News about International trade
Apple is preparing to raise prices as it becomes increasingly difficult to offset the rising cost of memory chips—driven by the AI boom—using its own resources.
Demand for oil is falling faster than expected. Global supply in the oil market could significantly exceed demand if lasting peace is established in the Middle East. The global oil market could face an oversupply if the agreement between the U.S. and Iran remains in effect and shipments through the Strait of Hormuz begin to resume. This is the conclusion reached by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its monthly report.
In April 2026, imports of goods exceeded exports by a factor of 3.4 for the first time in history. Consequently, the trade deficit for that month amounted to 642.5 million euros, which is 114.4 million euros, or 21.7%, higher than in April 2025.
Military spending by European NATO members has reached its highest level since the Cold War: the countries closest to Russia are spending the most on defense.
Bulgaria will not support certain provisions of the European Union’s upcoming 21st package of sanctions against Russia if they are merely symbolic and have no real economic impact. This was stated by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova.
Rising costs, regulatory pressure from the EU, and a decline in exports are calling into question the sustainability of the business models of Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
European Union countries have increased gas reserves in their underground storage facilities (UGS) to an average of 45.03% in preparation for the coming winter. However, despite the gas injection season, their fill levels turned out to be significantly lower than the figures for the past five years, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).
The Latvian government plans to expand the list of agricultural products banned from import from Russia and Belarus. This is stated in a letter prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and endorsed by the government on Tuesday.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will not resume in the coming weeks, despite preliminary agreements between the U.S. and Iran on a peace deal.
Today, the overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament voted in favor of eliminating tariffs on industrial goods, seafood, and agricultural products from the United States. The proposal must now be approved by the Council of the European Union.
The Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of Moldova introduced its new military attaché. Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Bolboca-Negru was introduced to Defense Minister Anatolie Nosat. Nick Petrovich, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, also attended the meeting.
Swiss voters rejected an initiative to cap the country’s population at 10 million. Fifty-five percent of citizens voted against the proposal put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be one of the biggest drivers of growth for the textile recycling market. Already, about 75% of the national team uniforms prepared for the tournament are made entirely or partially from recycled polyester produced from textile waste.
The United Kingdom has expanded sanctions against the Russian financial sector, adding the subsidiary banks of Russia’s largest digital companies—WB Bank and Yandex Bank—to the blacklist.
The European Union will monitor Moldova’s efforts to align its legislation and practices with EU standards throughout all stages of the accession negotiations. This is stated in the EU Council’s statement following the opening of negotiations on the first cluster, “Fundamentals.”
Moldova has begun accession negotiations with the European Union under Cluster 1—“Fundamental Values.” The intergovernmental conference that launched this phase took place on Monday, June 15, in Luxembourg. The country’s delegation was led by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.
Domestic producers who continue to export goods to Russia and Belarus need to be helped in finding new sales markets in light of the risks associated with the possible closure of these directions. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Eugen Osmochescu.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is organizing the eighth session of its “Sharing Session on Women and IP” series, titled “Closing the Gender Gap in IP: Women in Sports and IP.”
The Republic of Moldova has become a party to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) under the United Nations (FAO). The Agreement entered into force for Moldova on May 20, 2026.
Grain futures fell on the largest U.S. exchange in Chicago. This was influenced by statements from officials regarding the reaching of an interim agreement to resume shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
