Rising input costs tied to the conflict in the Middle East are adding strain to an already challenging farm economy, said the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Takaichi announced the initiative at a regional forum that included Japan and major Southeast Asian economies such as Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

China is fighting back against what it sees as rising protectionism in the West.

Economists say impacts from the prolonged Iran war could reduce global demand for Chinese exports going forward.

Under the IMF’s “severe” scenario, global growth would struggle to stay above 2%, and inflation would rise to 5.8% in 2026, and 6.1% in 2027.

Retail leaders are increasingly turning to AI-driven forecasting, inventory optimization, and decision-support tools that allow them to respond quickly to changes in consumer behavior.

Importers and authorized brokers should anticipate that valid IEEPA refunds will generally be issued within 60-90 days following acceptance of the CAPE Declaration, CBP said.

Between January and March 2026, POLA handled 2.4 million TEUs, down 5% from last year.

U.S. Centcom added more confusion by sending a note to seafarers saying the blockade would only be enforced in waters east of the strait of Hormuz.