Author: Editorial Desk

Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has concluded an official visit to Singapore and Vietnam focused on expanding trade ties, promoting Canadian agri-food exports, and advancing cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region, the federal government said Wednesday. During the trip, Sidhu met government officials and industry leaders to underline Canada’s support for free trade and to push for deeper economic integration with Southeast Asia. The Indo-Pacific is viewed by Ottawa as a critical growth market, particularly for Canadian agriculture and food exports, and remains central to the country’s long-term economic strategy. In Vietnam, Sidhu participated in an agri-food showcase hosted…

Tariffs imposed by the United States on South African agricultural products are pushing up the price of South African wine in the world’s largest wine market. The higher costs are eroding competitiveness and contributing to declining export volumes, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s February global trade update. South African wine is now about 17% more expensive in the U.S. compared with 2024 price levels relative to competing imports, Bloomberg reported. Producers of wine and fruit have been affected by American duties of up to 30% on certain agricultural goods, a policy shift that has weighed…

World Trade Organization (WTO) members have backed a draft decision aimed at strengthening the participation of small economies in global trade, a move seen as a breakthrough for least developed and developing nations seeking greater inclusion in the multilateral trading system. The proposal, agreed during the Committee on Trade and Development’s Dedicated Session on Small Economies on February 17, will be forwarded to ministers for consideration at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March. If adopted, it would become the first text advanced to ministers ahead of the gathering in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The initiative was tabled by the WTO’s…

Brazil is targeting bilateral trade with India of $20 billion by 2026, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva undertakes an official visit to New Delhi focused on strengthening commercial and strategic ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, according to TV BRICS. Trade between the two countries reached $15.2 billion in 2025, reflecting a 25% increase compared with 2024. The latest target builds on commitments made during high-level engagements last year and includes plans to expand the number of traded products from roughly 1,500 to 2,000, TV BRICS reported, citing Brasil 247. The move signals a broader…

The United States has secured expanded trade access for pork exports to Taiwan under a new agreement aimed at reducing regulatory barriers and strengthening agricultural trade ties between the two economies. The deal marks the culmination of more than 15 years of negotiations and advocacy led by the National Pork Producers Council, which has long pushed for improved market conditions in Taiwan, a high-value destination for American pork. Industry representatives say the agreement is expected to increase export opportunities for U.S. producers while offering more predictable trade rules. NPPC President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from Ohio, described the development…

Indian trade strategy could mark 2026 as a defining year for the country’s global economic positioning, with a series of major agreements signalling a clear departure from its earlier protectionist stance. Even before March begins, New Delhi has moved ahead with sweeping trade arrangements involving the European Union and the United States, alongside fresh negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council bloc. Officials and analysts describe the new deals as among the most ambitious in India’s modern trade history. Yet concerns persist about the asymmetric nature of some interim provisions, particularly in the pact with Washington, which critics argue may tilt…

Wadi Jeddah, the investment arm of King Abdulaziz University, has partnered with EVS Saudi Arabia 2026 (2nd Edition), the Kingdom’s leading platform dedicated to electric mobility and sustainable transport. The second edition of EVS Saudi Arabia 2026 will take place from 4–6 May 2026 at the Jeddah International Exhibition & Conference Center, bringing together government stakeholders, industry leaders, innovators, investors, and academic institutions to explore the future of electric mobility and sustainable transport in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by strengthening innovation, localization, and human capital development within the electric…

Canada is leading efforts to bring two of the world’s largest trade groupings closer together, as discussions begin on a potential economic partnership linking the European Union with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (EU-CPTPP), according to a report by Politico. Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for stronger cooperation among middle-power economies amid growing uncertainty in global trade, particularly after renewed tariff threats from the United States. Speaking to global leaders in Davos, Carney said Ottawa is championing a plan to build closer ties between the EU and the trans-Pacific bloc, a move that could eventually connect…

The United States’ plan to establish a new critical minerals trading bloc signals a deeper shift in the global economic order, as competition for scarce resources begins to reshape trade, energy policy, and geopolitical strategy. Announced by Vice President JD Vance, the proposal reflects growing recognition that traditional free trade systems are giving way to a more strategic, state-driven model centered on securing access to essential materials. Analysts say the change is driven by a new set of economic realities, where resource constraints, climate pressures, and rising electricity demand are becoming more influential than financial flows alone. The electrification of…

Thailand must strengthen its role as a ‘trusted partner’ in an increasingly polarized global environment, where trade strategy and foreign policy need to move in step to manage geopolitical and economic shifts, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said on Monday. Speaking at an international seminar organized by the International Institute for Trade and Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suphajee warned that Thailand can no longer operate in isolation as global trade patterns undergo rapid transformation. Addressing more than 150 participants, she said trust has become the most valuable currency in modern trade, adding that sustainable partnerships depend on credibility…