Author: Editorial Desk

Malaysia now requires mandatory trade permits for all high-performance artificial-intelligence (AI) chips originating from the United States, effective immediately. The move comes as the country seeks to manage escalating trade tensions with Washington and prevent potential misuse of its jurisdiction in global semiconductor supply chains. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) said the new requirement applies to exports, transshipments, and transits of such chips, citing national security and trade compliance concerns. Stakeholders must now notify Malaysian authorities at least 30 days in advance if the AI chips involved are not already listed under Malaysia’s Strategic Items List (SIL),…

President Donald Trump has announced a new round of tariffs, declaring a 30% levy on imports from the European Union and Mexico effective August 1. The move, outlined in letters posted on his social media account on Saturday, marks a major escalation in his broader trade strategy and revives one of the core themes of his 2024 campaign. In his message to Mexico’s leadership, Mr. Trump acknowledged past cooperation in curbing illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the United States but criticized Mexico for not doing enough. “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico…

Dutch exporters are expressing rising concern over international trade policy developments, with 95% of exporting manufacturers in the Netherlands anticipating negative impacts in the coming year, according to a new survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The CBS survey, conducted in May 2025, reveals that nearly four out of five manufacturing companies in the Netherlands are involved in exporting. Among them, the most pressing concerns relate to non-tariff barriers such as customs checks and product specification rules, which are feared to disrupt export activities. Approximately 77% of respondents cited import tariffs as a major concern, up from less than 10%…

Singapore declared a series of targeted measures to strengthen its economic resilience in the face of ongoing global trade disruptions, particularly in light of new U.S. tariff actions. The initiatives were unveiled by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. Speaking at a press briefing, DPM Gan underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding Singapore’s long-term economic interests through close collaboration with businesses, unions, and workers. Since April, SERT has engaged over 3,000 stakeholders, including business leaders, workers, union representatives, fresh graduates, and career coaches, to better understand…

The EU and U.S. are engaged in confidential negotiations over a potential trade framework aimed at shielding the European Union’s auto industry from escalating U.S. import tariffs, according to European officials and industry insiders. The European Commission is seeking to finalize an outline of a trade agreement with the United States before the August 1 deadline set by President Donald Trump, who recently hinted at announcing new tariff rates on EU exports within days. Among the options being considered are import quotas, reductions in existing tariffs, and an export credit system that would allow EU automakers to offset U.S. import…

India’s West Bengal government has initiated steps to bring the state’s traditional rural products, such as Khadi textiles, handicrafts, herbal goods, and other village industry items, to international markets through a structured export promotion strategy. According to official sources, the West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has invited proposals for appointing a consultant to design and execute this comprehensive strategy. As per the tender, the selected consultant will lead the development of an export facilitation program that will include capacity building, branding and certification support, and international trade linkage services tailored for micro and small-scale producers in the…

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (U.S. Exim) is falling behind its international counterparts due to outdated content rules, a slow approval process, and insufficient staffing, according to the bank’s latest annual competitiveness report and feedback from exporters and lenders. Global export credit agencies (ECAs) provided a total of $115.4 billion in medium- to long-term (MLT) export credit in the past year, marking a 20% rise from 2023. China led the list with $23.5 billion in MLT support, followed by Germany ($18.6bn), Italy ($16.9bn), France ($12.1bn), and Korea ($9.2bn). U.S. Exim ranked seventh, issuing $5.9 billion, up from $4.7…

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans on Tuesday to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, though no timeline was given for implementation. The proposal, made during a cabinet meeting, was confirmed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, but no executive orders were signed at the time. The proposed copper tariff comes as part of a broader strategy to realign global trade, following Trump’s previous levies on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. The announcement caused copper prices to surge by 8.7% to $5.47 per pound and boosted shares in mining firm Freeport-McMoran by 4.6%. Canada, which exported $9.3 billion worth of copper…

A top United Nations trade official has cautioned that the United States’ decision to delay the expiration of a tariff suspension could deepen global trade uncertainty and disrupt long-term investment plans, particularly in developing economies. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Center (ITC), voiced concerns at a UN press briefing in Geneva, stating that the latest extension of the tariff suspension, now pushed to August 1, adds to growing instability in the international trade landscape. The suspension had originally been due to expire shortly but was granted a few extra weeks. While the initial 90-day pause on so-called…

Tanzanian businesses are being encouraged to forge strategic partnerships with companies from the Republic of Korea, as both nations seek to deepen economic trade ties and address trade imbalances. Speaking at the Republic of Korea Business Day during the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), Minister of State for Planning and Investment Prof Kitila Mkumbo highlighted the transformative potential of leveraging Korean technology and expertise to modernize Tanzanian industries. “The Republic of Korea possesses advanced technologies that Tanzanian businesses can leverage to enhance operations and boost competitiveness,” Prof Mkumbo said. He emphasized that technology-driven joint ventures would not…