WASHINGTON — President Obama has made expanding exports a centerpiece of his plan for accelerating the economic recovery, but in recent weeks, his trade agenda has nearly ground to a halt amid partisan feuding.

(Reuters) - U.S. trade officials reacted icily to China's decision on Monday to challenge U.S. shrimp duties at the World Trade Organization, which they said would complicate efforts to resolve a trade spat involving a number of other U.S. trading partners. "The United States is deeply disappointed in China's decision to request consultations," Nefeterius McPherson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, said in a statement.

Switzerland and Malta have signed a new Double Tax Agreement, designed to further the positive development of bilateral economic relations and foster the exchange of information.

Ending 2010, Vietnam exported 23 types of commodities to Hong Kong market, earning $1.4 billion, accounting for 2 percent of the country’s export turnover, rising 41.59 percent against 2009′s, according to the General Statistical Office (GSO). In December 2010 alone, Vietnam’s export to Hong Kong fetched $153.5 million, down 2.37 percent month on month.

(VOV) - Vietnam has always attached great importance to strengthening and expanding multi-faceted co-operation with member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), said National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.

(Reuters) - State governors and their Chinese counterparts agreed on Saturday to strengthen ties between their local governments and increase economic opportunities, as states seek help for their hefty budget struggles. "Expanding exports is key to our economic recovery," said Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, who chairs the National Governors Association, before signing the accord along with Chinese officials and Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman.

Moses Lee, Singapore’s Commissioner of Inland Revenue, and Jörg Reding, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Singapore, signed a revised double taxation agreement (DTA) between their two countries in Singapore on February 24, 2011. The revised DTA will replace the current agreement which dates back to 1975, and incorporates changes that, it is hoped, will further encourage and facilitate cross-border trade and investment between Singapore and Switzerland.

There has been a further confirmation from the European Union (EU) that it is ready to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines. The new EU Ambassador to the Philippines, Guy Ledoux, has said that the next move lay with the Philippines’ government if it wanted to begin serious talks to conclude an FTA, but that, to date, it had not signalled its intention. In fact, while negotiations on a EU-Philippines partnership and cooperation agreement, which was due to be the precursor of an FTA, were concluded in June last year, it has yet to be signed.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its three partners including China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have agreed to establish a rice reserve in each country to stabilise rice prices. According to the Jakarta Post on Feb. 28, the agreement was reached by ASEAN Trade Ministers at a two-day meeting in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on Feb. 26-27.

Washington, Feb 26 (PTI) The US has said reinvigorating trade and commerce between India and Pakistan can provide extensive benefits to both countries and their millions of farmers, business people and entrepreneurs.