The ASEAN – Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now in its final stage and is hoped to take effect within 2019, according to Xinhua news agency. Xinhua quoted Law Kin-wai, director general of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, as saying on February 12 that member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are proceeding with necessary domestic ratifications and procedures that would pave the way for the enforcement of the FTA.

Thai media on February 9 quoted Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak as saying that he had ordered the Commerce Ministry to submit a request to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will make intensive efforts to boost exports of animal products this year.

Vietnam is targeting 2.4 billion USD from tra fish exports in this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Competition between domestic and foreign retailers is likely to remain fierce this year, requiring Vietnamese businesses to cooperate in order to maintain their market shares, said an official from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

If nothing changes in the next 45 days, the United Kingdom will crash out of the European Union with as much as 60% of its trade at risk of disruption.

Liam Fox has agreed deals with only seven of 69 countries covered by EU arrangements

The United States is trying to negotiate an end to its trade war with China, but tensions with another big economy are rising.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday trade talks with China were “going along very well” as the world’s two largest economies try to resolve their seven-month tariff war ahead of a March 1 deadline for a deal.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May will address lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday as she seeks more time to renegotiate her Brexit deal with the European Union.