News about International trade
One of the largest and most developed chemical clusters in the world is on the verge of a large-scale crisis. Over the past year, two of the cluster’s ten companies have already closed plants. Europe’s chemical industry is under pressure due to high energy prices, weak demand and growing competition from China.
The United Arab Emirates plans to double its ability to export crude oil by bypassing the Strait of Hormuz by 2027. According to the Emirates’ press service posted on social network X, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is completing construction of a pipeline that will connect oil fields to the port of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman.
China and the US announced the biggest aircraft deal of recent years: Beijing agreed to buy airplanes from Boeing after negotiations between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. But instead of the expected surge, shares of the American aircraft manufacturer went down sharply – investors considered the contract too modest.
In the period from 14 to 17 May, the capital of the Republic of Moldova is hosting the XXX international specialized exhibition HORECA EXPO 2026.
US President Donald Trump has said that Washington and Beijing managed to strike several significant trade deals during his visit to China.
The European Parliament has banned the Georgian TV channel Imedi TV from accessing its building for one year. It is also reported that Moldova has denied accreditation to Imedi TV, Rustavi 2 and PosTV to cover the 135th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chisinau. It is noted that the Georgian Foreign Minister plans to participate in the session. In response to these decisions, Tbilisi criticized Strasbourg and Chisinau.
The European Parliament will award the Order of European Merit for the first time. This is a new award established on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration to recognize contributions to European integration and the protection of EU values. Among the first recipients are 13 prominent politicians, diplomats and public figures, including President Maia Sandu, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Polish President Lech Wałęsa.
Ukraine and Moldova have signed five international certificates, which open new opportunities for exporting Ukrainian products and simplify the access of Ukrainian producers to the Moldovan market.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will send its staff to Ukraine in the coming weeks to check on progress in the implementation of economic reforms under the new 4-year, $8.1 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.
Since 2022, the total amount of support provided by the French Development Agency (AFD) to the Republic of Moldova has exceeded 300 million euros.
Export licenses to China for hundreds of U.S. meat processors, which were recently renewed after more than a year’s hiatus, are now listed as expired, according to Chinese Customs.
Natural gas prices in Europe posted moderate gains on Thursday amid expectations of new signals from international politics and talks between the U.S. and China.
Moldova ranked fourth among the largest suppliers of apples to the Russian Federation in 2025. The volume of Moldovan exports of apples to the Russian market last year amounted to $36.8 million.
Experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the May report almost did not change the global oilseed balance for the ending 2025/26 marketing year, and focused on the first crop estimate for the 2026/27 season. The forecast predicts global record production, processing growth and a continued tight balance in the vegetable oil market.
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will place a fifth airplane at its base at Chisinau International Airport and increase the frequency of flights to 10 European destinations. This was announced by the airport administration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s calls to cut fuel consumption and stop buying gold have heightened nervousness in India’s financial markets, raising fears the government may revert to tight import restrictions amid mounting pressure over the energy crisis.
Romanian barley of the new harvest is currently contracted at prices lower than Ukrainian barley of the harvest-2026. That is, this Romanian grain now looks more competitive on export markets, ASAP Agri experts report.
Shares of Intel Corporation are declining for the third consecutive session after the publication of data on the loss of its share in the server processor market. According to UBS analysts’ estimates, in the first quarter of 2026, the company’s positions were strengthened by competitors – AMD and Arm Holdings.
Chinese trading giant Alibaba Group has reported accelerating growth in its artificial intelligence-related businesses amid a global AI boom. However, the company’s total revenue grew only 3% to 243 billion yuan (about $36 billion).
On the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to China, which runs from May 13 to 15, the U.S. Commerce Department authorized the sale of H200 chips to several Chinese companies.
