1.   

Forfait trade gets new global rules

On Thursday, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) approved new Uniform Rules on Forfaiting (URF) to govern the international market, taking effect from January 1, 2013. Essentially, forfaiting involves selling a bill of exchange without recourse. It frees the exporter from political or commercial risks. It does not affect his borrowing limits/capacity and relieves him from the botheration of credit administration and collection problems.

2.   

India, ASEAN FTA talks on services, investment in final stages

Negotiations on the much-delayed Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment between India and 10-nation ASEAN grouping are in the final stages and effort is being made to conclude these by next month. This was stated by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma on Sunday amid expectations that the pact will boost two-way trade and investment.

3.   

Broad continuity in India-U.S. ties expected

As the second innings of bilateral cooperation between India and the U.S. kicks off after the lull in activity forced by the high-voltage U.S. election campaign, both sides expect broad continuity and sustained progress in a range of policy areas including defence sales, civil nuclear energy cooperation, counter-terrorism intelligence-sharing, trade and investment and spheres of trilateral cooperation including in Afghanistan and Africa.

4.   

India expects stability in its relations with China: Anand Sharma

India expects continuity and stability in its relations with China, its largest trading partner, after the once-in-a-decade leadership change in the Communist nation, commerce minister Anand Sharma said today. Replying to a question on the change of leadership in China and whether he foresaw its impact on relations with India, the commerce and industry minister said he expected "continuity and stability in the bilateral ties".