Jordan is bolstering its export position in the European Union to diversify its trade relationships and boost economic resilience. According to newly released data from the Department of Statistics, Jordan exports to the EU rose to JD143 million in the first quarter of 2025, up from JD125 million during the same period last year. This increase reflects the growing competitiveness of Jordanian products and deeper bilateral trade ties. Imports from the EU also climbed by 9.6%, reaching JD986 million, compared to JD900 million a year earlier. The total trade volume between Jordan and the EU reached JD1.129 billion, with the…

South Korea has become the world’s second-largest cosmetics exporter, surpassing the United States in export value for the first four months of 2025. According to data released by the Korea International Trade Association and reported by Yonhap News Agency on Monday, South Korea exported $3.6 billion worth of cosmetics between January and April, narrowly edging out the United States, which exported $3.57 billion. France remains the global leader in cosmetics exports. The development marks another rise in South Korea’s global cosmetics ranking after overtaking Germany last year and highlights the continuing international appeal of K-beauty products. The news triggered a…

The United Kingdom’s High Court has decided that British-made parts for U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets can still be sent to Israel. The court rejected a legal case by human rights groups who were concerned that the parts could be used in potential breaches of international law in Gaza. The case, brought by the West Bank-based rights group al-Haq and the Global Legal Action Network against the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, aimed to stop the export of all British components used in F-35 aircraft accessible to Israel. The claimants argued that these parts risk being used in the ongoing…

Indonesia is easing import restrictions on 10 categories of goods as part of the initial phase of regulatory reform, aimed at strengthening domestic industries and accelerating economic growth. Trade Minister Budi Santoso, speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, said the move is part of a wider reform package designed to simplify bureaucracy, cut costs, and improve competitiveness. “We are relaxing import procedures for ten types of products to streamline licensing and facilitate business operations,” he stated. Affected Product Categories The relaxed import measures apply to: Forestry products (e.g., industrial wood and raw materials) Subsidized fertilizers Fuel and…

President Trump’s recent moves on trade and digital currencies have stirred global markets and raised economic tensions. On Friday, Trump ended all trade talks with Canada and warned of new tariffs on Canadian goods. Meanwhile, the EU is reviewing his wider tariff plans, including a proposed 10% tax on EU imports. The EU must decide whether to go along with an unfair trade deal or fight back, which could make the trade fight worse. Officials are reportedly exploring options like lowering tariffs on U.S. products or applying a tariff-rate quota system to stabilize relations and avoid severe consequences, including Washington’s…

Facing strong opposition from Japan, the European Union has formally submitted a proposal to impose global export restrictions on all eel species under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The proposal, if adopted at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in CITES in Uzbekistan later this year, would take effect in June 2027. It mandates that exporting countries provide proof of legal capture and obtain an export permit for species, including the Japanese eel. Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Shinjiro Koizumi, criticized the…

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has urged the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to eliminate the requirement for gold import-export licences under a draft decree currently under review. An official dispatch sent to the SBV by VCCI provided feedback on the draft decree amending and supplementing several articles of Decree 24/2012, which governs gold trading activities. The chamber argued that the licensing requirement for importing and exporting gold is redundant, as such licences are granted exclusively to gold production enterprises that are already under strict oversight by the SBV. VCCI emphasized that maintaining a separate licensing process…

Nike has signalled that it will raise consumer prices as it grapples with ongoing U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, adding to cost pressures already challenging the athletic apparel giant. CEO Elliott Hill’s renewed focus on sports-led innovation and marketing is beginning to pay off, with Nike’s running category returning to growth in the fourth quarter after a period of decline. To reclaim lost market share in the fast-expanding running segment, Nike has ramped up investment in performance shoes such as the Pegasus and Vomero lines, while scaling back production of legacy sneakers like the Air Force 1. According to Citi…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on EU leaders to spearhead a new trade cooperation framework with Asian countries, presenting it as a step toward reforming or even redesigning the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has long been strained by gridlock. Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, von der Leyen outlined options for deeper trade ties, notably with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)—a regional trade pact that includes 11 Pacific Rim countries and the UK. She framed this potential cooperation as a response to the WTO’s prolonged dysfunction.…

Georgia-grown peaches are being exported to Mexico for the first time in nearly three decades. The achievement comes from a partnership between Genuine Georgia and Atlanta-based food safety technology firm Reveam, which made it possible to meet Mexico’s strict import rules. Since 1994, peaches from the southeastern U.S. have been banned from entering Mexico due to pest concerns. The restriction has now been overcome using Reveam’s proprietary Electronic Cold-Pasteurization (ECP) technology, approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This advanced, chemical-free treatment uses electron beam technology to eliminate pests and pathogens while preserving the fruit’s quality and freshness. Through…