Author: News Desk

The Philippines officially reentered the global rice market on January 1, following the end of its four-month import ban that started last September. However, rice imports will remain subject to a 15% tariff, while the government continues to formalize a proposed increase to 20%. The Philippines Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director, Gerald Glenn Panganiban, recently released the rules for resuming rice imports. According to the guidelines, imported rice may only enter the country through 17 designated ports: Subic, Batangas, Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, General Santos, Tacloban, Tabaco in Albay, Zamboanga,…

The Chinese government has instructed local tech firms to temporarily pause orders for Nvidia’s H200 AI chips while regulators finalize approval terms. The move comes as China considers whether—and under what conditions—to allow imports of the advanced processors, weighing the demand for high-end AI hardware against its broader goal of semiconductor self-sufficiency. Reports indicate that Beijing is concerned Chinese firms might rush to stockpile U.S. chips before a final decision is reached. The pause appears intended to curb a last-minute surge in purchases ahead of Beijing’s final ruling. According to Reuters, regulators are still determining how many domestically produced chips…

The federal cabinet of Pakistan has approved the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) December 2025, decision allowing overseas Pakistanis to import used vehicles up to three years old through two designated schemes. The move comes after the Ministry of Commerce submitted a summary recommending changes to the current vehicle import policy while retaining the Transfer of Residence and Gift schemes. Officials stated that the cabinet preserved these two schemes while updating the vehicle import policy to meet safety and environmental requirements. The allowed vehicle age has been raised from two to three years, with a restriction preventing the transfer of these…

Turkey has scrapped a long-standing customs exemption for low-value goods bought from overseas through postal services and express couriers, tightening oversight of cross-border e-commerce to regulate imports and safeguard domestic markets. A presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday declared that Ankara has eliminated the €30 duty-free limit—about $35—previously applied to non-commercial goods purchased from abroad. The new rules will come into effect within 30 days. According to the decree, customs exemptions will now apply solely to medicines and dietary supplements valued at no more than €1,500. All other consumer goods purchased online from abroad will face customs…

Türkiye and Malaysia sealed a new high-level strategic partnership on Wednesday during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Ankara, with Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declaring a $10 billion bilateral trade goal. Ibrahim described the $10 billion bilateral trade target between Malaysia and Türkiye as achievable, highlighting the countries’ complementary strengths and broader collaboration through the newly formed High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The leaders convened the inaugural Strategic Cooperation Council meeting at the Presidential Complex on Tuesday, signing a series of agreements covering education, investment, defense procurement, and technology. Erdoğan affirmed that collaborative efforts would boost trade to the…

President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim government has agreed to transfer roughly 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil to the United States, with the oil to be sold at market prices. “This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been directed to implement the plan immediately, with the barrels transported by storage ships directly…

China on Tuesday prohibited the export of dual-use goods with potential military applications to Japan, amid rising tensions between the two nations following remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan last year. The Chinese commerce ministry stated that exports of dual‑use goods—items with both civilian and military applications—to Japan’s military and any other end‑users that could strengthen its defense capabilities are banned. The ministry added that any person or organization found transferring or supplying these China‑made products to Japanese entities or individuals would face legal repercussions, regardless of where they are from. China’s recent action underscores Beijing’s…

The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) has prohibited the import of pork and related products from Spain after reports of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in the country. Barantin’s Deputy for Animal Quarantine, Sriyanto, stated that the decision follows an official report from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) concerning the ASF outbreak in Barcelona. “Based on the WOAH report, we have instructed all Barantin technical units and quarantine officers to increase vigilance and tighten supervision of pork and its products from Spain,” Sriyanto said. Sriyanto explained that WOAH classified the case as a recurrence of a previously eradicated…

Zimbabwe has removed customs duties on various essential imports for the transport, mining, and tourism sectors, effective January 1, under new rules aimed at boosting economic activity and reducing operating costs for these industries. Statutory Instrument (SI) 237 of 2025, issued last week by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, outlines the measures. It provides new tax reliefs and prolongs existing duty exemptions on key imports such as public service buses, mining chemicals, and vehicle assembly kits. In the transport sector, the government has lifted duties on new public service buses with seating for at least…

Kenya has officially lifted more than 20 years of protection for its sugar industry and will permit low-cost sugar imports from the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), Africa’s largest trading bloc, according to a government regulatory body on Sunday. The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) stated that the government has officially withdrawn from the COMESA Sugar Safeguard regime after 24 years, signaling a major shift for the nation’s sugar industry. “Kenya now enters a new phase defined by competitiveness, value addition, regional integration, and sustainable growth, supported by a clear policy framework and a restructured private-sector-led industry,” Kenya…