Author: Editorial Desk

Pakistan is moving to expand its trade footprint by launching new sea trade corridors aimed at the East African Community (EAC), a bloc of eight countries with a combined population exceeding 500 million and a collective GDP of around $345 billion. According to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data, Pakistan’s total trade with Eastern Africa reached $1.30 billion during the first nine months of the current financial year (FY25), with exports standing at $617.12 million and imports at $688.20 million. Kenya emerged as Pakistan’s top trading partner within the region. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on…

Japan and the United Kingdom have expressed concerns over a proposed ban on the Philippines’ raw mineral export, warning that it may violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupt global supply chains. During a recent WTO Council for Trade in Goods meeting, Japan and the UK raised issues regarding Senate Bill (SB) 2826, which includes a provision to restrict the export of raw minerals. The Goods Council, one of the WTO’s primary bodies, oversees 14 committees handling matters from agriculture to market access. A Geneva-based source told The STAR that Japan argued the export restriction would be inconsistent with…

The United States is set to impose port fees on Chinese ships in a bid to revitalise its domestic shipbuilding industry and challenge China’s dominance in the sector. Beginning mid-October, Chinese ship owners and operators will face a charge of $50 per ton of cargo, with the fee set to increase by $30 per ton annually over the next three years. While concerns have been raised that the move could further disrupt global trade, especially following the impact of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, the port fee is notably less severe than earlier proposals. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry…

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade convened a meeting yesterday with a team of policymakers to initiate the drafting of a new decree to replace Decree 31/2018/ND-CP, ND-CP format (which stands for ‘Nghị định – Chính phủ,’ meaning ‘Decree – Government’ in Vietnamese). The move aims to strengthen the legal framework governing the management of goods’ origin and support businesses in adapting to increasingly stringent origin rules imposed by import markets amid ongoing global trade fluctuations. During the meeting, delegates and experts examined critical issues, including decentralization, authorization for Certificate of Origin (C/O) issuance, fraud prevention and combating illegal…

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that global goods trade is expected to shrink this year, driven by sharp declines in imports and exports from North America following the United States’ recent tariff overhaul. The WTO had previously projected steady trade growth for 2025 and 2026. However, after the US introduced widespread tariffs and its trading partners responded with retaliatory measures, the organisation’s economists have issued a ‘substantial downgrade’ to earlier forecasts. Global goods trade volume is now projected to fall by 0.2% in 2025, after a 2.9% increase last year. The downturn is largely attributed to North America,…

Amid escalating tensions with China, U.S. President Donald Trump has directed a national security investigation into potential new tariffs on all imports of critical minerals. The move comes as China, the world’s dominant supplier of many such minerals, imposes new restrictions on rare earth exports, raising concerns in Washington over national security and supply chain vulnerability. China is currently the leading producer of 30 out of the 50 minerals classified as ‘critical’ by the U.S. Geological Survey. Recent export curbs by Beijing, particularly on rare earth elements, have amplified longstanding concerns among U.S. policymakers, industry leaders, and academics about America’s…

China has appointed Li Chenggang as its new chief international trade negotiator, replacing Wang Shouwen, who played a key role in negotiating the 2020 trade agreement with the United States. The leadership change comes amid rising tariff tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The US recently escalated its trade policy by imposing tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese exports, while granting a 90-day tariff reprieve to most other nations. In response, Beijing announced retaliatory duties of 125% on American exports. The developments mark another chapter in the ongoing trade friction, with both sides hardening their positions. Although China…

FedEx has officially launched its first direct cargo flight from Singapore to the United States on Wednesday, Apr 15, to strengthen trade connectivity between Southeast Asia and North America. The new route, which commenced operations on March 31, operates six times weekly using Boeing 777 freighters and eliminates the need for transits through Japan, cutting transit time by up to a full day. Kawal Preet, President of FedEx Asia-Pacific, described the initiative as a strategic investment that supports the company’s long-term growth plan in the region. “As the region remains an essential manufacturing and export hub, this new service gives…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that South Africa remains vulnerable to trade tariffs but stressed that the country is actively working to strengthen its import and export resilience by expanding trade partnerships and improving local industry regulations. South Africa, like many other countries, has been affected by a turbulent trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump. On 5 April, the United States imposed a 10% global tariff on imports, with plans to introduce steeper tariffs—ranging from 11% to 50%—targeting countries with significant trade imbalances. South Africa faced a potential 31% tariff under this policy. However, just before the additional…

Vietnam and China, two neighbouring nations with longstanding historical and cultural ties, are marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. The occasion highlights a period of deepening political trust and rapid expansion in trade and economic collaboration. Over recent years, bilateral trade between the two countries has witnessed significant growth. Vietnam has solidified its position as China’s top trading partner within ASEAN and, by 2024, will have emerged as China’s fourth-largest trading partner globally. At the same time, China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner, the top source of imports, and the second-largest export market. Vietnam’s exports to China…