WTO Working Paper: Evolution of Preferential Trade Under Regional Trade Agreements
A WTO working paper of 7 February 2025, written by Rohini Acharya and Thakur Parajuli has the title The Evolution of Preferential Trade Under Regional Trade Agreements: Has Anything Changed? The paper looks at the question of whether the share of
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Nigeria approves 50% telecom tariff increase
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% increase in telecommunication service tariffs on 20 January 2025. The tariff hike, capped at a maximum of 50% of current tariffs, is a response to the telecommunication operators,
See MoreIMF: Revenue and Spending Measures for Developing Countries to Reduce Debt Levels
An IMF Public Finance Management (PFM) Blog, written by Talal Rafi (a Director at EY Sri Lanka) and published on 27 January 2025, looked at the measures developing countries can take to reduce public debt levels. The author notes that more than 3
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US postpones new tariffs on Canada, Mexico for 30 days
US President Donald Trump has agreed on Monday, 3 February 2025, to halt tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days – which was set to take effect Tuesday, 4 February 2025 – after both countries pledged to step up efforts to stop illicit drugs and
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US President Donald Trump’s tariffs spark retaliation from Canada, Mexico, China, and Taiwan escalating trade wars
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday, 1 February 2025, that the country will impose 25% tariffs on US goods, including orange juice, household appliances, and plastics, in response to US duties on Canadian imports. This
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US to impose 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico imports starting February says President Trump
US President Donald Trump has said he will follow through with his threat to impose a 25% border tax or tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting tomorrow, 1 February 2025. However, Trump has said he is yet to decide whether oil imported
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Impact of Digitalization on Trade Patterns
A WTO working paper published on 21 January 2025, written by Eddy Bekkers, Hryhorii Kalachyhin and Robert Teh, looked at the long-term effect of digitalisation on global patterns of trade. The advances in information and telecommunication
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Continuing Significance of MFN Trading Terms
A WTO working paper of 15 January 2025, written by Tomasz Gonciarz and Thomas Verbeet, has the title Significance of most-favoured-nation terms in global trade: A comprehensive analysis. Under the WTO's MFN trading principle, member countries of
See MoreWorld Bank: Global Economic Prospects
The World Bank report Global Economic Prospects was issued in January 2025. The report notes that global growth is projected to remain steady at 2.7% in 2025/26, but this relatively low growth rate will not be sufficient to promote sustained
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IMF: Briefing on the World Economic Outlook
In the briefing on the latest World Economic Outlook on 17 January 2024, the Director of the IMF’s Research Department confirmed that global growth is projected to remain steady at 3.3% in 2025 and 2026. Globally, inflation is expected to decline
See MoreIMF Updates World Economic Outlook
On 17 January 2025 the IMF published the update to the World Economic Outlook, with the subtitle Global Growth: Divergent and Uncertain. The update notes that global growth is expected to remain stable at 3.3% in both 2025 and 2026, below the
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IMF: Speech by the IMF Managing Director at the 2024 Annual Meetings Plenary
On 25 October 2024 the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, spoke at the 2024 Annual Meetings Plenary. The Managing Director noted that inflation has been falling, from 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023, to a projected 5.3% in the
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IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings: World Economic Outlook
The October 2024 update of the World Economic Outlook was launched during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. The report notes that global growth is expected to remain stable but at relatively low levels. The growth projection of 3.2% in 2024 and
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UN Tax Committee: Tax, Trade and Investment Agreements
On 17 October the UN Tax Committee discussed issues around the interaction of tax, trade and investment agreements. Guidance on tax and investment agreements Following the presentation of draft guidance on the relationship of tax and
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WTO: Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
In October 2024 the WTO published the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. In the latest issue the WTO has revised its forecast for world merchandise trade growth in 2024 to 2.7%, which is slightly greater than the previous estimate of 2.6%.
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IMF: Opening speech at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings
On 21 October 2024 the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivered the opening speech at the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings. The global wave of inflation is currently decreasing owing to a combination of resolute monetary
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UN Tax Committee: Environmental Taxation
On 16 October 2024 the UN Tax Committee discussed environmental tax issues. The environmental taxation subcommittee presented some papers to the committee for discussion or approval. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies A paper on phasing out
See MoreWTO: World Trade Statistics 2023
On 31 July 2024 the WTO launched a new online interactive tool, World Trade Statistics 2023. The interactive tool includes charts of the growth in merchandise trade value and volume, the top 20 exporters in merchandise trade and the growth in
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