NEW DELHI: Four developing countries, including India, have told the WTO they would further open their markets for least-developed countries, a move which will help boost the economies of the poor nations.

(Reuters) - Russian consumers, in the days of the Soviet Union, could spend years on a waiting list to buy a car. Now, Russia is poised to become the biggest auto market in Europe and President Barack Obama wants U.S. parts manufacturers in on the action.

VNEconomyNews.com - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are entering into negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam, according to Viktor Khristenko, head of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).

Mexican Economy Minister Bruno Ferrari has said that his country was ready to sign a free trade agreement with Turkey. Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan met Ferrari in Puerto Vallerta city following the first session of G-20 summit. Caglayan told reporters that Turkey bore the tax burden unilaterally in its trade with Mexico under the European common market agreement, adding that Turkey would get rid of 30 percent of this tax if free trade agreement was signed. We will begin talks for the agreement as soon as possible, he added.

On April 17 and 18, ahead of the proclamation of the beginning of negotiations for a China-Korea FTA, economic and diplomatic experts from both countries gathered in Seoul and discussed methods of drafting the FTA. On the 17th, a high-level forum to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and China and to focus on shared growth between the two states was held at the InterContinental Coex hotel in Samseong-dong. On the 18th, a Korea-China forum was held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Namdaemun-ro.

To boost Hong Kong's external trade by lowering transaction costs and thereby benefiting the import-export sector, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has proposed halving import and export declaration charges (TDEC). At present, any person who imports, exports or re-exports any article other than an exempted article is required to lodge with Hong Kong's Commissioner of Customs and Excise an import or export declaration within 14 days and pay the TDEC.

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The world should be alert to new signs of trade protectionism and continue to fight it, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Thursday. Although protectionism has not prevailed thanks to concerted efforts of various countries and organizations like the World Trade Organization, there has been a rising trend of its comeback, Chen told a meeting of economy and trade ministers from the Group of 20 (G20). "The world should be vigilant and continue to fight trade protectionism unequivocally," he said.

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazil Thursday criticized Argentina's decision to restrict the import of Brazilian pork, threatening a tit-for-tat response. In a radio interview aired Thursday, Brazil's Agriculture Minister Mendes Ribeiro said that if the restrictions, announced in February, remained in place, Brazil might take similar measures against Argentine exports. "Negotiations are going well," he said, referring to a meeting between Brazil's ambassador Enio Cordeiro and Argentina's Agriculture Minister Norberto Yauhar.

The Presidents of the United States and Colombia announced at a joint press conference in Cartagena that a landmark Free Trade Agreement between the two nations will become effective on May 15, 2012, gradually exempting the vast majority of goods from bilateral trade taxes. According to a statement from the US government, the trade agreement will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to bilateral trade, expand exports of US goods by more than USD1.1bn and boost US gross domestic product by USD2.5bn.

(Reuters) - Spain will ask the European Union to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against Argentina for seizing control of energy company YPF, which is majority owned by Repsol, a high-ranking government source said on Wednesday. The source did not wish to be named and gave no further details.