licences, though only 19 are actively importing publications. Between 2023 and 2025, the market was hit by post-pandemic economic conditions and weakened purchasing power. Government…

The European Union is preparing to restrict rice imports from India, Pakistan, and several Asian countries through a new safeguard mechanism aimed at protecting its domestic growers and millers. Internal documents accessed by Businessline indicate that the move will be implemented under a tariff rate quota system. On December 1, the European Council and Parliament agreed to introduce a ‘specific automatic safeguard mechanism’ for both basmati and non-basmati rice. The mechanism will activate if import volumes rise significantly above the EU’s historical average. Once triggered, shipments will face most-favored-nation (MFN) tariffs for a defined period. The provisional deal is expected…

Afghanistan has exported a cotton shipment to Russia for the first time, marking a new development in trade relations between Kabul and Moscow. Russia’s RTV television network reported on Saturday, December 5, that a trial shipment of 45 tons had arrived at textile company warehouses in the Ivanovo region. The shipment was imported by PrimeTex, a Russian raw-material sourcing company for spinning mills. Its director, Dmitry Bakarinov, said the idea originated from Uzbek partners. After Afghan cotton samples passed technical tests, two trial consignments were sent to Russia. Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision confirmed to RTV that…

Global container shipping rates increased this week for the first time in nearly a month, ending a three-week decline that had pushed spot prices to their lowest point since January. According to the latest Drewry World Container Index, average rates climbed 7% to $1,927 per FEU, driven by stronger pricing on the Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade lanes as carriers shift to more tactical rate management. Transpacific routes led the rebound. Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 8% to $2,256 per FEU, while Shanghai to New York increased 6% to $2,895. The gains reflect a strategic pivot by carriers away…

Export goals under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) have been revised downward to reflect mounting global trade uncertainties, a senior Trade Department official said on Thursday. Bianca Pearl Sykimte, director of the Export Marketing Bureau and executive director of the Export Development Council, confirmed that the 2025 target had been reduced to a range of $110.8 billion to $113.4 billion, down sharply from the previous target of $163.6 billion. Targets for 2027 to 2028 were also lowered. Export goals were revised to $116.1–$120.2 billion for 2027, $123.3–$127.4 billion for 2028, and $132.8–$135.1 billion for 2029. These were previously set…

South Korea’s annual exports are on track to exceed $700 billion for the first time, marking a historic milestone driven by strong demand for semiconductors and ships, according to a new outlook from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). The 2025 Export-Import Evaluation and 2026 Outlook, released on Dec. 5 by KITA’s International Trade & Business Institute, estimates that total exports for 2024 will reach $704 billion, a 3% rise from last year. This would mark the highest export performance in the country’s history. The trade surplus is projected to hit $74 billion. Semiconductors and shipbuilding provided the strongest lift.…