Diversification of the export basket a must for Bangladesh

The United Kingdom has published its negotiating policy for a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.

Britain will use its new independent seat at the World Trade Organization to push for a crackdown on unfair trade practices and protectionism, trade minister Liz Truss will say in a speech on Tuesday.

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam recently received information that the US Department of Commerce was requested to launch an anti-dumping and countervailing investigation on certain hardwood plywood products imports from Vietnam by the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood.

The US recently slimmed down its list of developing and least developed countries, thus removing Vietnam from receiving preferential trade benefits. The move, however, was not directed specifically at Vietnam but included several countries such as China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore among others.

A workshop highlighting the potential and benefits of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada was held in Ottawa on March 2. ​

The Government aims to double the annual job placements for locals in their 40s and 50s to 5,500 by 2025 through the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package.

Operating conditions in the Asean manufacturing sector improved for the first time since May last year in February, albeit fractionally, according to latest IHS Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data.

As an agreement with a deep and comprehensive level of commitment covering economic, trade, investment and sustainable development issues, EVFTA and EVIPA will open up great opportunities for both sides, maximizing the potential and complementarity, thereby contributing to deepening and creating long-term benefits between the two sides.

In the midst of this long-term structural shift from China, India has dropped a few notches in the companies' preference to relocate manufacturing, while ASEAN countries have gained.