Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Australia, Malaysia, News

March 5, 2024

Malaysia Anticipates $5 Billion Investment from Australian Companies. Malaysia is poised to welcome investments totaling up to 24.5 billion ringgit ($5.17 billion) from Australian firms, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as reported by state news agency Bernama on Wednesday.   Leading the investment charge are Australian data center operators AirTrunk and NextDC, with plans […]

Europe, Geopolitics, News

March 5, 2024

Top European Union officials unveiled plans on Tuesday to enhance collaboration within the continent’s defense industry, citing the need for increased joint procurement of weapons among member countries. The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, proposed allocating 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion) to incentivize collective purchases from European firms and foster the development of new […]

International Relations, News

March 5, 2024

Government officials from WTO member countries and observer nations eligible for technical assistance are encouraged to apply for the 2024 Advanced Global Workshop on the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) 2012. Scheduled from April 29 to May 3, 2024, the workshop aims to enhance participants’ understanding of key issues related to government procurement, international trade, […]

Africa, News

March 4, 2024

South Africa has initiated a safeguard investigation into certain flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy steel, or other alloy steel, as reported to the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards on February 29, 2024.   In this notification, South Africa outlined the procedure for interested parties to participate in the investigation. Interested parties are required to make themselves […]

Agricultural Trade, News, Vietnam

March 4, 2024

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports have witnessed a remarkable increase of 38%, totaling approximately $749.7 million in the first two months of the year. Projections indicate a promising outlook for the industry, with expectations of reaching a peak near $7 billion by the end of the year. The sector’s growth momentum is anticipated to persist […]

International Trade, News

March 4, 2024

In a notable development, the French embassy in Tripoli revealed today that French exports to Libya surged to €301 million (US three hundred twenty-five million) in 2023, marking their highest level since 2015. This substantial increase represents a remarkable growth of 36 percent compared to the previous year.   According to reports from the embassy, […]

Economic Development, News, Turkey

March 3, 2024

Turkey has reached a significant milestone in its export sector, with official data revealing a record-high volume of exports in February, contributing to the country’s positive economic trajectory in recent months. The nation concluded 2023 on a high note, boasting a record of $255.8 billion in outbound shipments.   Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that […]

Australia’s recent announcement of increased funding for maritime security initiatives in collaboration with ASEAN countries holds significant implications for regional trade dynamics.   During a crucial summit with the Southeast Asian bloc, Australia unveiled a substantial investment of A$64 million ($41.8 million) over four years, including A$40 million in new funding. This infusion of resources […]

News, Sustainable Trade

March 1, 2024

In a significant move towards promoting sustainable trade practices, South Africa formally deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 1st March. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, presented South Africa’s acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the closing session of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) held in Abu […]

Indonesia, News, Trade Policy

February 28, 2024

Indonesia is eyeing membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) within the next two to three years, with the aim of enhancing its trade landscape, a senior cabinet minister announced Wednesday.   As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia sees OECD membership as a strategic move to attract increased investment and foster beneficial […]

International Trade, News, United States

February 28, 2024

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai provided an update on the ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), indicating that while an agreement on reforming dispute settlement appeals was not expected this week, progress was evident, and the atmosphere remained constructive.   The impasse in the WTO’s dispute settlement system, attributed to the U.S. blocking […]