China on Thursday unveiled a new list of import tariff exemptions for six chemical and oil products from the United States, days after the world's two largest economies announced a Phase 1 trade deal.

Việt Nam is seeking to develop its information and communications technology industry (ICT) with a focus on domestic firms to make it a key economic sector in the next decade, according to experts.

The US’ imposition of duties of up to 456 per cent on certain steel products shipped from Việt Nam would not significantly harm the country’s steel industry, according to industry insiders.

Economists continue to puzzle over the details of the US-China phase one deal announced last Friday, particularly Washington’s demand that Beijing imports an extra US$200 billion of American goods and services over two years.

The Asean market today boasts favourable demographics, a thriving tourism industry, less market volatility and the ability to benefit from trade tensions. However, many investors are still oblivious to such advantages due to the reputation the region garnered after the 2008 global financial crisis, says JP Morgan Asset Management.

Chinese buying of American farm products will be determined by how competitive they are, and not just by estimates laid out in an initial trade accord, according to a US government trade adviser.

There is too much “fraternising with the enemy” for US–China economic ties and global technology ecosystems to be disentangled into neat geopolitical coalitions.

The signing and implementation of free trade agreements has increased Việt Nam's tax collection this year, said Lưu Mạnh Tưởng, director of Import-Export Tax Department under Vietnam Customs.

More than 90 per cent of businesses from the Republic of Korea (RoK) are satisfied with their investments in Việt Nam, according to a recent survey conducted by the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The Director-General’s annual overview of trade-related developments discussed on 12 December at a meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body shows that trade restrictions by WTO members continue at historically high levels. Between mid-October 2018 and mid-October 2019, the trade coverage of import-restrictive measures implemented by members was estimated at USD 747 billion. This is the highest trade coverage recorded since October 2012 and represents an increase of 27% compared to the figure recorded in the previous annual overview (USD 588 billion). The report notes that new trade restrictions and increasing trade tensions added to the uncertainty surrounding international trade and the world economy.