The EU’s new defense lending scheme is a breakthrough moment — but it must be matched by a financial arm to support industrial capacity.

Global trade in 2024 remains a complex landscape characterized by geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and rising protectionism. In this volatile environment, Vietnam’s agricultural sector is a crucial pillar of economic stability.

Southeast Asian leaders start two days of talks from Monday, seeking to deepen ties with China and Gulf nations, and mitigate the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes.

The advancement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement to a higher level and toward broader coverage will bolster economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and help stabilize a fracturing world trade system, officials and experts said on Sunday.

The second round of negotiations between Vietnam and the United States on a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement in Washington, D.C. concluded on Thursday with encouraging progress, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The European Union’s (EU) trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, is planning to hold a call with Jamieson Greer, his US counterpart, on Friday to take stock of talks, according to a European Commission spokesperson.

Hours before President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs were set to take effect last month, he said, “These countries are calling us up …” They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please, sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything, sir.”

As Vietnam strengthens economic ties with Thailand, domestic enterprises seeking to enter the Thai market must overcome a series of hurdles, from technical regulations, fierce competition to export restrictions and consumer expectations, experts said at a recent trade seminar in Ho Chi Minh City.

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven democracies papered over their differences on Thursday, pledging to address "excessive imbalances" in the global economy and saying they could increase sanctions on Russia.

A surprise truce in a spiraling tariff war between the US and China last week was hailed by Chinese pundits as a success for the country. But Beijing is gearing up for a rocky path in relations, and negotiations, ahead.