Author: News Desk

Canada has signed a trade agreement—the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with Indonesia to remove tariffs on more than 95% of Canadian exports to its largest Southeast Asian trading partner. “This is the right deal at the right time with the right partner,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said, adding that Indonesia is “Canada’s largest export market in Southeast Asia.” Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto hailed the agreement as a ‘historic moment’ during his visit to Ottawa, noting it is the first bilateral trade deal between Canada and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to AFP,…

China imposed sanctions on six U.S. companies on Thursday amid escalating trade tensions, despite an upcoming high-level meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce declared that three U.S. companies have been added to its ‘unreliable entity list,’ effectively prohibiting them from engaging in trade and investment within China. According to the ministry, the sanctioned companies, unmanned vehicle manufacturer Saronic Technologies, satellite firm Aerkomm, and subsea engineering company Oceaneering International, were involved in what it described as ‘military-technical cooperation with Taiwan,’ which it claims has seriously harmed China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests,…

Germany did not authorize any new arms exports to Israel during the five weeks following Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s implementation of partial export restrictions, according to reports released Thursday. Since Merz declared a partial suspension this summer, Germany has not authorized any new arms exports to Israel, effectively reducing permit approvals to zero, exceeding the limitations initially outlined in his pledge. In early August, Merz announced that Germany would stop granting licenses for weapons deemed ‘clearly usable in Gaza,’ indicating that other exports, like spare parts or systems not directly linked to combat, could continue. However, as reported by Politico, a…

The Government of India on Wednesday declared import restrictions on plain silver jewelry, effective until March 31 next year, as per an official notification. According to the notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), plain silver jewelry has been classified as a restricted item, requiring importers to obtain a valid authorization from the DGFT to import such consignments. “The move, announced through Notification No 34/2025-26 dated September 24, 2025, aims to curb the misuse of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and address large-scale imports of silver in the guise of finished jewelry,” the Commerce Ministry said in an…

The U.S. Commerce Department revealed on Wednesday that it had launched a new investigation into the importation of robotics, industrial equipment, and medical devices, raising speculation about the possibility of new tariffs being added to the president’s existing trade measures. The Department of Commerce stated that the investigations, which began on September 2 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, will evaluate whether these imports pose a threat to U.S. national security, according to filings in the Federal Register. The newest investigations broaden the range of goods that could face increased tariffs, including surgical masks, N95 respirators, gloves, and…

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has increased the limit for advance payments on imports, offering businesses greater flexibility in conducting international trade. In a circular issued on Tuesday, the central bank declared that importers are now allowed to make advance payments of up to $20,000 without requiring repayment guarantees, double the previous cap of $10,000. “To further simplify trade transactions, it has been decided to enhance the aforesaid limits to $20,000 and $50,000, respectively,” the statement reads. Additionally, the limit for payments from exporters’ retention quota (ERQ) accounts has also been raised to $50,000, up from the previous cap of $25,000. According…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has declared that starting October 1, every consignment imported into the country must include a Certificate of Origin (COO), in accordance with Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP 469B. In a public notice issued on Tuesday, KRA noted that the enforcement follows a three-month transition period after the requirement initially took effect on July 1. “The Kenya Revenue Authority hereby notifies all importers, customs clearing agents, and the general public that, in compliance with Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP. 469B (as amended by the Finance Act, 2025), all consignments imported…

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York that Hungary will keep importing Russian crude oil despite Washington’s appeal to NATO allies to cease oil purchases. “We can’t ensure the safe supply for our country without Russian oil or gas sources,” Szijjártó told the Guardian, adding that “we can only buy from where we have infrastructure.” Hungary’s regional outlets reported that the country will continue relying on Russian energy, as abandoning it would threaten its energy security. Szijjártó’s remarks came in response to President Donald Trump’s recent call for Europe to stop…

The EU is delaying the implementation of its import ban linked to the anti-deforestation law for the second time, following pressure from the United States and other trade partners. The law, aimed at banning imports linked to deforestation, was scheduled to take effect by the end of the year. However, the European Commission stated that the necessary support systems are not yet in place. Originally passed in 2023, the law was first slated for implementation in late 2024 before being pushed back to late 2025. “We have concluded that we cannot meet the original deadline without causing disruptions to our…

Indonesia and the European Union signed the Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) in Bali on Tuesday, after nearly a decade of negotiations. The Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement marks Brussels’ third trade accord with Southeast Asia, following deals with Singapore and Vietnam. The agreement was signed by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and the European Commission’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, in the presence of EU member state ambassadors and private sector representatives. The deal will remove over 98% of tariffs, significantly reducing trade barriers and creating new opportunities for investment.…