Oct 22 (Reuters) - Mexico will ask a World Trade Organization panel to adjudicate a dispute over trade restrictions with Argentina, Economy Minister Bruno Ferrari said on Monday. Ferrari said Mexico's request for a panel has been joined by Japan, the European Union and the United States, which had previously made similar complaints of their own. He added that consultations with Argentina have failed to yield an agreement, but he did not provide details of specific sectors involved in the dispute.

The country's exports plunged 10.3pc in September from a year ago, dimming hopes of rapid recovery in the Far East. Exports to Europe crashed 21pc. Shipments to China fell 14pc as the Diaoyu-Senkaku islands dispute led to a slump in car sales. Honda, Mazda, and Nissan all saw sales plunge near 30pc as Chinese consumers boycotted Japanese brands. Nomura said the export slump will push country into full recession.

ASEAN and six Asian leaders will this November announce the official establishment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will make it the biggest free-trade market on the globe. "The leaders should come up with a formal statement to form the RCEP. The negotiations are expected to start early next year in order to wrap up the pact by 2015, just in time for the full implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community," Somkiat Triratpan, deputy director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, said last week.

HCM CITY (VNS) — Many companies in the cashew industry are facing losses and bankruptcy as they face stiff challenges caused by low prices and banking pressures, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association. Nguyen Duc Thanh, vice chairman of the association, said exact figures about cashew processors and exporters in deep trouble were not available, but "it must be 50-70 per cent."

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement with senior Japanese officials Thursday as the government remains undecided on whether to join the talks.

HA NOI (VNS) — Vietnamese steel pipe manufacturers and domestic steel companies are not dumping products in the US market and do not receive subsidies, according to a recent decision by the US Department of Commerce. The news is a boost for Vietnamese steel exporters, who will not be subject to extra tariffs in the US market.

(Reuters) - The World Trade Organization barredChina on Thursday from imposing duties on certain U.S. steel exports, siding with U.S. President Barack Obama in a dispute with Beijing over a type of steel made in two election battleground states.

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's customs watchdog said Friday it will demand that Nissan North America, Inc. pay cash deposits for possible anti-dumping and countervailing duties on certain types of cars exported into the country.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has exported garment and textile products in equivalent to 3.54 billion U.S. dollars in the first eight months of 2012, a 11 percent rise from 3.19 billion U.S. dollars at the same period last year, a report from the Commerce Ministry showed Friday. The United States and European countries are the main buyers, and other customers are Canada, Japan, South Korea, China and some other Asian countries.

New Zealand has passed legislation allowing for greater cooperation between the Commerce Commission and its international counterparts, a move praised as an important step towards creating a Single Economic Market with Australia.