A comprehensive economic agreement including China to be discussed at the 22nd ASEAN summit could push Brunei's growth by an impressive 6 percent with significant growth projections for Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, according to a report released on Tuesday. The report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that negotiations between ASEAN and six dialogue partners for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) started last year at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia could promote growth significantly by 2025.

Guatemala has requested consultations with Peru to better establish whether to challenge, at World Trade Organization-level, an additional duty being imposed by Peru on imports of certain agricultural goods. In a filing to the World Trade Organization on April 16, 2013, Guatemala said it seeks to obtain information from Peru on the "additional duty" it is imposing on imports of rice, sugar, maize, milk and certain dairy products.

SYDNEY – Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson welcomed Japan’s upcoming entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. “I look forward to Japan joining the negotiations and working with Australia,” Emerson said in a statement Sunday, adding that he hopes countries involved will conclude “a comprehensive and ambitious regional free-trade agreement.” Emerson issued the statement in Surabaya, Indonesia, where he attended a meeting of trade ministers from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum member nations over the weekend.

The European Union (EU) and Japan have completed the first round of negotiations toward a free trade agreement (FTA), described as "a good start" by the European Commission.

Japan's participation in a massive Pacific trade agreement will create an enormous market for American exports and generate employment, a top US trade official said Sunday. Acting US trade representative Demetrios Marantis lauded the unanimous decision for Japan's entry into the US-driven Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a day after Canada softened its resistance and gave the thumbs-up.

After US, now it is India that is contemplating moving World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body on renewable energy.India has alleged that the US is offering such renewable energy sector subsidy programmes for local content requirements which is making the entry of Indian companies difficult and are in violation of global trading rules. More

Here is Shukan Josei magazine’s nightmare scenario of a typical Japanese salaryman’s TPP future, if in fact Japan joins the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement currently being negotiated among 12 countries.

SURABAYA, East Java, Indonesia, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Trade ministers of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) concluded the ministerial meeting responsible for trade here Sunday, pledging to support multilateral trading system and eliminate protectionism and trade distorting measures.Gita Wirjawan, Indonesian Trade Minister and chair of the meeting, to

Surabaya, Indonesia – Trade ministers of the APEC forum discussed free trade and ways to facilitate investment as their two-day gathering kicked off Saturday in Indonesia.The meeting coincided with Japan winning formal approval to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks from all 11 member states during negotiations on the sidelines of the

Japan won its bid to enter talks on a massive Pacific trade pact Saturday after winning over its last opponent, Canada, for a proposed agreement that would account for more than 40% of the global economy.The decision became unanimous when Canada “successfully concluded” consultations with Japan after being the sole nation of 11 in the U.S.