VietNamNet Bridge – Forty years after the war ended, relations between Viet Nam and the United States have grown significantly, especially in trade. In 2014, Viet Nam became the top ASEAN exporter to the US with a record trade surplus of almost US$25 billion. Bilateral trade reached $36.3 billion last year. Both nations are participants of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations, so bilateral trade is predicted to expand.

(Reuters) - The 12 countries working toward a historic Pacific trade pact could reach a deal at the end of May, though Canada must still show greater willingness to open up its markets, a senior Chilean official said on Thursday. Chile is among the nations in talks over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade pact that would cover 40 percent of the world economy and includes the United States and Japan.

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Japan and the European Union (EU) wrapped up the 10th round of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry announced here. At week-long talks in Tokyo, the two sides held fruitful discussions on areas such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, non-tariff measures, government procurement and others, according to the ministry. The schedule of the next round will be arranged accordingly, the ministry said, without providing further details.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive C Y Leung said he looked forward to the successful conclusion of negotiations on the proposed Hong Kong-Association of Southeast Asian Nations free trade agreement "in the coming year," during his speech to the ASEAN Leadership Forum in Kuala Lumpur on April 26.

South Korea is working to officially sign its bilateral free trade agreement with China in May, a ranking government official said Monday. The move comes as the government seeks to implement the free trade pact before the end of the year. "After the FTA is officially signed, the government plans to submit a ratification bill to the National Assembly before the end of the first half," Deputy Trade Minister Woo Tae-hee told a regular press briefing. Implementing the FTA before the year's end is a key to maximizing its benefits, the official said.

Nations tackle issues, court Pacific partners, Congress, as Abe gets set to visit Washington The U.S. and Japan, nearing an accord designed to transform ties between the economic rivals and open the way for a trade pact among 12 Pacific nations, still face differences and the challenge of bringing other countries and Congress on board.

The European Union will explore the possibility of resuming talks on a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations more than six years after negotiations between the two sides collapsed.

The ninth round of talks on a planned major free trade deal between the U.S. and EU countries concluded Friday in New York. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, also known as TTIP, has the potential to integrate two of the world’s largest economies by cutting tariffs and removing regulatory barriers to trade between the U.S. and the European Union.

A recent survey from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) found that 66% of domestic enterprises have expressed support for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) to go forward. However for transnational enterprises operating in Vietnam the survey found much less support and that only 30% of them were in favour of the 12 member Pacific Rim trade pact.

Ireland is hopeful that conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union would be mutually beneficial and would provide greater market access to Indian firms in the 28-nation bloc. The issue came up for discussion during the meeting between commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Ireland’s minister for jobs, enterprise and innovation Richard Bruton here.