ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Deal gathers pace, targeting 2026 finish
ASEAN and Canada have accelerated negotiations on the proposed ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement, aiming to complete it by 2026. Chotima Iemsawasdikul, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, said talks have progressed beyond the halfway point, with more than 50 percent of the work completed and 10 chapters finalized, paving the way for expanded trade in goods, services, and investment. The 17th meeting of the ASEAN–Canada FTA Trade Negotiating Committee was held in Jakarta from February 9 to 11 to review progress and align on a timeline for conclusion next year. The agreement is intended to deepen economic ties between the two regions amid global trade uncertainty and geopolitical pressures. Chapters already concluded include temporary movement of natural persons, small and medium-sized enterprises, competition, customs procedures and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, technical and economic cooperation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and telecommunications services. Both sides have also exchanged initial market access offers for goods and services.
Outstanding issues remain in areas such as trade in goods, rules of origin, technical standards, electronic commerce, investment, and sustainable development. Negotiators plan to intensify discussions in April and July 2026 through both in-person and virtual sessions to bridge differences and meet the target timeline. Thailand views the pact as a priority, as it would be its first free trade agreement with a North American partner under the ASEAN framework. In 2025, Thailand–Canada trade totaled 3.91 billion US dollars, up 21.44 percent year over year.
China announces start date to tariff-free trade deal with Africa
Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced the 100% tariff-free trade agreement between China and Africa will come into effect from 1 May. He said China will extend the comprehensive zero-tariff treatment to the 53 African countries having diplomatic ties with China. Eswatini left out of the arrangement. This excludes Eswatini which is the only country in Africa not to have diplomatic ties with China, as King Mswati continues to embrace Taiwan, an island that Beijing claims is part of its territory. In a message over the weekend to the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Xi expressed his optimism over the trade agreement.
EU Hits Pause on U.S. Trade Deal
European lawmakers have paused work on a major trade agreement with the United States after new trade tensions with Washington. The deal, agreed in July 2025 to set tariff rules and open markets on both sides of the Atlantic, was expected to be voted on this week, but that vote has now been shelved amid disagreements over U.S. tariff policies. The pause comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs, prompting Trump to propose a new 15% global tariff on many goods. This shift created confusion over whether the previously negotiated trade deal would still function as agreed. The European Commission and lawmakers say the current tariff situation undermines trust and legal certainty, and they are seeking clear assurances from the U.S. that it will honor last year’s commitments before moving forward with ratification.
EU and Vietnam are strengthening ties in a comprehensive strategic partnership
The European Union and Vietnam have agreed to transform their relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthening ties in areas such as trade, energy, climate and security. This is an important step forward after 35 years of cooperation. The EU and Vietnam will cooperate more closely in a wide range of areas, such as trade and investment, sustainable development, climate and energy, digital transformation, research and innovation, security issues and cooperation in multilateral for a. The new strategic partnership will also provide an opportunity to deepen dialogue and cooperation on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
EU and Brazil have concluded agreements to create the world's largest area of free and secure flow of data
The European Commission and Brazil have adopted mutual adequacy decisions, confirming a comparable level of data protection. Recognising the high standards of data protection that protect consumers and citizens on both sides, these agreements allow businesses, public authorities and researchers to freely exchange data between the EU and Brazil.
EU–Singapore Digital Trade Agreement enters into force
On 1 February 2026, the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) entered into force. The agreement represents a step forward in the EU’s trade policy, supporting competitiveness, strengthening economic security, and creating new opportunities for citizens and businesses. The DTA strengthens bilateral trade by setting transparent rules that make cross-border digital transactions easier, more predictable and more reliable for businesses and consumers. It achieves this by providing legal certainty for business, enhancing consumer trust, and addressing unjustified barriers to digital trade. Amidst heightened global economic uncertainty, this agreement demonstrates the shared commitment to open, rules-based trade. It is the EU’s first-ever standalone bilateral digital trade agreement, which marks an important step in the EU’s expanding network of digital trade agreements and digital trade chapters in its free trade agreements.
EU–Singapore Digital Trade Agreement enters into force
The agreement represents a step forward in the EU’s trade policy, supporting competitiveness, strengthening economic security, and creating new opportunities for citizens and businesses. The DTA strengthens bilateral trade by setting transparent rules that make cross-border digital transactions easier, more predictable and more reliable for businesses and consumers. It achieves this by providing legal certainty for business, enhancing consumer trust, and addressing unjustified barriers to digital trade. Amidst heightened global economic uncertainty, this agreement demonstrates the shared commitment to open, rules-based trade. It is the EU’s first-ever standalone bilateral digital trade agreement, which marks an important step in the EU’s expanding network of digital trade agreements and digital trade chapters in its free trade agreements. On 1 February 2026, the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) entered into force.
EU and India conclude landmark Free Trade Agreement
The EU and India finalized negotiations today (January 27) on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). On the EU side, the agreed draft texts will be released shortly and will undergo legal review and translation into all official EU languages. The European Commission will then submit the agreement to the Council for approval, signature, and conclusion. Following Council adoption, the EU and India will sign the agreement. Entry into force will require consent from the European Parliament, final Council approval, and ratification by India.
Free Trade Agreement – Revised PEM Agreement (CH)
The transitional period expired on 31.12.2025. In free trade agreements that apply the revised PEM rules, EUR-MED guarantees of origin can no longer be issued.
EU-Mercosur agreement stopped
At the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 334 MEPs voted in favour of adopting the resolution referring the agreement with Mercosur countries to the CJEU, and with 324 opposes and 11 abstentions, it was enough. The Court of Justice must assess whether the agreement signed in Paraguay on 17th January does not infringe the fundamental principles and values on which the European Union is founded. This process usually takes from several to several months.
India, Israel launch first round of FTA talks
India and Israel began the first round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the national capital, with discussions scheduled from February 23 to 26, 2026. The talks follow the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) in November 2025, which laid down a formal framework to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, technical teams from both sides are holding discussions on trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures, trade facilitation and intellectual property rights.
India, Gulf Cooperation Council launch FTA talks
The negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were formally launched here on 24 February with the signing of a joint statement by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi. During the signing ceremony, the Commerce Minister emphasised that the statement, along with the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the FTA, which were signed on February 5, marked a significant milestone in the relationship between India and GCC countries. He underscored that the relationship, which is deeply rooted in shared history and cultural linkages, would get further impetus from a broad-based and mutually beneficial FTA. Al-Budaiwi emphasised that the FTA will serve as an important tool to further strengthen trade and investment ties between India and GCC countries by infusing predictability and certainty for businesses.
The FTA is expected to unlock the full potential of trade between India and the GCC upon signing and would be a force multiplier for global good, while facilitating the expansion and diversification of exports and strengthening economic integration between the two sides, according to an official statement. GCC is India’s largest trading partner bloc with bilateral trade reaching $178.56 billion, comprising exports of $56.87 billion and imports to the tune of $121.68 billion in FY 2024-25, accounting for 15.42 per cent of India’s global trade. In the last five years, India’s trade with the GCC has expanded steadily, registering an annual average growth rate of 15.3 per cent.
Key exports from India to GCC include engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, gems and jewellery. Key sectors of imports from GCC primarily comprise crude oil, LNG, petrochemicals, and precious metals such as gold. Collectively, the GCC countries represent a market of 61.5 million people (2024) and $2.3 trillion in terms of GDP at current prices, ranking 9th globally in this category. The GCC region is also a significant source of FDI for India, with cumulative investments exceeding $31.14 billion as of September 2025.
Philippines, Canada to hold free trade talks in April
The Philippines and Canada will hold the second round of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) in April following the launch of negotiations for the historic trade pact last week. Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty told Manila Bulletin that the next round of negotiations between Manila and Ottawa will be more comprehensive compared to the text-based and conceptual discussions during the inaugural round. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) successfully held the first round of talks between the two countries last week, covering key concepts of the FTA. The introductory talks were guided by the progress in the ongoing negotiations for the trade pact between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
United States and India Announce Historic Trade Deal
Last Friday, in a Joint Statement, President Donald J. Trump announced a trade deal between the United States and India. President Trump agreed to remove the additional 25% tariff on imports from India in recognition of India’s commitment to stop purchasing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, the President signed an Executive Order last Friday removing that additional 25% tariff. Given India’s willingness to align with the United States to confront systemic imbalances in the bilateral trade relationship and shared national security challenges, the United States will lower the Reciprocal Tariff on India from 25% to 18%. Source
U.S. and Guatemala Sign Trade Deal
In a press release published on January 30, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that United States and Guatemala had signed an agreement on Reciprocal Trade. The trade deal will include a list of products that will enter into the U.S. duty free, while goods not on the annex will continue to be subject to a revised reciprocal tariff. In addition to other changes, Guatemala has committed to make changes for import licensing on U.S. goods, provide preferential market access for U.S. agricultural products, establish new intellectual property protection rights, prohibiting goods made with forced labor, and the implantation of digital procedures for the movement of goods. This agreement will go into effect 30 days after both countries have “notified each other in writing of the completion of their respective applicable legal procedures.” Source
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Trade Deal
In a press release published on January 29, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that United States and El Salvador had signed an agreement on Reciprocal Trade. The trade deal will include a list of products that will enter into the U.S. duty free, while goods not on the annex will continue to be subject to reciprocal tariffs. In addition to other changes, El Salvador has committed to banning the import of goods made with forced labor, will implement digitalized trade procedures, modify its excise tax on distilled spirits, restricting imports in an equivalent way to the U.S., and adopt measures to encourage shipbuilding. This agreement will go into effect after both countries “have notified each other in writing of the completion of their respective applicable legal procedures.” Source
Vietnam and the United States will launch the sixth round of negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement
Vietnam and the United States will officially begin the sixth round of negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement next week. This is an important step to promote bilateral trade relations in a fair and balanced manner, while removing tariff and administrative barriers. Expectations for a breakthrough in the new round of negotiations. At the regular press conference for the fourth quarter of 2025, held on the morning of January 29, 2026, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that, after five discussion sessions, both sides are ready for the sixth round of negotiations. The main objective of this session is to create positive progress in order to reach consensus on the core contents of the agreement. To prepare for this round, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has closely coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies to develop the optimal negotiation plan. The Vietnamese side has sent its US counterparts technical specifications, detailed content, and specific order lists, demonstrating its commitment to facilitating the access of US goods to the domestic market.