South Korea's Fair Trade Commission will impose a record 747.6 billion-won ($488.7 million) fine on Daesang Corp., Sajo CPK Ltd., Samyang Corp., and CJ CheilJedang Corp. for colluding to fix prices of starch and starch sugars from May 2018 to October 2025.
China's Ministry of Commerce issued a preliminary anti-dumping verdict against Canadian pea-starch, imposing 73.5% cash deposits. This follows Ottawa's investigation into Chinese steel racks, signaling escalating trade tensions between the two nations.
Ube, the purple yam native to the Philippines, has surged into mainstream food and beverage culture over the past year, with major coffee chains including Starbucks and Peet's launching ube-themed drinks. The ingredient, long served at Filipino restaurants in London and the U.S., has seen a 230% increase in menu offerings across U.S. restaurants since 2021, now appearing at 95 chains. Exports from the Philippines reached $3.2 million in 2025, with the U.S. accounting for half. However, Filipino farmers face climate-related supply challenges as production declines.
