BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday launched an anti-dumping probe into optical fiber preform products imported from Japan and the United States, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said. The probe was launched in response to an official application made by domestic preform producers, the ministry said in a statement. The MOC will investigate whether anti-dumping practices exist, the degree of anti-dumping, and damage to Chinese manufacturers of similar products, it said.

TOKYO -- The World Trade Organization's dispute resolution panel is expected to rule that China's export restrictions on rare earths and other key minerals violated trade rules. The panel investigated the joint complaint filed by the U.S., Japan and the European Union two years ago. WTO rules prohibit limiting export volumes unless the purpose is to preserve natural resources or protect the environment. The panel is likely to conclude that China is giving preferential treatment to the domestic industry.

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19: India’s recent decision to give subsidies to exporters of raw sugar is facing international flak with many countries questioning its validity under global trade rules. Major nations such as Australia, Colombia and Brazil, which export agricultural products, have said that the subsidies would affect their interests and distort the world market.

HCM CITY (VNS)  — A HSBC report released yesterday anticipates that Viet Nam's merchandise exports will grow at around 12 per cent annually between 2014-2016, although last year's figure was 15.4 per cent in nominal US dollar terms. The HSBC Global Connections Report completed last December covered 23 markets with a sample of 5,550 exporters, importers and traders from small and mid-market enterprises on trade volume, buyer and supplier risks, and the need for trade finance, among others.

World Trade Organization members have made an "excellent start" in talks to revive the Doha Development Agenda, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo announced on March 14, 2014.

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) final appeal body is taking a look at the decision to uphold a ban on the trade of seal products in the European Union (EU). Hearings are underway in Geneva today and are scheduled to run through March 19 for a case reviewing a panel decision released in November, upholding the seal product ban on moral grounds. The hearings have drawn representatives for both pro and anti-hunt organizations from Canada.

HCMC – Trade defense measures adopted by other countries against Vietnam’s commodities remain high barriers and local enterprises should prepare themselves for new cases, heard a seminar in HCMC on March 14. Vietnam’s exported goods have faced a total of 73 trade defense cases since 1995, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Competition Authority said at the seminar. These include 43 anti-dumping cases, 15 self-defense cases, five anti-subsidy cases, and ten tax evasion charges. This year to date, there have been two new cases, according to the seminar.

HANOI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's rubber exporters are likely to face further difficulties because of the low demand from major rubber importers, the Vietnam Rubber Association said on Tuesday. In 2013, Vietnam exported 1.078 million tons of rubber worth 2. 51 billion U.S. dollars, up 5 percent year-on-year in volume but down 12 percent on value, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Japan is expected to arrange another round of bilateral working-level talks as early as late March over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal with the US. A 2-day working-level meeting in Washington ended on Thursday without the 2 sides narrowing their differences on farm tariffs. Japan offered to cut tariffs on beef and pork at the meeting. Beef and pork are among the 5 categories of farm products that Japan wants to be exempt from tariff elimination.

(Reuters) - South Korea will not be welcomed into a planned Pacific free-trade pact until all problems are resolved in carrying out an existing trade deal with the United States, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. Two years after the agreement came into force, the United States was still trying to make sure promises to ease the path for U.S. exports into South Korea were fully met, the official said, pointing to problems with customs regulations and autos.