IMF press briefing on US economy looks at tax and trade issues
On 25 February 2026 the IMF held a press briefing to discuss the issues raised by the article IV report on the US economy. The IMF emphasised that the US economy will continue to grow strongly in 2026 and 2027. US private sector entrepreneurs and
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IMF Report on US Recommends Tax and Duty Changes
On 25 February 2026 the IMF issued a report following consultations with the US under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The IMF notes that the US economy performed well in 2025 and economic growth reached 2.2% by the end of 2025.
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IMF Country Focus Examines Canada’s Internal Barriers to Trade
On 27 January 2026 an IMF Country Focus looked at opportunities for Canada to increase growth by removing internal barriers to trade. The Country Focus with the title Canada Can Grow Faster by Unlocking Its Own Market, written by F Diez and Y. Yang,
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Colombia imposes tariffs, border restrictions on Ecuadorian imports
The Colombian government, through Decree No. 0170 issued on 20 February 2026, has established reciprocal tariffs and entry restrictions on goods from Ecuador in response to trade measures previously imposed by Quito. The decree applies a 30% ad
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IMF Report on Canada Recommends Tax Changes
On 21 January 2026 the IMF issued a report following consultations with Canada under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The report notes that Canada is adjusting the significant trade shock caused by US tariff increases and the limited
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WTO: Meeting of Ministers to Discuss Reform
On 11 February 2026 the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) indicated that the WTO ministerial meeting in Cameroon in March 2026 will aim to make progress in reforming the organisation. The director-general has emphasised that the
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IMF: Boosting Trade and Economic Integration Across Europe and Africa
On 4 February 2026 the IMF published a departmental paper with the title North Africa: Connecting Continents, Creating Opportunities, prepared by the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department. The publication of the departmental paper was
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Bangladesh, Japan sign economic partnership agreement
Bangladesh and Japan signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on 6 February 2026 in Tokyo, establishing Bangladesh’s first comprehensive bilateral trade deal with a major developed economy. The agreement is expected to cost Bangladesh
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US, Bangladesh agree on new trade deal
The US and Bangladesh have agreed to an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (Agreement) to enhance their bilateral economic relationship. The deal builds on the longstanding US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) of
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Bangladesh to sign US tariff agreement ahead of elections
Bangladesh’s interim government will sign a tariff agreement with the US on 9 February 2026, just three days before the national parliamentary election. The delegation, led by commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin and commerce secretary Mahbubur
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US, El Salvador sign trade deal to promote critical minerals investment
The US and El Salvador signed an agreement to promote US investment in El Salvador’s critical minerals sector on 29 January 2026. Signed in Washington, the deal allows US companies to participate across the full critical minerals supply chain
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Switzerland to adopt FATCA Model 1 with US from 2028
Switzerland’s transition to a Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Model 1 agreement with the United States is now expected to take effect on 1 January 2028, one year later than previously anticipated, the State Secretariat for International
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WTO: Updated Global Trade Outlook
The October 2025 update of the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics noted that the WTO forecast for world merchandise trade volume growth in 2025 has risen to 2.4% (which is higher than the estimate of 0.9% in the interim outlook in August) 2025.
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World Bank: Impact of non-tariff measures on global trade
A World Bank research paper with the title It’s Not (Just) the Tariffs: Rethinking Non-Tariff Measures in a Fragmented Global Economy, by D. Taglioni and H. Kee, was published on 22 October 2025. The research paper looks at the impact of
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Russia, Indonesia sign free trade agreement
On 21 December 2025, during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Saint Petersburg, representatives from Russia and Indonesia signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This announcement was made on 21 December 2025. The FTA provides
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US to reduce Swiss tariffs under new trade deal
The US will reduce tariffs on Swiss goods from 39% to 15% under a new trade framework, the Swiss government announced today. The agreement also includes a commitment by Swiss companies to invest USD 200 billion in the US by 2028. The framework
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Mexico: Senate approves tariffs of up to 50% on Asian imports
Mexico’s Senate has approved tariffs of up to 50% on more than 1,400 products from countries without free trade agreements, including China, India, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. The increases, effective 1 January 2026, target goods such
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UK to maintain duty-free access for Bangladeshi exports until 2029
The UK will continue to allow Bangladeshi products to enter its market duty-free until 2029, British High Commissioner to Dhaka Sarah Cook announced. She made the statement during the HSBC Export Excellence Award 2025 event on 7 December in
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