Asean trade officials to hold talks

South-east Asia's trade officials will gather in Manila today for the three-day Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat and related meetings to discuss tighter partnerships to increase the utilisation of regional free trade agreements.

The 23rd Asean Economic Ministers Retreat will be held today and tomorrow and the 15th AEM-EU Trade Commissioner Consultations, on Friday.

EU trade commissioner here on visit

European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is visiting Singapore today for several ministerial meetings.

Her visit marks 60 years of the European Common Market.

She will also give a lecture at the Singapore Management University on the future of EU trade policy in Asia and the union's bilateral ties with the Republic.

China's Feb trade data out today

China will release its trade data for February today, one day after announcing a rebound in its forex reserves, its first in eight months.

Analysts are expecting export and import growth figures to show multi-year-high growth, adding to views that the global economy is shifting into higher gear.Trade surplus in January was US$51.35 billion (S$72 billion) lower than a year earlier but above market consensus.