BusinessGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz is championing a new European trade strategy that pivots away from the World Trade Organisation's rigid framework. By prioritizing bilateral deals with MERCOSUR, Mexico, and Australia, the EU aims to insulate its economy from the deepening volatility of the global market and the influence of dominant superpowers.
BusinessFollowing a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin, Donald Trump signaled a thaw in trade tensions with Ottawa on Saturday. The president indicated that a formal agreement between the United States and Canada could materialize shortly, potentially resolving long-standing friction over agricultural tariffs.
BusinessNinety percent of the produce at Vince's Market now hails from domestic farms, marking a sharp departure from traditional supply chains. As trade tensions with the United States simmer, Canadian grocery chains are actively restructuring their inventory to prioritize local goods over imports, fueled by a renewed surge in consumer nationalism.
BusinessFor Pacific Island nations, temporary labor migration has evolved into a vital economic engine, yet its success hinges on a difficult transition. While remittances provide immediate relief, new IMF research suggests that long-term stability requires governments to pivot from simple cash inflows toward investment in education and domestic productivity.
BusinessFrom August 18 to 21, 2026, representatives from eight Asia-Pacific nations gathered in Colombo to address a persistent economic disconnect: how to ensure that expanding international trade and investment actually translates into stable, high-quality employment rather than merely boosting raw capital flows across the region.
BusinessRanked 43rd in the 2026 SDG Index, Thailand is transitioning from broad policy commitments to rigorous economic implementation. As global trade rules tighten and climate risks escalate, the nation faces a critical test: meeting net-zero targets while shielding its smaller enterprises from the immense costs of a rapid green transition.
BusinessTen-year U.S. Treasury yields have surged beyond 5%, marking their highest level since 2008. This sharp climb creates an immediate, heavy burden for global borrowers while simultaneously threatening to derail the momentum of equity markets currently fueled by artificial intelligence hype and steady economic expansion.
BusinessFacing a volatile fuel market strained by Middle East instability, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has resurrected a controversial plan to impose a 60% windfall tax on oil giants. The government expects this levy to capture excess corporate profits and inject roughly 4 billion zlotys annually into relief for Polish consumers.
BusinessWhile small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99.6% of Turkey’s registered businesses, they contribute less than half of the nation's gross value added. A new OECD assessment suggests that despite a robust support infrastructure, the sector remains trapped in a cycle of low productivity and limited access to capital.
BusinessAs trade tensions with the United States simmer, Canadian grocers are rapidly recalibrating their supply chains to satisfy a surge in domestic demand. Retailers are actively distancing themselves from reliance on southern imports, shifting shelf space toward home-grown produce to align with rising consumer interest in national self-sufficiency.
BusinessSeven years after his last visit, Xi Jinping joined Indian leadership on the sidelines of the New Delhi BRICS summit to navigate a path beyond the 2020 Himalayan border conflict. The meeting signals an attempt to prioritize commercial integration and transportation corridors over lingering military friction between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
BusinessAs parliamentary elections approach, the historic city of Yaroslavl faces a tightening economic vice. Residents struggle against mounting inflation and fuel shortages, while local entrepreneurs report that the labor market is effectively hollowed out, leaving businesses unable to fill vacancies despite offering higher wages and new opportunities.
BusinessThe British pound touched $1.347 on Tuesday, marking its weakest valuation since August 7, as a volatile cocktail of soaring crude prices and impending central bank interest rate decisions rattled investors and bolstered the U.S. dollar against major global currencies.
BusinessSouth Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan confirmed that negotiations regarding a massive $350 billion investment commitment to the United States will enter their final phase this week. While key parameters regarding strategic capital flows have been established, officials remain locked in discussions to finalize the remaining outstanding terms.
BusinessPrime Minister Mark Carney is pushing for an unprecedented associate membership with the European Union, signaling a sharp pivot in Canadian foreign policy. The proposal surfaces as Ottawa navigates a deepening trade conflict with the United States following the return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025.
BusinessStanding on the sidelines of the Irish Open, Donald Trump signaled a preference for the lowest interest rates in the world as the Federal Reserve prepares for its upcoming policy meeting. The former president framed the American economy as a global engine that could be throttled back at any moment.
BusinessU.S. President Donald Trump publicly demanded on Sunday that Volodymyr Zelenskiy cease drone strikes against Russian diesel refineries. Speaking during an event in Ireland, Trump argued that the ongoing tactical campaign against energy facilities is destabilizing the global fuel market and driving up costs for consumers worldwide.
BusinessDriven by a growing consumer preference for domestic goods, Canadian supermarkets are rapidly restructuring their supply chains to favor local producers over U.S. imports. This shift, intensified by recent trade friction, is prompting major retailers to prioritize regional sourcing, from Quebec-grown strawberries to local produce staples across the country.
BusinessSri Lanka’s economy expanded by 4.2% year-on-year between April and June, defying significant headwinds from rising energy costs and a three-year high in inflation. This growth performance marks a critical juncture as the nation continues its fragile recovery from a severe financial crisis under a $2.9 billion IMF stabilization program.
BusinessDigitally delivered services exports from Latin America and the Caribbean soared to US$87.7 billion in 2024, nearly five times the 2005 level. Yet, the region captures only 2% of the global market, highlighting a massive gap between current momentum and the potential for a new economic growth engine.
BusinessStanding on the greens of the Irish Open, Donald Trump issued a blunt challenge to the Federal Reserve: the United States must secure the lowest interest rates on the global stage. He dismissed foreign competition as inherently unfair, insisting that no nation should be permitted to undercut American monetary policy.
BusinessStanding on the windswept links of his Irish golf resort this Sunday, Donald Trump signaled a retreat from trade barriers by announcing the removal of tariffs on Irish whiskey. The decision marks a sudden pivot in policy, potentially easing long-standing friction within the transatlantic spirits market.
BusinessStanding on a golf course in Ireland, Donald Trump signaled a shift in transatlantic trade policy by unilaterally dropping the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey. The move, intended to reset commercial ties, marks a departure from the broader duties previously imposed on European Union wine and spirit exports to the United States.
BusinessEnergy security, critical mineral processing, and artificial intelligence integration dominated high-level talks between Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda and South Korean leadership. The dialogue centered on leveraging Seoul’s technological expertise and financial resources to drive industrial development and infrastructure modernization across the Asia-Pacific region.
BusinessA $3 million grant from the Asian Development Bank aims to overhaul safety protocols in Mongolian schools and expand support networks for abuse survivors. By integrating physical infrastructure upgrades with digital literacy and policy reform, the initiative seeks to protect nearly 20,000 students from both physical and online violence.
BusinessSixty-one representatives gathered in Harare on August 27, 2026, to challenge the status quo of international development funding. At the African Development Bank’s first Civil Society Open Day, local advocates moved beyond dialogue to demand a structured, permanent role in the execution and oversight of the nation’s $166 million portfolio.
BusinessEleven students from Tokyo’s Sophia University traded lecture halls for the African Development Bank’s Abidjan headquarters on September 11, bridging the distance between Japan and Africa. The visit offered a granular look at how the institution manages infrastructure, finance, and human capital, turning abstract policy into direct professional dialogue.
BusinessWith universal electricity access targeted for 2030, Côte d’Ivoire is scrambling to bridge a $6.56 billion funding gap. Government officials and international financiers recently convened in Abidjan to accelerate the National Energy Compact, a roadmap requiring over $15 billion in total investment to transform the nation's power infrastructure.
BusinessWith global goods trade climbing 4.6% last year, AI-linked products fueled nearly half of that expansion. As hundreds of leaders gathered at the World Trade Organization on 14 September, the central question remained: how can smaller economies secure a foothold in a sector currently dominated by complex, cross-border supply chains?
BusinessFor small firms navigating the friction of international commerce, traditional banking often imposes prohibitive costs and sluggish settlement times. A recent WTO publication evaluates whether stablecoins—digital assets pegged to stable currencies—could dismantle these barriers, offering a faster, more transparent alternative for businesses operating in developing economies.