Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs stated on Sunday that China’s recent curbs on rare earth exports are not expected to impact the island’s semiconductor sector, since the restricted materials are not essential to chip production. The ministry clarified that the restricted elements differ from those required for semiconductor manufacturing, indicating the new measures will not significantly affect chip production. Elements like neodymium and dysprosium, typically used in magnets and electric motors, are distinct from the ultra-pure silicon, gallium, and other materials essential for semiconductor manufacturing. The ministry noted that Taiwan secures most of its critical rare-earth materials and derivatives from…

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce has authorized 12 local firms to export a total of 2,984 tons of raw jute, according to a recent circular, as reported by The Financial Express. As stated in the circular, the ministry granted export approval on September 30, following applications submitted via the Bangladesh Jute Association. The companies granted export approval include International (208 tons), Popular Jute Exchange (822 tons), Sartaj Trade International (366 tons), Rashmi Kabir (104 tons), Janani Enterprise (52 tons), Sharif Trade Village (26 tons), The World Jute Garden (25 tons), Ideal Trade International (192 tons), RS Traders (130 tons), Bulbul Traders…

Turkey and the United States are developing a renewed strategy to enhance bilateral trade and move closer to their longstanding goal of $100 billion in commerce, with a focus on deepening cooperation across vital sectors such as automotive and nuclear energy. The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK) and the Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) have initiated efforts to revise a joint trade roadmap initially developed with the Boston Consulting Group in 2019–2020. The updated plan is designed to reflect changing global conditions and reinforce private-sector collaboration between the two NATO partners. According to officials, TAİK has consulted business leaders…

President Donald Trump declared on Friday that starting next month, the U.S. will impose new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, citing what he described as China’s ‘aggressive’ actions related to export controls. In a social media post, Trump revealed that the new tariffs would go into effect on November 1. He stated that the decision was in response to China’s extraordinarily aggressive stance on trade, particularly concerning its export control measures. Trump also noted that, on the same date, the U.S. would introduce export restrictions on “any and all critical software.” The announcement came just hours after Trump threatened a…

New Zealand and Singapore unveiled a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) on Friday to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong jointly revealed the agreement during an event in Auckland. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in six major areas: trade and economic relations, defense and security, science and innovation, cultural and social ties, climate and sustainable development, and supply chain resilience and connectivity. Wong stated that Singapore’s first free trade agreement (FTA) laid the foundation for bolder collaborations between the two island…

The United States on Thursday imposed a fresh set of sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of assisting Iran in exporting oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The measures affect over 50 individuals, companies, and ships allegedly involved in exporting billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products and LPG. According to the Treasury Department, the sanctions focus on nearly two dozen ‘shadow fleet’ vessels, a Chinese crude oil terminal, a ‘teapot’ refinery, and businesses located in Hong Kong, Panama, and the United Arab Emirates. “The Treasury Department is degrading Iran’s cash flow by dismantling key elements of Iran’s energy…

Malaysia will not allow the import of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) from foreign nations to safeguard public health and prevent environmental pollution, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Huang Tiong Sii said Thursday. Huang stated that all 128 licensed facilities in the country are authorized solely to process e-waste produced within Malaysia. “All 128 licensed facilities in the country are only allowed to process e-waste generated locally. Malaysia does not permit the importation of electrical and electronic waste for processing in the country. The ministry remains firm that Malaysia will not become a dumping ground for scheduled…

China declared new restrictions on the export of rare earth elements and related technologies, including their overseas use in military and semiconductor sectors, on Thursday. The move comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between Beijing and the United States, and in anticipation of a scheduled meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea later this month. Under the newly introduced regulations, export licenses will be mandatory for technologies involved in rare earth mining, smelting, processing, and magnet production. Additionally, foreign companies looking to supply rare earth materials that…

Apple’s iPhone exports from India soared to a record $10 billion during the first half of fiscal 2026, marking a 75% rise compared to the same period last year, as the company and its manufacturing partners ramped up production capacity in India. The sharp rise was driven by a strong performance in September, with outbound shipments totaling around $1.25 billion, a 155% jump compared to the same month last year, highlighting a rapid acceleration in monthly exports. The surge comes after the opening of two new facilities, Tata Electronics’ plant in Hosur and Foxconn’s unit in Bengaluru, bringing Apple’s total…

The European Union on Tuesday revealed plans to double tariffs on imported steel and halve the volume allowed into the bloc. The EU said it will slash the tariff-free steel import quota by nearly 50% and impose a 50% tariff on shipments exceeding the new 18.3 million-ton threshold. This measure, which doubles the current 25% tariff, will affect major exporting nations such as China, India, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. However, neighboring countries, including Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine, will be exempt from the new rules. The initiative seeks to strengthen Europe’s steel industry by limiting the flow of low-cost imports…