Author: Editorial Desk

European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic has warned that the bloc risks falling behind as China reshapes global trade dynamics, arguing that slow investigations and rigid defence tools leave Europe exposed to rising export pressure and state-backed competition. Speaking before the European Parliament’s trade committee, Sefcovic said the EU’s current approach to trade defence is too slow to respond to Beijing’s expanding industrial capacity and growing surplus. He highlighted a €360 billion trade deficit with China last year and described the imbalance as unsustainable over the medium to long term. Citing International Monetary Fund data, he said roughly 4% of…

European stocks closed higher on Tuesday as investors evaluated the impact of new U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump at a lower than expected 10% rate, easing some of the market’s earlier concerns about a sharper escalation in global trade tensions. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended the session up 0.3%, recovering from earlier declines, while regional markets delivered mixed performances. Automotive shares, among the sectors most exposed to tariffs and export policies, led gains and finished nearly 2% higher as traders adjusted expectations following confirmation of the reduced levy. Markets had started the week under pressure after Trump…

UK dairy and red meat exports have surpassed £4 billion for the first time, reflecting rising global demand for British livestock products and a growing reliance on overseas markets to support sector profitability. New figures from HMRC show dairy exports reached £2.2 billion in 2025, marking a 16.6% increase compared with the previous year. Red meat exports, including offal, climbed 12% to £2 billion. The milestone underscores the expanding role of international trade in sustaining farm revenues and balancing domestic supply pressures. The European Union continues to dominate as the primary destination, accounting for 73.9% of UK dairy export value…

The global steel market is showing renewed signs of imbalance, with excess production capacity widening as demand growth slows. Data from the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity indicates that the gap between worldwide production capacity and actual consumption reached 179.6 million tons in the third quarter of 2025, representing a 1.4% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. In its February 2026 monitoring bulletin, the forum identified Morocco among countries where installed steel capacity exceeds domestic demand. The assessment comes as weaker global consumption pushes more producers to rely on export markets to maintain output levels, intensifying…

Greek kiwi has reinforced its standing in global agricultural markets, ranking third worldwide in export value as production doubled over the past decade and Vietnam officially opened its market to the fruit starting 1 March 2026. The development marks another milestone for one of Greece’s most prominent export fruits, reflecting steady gains in output, improved cultivation practices, and expanding international reach. Vietnam has now joined a growing list of destinations as Greek exporters continue to diversify trade routes. Official figures from the Ministry of Rural Development and Food showed that kiwi production increased from 171,719 tons in 2014 to 341,998…

The Philippine ube and ube-based products generated $3.06 million in export earnings in 2025, reflecting growing global demand for authentic Asian flavors, natural food colorants, and versatile specialty ingredients, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. In a Feb. 20 statement, the DTI said purple yam, traditionally used in Filipino desserts, has evolved into a premium ingredient gaining traction in high-value markets, including the Middle East, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The agency reported sustained growth in processed ube exports such as powder, puree, halaya, and flavor extracts, with overseas manufacturers increasingly incorporating the ingredient into…

The Thai Chamber of Commerce has warned that uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy is intensifying after President Donald Trump announced an immediate increase in global import tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that could place fresh pressure on export-driven economies and currency stability across Asia. The chamber said the latest tariff decision signals that Washington continues to treat trade barriers as a strategic economic instrument, even after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affected earlier tariff measures. For Thailand, whose economy relies heavily on overseas shipments, the escalation risks weakening export competitiveness while increasing volatility in the baht. Dr.…

China has reaffirmed its support for the non-discrimination principle at the heart of the World Trade Organization (WTO). European Union risk undermining a rule long viewed as central to the global trading system, even as analysts say the provision is unlikely to disappear. In a newly submitted position paper, Beijing described the most favored nation principle as the foundation of multilateral trade, arguing that equal treatment among member economies helps prevent discrimination and protects smaller markets from being sidelined. The document marks China’s first major reform submission since the WTO began a formal self-review process in 2022, according to the…

Bangladesh’s trade policy experts and industry leaders are urging a cautious reassessment of the country’s American Reciprocal Trade (ART) agreement after a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court reshaped the tariff framework that had underpinned earlier negotiations with Washington. The agreement, signed on Feb. 9, secured a reciprocal tariff rate of 19%, slightly reduced from 20%. A Feb. 20 court decision invalidating broad tariff measures introduced during former President Donald Trump’s administration has temporarily lowered tariffs to a flat 10% for at least 150 days while the United States conducts country-specific trade reviews. The revised rate, which came into…

The U.S. International Trade Commission has opened a new investigation into automobile rules of origin under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), aiming to assess their impact on the U.S. economy, competitiveness, and relevance amid rapid technological change. According to a notice published on the commission’s website, the probe marks the third scheduled review since the trilateral pact, commonly known as CUSMA, replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement during the first administration of President Donald Trump. The commission is required to conduct these assessments every two years through 2031, with the latest report on the automotive sector due to the…