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European Commission puts prepped Mercosur deal on ice
9-Jul-2025 Euronews
The agreement reached by the EU and the Mercosur countries has been reviewed by the European Commission’s legal service and translated, but its submission to the Member States for ratification has been put on hold.
Bangladesh hopeful of securing mutually-beneficial tariff pact with US
9-Jul-2025 Fibre2Fashion
Bangladesh is actively negotiating with the US to secure a mutually beneficial tariff agreement amid planned US tariffs on Bangladeshi goods. Bangladesh has offered zero-duty access for many US goods and commitments to increase imports of items like LNG, cotton, aircraft, and agricultural products to balance the trade gap.
Close to deal with India, says US President Donald Trump
9-Jul-2025 Hindustan Times
US President Donald Trump stated that the US and India are close to finalizing a trade deal amid ongoing negotiations. Although America’s reciprocal tariffs on India were extended from July 9 to August 1, a special Indian negotiating team recently concluded key discussions in the US.
Malaysian civil society groups urge government to reject investor-state dispute settlement clause in RCEP deal
9-Jul-2025 The Edge Malaysia
Malaysian CSOs have urged the government to reject the inclusion of the ISDS clause in the RCEP agreement. They warn that ISDS allows foreign investors to sue governments over policies safeguarding public interests like health, workers, and the environment, potentially leading to costly legal battles and large payouts detrimental to national budgets.
Indian farmers reject proposed trade deals with West and prepare for July 9 national strike
9-Jul-2025 People Dispatch
Major Indian farmer’s groups have announced they will participate in the upcoming July 9 national strike call made by the central trade unions against the government’s anti-worker policies.
AfCFTA adjustment fund credit fund commits US$ 10m in Telecel Global Services Ltd
8-Jul-2025 APA News
The Credit Fund of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund has successfully closed its first investment, committing US$10 million to Telecel Global Services Ltd, through a senior secured amortising loan. The transaction marks a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the Fund.
Trump announces tariffs of at least 25 percent on 14 countries
8-Jul-2025 The Washington Post
President Trump threatened tariffs between 25 percent and 40 percent on imports from 14 countries, the first of what he said would be a series of higher duties as the administration continues negotiating trade deals ahead of a new Aug. 1 deadline.
Bahrain, Hungary launch bilateral investment protection agreement
8-Jul-2025 BNA
The Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Hungary for the Promotion and Protection of Investments officially entered into force on 7 July 2025.
Nigeria at risk as US threatens extra 10% tariff on BRICS nations, slams 25% on Japan, S’Korea
8-Jul-2025 The Guardian
United States President, Donald Trump, has warned that countries supporting BRICS policies that clash with U.S. interests will face an additional 10 per cent tariff.
Bangladesh on FTA hunt as its graduation nears
7-Jul-2025 The Financial Express
Bangladesh now gears up drives for striking free-trade deals, with negotiations underway with a couple of countries, as the country prepares for post-graduation trade sans tariff concessions.
EU to offer five options over Israeli human rights breaches
7-Jul-2025 Euronews
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was tasked to follow up on a request made by the 27 leaders at their Council summit to engage with Israel and scope out further options for action against Tel Aviv if the situation in Gaza does not improve.
Trinidad and Tobago seeking partial scope trade agreement with India
7-Jul-2025 Nation News
The Trinidad and Tobago government said it intends becoming the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to enter into a partial scope trade agreement with India.
US demands trade deals or threatens tariffs by August 1
7-Jul-2025 DW
The United States is warning its trading partners to negotiate new deals or face higher import taxes by August 1, the latest deadline in President Donald Trump’s implementation of "reciprocal" tariffs.
Active negotiations on with over dozen countries for finalising BIT: Official
7-Jul-2025 NDTV
India is actively negotiating bilateral investment treaties with over a dozen countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Oman, European Union, Switzerland, Russia, and Australia, a government official said.
Kerala minister opposes India-US free trade agreement over agriculture concerns
7-Jul-2025 KNN
Kerala’s Agriculture Minister, P Prasad, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement, raising alarm over its potential impact on India’s agricultural sector.
Indian agriculture should be kept out free trade agreement with US or other countries: SKM leaders
7-Jul-2025 The Hindu
Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders warned that Indian agriculture should be kept out of any free trade agreement with the US or other countries.
India may consider terminating Asean pact as FTA review drags
7-Jul-2025 Hindustan Times
The India-ASEAN FTA, has been criticized for its weak "rules of origin" provisions, which have facilitated massive dumping of Chinese goods through some ASEAN countries, negatively impacting Indian industries.
Korea, Britain set to hold 5th round of follow-up negotiations to improve FTA
7-Jul-2025 Korea JoongAng Daily
Korea and Britain commenced the fifth round of follow-up negotiations in Seoul to upgrade their FTA. The talks, running through the week, focus on enhancing trade by easing product origin regulations and introducing new rules involving supply chains, digital trade, services, investment, and government procurement.
GCC – Japan negotiations make progress in sealing free trade agreement
7-Jul-2025 Saudi Gazette
The second round of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Japan took place in Tokyo from June 30 to July 4. These talks focused on key provisions including goods, technical barriers, services (financial, telecommunications), movement of natural persons, intellectual property, dispute settlement, and trade facilitation.
Civil society groups say there is now even more reason to keep ISDS out of the RCEP
7-Jul-2025 bilaterals.org
Civil society organisations from the 15 member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), call upon RCEP governments to continue to exclude Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) from the RCEP.