May 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations faces an “unbridgeable” gap and needs a new approach after a decade without striking a deal, a group of 21 Pacific ministers said. Trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group have been the most bullish backers of the talks, calling for a speedy conclusion in annual gatherings. After two days of meetings in Big Sky, Montana, they pledged today to examine “all options” because the Geneva-based WTO failed again to reach agreement this year.

China has expanded export quotas for rare earth metals, further tightening its grip on the minerals used in a number of high-tech electronics. From Friday, iron alloys containing more than 10% of rare earths will fall under the export quota, the commerce ministry said in a statement. Rare earths are a collection of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table. World manufacturers rely heavily on China for these minerals.

VNEconomyNews.com - Vietnam's General Department of Customs has reported that 21,406 foreign-made cars worth US$392 million were imported in the country during the first four months of the year, an increase of 63% in volume and 72% in value compared to the same period last year. In April alone, 5,546 cars was imported, worth $113 million, a slight decrease of 2-3% in volume compared to the previous month but an increase of 58% in volume and 85% in value compared to the same period last year.

HANOI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam plans to boost its seafood export to Europe, a promising market with a huge demand for Tra fish (Pangasius), Vietnam News Agency quoted the confirmation by Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Huu Dung as reporting on Thursday. According to VASEP, amongst Vietnam's 139 Tra fish importers, Europe is the largest, accounting for 35.8 percent to the country' s total tra fish export value of almost 1.43 billion U.S. dollars in 2010.

VNEconomyNews.com - The European Union market’s rising demand for canned pineapples has spurred Vietnam’s export of the fruit, with total outbound sales in April reaching a record high of US$1,300 per ton. The nation’s export of the fruit is forecast to continue to climb in the second quarter. The strong demand, particularly of the Netherlands, makes the current export price exceed last year’s level by US$100 to $1,300 per ton.

A World Trade Organization appeals panel on Wednesday upheld a ruling that Boeing lost market share to its European rival, Airbus, as a result of billions of dollars in low-cost government loans, according to European and American officials. But the panel rejected claims by the United States that state financing for the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet was automatically prohibited under global trade rules, the officials said.

May 18 -- During the upcoming 32nd Meeting of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Georgetown, Guyana, the packed agenda will include updates with respect to on-going negotiations and implementation of already signed agreements. Discussions will open on Thursday, May 19.

VNEconomyNews.com - Accordingly, 22 Vietnamese shrimp exporters will enjoy tariffs of 0.01 percent. In response to the US Court of International Trade (CIT)’s decision, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has agreed to adjust the level of anti-dumping tariffs on frozen shrimp imported from Vietnam between February 1, 2006 and January 31, 2007.

MOSCOW, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Trade between Russia and Brazil grew 28 percent last year, laying a good foundation for bilateral cooperation, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer here Tuesday. "Brazil is one of our strategic partners not only in Latin America but in the world. We have many interesting projects and very good prospects," Putin said as quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency. He mentioned Russia-Brazil bilateral cooperation in the UN and BRICS. Temer responded that his visit to Moscow is fruitful.

The United States House of Representatives Agriculture Committee has held a public hearing to examine the three pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, and the issues surrounding their implementation.