Author: News Desk

The French government on Sunday stated that it will strengthen inspections on certain food imports to address the concerns of farmers who have been protesting against unfair competition from countries with less stringent regulations. French farmers have been protesting against a proposed European trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, as well as over measures aimed at controlling livestock disease. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard stated that the stricter inspections would ensure that food imported from outside the EU does not contain substances prohibited in products produced within the bloc. “Imports, regardless of from where they come in the world,…

Türkiye’s defense and aviation exports climbed nearly 48% in 2025 compared to the previous year, exceeding $10 billion and setting a new benchmark for the sector, a senior official said on Saturday. “We are completing 2025 at $10.05 billion with an increase of approximately 48%,” stated Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), noting that the sector’s exports were $7.1 billion in 2024. Görgün said the sector set a historic record in December, as defense and aviation exports topped $2.5 billion. He added that exports included $9.87 billion in goods and $184 million in services. “We completed…

Pakistan industry sources suggest that domestic cotton prices may strengthen in the coming days, supported by stronger demand from textile mills, an improved market outlook, higher yarn and fabric prices in China, and a tighter local supply. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq stated that market confidence has strengthened even though cotton output remains about 45% below the official target. He added that final production may surpass earlier projections by 100,000 to 150,000 bales, with strong buying from textile mills helping stabilize prices. According to the latest data from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), cotton arrivals at ginning factories…

The Trump administration has declared a one‑year delay in planned tariff hikes on imported upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, citing ongoing trade negotiations with international partners. On Wednesday, President Trump signed a proclamation postponing planned increases in U.S. tariffs. According to a White House fact sheet, the higher rates scheduled to take effect on January 1 have now been deferred for an additional year. “Given the ongoing productive negotiations regarding the imports of wood products, the President is delaying the tariff increase to allow for further negotiations to occur with other countries,” the fact sheet read. Without the delay,…

Thailand has officially started collecting taxes on all online imported goods from the first baht, ending the previous exemption for low-value shipments, the government stated. Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatthana stated that the measure took effect on January 1 and removes the exemption for imported goods valued at 1,500 baht or less. The policy is intended to promote fair competition, enhance government revenue, and ensure that imported products comply with Thai regulations. Under the new policy, all online imported goods are subject to value‑added tax and import duties starting from a declared value of just 1 baht. According to the…

India on Wednesday declared a provisional anti-dumping duty ranging from $60.87 to $130.66 per ton on low-ash metallurgical coke imports for a six-month period, according to Reuters, citing a government order. The order stated that the duty will apply for six months on imports originating from Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia. The decision followed an investigation that found imports from the six countries were causing material harm to the domestic industry. Based on the preliminary findings of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the finance ministry issued a notification imposing the duty. The notification stated that the…

Turkey has eased its visa rules, granting visa-free entry to Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports for tourism and transit. The move, enacted through a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday, represents a significant step toward improving Turkey-China relations. The exemption will allow Chinese travelers to enter Turkey for tourism and transit without requiring visas. The measure is expected to boost future arrivals from China as Turkey becomes more accessible. Under the new rules approved by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Chinese visitors can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without needing a…

The United States has raised objections to South Korea’s newly enacted legislation targeting false and manipulated content, cautioning that it may undermine technological collaboration and give the government overly broad censorship authority. A senior U.S. diplomat has publicly criticized South Korea’s amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, known as the ‘false or manipulated information eradication law.’ Sarah Rogers, the U.S. State Department’s Vice Minister for public diplomacy, said Tuesday that while Korea’s amendment to the telecommunications network law seems aimed at tackling defamatory deepfakes, its actual reach is far wider…

India’s Commerce Department launched the Market Access Support scheme (MAS) on Wednesday for exporters, allocating ₹4,531 crore over six years to enhance market reach and diversification, with particular emphasis on MSMEs, first-time exporters, and priority sectors. The initiative forms part of the ₹25,060-crore Export Promotion Mission and will be implemented through the Market Access Initiative (MAI). Under the plan, ₹4,531 crore has been set aside for FY2025–31, including ₹500 crore specifically allocated for FY2025–26. The scheme targets first-time exporters and companies from priority sectors, including agriculture, leather, handloom, and toys, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The…

China will introduce a three-year import quota for beef imports from major trading partners to safeguard its domestic industry in the coming years. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce declared that starting Thursday, a 55% tariff will be imposed on beef imports exceeding quota limits from countries including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand, and the United States. “The objective of these safeguard measures on imported beef is to help the domestic industry overcome its current difficulties, rather than to restrict normal trade,” the ministry said. The ministry described the measures as ‘moderate,’ aimed at supporting domestic recovery while accommodating…