News about International trade
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has offered his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky to meet. The offer was made against the background of Kiev’s warnings that Russia was preparing a new offensive through the Belarusian territory to the Ukrainian capital and Chernihiv Region.
As of May 25, economic operators in the Republic of Moldova who transport goods to Romania or transit through the European Union must comply with new customs requirements.
Flyone, a private budget airline headquartered in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, announced that it has canceled almost all flights to and from Henri Coanda Airport (Otopeni) in Bucharest.
As a result of control at the border points, inspectors of the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) revealed substandard goods: a batch of buckwheat (132 kg), two batches of dill and parsley (26 tons), three batches of surrogate cheese (about 1.5 tons).
The Council of the European Union has decided to suspend customs duties on imports of nitrogen fertilizers used in the bloc’s agriculture for a year. This measure is designed to reduce the costs of European farmers by about 60 million euros.
The potential of Moldovan agriculture and food industry was presented at the Moldova-Italy agri-food business forum in Rome by the head of the MAIA Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ludmila Catlabuga. The event was organized to strengthen economic cooperation between institutions and companies from the two states.
US holding Authentic Brands Group has announced the purchase of the Lee denim brand from Kontoor Brands, the owner of Wrangler and Helly Hansen. The value of the deal could reach $1 billion, including an initial payment of $750 million and additional payments tied to the future financial performance of the brand. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
The European Commission said Thursday it has sharply lowered its forecast for Romania’s economic growth in 2026 to 0.1 percent from 1.1 percent projected last fall.
Online stores and national pavilions under the brand “Made in Moldova” may appear in China. The Chinese Minister of Agriculture Zhang Zhu proposed to open them directly on the largest Chinese trade platforms during a meeting with Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popşoi.
European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis said Russia is using the crisis in the Middle East to make profits, but the EU will not relax the sanctions regime for the sake of cheaper oil or gas supplies. Even in the face of global energy fluctuations.
A US official will visit the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) for the first time in several years. Rodney Mims Cook, head of the US Federal Commission of Fine Arts, will come to St. Petersburg this year.
Germany’s economy grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026 thanks to an increase in exports. According to official data, exports grew by 3.3% quarter-on-quarter, while investment fell by 1.5%.
Farmers are not against the unification of the VAT rate in the agri-food sector, but are strongly opposed to the proposed increase of the rate more than twice – from 8% (on agricultural products and some food products) to the standard 20%.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has been honored with the GLOBSEC award. Together with her, the award was received by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. The GLOBSEC organizers justified the awarding of the prize to Maia Sandu by her “commitment to defend democracy under unprecedented pressure, as well as her role in ensuring a stable future and reforms in Moldova”.
Sugar industrial consumers are satisfied with the content of the dialog with the representatives of the Parliament and the Ministry of Economy on the new draft regulation on sugar imports in the Republic of Moldova. According to them, the authorities took into account the proposals of food industry associations and prepared a balanced draft decision, which provides for the introduction of annual quotas for sugar imports from CEFTA countries and Belarus.
US President Donald Trump’s administration is increasingly relying on informal channels and political appointees in foreign policy, resulting in a weakening of the traditional US diplomatic system.
Electrical equipment, plant products, furniture, fats and oils, as well as wines and beverages were the main categories of goods exported by Moldova to the European Union (EU) in 2025. The total value of Moldovan exports to the European market exceeded $2.55 billion.
The EU Intellectual Property Office and the European Commission in partnership with the intellectual property offices and authorities of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and the Republic of Moldova launched the EU4IP – Western Balkans project.
European haute couture houses are increasing their presence in the United States, choosing American cities as venues for shows and cultural collaborations. From spectacular outings in Times Square to performances in the New York subway, Old World brands are increasingly choosing iconic urban spaces rather than traditional catwalks.
Two Chinese supertankers (VLCCs) and one vessel from South Korea crossed the strait on Tuesday. Together, they carry about 6 million barrels of crude oil, the largest daily cargo volume in more than a month.
