The US has ruled out an immediate end to sanctions on Myanmar despite recent reforms, which it branded as "reversible." The new democratic policies prompted the EU and Canada to suspend most sanctions earlier this week. The United States refused to follow in the footsteps of Canada and the EU on Wednesday by ruling out an immediate end to its main sanctions on Myanmar.

South Korean retailers are suspending sales of American beef after a dairy cow from the United States was found to have mad cow disease. Lotte Department Store and Home Plus said they halted sales of US beef to calm worries among South Koreans. South Korea banned American beef after the first case of mad cow disease in the US was discovered in late 2003 but the trade resumed in mid-2008.

An ambitious Canada-European Union (EU) trade agreement will benefit businesses and workers, ministers from Canada and Denmark said after they met to discuss the ongoing negotiations.

Canada and Costa Rica have concluded a third round of talks on the expansion and modernization of their existing free trade agreement (FTA). The latest negotiations were held in Ottawa, with a fourth round scheduled for June. The original FTA entered into force in 2002 but did not include provisions in areas such as cross-border trade in services, financial services, investment and government procurement.

ASEAN Chief Dr Surin Pitsuwan said that, “All ASEAN Member States welcome the suspension of sanctions on Myanmar.  We have called for this soon after the country’s general elections in 2010, and we reiterated our call immediately after the by-elections in early April.” The 27 Foreign Minisers of the EU made the announcement in Luxembourg on Monday, 23 April, 'suspending restrictive measure imposed on the Government, with the exception of the arms embargo, which it will retain.'

GENEVA, April 24 (Reuters) - The European Union is planning to lodge a complaint at the World Trade Organization over Argentina's import restrictions and is seeking other trading partners to back its suit, a source familiar with the situation said on Tuesday. "This is a process that is advancing but it will take some time before it becomes official. We will naturally look at others that could accompany us," the source said. It is likely to be "a matter of weeks" before the EU launches the case, the source said.

HA NOI — Viet Nam recorded a 23.1 per cent year-on-year increase in value of tuna exports in the first three months, compared to the same period last year, bringing it to a total of US$101 million, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). This year, by mid-March, tuna exports to two African nations, Tunisia and Sudan, reached record highs, increasing by 809.9 per cent, to US$797,000, and 729.8 per cent, to US$1.19 million, respectively.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has organized the first ever advanced course for policy makers from developing countries, to develop nations' knowledge of trade regime issues and environmental policies. The two week course, which began on April 16, brings together decision makers from 26 developing countries. Participants were selected from a list of nominated government officials currently involved in trade and/or environment work in their country.

OTTAWA — At least two issues continue to stand in the way of a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union, but a deal should be finalized "within half a year," the Danish trade minister said Monday. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Denmark’s Pia Olsen Dyhr said "75 per cent" of the comprehensive trade agreement has been completed.

MOSCOW, April 23 (Reuters) - Auto parts companies from around the world are weighing up expansion in the fast-growing Russia market before government import incentives are scrapped in 2018 - a condition of Russia's planned entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).