The total trade volume between Nigeria and the Republic of China hit about N55 naira (US$472m) from January to May 2008 with Nigeria enjoying a trade surplus of US$238 million.

But SA's import cover is down to 17 weeks from 20 weeks earlier in the year, and 26 weeks is desirable

SECURITY at the 16th Uganda International Trade Fair has been been beefed up with heavy deployment of all security agencies, the manufacturers' chairman has said.

Prepared remarks to the Namibia Investor Forum on Trade and Infrastructure Investment Opportunities in Washington, DC by Dr. Hage Geingob, the minister of trade and industry.

Trade unions in Africa have been urged to unite in protesting the signing of Economic Partnership Agreements that worsen unemployment on the continent.

In the last 60 years, the United States has dominated commerce, pushed nations to open their markets, championed liberal democracy, and achieved military supremacy.

As the countdown to the October 31 deadline for the removal of the rice import duty waiver begins, mixed reactions have trailed the measure.

The future of the world Trade Organisation is in jeopardy and time is now for positive global action to restore confidence among its members.

Despite high profile work on the global financial crisis, the U.S. Congress rightly acted last week to remove restrictions on apparel exports from certain least developed African countries.   The change comes after almost two years of pleas from U.S. and African government and apparel industry leaders.   Passage of these provisions by both the House and Senate is a welcome short term ...

The 6th African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Summit ended in Accra last Friday, at which the issue of the controversial Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) featured prominently.

Members of Parliament have demanded that the government institutes a query team to ensure that the deadly Chinese powder milk is not being consumed in the country.

Islamists controlling the port town of Kismayu, 500 km south of Mogadishu, have banned flights carrying khat (also known as miraa), the semi narcotic herbs popularly chewed in Somalia.

East African nationals are inching closer and closer to full integration, when Tanzania last week scrapped its hitherto strict policy regarding residence status for non-nationals.

A replanting programme has reversed years of declining production in Uganda's coffee sub-sector, pushing year-on-year exports of the commodity 50 per cent over 2007 and earnings to $362 million.

Work permits, a major hindrance to free movement of labour within the East African Community, will soon be a thing of the past after Tanzania last week became the last country in the region to lift restrictions on the right of residence.

"Confining African countries to the production of primary commodities amounts to condemning them to remain locked in the commodity trap. Africa needs to create a competitive advantage in the production of manufactured products, as many other developing countries have done." - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mizengo Peter Pinda, has said that the formation and negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a clear indication that the cohesiveness of the African, Carribean and Pacific Group is being threatened to the "forces of disintegration".

The Director for Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), Dr. Joseph Abbey has called on the government to take the "bull by the horn" and sign the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) since it would strengthen capacity of local enterprises to compete both locally and internationally.

Dealers in forest products without valid certificates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism have been called upon to ensure that they registered and licensed their businesses.

Pigeon peas, a leguminous plant that thrives well in nearly all agro-ecological zones of Arumeru district and fetches good price in the local and export market is capable of earning farmers of the district oodles of cash.

State grants are not quick and easy to access, but can be the only means of raising capital to export.

The timing of the MIDP's replacement is unfortunate, but vehicle exports should rise in the long run.

In the last three series I have written on agriculture looking at the bottlenecks and suggesting solutions.

The world is up in arms against counterfeit and substandard products. It is estimated that up to 70 per cent of goods traded in Third World countries are not genuine or are poor quality.

THE Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) will run three business days for exhibitors and showgoers during the UMA trade fair which starts today.