(Reuters) – China is unlikely to join talks on an Asia-Pacific free trade agreement anytime soon, but eventually the world's No. 2 economy will have to be involved in the pact, New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said on Wednesday. Speaking at a New Zealand-China business event, Groser also said that the island nation had to up its game when dealing with Beijing, its largest export market, following a food safety scare in China concerning New Zealand dairy products.

Japan has decided to retain the tariffs it levies on imported beans in the ongoing negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. While the TPP aims to eliminate all tariffs, the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to designate domestically produced beans along with rice and some other farm products as sensitive items that the country aims to protect through tariffs on imports.

HCMC – Opportunities for local cold rolled steel coil exports have been reduced because of high anti-dumping duties imposed by Brazil and Indonesia, the major importers of the nation’s products, an official of the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) said.

OTTAWA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian parliament began its fall session here Wednesday with the government outlining measures it will undertake to seize what Prime Minister Stephen Harper called "Canada's moment" in an "uncertain world."

(Reuters) - The World Trade Organization has warned member countries that their refusal to increase its budget is causing a logjam in dealing with trade disputes. In a confidential budget proposal seen by Reuters, WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told the 159 member countries to expect delays in adjudications by WTO panels "for the next while" and "serious difficulties and delays" for appeals in the next two years.

At a crucial time in US-Asian relations, China is stealing the limelight. America needs to get back in the game. Earlier this month, amid the US government shutdown, President Obama decided to cancel his trip to Asia and forego participation in the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting and the East Asia Summit.

Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) A former U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs said Tuesday in Taipei that Taiwan needs political ambition if it wants to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement.

Karel De Gucht has warned that removing regulatory barriers to trade will be among the toughest challenges faced by Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiators.

In his State of the Union address in February, President Obama announced he would initiate formal negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). That same day, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso started negotiations.

With economic integration being at the forefront, Asean – as it focuses on becoming a much stronger unit – has found itself in the midst of a much hyped about financial discussion that has started gaining momentum.