News about International trade
European retailers are warning of rising prices and weakening demand due to the protracted conflict in the Middle East. The situation is having a significant impact on fuel prices, logistics, and consumer sentiment.
Italy, Greece, and Switzerland are actively attracting high-net-worth individuals from around the world, while the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are losing ground in the competition for wealthy residents. This is the conclusion of the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2026.
Iran has warned that it will halt energy supplies from the Middle East if the agreements reached with the United States are not fulfilled. This was stated by Mohammad Mohber, an adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
The U.S. may, in Washington’s interest, impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz if the deal with Iran falls through. U.S. President Donald Trump issued this warning on Saturday, June 20, on the social media platform Truth Social.
The modernization of the Starokozache-Tudora, Dolinske-Chishmikioi, Lisne-Seiti, and Maloyaroslavets 1-Chadyr-Lunga on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border in the Odesa region, according to a statement by Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Communities and Territories.
Georgian authorities have selected a company to provide school uniforms for hundreds of thousands of students across the country following the reinstatement of a mandatory dress code in public schools.
From June 16 to 18, Customs Service employees participated in training to develop the professional competencies and practical skills necessary for the effective use of specialized technical screening equipment, image interpretation, and the implementation of radiation protection measures. To this end, a training course titled “Analysis and Interpretation of Images Obtained Using X-ray Scanning Systems” was organized.
The exotic leather market remains one of the most controversial segments of the global luxury industry. Leather from crocodiles, pythons, ostriches, and certain species of lizards is still used to make expensive handbags, shoes, belts, and accessories; however, the industry is facing growing pressure from environmental organizations, regulators, and advocates for alternative materials.
Monthly grain exports from Ukraine could drop by a third due to intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian seaports and ships.
The German automotive group Volkswagen Group plans to cut about 50,000 jobs by 2030 as part of a large-scale restructuring program aimed at adapting to conditions in the global automotive market.
Once tensions in the Middle East have de-escalated, prices will react in different ways to the “easing of international tensions.” Speculative pressure on energy resources will disappear, while food prices will remain high due to logistical challenges, market inertia, and a protracted recovery in production.
The Ministry of Finance proposes imposing a fine for resubmitting a customs declaration and granting customs officials the authority to conduct searches in cases involving administrative offenses.
Iran has agreed to allocate land to Kazakhstan at the port on the Strait of Hormuz. Kazakhstan has agreed to provide Iran with infrastructure at its ports on the Caspian Sea.
The rise in gold prices has led to a sharp increase in smuggling, which is often used to finance armed conflicts, circumvent sanctions, and launder money. The Financial Times reports this, citing representatives of the gold mining industry.
Moldova is actively preparing to join the global maritime community, although at present not a single vessel is registered under its national flag. In an effort to remove the country from the “blacklist” in the shipping sector and “keep up with the rest,” the parliament ratified two more international maritime conventions on Thursday, June 18.
During the first five and a half months of 2026, waterway freight transport in the Republic of Moldova had almost fully recovered from last year’s shock.
The Investment Agency today presented the “Export Vision România” study, prepared by experts to facilitate Moldovan companies’ access to the Romanian market.
Switzerland has lost its status as the world’s most competitive economy, dropping to third place in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2026. Singapore took the top spot, while Hong Kong came in second. These findings are based on the results of the annual study by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
In the first five months of this year, Moldova imported more than 2,000 metric tons of Ukrainian cheese.
Two shipments (22 and 23 metric tons) of imported early potatoes were detained at border control checkpoints and returned to the sender by inspectors from the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA).
