SINGAPORE: World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Pascal Lamy has called for trade opening to continue as the global economic outlook worsens. In an annual report to WTO members on developments in the international trading environment, Lamy told members "in the context of greater economic uncertainty and rising global risks, it is all the more important that the process of global trade opening continues".

China’s Premier Wen Jiabao, in his speech to the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three Summit in Bali on November 18, 2011, proposed that the participating countries should look to accelerate and deepen regional trade liberalization and facilitation.

WASHINGTON — China’s swift economic rise, and a presidential election dominated by fears of a declining American economy, have produced a rare convergence: Republican contenders talking tough about China, and a president who is already getting tough on it.

Pakistan has removed restrictions on the import of 12 goods from India as part of measures to normalize trade between the two countries, Local media quoted Pakistani officials as saying on Monday. Pakistan has long been reluctant to open up trade with its neighbor because of long-running political disputes. But both countries have been trying to boost their trade following a recent thaw in ties.

China and the United States signed five economic and trade agreements on Monday. The agreements are related to intellectual property rights, technology, trade statistics, energy and business cooperation. A signing ceremony for the agreements was held after the 22nd session of the China-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), held in southwest China's city of Chengdu. Vice Premier Wang Qishan co-chaired the meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

Canada's implementation of its free trade agreements (FTAs) with Jordan and Panama will result in expanded opportunities in priority regions, benefiting the country's business and workers, the minister in charge has said. Following through on a commitment made in the June 2011 Speech from the Throne, Ed Fast, the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, has introduced the Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act and the Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, which will implement the FTAs.

MEXICO CITY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Mexico is due to drop trade barriers against China in a long-promised move but officials in Latin America's second-largest economy still complain about unfair practices in what could presage a fresh trade fight. Mexico was the last country to bless China's World Trade Organization (WTO) membership in 2001, having won years of additional protections against Chinese imports.

There are few places in Southeast Asia that carry as deep an imprint of India’s civilisational links as Bali, a majority Hindu island in a country that has the world’s largest Islamic population. It was after recognising this ancient relationship that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday launched into forwarding India’s economic agenda, both with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and at the wider 18-member East Asia Summit.

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's imports and exports of mineral products accounted for nearly 35 percent of the country's total foreign trade, said Xu Shaoshi, minister of land and natural resources. Although the development of the country's mineral industry remained generally good, supply and demand disparities still escalated, due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, Xu said at a meeting.

(Reuters) - Chinese and U.S. officials started meeting on Sunday to grapple with trade disputes that have strained ties between the world's two biggest economies, carrying forward concerns exchanged between leaders at back-to-back Asian summits in the past week. At the annual U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, or JCCT, in the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu, U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson said he would push for "concrete and measurable" steps to boost U.S. exports.