A half-dozen former U.S. trade representatives are urging Congress to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) before the August recess. The former trade representatives, who served under four different presidents, warned in a Tuesday letter to House and Senate leaders that U.S. exports will be at a significant disadvantage and will not be able to take advantage of the full benefits of Russia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) if Congress does not act.

During a meeting between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it was agreed that the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks, which were interrupted in 2008, should be resumed by the end of this year.

The draft investment text in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which was leaked yesterday (June 13) by a U.S. civil society group, reveals that TPP countries are offering up radically different visions when it comes defining when a specific government action constitutes "indirect expropriation" of a company's property.

Both the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have claimed success in the various findings of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel, regarding China’s imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing import duties on grain-oriented flat-rolled electrical steel (GOES) from the United States.

WELLINGTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Tuesday welcomed Mexico in joining nine other nations negotiating a controversial Pacific-wide free trade agreement. New Zealand, which is acting as the depository of the existing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, issued a formal statement on behalf of the nine states already in negotiations to congratulate Mexico. New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said the announcement was "a shot in the arm for the TPP," which underscored the importance of the negotiations.

(Reuters) - The United States and eight other countries on Monday welcomed Mexico into talks aimed at reaching an Asia Pacific free trade agreement, but continued to mull over Canada and Japan's seven-month-old bids to join the negotiations.

Before the end of the month, U.S. and European Union trade officials will recommend whether to pursue a free-trade agreement. Such a deal has the potential to jump-start economic growth and create millions of jobs, even as it sidesteps the paralyzing debate on both sides of the Atlantic over austerity versus stimulus. A trade agreement is necessary, achievable and urgent.

HAVANA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Monday reimposed taxes on imported food after an exemption four years ago when the island country was ravaged by devastating hurricanes. The General Customs Office of Cuba previously announced the new regulation on its official website on June 1, stating that imported food had been taxed since 1979, but the levy was "exceptionally" suspended in 2008 when the powerful hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma caused great damage to its agriculture.

(Reuters) - Canada will move to end an agricultural trade dispute with South Korea after the Asian country resumed importing beef from Canada early this year. Canadian International Trade Minister Ed Fast said on Monday his department will work with South Korea to end Canada's complaint at the World Trade Organization over South Korea's ban on Canadian beef imports. As of last week, more than 30 commercial beef shipments from Canada had cleared South Korean customs, a statement from the Canadian government said.

(Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Monday the United States and other countries have expressed interest in Canada joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks. "An important part of our agenda for growth is an ambitious trade agenda. We're delighted that the Americans and others have indicated an interest in seeing Canada join the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Harper said.