Author: News Desk

India and the European Union have agreed to maintain discussions on sensitive areas such as steel, automobiles, and carbon tax under the proposed free trade agreement, India’s commerce ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry added that India has also advocated for addressing both tariff and non-tariff barriers in the agreement, as well as establishing transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks to strengthen bilateral trade. The matters were discussed during Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s three-day visit to Brussels, where he met EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic to advance the ongoing negotiations. The minister’s official visit ended…

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that Nigeria has begun exporting domestically produced solar panels to Ghana, calling it a milestone that demonstrates the nation’s expanding capabilities in renewable energy production. Adelabu shared the development during the 2025 Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference in Lagos, emphasizing the Government’s dedication to broadening access to sustainable energy by promoting private sector investment and advancing industrial growth. The minister emphasized that due to limited government funding, active involvement from the private sector is crucial for advancing large-scale energy initiatives, bridging infrastructure deficits, and tapping into the country’s renewable energy potential. “With this…

New Zealand has pledged to boost exports of high-quality, reliable halal meat products to Malaysia after the two nations updated their halal implementation arrangement. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reaffirmed that New Zealand will continue to be a dependable partner for Malaysia by ensuring open and stable supply chains. Luxon also promised clear regulations and swift resolution of trade-related issues. To support this, New Zealand will implement data-driven logistics and expedite customs clearance for trusted traders under the newly established Customs Mutual Recognition Arrangement. “Streamlined settings, strong communication, and effective regulatory oversight are practical examples of how we will build certainty…

Bangladesh and Pakistan have reinstated their Joint Economic Commission (JEC) after two decades, signaling a warming of relations that had long been strained by historical conflicts. The two nations convened the 9th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Dhaka, reaching an agreement to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and regional connectivity. The session was led jointly by Pakistan’s Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Bangladesh’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. During the meeting, both nations signed the JEC’s Agreed Minutes, outlining collaborative efforts across sectors including energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, IT, and climate change. A key outcome of…

India’s initiative to ramp up local production of rare earth minerals and magnets—critical components for electric vehicles and advanced technologies—may face a significant setback. According to a report by The Economic Times, Beijing’s recent move to impose stricter export controls on rare earth processing equipment has raised alarms among Indian government officials and industry leaders involved in the ₹7,300 crore incentive program. Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Commerce broadened its export restrictions to include equipment and materials used in the production and processing of rare earth elements. The new restrictions apply to items such as centrifugal extraction machines and…

South Korea will ‘swiftly’ begin discussions with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to update the free trade agreement (FTA) signed nearly two decades ago, to boost bilateral trade, the industry ministry stated on Monday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy revealed the plan as President Lee Jae Myung concluded his two-day visit to Malaysia for the annual Korea-ASEAN summit, where he suggested initiating talks to enhance the FTA, targeting an annual bilateral trade volume of $300 billion by 2029. Korea and ASEAN finalized an FTA on goods in 2006, followed by deals covering services in 2007 and…

U.S. President Trump on Sunday signed a series of trade agreements and deals focused on cooperation in critical minerals with major Asian partners during his official visit to Asia. Trump arrived in Malaysia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and witnessed the signing of a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. Afterward, he signed trade agreements with Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Under the terms of the agreements, the United States will maintain a 19% tariff on imports from Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. In response, Cambodia agreed to remove tariffs on all U.S. goods, while a memorandum…

Malaysia and Brazil signed a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on Saturday, representing a major step in enhancing bilateral cooperation across key sectors such as semiconductor technology, science, innovation, and agriculture. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the ceremony at Kompleks Seri Perdana, held as part of the Brazilian leader’s official visit to Malaysia. The first MoU was signed by Malaysia’s Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Brazil’s Vice Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Marcio Fernando Elias Rosa to strengthen collaboration…

China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, said on Friday that the country should aim for ‘balanced development’ between imports and exports, following the conclusion of future policy planning meetings in Beijing. The four-day talks commenced on Monday, bringing together top officials to map out long-term plans for China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, set to begin next year. The discussions come at a challenging moment for China as it grapples with weak consumer spending, a prolonged property market crisis, and ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. China’s substantial trade surpluses with the U.S. and EU have faced criticism from their leaders, who…

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, declared on Thursday that the country plans to boost exports of pharmaceuticals and medicines to $30 billion over the coming years. Addressing the 22nd Health Asia-2025 exhibition at the Expo Center in Karachi, he stated that the goal is to raise Pakistan’s exports of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical equipment, and medicines from the current $1 billion to $30 billion. The three-day Health Asia-2025 exhibition is being held at the Expo Center Karachi, with participants, delegates, and companies from more than 50 countries. Kamal stated that Pakistan is on track…