China "vigorously" expands its imports of the most important goods as the nation strives to cut its trade surplus. The focus is, first of all, on the import of advanced technology and key equipment, although “some countries” practice restrictions on relevant exports into China in view of national security considerations. Those countries, if they continue such policies, will have cause to regret when they find one day that they have lost their share of the huge Chinese market, China’s officials dropped a broad hint at the specially organized China Import Forum. »

In the central part of Turkey, archaeologists have unearthed some cuneiform-script clay tablets that represent trade agreements that had been made, among other, by Assyrians with Hittites about 4000 years ago.

The value of world merchandise trade, according to a WTO estimate, rose about 25 per cent in the first half year of 2010, as compared to the same period of 2009. The conclusion is based on the analysis of monthly statistics for about 70 economies representing about 90 per cent of world trade. »

Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, speaking at a press conference on Friday, informed that “Ukraine, in a partner and friendly way, persuades the Russian Federation to revise the excellent, as per their opinion, Agreement of January 2009 on gas supplies for the 10 years.” In reply to the qualifying question from journalists as to whether Ukraine would block Russia’s accession to the WTO if the gas prices would not be cut, M. Azarov said: “We haven’t practiced blackmail and won’t practice it.”

Almost 1 mln tons of grains have been blocked in Ukrainian ports as of today, a communication of the Grain & Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) reads. “International trade is deeply concerned about the groundless administrative restrictions… and calls for the immediate cessation of such actions, which in fact are a barrier to trade,” states GAFTA. »