USTR and Mexico announced a remediation plan for Minera Peñasquito (Newmont), a mining facility in Zacatecas, addressing workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. This action falls under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Mechanism for labor rights enforcement. The remediation plan represents a specific, named labor-trade policy outcome under the FTA framework.
Topic Archives:Fta
Chile and China hold 8th Free Trade Commission and review FTA progress
Chile and China convened the 8th Free Trade Commission to review implementation and advances of their bilateral FTA. The meeting represents a formal institutional review mechanism under the Chile-China FTA. No further details available from the snippet.
Seafood exports to Israel: Shifting to long-term contracts, leveraging VIFTA rules of origin
The article advises Vietnamese seafood exporters to transition to long-term contracts with Israeli buyers and utilize rules of origin provisions under the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) to gain preferential market access. It highlights the strategic importance of VIFTA’s origin rules for the seafood sector in maintaining competitiveness in the Israeli market.
Indonesia-Canada CEPA to Enter into Force on 1 December 2026, Trade Minister Optimistic on Export Growth
Indonesia’s Minister of Trade announced that the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-CA CEPA) will enter into force on 1 December 2026. The minister expressed optimism that Indonesian exports to Canada will strengthen as a result, and urged Indonesian businesses to maximize use of the agreement.
Preference Utilisation of UK Trade in Goods, 2024
The UK government has published official statistics on the utilisation of tariff preferences for imports and exports under preferential trade agreements for 2024. The data includes trade in goods between Great Britain and the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). This provides quantitative insight into how effectively businesses are claiming preferential tariff rates […]
Indonesian Trade Ministry Initiates Inter-Ministerial Meeting to Form Team for WTO Trade Policy Review
Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade convened an inter-ministerial meeting on October 15, 2026 to prepare for Indonesia’s 8th WTO Trade Policy Review (TPR). The ministry is pushing to establish a National TPR Preparation Team involving all relevant ministries and agencies. This effort is aimed at coordinating Indonesia’s policy positions and documentation for the upcoming WTO review.
Thailand Supports Upgrade Study of ASEAN-Japan CEP (AJCEP) to Modernize Trade Agreement
ASEAN and Japan held discussions on upgrading the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), targeting a formal upgrade negotiation launch by 2027. The upgrade aims to cover digital economy, green economy, supply chain resilience, services trade, movement of natural persons, IP, and MSME facilitation. Thailand’s Department of Trade Negotiations participated and supports close continued consultations.
Taiwan-Marshall Islands Hold 1st ECA Joint Committee Meeting, Advancing Bilateral Trade
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Marshall Islands held the 1st Joint Committee Meeting under their Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), signing Resolution No. 1 on committee procedures to formalize institutional operations. Key outcomes include trade promotion cooperation targeting Marshall Islands seafood, coconut oil, and handicrafts in Taiwan, plus agricultural and renewable energy technical cooperation. […]
WTO-ITC Visit to Mogadishu Supports Somalia’s WTO Accession Preparations
The WTO and ITC conducted their first joint technical assistance mission in Mogadishu (10–15 October) to prepare Somalia for the second Working Party meeting on its WTO accession. The UK-supported event also covered regional integration and the upcoming Trade for Peace Somalia Initiative.
Brazil sets rules for exporters to access Mercosur–EFTA quota allocations in Norway
Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services has established procedures for exporters to utilize tariff-rate quotas under the Mercosur–EFTA agreement with Norway, effective November 1. Eligible products include beef, poultry, honey, corn, and apple juice. The measure defines how companies can access preferential quota benefits under the agreement.