Italian PM Giorgia Meloni responded forcefully to US President Donald Trump's public criticism, calling his claims invented and stating her popularity suffers from their association. The dispute highlights tensions over Italy's defense spending and trade surplus with the US, and signals a potential shift in the relationship between the Italian right and MAGA.
ECB President Christine Lagarde urged global leaders to discuss the undervaluation of the Chinese currency, citing it as a factor in global economic imbalances. She noted Europe's struggle to compete with cheaper Chinese goods and dismissed the idea of a new Plaza Accord.
Russia's foreign trade surplus fell 3.36% YoY to $43.1 bln in Jan-Apr 2026. Exports rose to $135.4 bln, imports to $92.3 bln, increasing trade turnover by 4.83% to $227.7 bln.
South Korea's trade balance with China has swung into a significant surplus, driven by a surge in memory chip exports. This marks a rare bright spot among East Asian economies facing pressure from China's rising competitiveness.
Indonesia's economy presents a mixed picture with a significant narrowing of its trade surplus in April to $90 million, down from $3.32 billion in March. Despite this, exports and imports saw robust growth, indicating strong domestic demand and manufacturing activity. Inflation also rose in May, driven by transportation and food prices.
South Korea's trade surplus surpassed $100 billion in Jan-May, exceeding the 2017 annual record. While exports boom driven by AI and semiconductors, traditional industries and SMEs struggle, widening the economic divide.
South Korea's trade surplus in cosmetic products exceeded $10 billion for the first time in 2025, reaching $10.1 billion, a 13.5% increase from the previous year. This milestone highlights the K-beauty industry's significant growth, driven by global popularity of Korean cultural content.
South Korea's cosmetics trade surplus surpassed $10 billion for the first time in 2024, reaching $10.1 billion, a 13.5% increase from the previous year. Exports also hit a record high of $11.4 billion, making Korea the second-largest exporter globally, trailing only France.
Saudi Arabia's trade surplus surged by 218.9% in March, reaching its highest level since 2022, driven by a 37.4% increase in oil exports. The East-West pipeline played a crucial role in enhancing export efficiency and diversifying market access.
Russia's current account surplus decreased to $12.2 billion in Q1 2026 from $18.4 billion in Q1 2025, driven by a widening services deficit and a reduced income deficit, according to the Bank of Russia.
Russia's foreign trade surplus grew to $13.966 billion in March 2026, up $1.676 billion from the same period in 2025, with exports rising to $41.064 billion and imports to $27.098 billion.
Russia's foreign trade surplus decreased by 11.92% to $30.3 billion in January-March 2026, with exports decreasing by $0.1 billion and imports increasing by $4 billion.
