HA NOI — Viet Nam this year can earn up to US$780 million from its pepper exports if the price of pepper remains at a high of more than US$7,000 per tonne, said the Viet Nam Pepper Association (VPA). The total pepper export volume would reach between 110,000 and 115,000 tonnes, according to the VPA. In case world pepper prices fall from July's high, pepper farmers have the choice of keeping their harvested pepper in stock to wait for prices to rise again.

Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) Taiwan plans to win the support of the United States to join a Pacific Rim trade bloc through long-stalled talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. "We have this strategic plan in mind," said Bruce Linghu, director-general of the ministry's Department of North American Affairs, at a press conference. That means that Taiwan first needs to resume TIFA talks, which have been stalled since 2007, as soon as possible, he said.

Canada's Minister of International Trade has reiterated the government's commitment to the conclusion of a successful trade agreement with the European Union (EU). Ed Fast's comments were made as he concluded a four-day trade and investment visit to the UK, where he met with members of the UK government to discuss trade relations. Over the course of the meetings, both sides reiterated a shared commitment to securing a successful conclusion to the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

There hasn’t been much to cheer about in global trade these last few years. The Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations has been comatose, if not dead. So a recent initiative to deepen trade relations among the countries bordering the Pacific, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has been greeted with much applause and welcome relief as a step in the right direction.

Mexico would welcome Japan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, according to Carlos Guzman, director-general of ProMexico, a governmental trade institution. In an interview on Thursday, Guzman explained that the United States accounts for 78 percent of Mexico's overall exports. He said that by joining the free trade pact, Mexico would like to increase exports to Japan and other Asian nations as well as South America.

Amid prolonged political turmoil, it has become nearly impossible for Japan to join talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord before the end of this year. To take part in the round of TPP negotiations scheduled for early December--the last for this year--the government and ruling parties must reach a consensus by the end of August, as it will take 90 days for the U.S. Congress to approve Japan's entry.

Chile, an entry point into the South American region, soon expects to set up a free trade agreement (FTA) with Indonesia in a bid to boost bilateral trade and enhance economic cooperation, according to a Chilean minister. Chilean Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol Bouchon said on Friday that with the FTA, Chile expected to increase its exports of agricultural and forestry products to Indonesia, the large population of which was attractive because of its increasing purchasing power.

Chile, an entry point into the South American region, soon expects to set up a free trade agreement (FTA) with Indonesia in a bid to boost bilateral trade and enhance economic cooperation, according to a Chilean minister. Chilean Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol Bouchon said on Friday that with the FTA, Chile expected to increase its exports of agricultural and forestry products to Indonesia, the large population of which was attractive because of its increasing purchasing power.

The 19-nation Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and a delegation from the Indian Government recently met in Lusaka, within a joint study group, to discuss a possible COMESA/India free trade agreement (FTA), as a follow up to the signing of their memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February 2003.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation on agricultural greenhouse gases and agricultural trade will be on the agenda in talks between senior New Zealand and U.S. agriculture sector officials next week. New Zealand Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced Friday he would travel to the United States Saturday for a " primary industries summit."