ATLANTA -- Here are some highlights of the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement as described by the Canadian government Monday as it shared details of a deal to create the largest-ever regional trading bloc. The full text is not yet released, and the agreement would need to be ratified by the parliaments and governments of all 12 countries to come into effect. If implemented, the agreement could mean: Elimination or reduction of tariffs on a broad series of products

China imported the most copper in 20 months in September, while ore and concentrate purchases expanded to the highest since March as a domestic premium spurred traders to buy more from the world market. Inbound cargoes of the metal and its products jumped by 33 percent to 460,000 metric tons from August, customs data showed Tuesday. Shipments of ore and concentrate rose 5 percent to 1.21 million tons. Premiums have risen as maintenance and an equipment failure cut domestic su

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted an important new requirement affecting shippers. The IMO amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to require shippers to verify weights of packed containers, regardless of who packed the container. The measure is intended to address a problem with shippers providing incorrect container weights. This had led to casualties such as the one involving the containership MSC Napoli in January 2007 off the coast of

Pacific trade ministers have reached a deal on the most sweeping trade liberalization pact in a generation that will cut trade barriers and set common standards for 12 countries, an official familiar with the talks said on Monday. Leaders from a dozen Pacific Rim nations are poised to announce the pact later on Monday. The deal could reshape industries and influence everything from the price of cheese to the cost of cancer treatments. The Trans-Pacific Partnership would affec