The customs department of Vietnam’s Hai Phong region will launch a pilot centralised customs clearance model from June 1 to cut clearance times by 30-50 per cent and lower logistics and compliance costs.

All customs dossiers will then be processed through a single clearance team.

Vietnam’s Hai Phong region’s customs department will launch a pilot centralised customs clearance model from June 1 to cut clearance times by 30-50 per cent and lower logistics and compliance costs.
Customs dossiers will then be processed through a single clearance team.
Administrative procedures and inconsistent implementation of regulations are the major challenges for businesses, EuroCham Vietnam said.

Deputy president of the Hai Phong Business Association Vu Ngoc Lam called on customs authorities to provide more detailed guidance for companies on electronic documentation, declaration classification, supplementary declarations, cargo release procedures and tax and fee payments under the new system, according to a domestic media outlet.

He also urged the authorities to maintain dedicated support channels for businesses and strengthen data connectivity among customs agencies, ports, shipping lines, logistics firms, warehouses and import-export enterprises.

Administrative procedures and inconsistent implementation of regulations across localities remain major challenges for businesses, Nguyen Hai Minh, deputy president of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

India’s economic activity in April showed resilience notwithstanding deceleration in some of the indicators, and the economy demonstrated strength despite persisting geopolitical and trade related uncertainties, according to an article in the latest issue of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Bulletin.

Industrial activity stayed strong in many segments. The index of eight core industries witnessed an uptick. Manufacturing PMI also rose marginally as cost pressures and geopolitical spillovers kept growth momentum in new orders and output slow.

India’s economic activity in April showed resilience notwithstanding deceleration in some of the indicators, and the economy showed strength despite geopolitical and trade related uncertainties, an article in the RBI Bulletin said.
Industrial activity was strong in many segments.
However, financial conditions, crude oil prices and capital flows continue to pose challenges to the external sector outlook.

However, financial conditions, crude oil prices and capital flows continue to pose challenges to the external sector outlook, the article said.

Early results of listed private non-financial companies for the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal 2025-26 (FY26) also showed an improvement in business performance over the previous quarter, with aggregate sales and operating profit recording a double-digit growth.

The merchandise trade deficit widened in April this year over March, with rising import bill primarily on account of crude oil and gold imports. The trade deficit also registered an increase albeit marginally vis-a-vis April 2025.

The available high-frequency indicators of economic activity in April generally suggest sustained demand, notwithstanding challenges in a few sectors.

India is witnessing a trade reconfiguration amidst the emerging geopolitical situation, the article titled ‘State of the Economy’ noted. Its trade through the Strait of Hormuz that had declined sequentially in March went up in April this year.

Despite significant increase in input cost, operating profit growth of manufacturing companies remained broadly stable during Q4 FY26. However, the operating profit margin softened during the quarter.

However, the near-term outlook is somewhat clouded by supply side pressures, the article noted.

It said though headline inflation remains firmly within the tolerance band, the pass-through to domestic prices needs to be monitored.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Exporters in dozens of African nations recently regained duty-free access to the United States after the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was extended till 2026 end by a proclamation by President Donald Trump.

The extension follows a brief lapse in the programme in September 2025, which had caused uncertainty for African exporters dependent on US market access.

Exporters in many African nations have regained duty-free access to the US after the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was extended till 2026 end by a US presidential proclamation.
The extension follows a lapse in the programme in late 2025, which had caused uncertainty for African exporters dependent on US market access.
Gabon was reinstated as an AGOA beneficiary, reversing its 2023 removal.

It was restored in February 2026 when Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, extending AGOA retroactively to the end of 2026.

The latest presidential proclamation on May 19 formally implemented the extension and updated US tariff schedules. Gabon has been reinstated as a beneficiary of AGOA after making sufficient progress on governance and eligibility, reversing its 2023 removal.

The announcement is a big relief for African economies that depend heavily on AGOA-linked trade, particularly in labour-intensive sectors like garments, where duty-free access significantly improves competitiveness in the US market.

But the limited extension continues uncertainty over the long-term future of the programme.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)