Washington and Beijing hold low-key trade negotiations in Paris
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies...
Canada has blocked imports from the largest U.S. pork processing facility operated by Smithfield Foods, the company said on Friday.
The suspension comes amid ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa, as U.S. tariffs continue to spark concerns over retaliatory measures affecting American agricultural exports.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the suspension is based on standard protocols rather than recent trade actions. Under Canada’s policy, three instances of noncompliance within six months trigger a temporary halt on imports. In this case, the issue reportedly concerns a limited number of offal shipments from the plant.
The USDA stated that it is working with Smithfield Foods to address the issues and develop a corrective action plan that will be presented to Canadian authorities. Once the plan is reviewed and accepted, the plant’s export eligibility may be reinstated. Meanwhile, Smithfield noted that its shares remained nearly flat on Friday.
The move restricts a key market for U.S. pork products. Last year, Canada ranked as the fifth-largest export market for U.S. pork, with shipments valued at approximately $850 million. U.S. pork also plays a significant role in Canadian retail and foodservice sectors, according to industry representatives.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump exempted goods from Canada and Mexico under a North American trade pact for a month from the 25% tariffs imposed earlier this week, signaling the volatile nature of the current trade environment.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
The prevailing security situation in the region has done little to deter entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who continue to view Dubai as a premier and safe location for business.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as the escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to rattle investors, fuelling volatility in stocks and sending energy prices sharply higher.
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.
The European Commission sees no immediate impact on the European Union's security of oil supply from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it said in an email to EU governments, seen by Reuters on Monday (2 March).
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