Author: News Desk

China has suspended soybean imports from five Brazilian suppliers after inspectors discovered pesticide-treated wheat in a shipment destined for Beijing, officials from both nations reported on Thursday. The ban affects two Cargill facilities and one additional plant, with four located in São Paulo state and one in Rio Grande do Sul. During port inspections in China, officials detected contamination on the vessel Shine Ruby, which was transporting around 69,000 tons of soybeans. About ten tons of wheat coated with a chemical not approved for food or animal feed were discovered in the hold. The customs agency described the incident as…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is urging the European Union to reconsider the 2035 deadline for the sale of combustion-engine vehicles. Merz stated that he would send a letter to the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, asking Brussels to maintain flexibility and preserve technological alternatives for automobile manufacturers. Under the current EU policy, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned within the decade. Merz said he would seek several exemptions, including the ability to keep producing plug‑in hybrids, battery hybrids, and range‑extended electric vehicles that use ‘highly efficient’ combustion engines. The ban on combustion engines…

The UK government declared that it will halt imports of Spanish pork following an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The ministry stated on Friday that all fresh pork and related products from Spain will be detained at border control posts ‘until further notice.’ The decision follows Spain’s confirmation of its first African swine fever case in over thirty years, on Wednesday in Bellaterra, near Barcelona. Defra stated that it would continue monitoring the situation and review the measures as needed. Spain’s farmers’ union, Asaja, said the industry is…

India expects to conclude a trade agreement with the United States before year‑end, as most outstanding issues have been resolved, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Friday. Speaking at FICCI’s Annual General Meeting, he stated that discussions have progressed enough for both sides to be ‘very optimistic and very hopeful’ about finalizing a deal within the current calendar year. India and the U.S. had initially aimed to finalize the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement by autumn 2025; however, recent shifts in Washington’s trade policy, including the new reciprocal tariffs, have altered the timeline. Starting in late August, the…

The 2025 Vietnam Export Promotion Forum kicked off in Hanoi on November 26 with the theme ‘Go Global – Winning Global Markets. Jointly organized by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and initiatives supported by the Swiss government, the forum centers on strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese exporters amid shifting global supply chains and rising trade competition. According to the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade), exports remain vital to Vietnam’s growth and global integration. Yet shifting supply chains, green transition, digitalization, post-pandemic changes, and stricter standards are pushing businesses to upgrade quality, add value, build brands, and pursue…

Türkiye is set to conclude a new oil and gas exploration deal with Pakistan next week, while continuing to rely on Russia as a key natural gas supplier, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Wednesday. Bayraktar noted that he will visit Pakistan next week to formally complete the agreement. “We will sign our agreement regarding the first deep-sea drilling in Pakistan, related to offshore fields. We are starting joint work in two onshore fields and one offshore field,” he said. The agreement will be signed on Tuesday, Bayraktar confirmed. A consortium that includes the Turkish Petroleum…

Ghana has initiated trade talks with Mexico to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, and agribusiness as part of its strategy to diversify export markets and lessen reliance on traditional partners. Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, disclosed the development during a meeting with Mexican Ambassador to Ghana, Norma Ang, in Accra. The discussions focused on exploring areas of collaboration and advancing Ghana’s efforts to boost value-added exports while reducing dependence on imports. “Ghana is committed to strengthening commercial partnerships with Mexico to boost bilateral relations,” Ahi stated. The minister detailed plans to set up processing facilities…

Malaysia and Cambodia are on track to exceed RM4 billion ($1 billion) in bilateral trade this year, as both nations intensify efforts to boost trade and economic cooperation. Data from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) indicates that trade between Malaysia and Cambodia has reached RM3.975 billion ($961.4 million), positioning both countries to surpass the billion-dollar threshold. This reflects an increase from last year’s bilateral trade value of $855.6 million. MATRADE is hosting the Malaysia-Cambodia Business Seminar and Business Matching Session in Phnom Penh to enhance trade and investment relations between the countries. “The objective of this program is…

Nigeria on Monday achieved a significant milestone as the Nigerian National Accreditation System (NINAS) attained international recognition. The recognition enables products certified within the country to be accepted in over 140 nations, a development anticipated to substantially decrease export rejections and generate considerable savings in foreign exchange for the national economy. With this new recognition, certificates issued by laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies accredited by the Nigerian National Accreditation System will carry internationally recognized seals. The seals now align with the standards of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, the International Accreditation Forum, and the African Accreditation Cooperation under their…

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy to broaden the country’s export avenues. For the first time, it has permitted online exports under the business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) framework. The central bank declared the policy on Monday through a foreign exchange circular. According to the policy, products can now be sold directly to international buyers via approved international platforms and marketplaces. However, exports will be completed through intermediaries like international e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, or third-party warehouses, rather than being sent directly to the end customer. The circular also mentions that, to export under the B2B2C framework, exporters must provide the dealer bank…