Trade Information

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) projects a 0.4% decline in U.S. chemical production in 2024, followed by modest growth of 1.9% in 2025.

The Institute of Process Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently announced a major breakthrough in the industrialization of phosgene-free diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) production using the urea method.

On February 1, the U.S. announced a 10% tariff on certain Chinese products.

On February 3, 2025, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino made a sudden announcement that Panama would not renew the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with China in 2017.

El Salvador has taken a significant step in reforming its intellectual property (IP) framework with the publication of a new law in *Official Gazette No. 153*.

So, how has Chile become a leading source of agricultural imports for China among Latin American nations?

Since its implementation on October 1, 2023, the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has operated smoothly during its transition phase.

The signing of the DTA aims to eliminate double taxation between the two countries, promoting the healthy development of business and safeguarding the interests of investors.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new export control measures related to artificial intelligence (AI).

South Korea's National Assembly recently passed amendments to the Patent Act, Utility Model Act, and Patent Act for Expanding Public Access to Pharmaceuticals.

Under the global minimum tax standard established by the OECD Council, Thailand will implement a minimum corporate tax of 15% on multinational corporations to prevent excessive tax competition.

According to the Buenos Aires Economic Express, Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially announced the entry into force of the Argentina-China Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

The European Commission has recently adopted a regulation prohibiting the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials due to its potential harmful effects on health.

The report outlines a series of coordinated enforcement actions by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and the FBI to prevent China from acquiring advanced U.S. technology.

On January 17, 2025, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) released the Global Economic and Trade Friction Index for November 2024 at its monthly press briefing.

The UAE will continue to expand its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) network in 2025, targeting additional countries to maximize benefits for the UAE and its global trade partners.

On January 13, Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the latter's official visit to China.

El Salvador is a small agricultural country in Central America. China and El Salvador officially established diplomatic relations in 2018, and in April this year, the two nations formally launched free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

In 2024 included steady growth in personal consumption expenditures, a slowdown in private fixed investment, a widening trade deficit, a contracting manufacturing sector, a relatively stable labor market, slower inflation declines.

The strong dollar has significantly impacted non-U.S. currencies, particularly in Asia. Exchange rates in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Japan, and South Korea are under severe depreciation pressure.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade between China and Vietnam reached RMB 1.6737 trillion in the first 11 months of 2024, marking a 15.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Amid these dynamic and volatile circumstances, how will the global chemical trade landscape evolve in 2025?

Chocolate, based on its base oil, can be categorized into natural cocoa butter (CB), cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), and cocoa butter equivalents (CBE).

High-end polyolefins, often referred to as the 'soft gold' of plastics, have seen surging demand in recent years, driven by the rapid development of industries such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaics.

Food allergies have become increasingly common, driven by advancements in diagnostic technologies, heightened awareness, and shifts in dietary and food processing practices affecting immune systems.

Looking ahead to 2025, global economic growth is expected to remain stable but with widening disparities across regions. Inflation is projected to continue its downward trajectory, while labor markets are expected to remain relatively stable.

The China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will officially take effect on January 1, 2025, enabling over 95% of traded goods between the two countries to eventually benefit from zero tariffs.

Its implementation is expected to unlock the potential for enhanced cooperation in services trade and investment, advancing the forward-looking, high-quality partnership between China and Singapore.

Effective January 1, 2025, the Plan aims to increase imports of high-quality products, boost domestic demand, advance high-level opening-up, and contribute to high-quality economic development.

The European Parliament recently passed a resolution concerning Hong Kong, with an overwhelming vote of 473 to 23.