HCM CITY (VNS)  — The annual export value of southern Dong Nai province's support industry reached US$3.2 billion, according to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade. Industrial parks in the province have attracted 422 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth a total of $6.9 billion to the support industry in various sectors, including garments and textiles, footwear, electronics, spare automobile parts, and mechanics and equipment.

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam earned an estimated US$1.95 billion from exports of agro-forestry-fishery products in January, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 13.8 per cent, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported. Of this figure, the farming industry's export value reached $859 million, down 11.8 per cent, while exports of seafood saw a decrease of 25.6 per cent to $412 million and forestry product exports generated $520 million, down 8.2 per cent.

A senior official of African Union (AU) said Tuesday the long-awaited tripartite free trade area between three regional blocs is expected to be launched in May in Cairo, Egypt. To boost intra-Africa trade, AU heads of state in January 2012 decided to establish the continental free trade area (CFTA) by 2017 between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The United States is pleased to welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ms. Maxine McClean, Ambassador Marion Williams, and the other members of the delegation of Barbados to the third Trade Policy Review of Barbados.  We would also like to express our appreciation to the WTO Secretariat and to the Government of Barbados for the reports provided in advance of this meeting.  And of course, we appreciate the remarks by the discussant, Ambassador Tan Yee Woan (Singapore).

HANOI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese seafood in 2014 with over 1.709 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for some 21.8 percent of the market share. According to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday, export revenue of Vietnamese seafood to the market in 2014 posted an increase of 17.3 percent year-on-year.

(Reuters) - The top U.S. trade official told lawmakers on Tuesday an ambitious Pacific trade pact could be wrapped up within months as he urged Congress to back the administration's trade agenda. In testimony to congressional committees, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the administration looked to lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation allowing a streamlined approval process for trade deals, such as the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The sugar industry, which is burdened with a massive surplus stock and alarmingly low prices, is eagerly awaiting the government’s announcement on the continuation of the export subsidy on raw sugar exports. According to manufacturers, this will help the industry reduce its huge stocks.

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a subsidy of Rs 6 billion for the export of 1.2 million tons of surplus wheat available with Punjab and Sindh governments. A participant of the meeting, who requested anonymity, said that Ministry of Food Security and Research had proposed the export of 3 million tons but the ECC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar decided to allow export of 1.2 million tons. 

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman formally delivered the United States’ letter of acceptance of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement to WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo today in Davos, Switzerland.  The delivery of the letter is the final step that the United States must take toward the entry into force of this hard won agreement that promises to improve trade efficiency and is projected to generate hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity.

(Reuters) - Japan has offered to import more rice from the United States in a compromise aimed at pushing forward the Asia-Pacific regional trade talks, the Nikkei reported on Sunday. A stand-off between the United States and Japan over access to farm and auto markets has been holding up negotiations over the 12-nation trade pact, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).