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Trade : AfCFTA launches digital customs platform to boost Intra-African Commerce
21-Jul-2025 Africa News Agency
On July 17, 2025, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) launched its long-awaited digital customs platform, designed to cut border processing times by 65%. The system integrates with national tax authorities across 15 initial member states.
Namibia, Tanzania fortify trade and investment opportunities
21-Jul-2025 New Era Live
The two countries are only now starting to deepen their bilateral relations, with more targeted initiatives in the pipeline and will be announced in due course. A major gap remains in trade and capital cooperation, as per the Tanzanian president. However, both counterparts have agreed to take joint measures to bridge this gap.
Trump’s bizarre, authoritarian, Big Tech-friendly tariffs on Brazil
21-Jul-2025 Common Dreams
Trump’s actions are not motivated by any real economic or legal factors, but are instead about pushing his authoritarian agenda and doling out favors to Big Tech companies and other corporate cronies.
One small country, nearly $20 billion in corporate claims
21-Jul-2025 Inside Climate News
Using a secretive arbitration system, multinational companies could bankrupt Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the world. A recent advisory opinion from a human-rights court calls for an overhaul.
Trump threatens extra tariffs on BRICS-aligned countries
21-Jul-2025 The New York TImes
President Trump said nations that support the group’s “Anti-American policies” would face an additional 10 percent tariff. He did not elaborate.
Türkiye, UK conclude 1st round of free trade agreement negotiations
21-Jul-2025 Anadolu
Updated FTA to include new provisions for trade in agricultural products, services and investments as next round of talks to be held by end of 2025, Türkiye’s Trade Ministry says
India, EU resolve digital differences in free trade agreement talks
21-Jul-2025 Business Standard
India and the European Union (EU) have reached an in-principle agreement on the contentious digital trade chapter, marking a key step toward concluding a free trade agreement, though “substantial differences” remain over trade and sustainable development provisions.
Suspension of EU Association Agreements does not require unanimity
21-Jul-2025 Verfassungsblog
From a legal perspective, it does not appear necessary to limit the scope of the suspension to specific matters to be able to rely on qualified majority voting.
EU official urges T&T: Ratify EPA, modernise fisheries rules
21-Jul-2025 Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
John Bazill, an official responsible for trade relations with the Caribbean in the European Commission’s Trade Department, is encouraging T&T to ratify the long-outstanding Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
EU initiates arbitration against Algeria over trade restrictions
18-Jul-2025 APA News
The European Commission has officially launched a dispute settlement procedure against Algeria, citing Algiers’ failure to uphold its commitments under the Association Agreement signed in 2002 and in force since 2005.
Trump’s Africa summit heats up rivalry for continent’s resources
18-Jul-2025 Bloomberg
US President Donald Trump’s meeting with African leaders shows a sense of urgency in competing for scarce resources with China, which recently lifted tariffs on imports from the continent.
How EU-Morocco trade agreements contribute to the plundering of Western Sahara
18-Jul-2025 Tomate sahraouie
The increasing trade liberalization in agricultural products between Morocco and the European Union, particularly tomatoes, has led to the emergence of an intensive agricultural model with serious social and environmental consequences.
Canada and New Zealand resolve dairy trade dispute, Canada says
18-Jul-2025 MSN
Canada and New Zealand have reached a "mutually satisfactory" resolution to a long-running dispute over access for dairy products, the Canadian government said.
Lithuania and Veolia reach €38m settlement to end decade-long legal disputes
18-Jul-2025 LRT
Lithuania and French energy group Veolia have reached a €35 million settlement that ends most of their decade-long legal disputes over municipal heating contracts, the Lithuanian Energy Ministry announced .
South Korea wins UK appeal over arbitration ruling in Samsung merger case
18-Jul-2025 Reuters
South Korea won its latest appeal in its dispute with US hedge fund Elliott over the 2015 merger of two affiliates of Samsung, shortly after the electronics group’s Chairman Jay Y. Lee was cleared by South Korea’s top court.
Canada eyes Mercosur trade pact to reduce US reliance, minister says
18-Jul-2025 Reuters
Canada’s International Trade Minister said that there was interest from both sides to advance trade talks with South American bloc Mercosur, as Ottawa seeks new deals in a push to diversify from the US.
Indonesia still negotiating details, exemptions on US tariff deal, official says
18-Jul-2025 Reuters
Indonesia is currently negotiating the details of a recently reached trade agreement with the United States, following a US decision to reduce tariff rates on Indonesian imports from 32% to 19%. Indonesia is seeking exemptions for key exports like palm oil, nickel, cocoa, and rubber from these tariffs.
EU refers Hungary to the highest court
18-Jul-2025 Kosova Press
The European Commission has referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union for refusing to comply with a key European Union ruling on investor-state arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty.
Letter: The Indian Government must stop any trade deal with the USA that is detrimental to farmers’ interests – no interim FTA to be signed with the USA
18-Jul-2025 Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements
ICCFM strongly opposes the proposed interim free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States that includes the agricultural sector, citing severe negative impacts on Indian farmers’ interests. The letter stresses the need to exclude agriculture from such an agreement to safeguard India’s food sovereignty, food security, and rural economy.
New Zealand confirms opposition to ISDS in RCEP
18-Jul-2025 AFTINET
New Zealand has firmly opposed including Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, which covers 15 Asia-Pacific countries.