HCM CITY — Viet Nam hopes to ship 61,468 tonnes of cashew in the second half of the year, bringing the year's total to 150,000 tonnes for an export turnover of US$1 billion, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas). Speaking at a review conference held in HCM City yesterday, Dang Hoang Giang, Vinacas general secretary, said 88,532 tonnes of cahew worth $602.1 million had been exported in the first half of the year. This marked a year-on-year increase of 28.2 per cent in volume and nearly 14 per cent in value, he said.

In addition to being well on the way to concluding a trade treaty with South Korea, the Turkish government is also hoping to initiate talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan. Following a visit to Tokyo by the Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çaglayan, and a meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and its Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano, a joint feasibility study will be undertaken to decide on the potential for an FTA between the two countries.

JAKARTA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is to reduce soy bean import tax from 5 percent to zero this month as an effort to overcome lacking of supply in domestic market, a minister saidn here on Wednesday. Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said that a mnisterial meeting would be conducted to prepare for the planned policy. "There will be a meeting today (Wednesday) and tomorrow to prepare the rule. So it can take effect no later than August first, " he said at the Attorney General Office.

(Reuters) - China will abide by the outcome of an ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) investigation into its policies for the rare earths sector, but will continue to tighten regulation of the industry, an industry ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

BEIJING—In a widely expected move following requests by the United States, European Union and Japan, the World Trade Organization has set up a panel to probe China's rare-earth export policies, the trade body said in a report on its website Tuesday.   The trade dispute centers on China's domination over the production of 17 metallic minerals that are essential for a range of sensitive cutting-edge technologies including missile defense systems, wind turbines and smart phones.

New Zealand - The legal threat from tobacco companies over the Government's proposal for plain packaging has raised fears about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) - a free trade deal involving the United States - and opponents say it could make legal clashes even more common. Because of the fears it will get sued under existing international trade laws the Government could back down over its plain-packaging plan for tobacco and the trade deal could mean even tighter trade rules could be on the way too.

MANILA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government lifted the temporary ban against poultry products imported from Melbourne, Australia after the government has determined that the risk of bring in such products into the Philippines is already " negligible." Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said Tuesday that with the lifting of the ban, the Philippine government will resume the issuance of import permits for poultry products and wild birds from Melbourne.

The Business Advisory Council (ABAC) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is focused on liberalizing and facilitating regional trade and investment, leading ultimately to a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).

The latest arbitration ruling under their bilateral Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), which held against US allegations that Canada had under-priced lumber entering its market, was a disappointment for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), but welcomed by Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade.

Russia formally notified the World Trade Organization on Monday that it had ratified its membership agreement, meaning it will become the 156th member of the trade rules club on Aug 22. The $1.9 trillion Russian economy, the world's ninth largest, was the biggest still outside the WTO.