Author: News Desk

Tanzania has imposed a ban on agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi, intensifying the trade dispute between the nations. From midnight, Tanzania banned all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa as a reaction to trade restrictions imposed on its exports. “We are taking this step to protect our business interests… in business, we must all respect each other,” Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe said on Wednesday while confirming the ban. Last week, Malawi and South Africa imposed trade restrictions on various Tanzanian agricultural products, including rice, flour, ginger, bananas, and maize. The decision severely impacted the flow of…

Cambodia’s General Department of Agriculture, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), urged durian exporters, plantation owners, farming communities, and operators of durian processing and packaging facilities to register the plantations and facilities to qualify for exports to China. The development follows the recent signing of a protocol outlining Phytosanitary Requirements for the export of fresh durian from Cambodia to China. The agreement, finalized on April 17 in Phnom Penh, was made between Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture and China’s General Administration of Customs. On Wednesday, the General Department of Agriculture called on durian plantation owners, farming communities, and…

Taiwan is taking steps to boost U.S. oil and gas imports, a central focus in tariff negotiations with the Trump Administration, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday. As reported by Reuters, Lai’s office stated that boosting imports from the U.S.—including natural gas, oil, and other key energy resources—is not only a priority in the ongoing tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the U.S. but also a crucial step in Taiwan’s strategy to augment its energy independence and resilience. Taiwan faced a 32% tariff, which has been paused for 90 days. The suspension comes amid Taiwan’s recent commitments to invest in…

The United States has declared plans to levy tariffs as high as 3,521% on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced high tariffs on solar panels and related products from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, citing concerns over alleged Chinese subsidies and market dumping in the industry. The newly imposed tariffs mark the conclusion of a yearlong investigation that found that the solar manufacturers in Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand were benefiting from unfair government subsidies and selling these products in the U.S. at prices below production costs. The probe, initiated…

Uzbekistan has declared that it will remove the excise tax on white sugar imports starting October 1. The tax deduction applies to imported white sugar without any flavoring or coloring additives. As reported by Daryo, the move aims to reduce expenses for both businesses and consumers. The measures were addressed on April 18 during a video conference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focusing on efforts to mitigate the effects of global economic difficulties on the country’s sectors and industries. During the meeting, the confectionery and soft drink industries were identified as key contributors to the domestic economy. To support these…

Kenya and Ethiopia formalized a bilateral agreement on Thursday to work together on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Senior government officials from Kenya and Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expedite the implementation of a simplified trade regime between the two countries. While speaking in Mombasa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving trade efficiency at the Moyale border, tackling persistent issues affecting local communities. Kinyanjui affirmed that the agreement aims to promote free trade among border communities. He outlined that Kenya and Ethiopia explore strategies…

The United States told the World Trade Organization (WTO) that its decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on imports was based on national security considerations rather than being categorized as safeguard measures. The stance was conveyed to the WTO in reply to a consultation request from India. On Wednesday, the United States explained that the tariffs were enacted under Section 232 of the trade law, which empowers the President to limit imports that pose a risk to national security. India contended in its request that, regardless of Washington’s justification based on national security, the measures effectively qualify as safeguard…

Thailand’s beef farmers oppose government plans for U.S. beef imports, warning it could threaten livelihoods and food security. The Beef Cattle Association of Thailand, along with more than 60 affiliated organizations, assembled at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to express objections to the government’s proposal to allow hormone-treated U.S. beef imports in exchange for addressing the trade deficit. Farmers are concerned that the decision could damage the domestic market, which is already struggling due to competition from cheaper imports from Australia and New Zealand. The association contends that the policy violates Thai regulations, which banned the use of growth…

The United States intensified pressure on Iran’s energy sector on Wednesday by imposing new sanctions. The measures specifically target Iranian oil exports and penalize a China-based independent ‘teapot’ refinery for purchasing over $1 billion of crude oil from Tehran. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that the sanctions are designed to further isolate Iran’s oil trade and dissuade Chinese companies from conducting business with Iran. The move is part of President Trump’s renewed ‘maximum pressure’ campaign, which aims to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero while limiting Tehran’s nuclear plans and regional influence. The latest sanctions seek to dismantle Iran’s ‘shadow…

The Ghana Shea Employers Association (GSEA) is urging the government to implement a ban on raw shea nut exports from Ghana, emphasizing the need to safeguard the nation’s shea industry. The association reports that some foreign entities are exporting raw shea nuts to other countries, resulting in the loss of potential economic benefits for the country. They emphasized that processing raw shea nuts within the country not only generates employment but also fortifies local value chains, with women being the primary beneficiaries. “The current model keeps women, who are the backbone of the shea sector, stuck at the lowest end…