The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared Monday that it will begin a phased reopening of livestock imports along the Mexican border, starting July 7 in Douglas, Arizona. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins stated that the decision comes after several weeks of coordination with Mexican officials to address the threat of New World Screwworm (NWS), a destructive parasite affecting livestock, which led to the shutdown of all southern border ports on May 11. The May restriction at the U.S.-Mexico border followed the USDA’s confirmation that the pest had been found in Oaxaca and Veracruz, approximately 700 miles from the U.S.…

The European Union reached a new long-term trade agreement with Ukraine on Monday, allowing continued imports of agricultural goods from the nation. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen unveiled the agreement, describing it as a ‘predictable’ and ‘reciprocal’ framework. The declaration signals a shift in Ukraine’s trade ties with the EU following the expiration of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) on June 5. Initially introduced after Russia’s full-scale invasion and naval blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, the ATM eliminated tariff rate quotas on 36 categories of Ukrainian exports. However, the influx of Ukrainian goods sparked…

Starting July 1, steel manufacturers in the UK will see improved trade protections, as the government introduces new measures to shield the domestic steel industry from unexpected surges in foreign imports. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds unveiled the new measures today, following urgent appeals from UK Steel for swift intervention to safeguard local producers. The changes include a substantial tightening of the steel import quota liberalization rate from 3% to just 0.1% year on year. The measure is intended to address the recent influx of redirected imports from the United States after President Trump introduced new tariffs on steel…

China partially lifted its ban on seafood imports from most of Japan’s regions on Sunday, signaling a resolution to a longstanding disagreement over Japan’s disposal of treated nuclear wastewater. Beijing stated it will ‘conditionally resume’ seafood imports from Japan, excluding 10 of the country’s 47 prefectures, including Tokyo and Fukushima. The decision brings an end to a nearly two-year suspension on seafood imports, which was imposed after Japan started discharging treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear facility into the Pacific Ocean in 2023. Chinese customs authorities, in a public notice, said that long-term international monitoring and China’s own independent…

India has enforced restrictions on the imports of jute from Bangladesh, as reported by PTI. The restrictions will apply to all imports of jute and allied fiber products from Bangladesh entering India through land and seaports, except the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Commerce Ministry, issued a notification on Friday declaring the new restrictions on jute imports. As per the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement, jute exports from Bangladesh benefited from duty-free access to the Indian market until now. Several jute-related items, such as flax tow and waste (yarn waste…

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he has officially ended trade negotiations with Canada and plans to unveil a new tariff rate for the country soon. Trade talks, which had been underway for several months, were terminated after Canada declared a digital services tax. Trump characterized the move as ‘a direct and blatant attack’ on the United States. “Based on this egregious tax, we are hereby terminating all discussions on trade with Canada, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. He also stated that he would introduce new tariffs on Canada within the next few days. Canada’s 3%…

As part of efforts to strengthen the domestic wine sector, the Zimbabwean government has removed excise duty on imported raw wine for authorized manufacturers. The policy, introduced through Statutory Instrument 68 of 2025, took effect on Friday and is set to remain in force for two years. The move was taken by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, who officially suspended the excise duty. The amendment revises the 2003 Customs and Excise (Suspension) Regulations, first issued as Statutory Instrument 257. It applies to raw wine under commodity code 2204.29.99 and permits approved domestic producers…

China declared on Friday that it had reached an agreement with the United States to ease technology restrictions and facilitate the resumption of rare earth exports. Following weeks of negotiations, China has indicated its intention to authorize rare earth mineral exports to the United States, a move that came hours after U.S. officials confirmed the successful conclusion of a bilateral agreement, according to CNN. “China will approve the export application of controlled items that meet the conditions in accordance with the law. The United States will cancel a series of restrictive measures taken against China accordingly,” China’s Commerce Ministry stated.…

The UK government unveiled a new trade strategy on Thursday to boost British exports and strengthen shields against the influx of low-cost foreign imports. The initiative comes in response to growing global instability and the resurgence of protectionist policies sparked by the wave of U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated that the initiative will “ensure British businesses are protected from harm.” The strategy outlines plans to expand government-backed financial support for exporters and offer targeted guidance to help small and medium-sized enterprises navigate intricate trade regulations. One key measure of the policy is to…

China condemned Taiwan on Wednesday for placing two major Chinese tech firms on its export blacklist, denouncing the move as ‘despicable’ and pledging to safeguard its national interests. Taiwan’s government this month placed 601 entities from various countries, including China’s Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), on its restricted ‘strategic high-tech commodities list.’ Taiwan, a major center in the global semiconductor industry, now requires its domestic companies to obtain government approval before exporting high-tech products to Huawei, SMIC, or any entities listed under its new trade restrictions. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, accused Taipei of attempting…