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Indonesia seeks expansion of preferential trade agreement with Turkey
11-Dec-2025 ANTARA News
Indonesia is pushing to expand the scope of the Indonesia-Turkey Preferential Trade Agreement (IT-PTA) as a stepping stone towards a comprehensive economic partnership. Turkey, meanwhile, suggested exploring collaboration in construction, particularly as Indonesia develops its new capital, Nusantara.
PH, UAE to sign economic partnership
11-Dec-2025 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates will soon sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to further strengthen bilateral relations and open up new opportunities for economic ties.
Pakistan calls for operationalising D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement
11-Dec-2025 Business Recorder
Pakistan has called for the full operationalisation of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan urging member states to remove procedural hurdles and accelerate efforts to expand intra-D8 trade.
Malaysia, GCC finalising date for first round of FTA negotiations - MITI
11-Dec-2025 Bernama Biz
Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are in the process of finalising a suitable date to begin the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
Civil society letter to ASEAN member states on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) Negotiations
11-Dec-2025 Third World Network
People’s movement are express deep concern and disappointment at the lack of public participation, transparency, and open government processes in the ongoing negotiations of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement to the ASEAN member states.
Internal divisions force Belgium to abstain from EU-Mercosur vote
10-Dec-2025 Belga
Belgium will have to abstain from voting on the new EU-Mercosur free trade agreement because its various governments have not reached a consensus.
OIC nations’ need for fairer investor-state dispute reforms
10-Dec-2025 The Express Tribune
UN prepares for key ISDS reforms, OIC countries strive for balance between investor protection and sovereignty.
Critical minerals trade agreements put profits over human rights and the environment, warn 35+ organizations
10-Dec-2025 Public Citizen
Public Citizen joins 35 civil society, environmental, faith, and human rights organizations today in calling on the Trump administration to halt any ongoing negotiations on critical minerals agreements.
Kenya: Plans to extend Agoa under way, says Mudavadi
10-Dec-2025 Zawya
Kenya is pursuing a bilateral deal with the US to replace the stalled Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) even as President Donald Trump promised a one-year extension of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa), which allows them preferential access to the key market.
PAPSS COWRY Lagos 2025: Africa stakes its claim on the future of payments
9-Dec-2025 Technext
Since its public debut in January 2022, PAPSS has matured rapidly, now connecting 19 countries, 160 commercial banks, and 15 national switches, allowing cross-border transactions to clear in local currencies within a maximum of 120 seconds.
Dutch court freezes TurkStream assets over Crimea dispute
9-Dec-2025 Harici
In a case concluded in November 2023, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ordered Russia to pay $207.8 million in compensation, along with interest and arbitration costs, to Akhmetov’s company for the expropriation of its assets in Crimea.
Israel, Costa Rica sign FTA eliminating over 90% of tariffs, expanding bilateral trade
9-Dec-2025 The Jerusalem Post
Israel and Costa Rica signed a Free Trade Area agreement on Monday, marking a significant milestone in economic cooperation between the two countries.
Mercosur: Parliament Committee calls for measures to protect EU agriculture
9-Dec-2025 European Interest
The International Trade Committee has formally adopted its position on safeguard mechanisms for agricultural imports under the trade agreement with Mercosur countries.
What’s next for the USMCA review
9-Dec-2025 Politico
The next big milestone on the way to the mandatory review of USMCA in 2026 is a report that USTR is required to send to key congressional committees by early January.
Frozen assets, hot claims: How Russian oligarchs and other investors sue over sanctions
9-Dec-2025 European Trade Justice Coalition
Economic sanctions against Russia are now being challenged by Russian oligarchs and companies in private tribunals using a mechanism written into investment treaties.
Swiss government adopts draft negotiating mandate for US trade deal
8-Dec-2025 Reuters
The Swiss government has adopted a draft negotiating mandate for a trade agreement with the United States.
Qatar, Uruguay sign investment protection and tax treaties to deepen economic ties
8-Dec-2025 Arab News
Qatar and Uruguay signed two economic agreements aimed at strengthening investment flows and eliminating double taxation as Doha moves to expand its network of international trade partners.
Pacific trade pact PACER Plus extended for five more years
8-Dec-2025 RNZ
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus will be renewed for another five years, after a meeting of ministers in the Solomon Islands last weekend.
China, 5 Pacific Island countries sign framework agreement to upgrade economic partnership: MOFCOM
8-Dec-2025 Global Times
China and the relevant Pacific Island countries agreed to carry out flexible and pragmatic negotiations on specific issues such as trade in goods and services, investment, rules, and practical cooperation.
EU–Mercosur: trade first, standards later?
8-Dec-2025 Foodwatch
In mid-December, EU governments will decide whether to move ahead with the controversial EU–Mercosur trade deal. It risks increasing low-standard imports, putting farmers under more pressure, and weakening health and environmental protections.