Free trade news and archive

The world's largest trading bloc is now Asia Pacific

Forget NAFTA, ASEAN and the European Union. The world’s biggest trading block, an agreement that came in to force on Thursday after eights years of negotiations, comprises of 15 countries in Asia Pacific. Called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), it is made up of 10 Southeast Asian countries, in addition to South Korea,...

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Retail

UK retailers call for free trade with EU

Theresa May this week made her long awaited speech about triggering Article 50 to initiate the UK's divorce from Europe. For British fashion brands, retailers and businesses in general, there are enormous consequences to consider as without free trade between European nations many brands may not be able to survive. The UK’s leading lobby group...

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Business

UK prime minister champions global free trade

UK Prime Minister Theresa May this week advocated for free trade around the world despite voter doubt. May visited India on a two-day trade focused meeting. For fashion businesses, free trade would mean the lifting of tariffs and duties to make pricing equal in local markets, something luxury brands would benefit greatly from. European brands...

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Business

Clothing brands to see tariffs removed in new TTP trade agreement

As the US and EU continue to battle it out over the Transatlantic Trade Agreement, there is another trade agreement about to take affect which could greatly affect British fashion businesses. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TTP, is an agreement between 12 countries, the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand,...