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…

Bangladesh halted yarn imports from India through land ports shortly after India suspended the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export goods. Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) has prohibited the import of yarn from India via land ports following continuous requests from local textile industry representatives. The NBR, through a new notification released on Tuesday, declared the termination of the yarn import facility at five major land ports—Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha, and Burimari—which were the main gateways for yarn imports from India. The revision, which replaced an earlier circular from August 27, 2023, was enforced immediately. Goods other than yarn can…

Vietnam has declared a new government decree permitting Vietnamese airlines to import aircraft certified by China, Russia, Brazil, Canada, and the UK. The newly issued decree modifies and adds to specific provisions of Decree No. 92/2016/ND-CP, which governs conditional business operations within the civil aviation sector. As per Decree No. 89/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on Sunday, Vietnam permits the import of aircraft certified by the following authorities: the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Brazil’s Civil Aviation Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya), the UK Civil Aviation…

Indonesia’s Quarantine Agency (Barantin) and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have reached an agreement to enhance pre-border quarantine protocols for onion exports from New Zealand to Indonesia. Pre-border measures are domestic actions taken by a country to guarantee the safety and quality of its goods prior to export. On Tuesday in Jakarta, Bambang, Deputy for Crop Quarantine at Barantin, declared that a protocol had been signed to revise an existing arrangement for importing raw onions into Indonesia. Bambang highlighted the updated arrangement, which outlines phytosanitary standards for exporting onions from New Zealand to Indonesia, as a strong demonstration…