Author: News Desk

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed on Sunday that Thailand plans to boost U.S. imports of energy, aircraft, and agricultural products following the Trump administration’s imposition of a 36% tariff on Thai exports to the U.S. market. In addition, Thailand also intends to promote Thai investment in the U.S. and ease restrictions on American imports to strengthen bilateral trade relations. Shinawatra, speaking to Thai media, stated that the government plans to promote increased Thai investment in the United States while relaxing restrictions on American imports, as reported by Thai PBS. Under the leadership of Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, the Thai…

The United States has barred sea salt imports from a South Korean salt farm over allegations of slave labor, as reported by the Associated Press. It is the first time a trade partner has acted on labor abuses in South Korea’s remote salt farms. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a withhold release order for the Taepyung salt farm. It cited evidence suggesting that the company employs forced labor in Sinan — a region that produces the majority of South Korea’s sea salt. As per the order issued last Wednesday, Customs officials at all U.S. ports of entry are…

China’s General Administration of Customs revoked the import qualifications of six U.S. firms on Friday to safeguard public health and ensure the protection of the country’s livestock industry. The affected enterprises include one involved in sorghum exports to China, three specializing in poultry meat and bone meal, and two engaged in exporting poultry products. According to the Xinhua News Agency, an official from the General Administration of Customs emphasized that the measures implemented are justified, scientific, and appropriate. The actions align with China’s laws and regulations and adhere to international standards. The Customs reported on its website that recent inspections…

The Vietnamese government declared on Friday that it has officially urged the United States to postpone the implementation of newly proposed 46% U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese goods by a period of one to three months. The request is part of Vietnam’s efforts to negotiate a more advantageous resolution and reduce the economic impact of the upcoming tariffs, which are scheduled to be implemented on April 9th. In an official statement, the Vietnamese government emphasized its commitment to resolving the trade imbalance with the United States. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc stressed Vietnam’s ongoing cooperation with the U.S. to ensure…

China declared a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports on Friday in response to trade measures imposed by President Donald Trump. China’s State Council has stated that the new tariff will take effect on April 10, intensifying trade tensions. As a part of its retaliatory actions, Beijing has revoked the export privileges of six U.S.-affiliated companies, preventing them from sending sorghum, poultry products, and poultry bone meal to China. The measures are expected to primarily affect U.S. agricultural exports, such as soybeans, wheat, and corn. China remains a major importer of other key U.S. goods, including pharmaceuticals, crude oil, petroleum…

Greece has called on Chinese shipping company COSCO, the operator of Piraeus Port, to elevate the passenger facilities at the port to improve services and the quality of life in Piraeus city. Greece’s largest port, serving approximately 20 million passengers annually and handling thousands of vehicles and travelers daily, is in urgent need of upgrades. The country has requested COSCO Shipping to modernize port infrastructure. Greek Maritime Minister Vasilis Kikilias underscored the pressing need for the Chinese company to invest promptly in the port’s infrastructure. He conveyed the message during a recent meeting with Fang Qiu, the Chinese Ambassador to…

Switzerland has expanded its export controls on dual-use items, focusing specifically on technologies such as quantum computing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and additive manufacturing, as declared in a government statement on Wednesday. As reported by Reuters, the Swiss government statement outlines new measures to bring Swiss export practices in line with international standards. The measures are designed to ensure that domestic industries and research institutions retain access to critical technologies. The initiative underscores a global trend in monitoring emerging technologies, paralleling actions recently taken by the United States and France. In recent years, dual-use technologies—applicable in both civilian and military…

Israel has eliminated import duties and tariffs on all American goods to bolster the bilateral partnership and lower the cost of living in Israel, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday. Under the directive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat, Israel has abolished all customs duties and tariffs previously imposed on products from the United States. The United States is Israel’s strongest ally and largest trading partner. In 2024, goods exports to the U.S. reached $17.3 billion, while services exports totaled $16.7 billion. The Israeli government…

Sri Lanka’s Food Policy and Security Committee has advised rice imports to maintain a steady supply for consumers after a potential shortage caused by unfavorable weather during the last cultivation season. The President’s Media Division (PMD) reported a considerable increase in rice prices alongside shortages of specific rice varieties during the ongoing harvest season. Discussions were held to urge the Cabinet to maintain adequate stock levels through rice imports. The committee, led by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, alongside Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Vasantha Samarasinghe, held its fifth meeting at the…

Argentina began natural gas exports to Brazil for the first time, using Bolivia’s state-owned infrastructure, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), on Tuesday. TotalEnergies, an energy company, exported natural gas from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation to Matrix Energy in Brazil. The gas is transported via Argentina’s TGN and TGS pipelines to Salta, then through Bolivia’s YPFB network, including the Madrejones pipeline, under a three-way agreement finalized in late 2024. The Brazil-Bolivia Gas Pipeline (Gasbol), capable of transporting up to 30 million cubic meters of natural gas daily, is currently operating at 10 million cubic meters per day. Over the next five…