The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement comes into force for Malaysia today, paving the way for the country to integrate into the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA) that involves 15 countries, with a total population of more than 2.2 billion.

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has launched the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) upgrade negotiations to maximise the potential of intra-Asean trade and deepen economic integration.

China has been actively preparing to convert its import of agricultural products from unofficial channels to official ones. This market is also standardising import criteria through new regulations and conditions. However, many Vietnamese businesses are still not ready for the race to dominate this large market.

Competent authorities of Vietnam have sent a diplomatic note to relevant ministries and agencies of Italy, requesting a quick investigation into a suspected scam involving 100 containers of Vietnamese cashew nuts exported to Italy.

Vietnam is poised to emerge strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic and place itself firmly on the radar of foreign investors, buoyed by rapid industrialisation and a fast-growing middle-class, experts told AsianInvestor which focuses on the region’s investment industry.

As Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last month, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced tricky questions at a press conference about India’s reluctance to condemn the war.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a phone conversation with New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor on March 17 to discuss the US’s initiative in building the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of coffee after Brazil, accounting for 8.3 percent of the global coffee share and 16 percent of the market share in the EU. However, the majority of exports remain in the form of unprocessed beans and little added valuation.

Market fluctuations and problems in goods import and export are expected to significantly affect Vietnam, say experts. Some areas that would see direct impact include prices of commodities, circulation of goods and commercial contract payments. Domestic firms with joint projects with partners in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus will also be affected.

The international trade umpire has appointed panellists to adjudicate Australia's battle with China over wine export tariffs.