India’s state is a mirror of its noisy, messy democracy. It’s often hard to achieve even a modest internal consensus between government departments in New Delhi: Right now, the heads of several ministries are scrambling to find a common position on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP -- a giant trade deal that stitches together India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Oceania, China, Japan and Korea. At the end of August, ministers from the 16 RCEP countries will meet in Singapore; India needs to work out a constructive stand by then. There’s a very real chance that, if New Delhi’s negotiators continue to be obstructionist, the other 15 countries will move ahead without India.

Mr. Olalekan Ayodimeji (Vice President, Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture)

Negotiators for the U.S. and Mexico appear close to striking a deal in their talks to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the future of any new pact will hinge on Canada, which has sat on the sidelines during the latest round of discussions

The meeting is important as the 16-member bloc now needs specific political guidance to move the negotiations further.

Trade talks between Mexico and the United States will continue next week as new sticking points have surfaced over U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican-made vehicles.

It has become more difficult to export steel products to large markets amid the strong rise of protectionism. Steel manufacturers have been advised to protect and exploit the domestic market, which is full of potential.

Although China calls Pakistan and itself iron brothers, when it comes to trade, Pakistan stands at a weaker position in comparison to India, which is Beijing’s adversary in regional politics but has a better free trade agreement (FTA).

China is exporting textiles to India through Bangladesh to get around a tax increase on imports, undermining New Delhi’s efforts to support local manufacturers, industry sources said

Brexit minister Dominic Raab voiced confidence on Tuesday that Britain and the European Union would make progress on their divorce at a summit next week, but again asked the bloc to meet London “halfway” on the most difficult areas.

The EU – Việt Nam free trade agreement (EVFTA) will help enhance the national competitiveness of Việt Nam, according to a report launched by the European Chamber of Commerce (Eurocham) in HCM City on Tuesday.