China is saving stimulus for trade war winter

Germany sees massive dip in Russia exports, uptick in China imports. Despite trying to wean itself off of Russian energy imports, Germany is paying record prices for them. At the same time, Berlin has built up a large import surplus with Beijing.

Trafficking of timber is rampant in the country because of the high demand for rosewood in China.

Russia and Ukraine made enough progress on resolving their dispute over blocked grain exports that "a final agreement" could be reached next week, the UN and Turkey said after face-to-face talks in Istanbul.

Nearly 60% of African countries remain dependent on exports of commodities despite decadeslong efforts to diversify. A shift to technology and financial services could help them withstand economic shocks, the UN says.

Ukraine and Russia have signed "mirror" deals which will allow Kyiv to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea. The agreement will allow millions of tonnes of grain, currently trapped in Ukraine by the war, to be exported.

Ukraine says it will push ahead with efforts to export its grain, despite a recent Russian missile attack on the port of Odesa. DW’s Nick Connolly went to southern Ukraine where he met the people trying to get Ukraine's food out to the world.

Business ties are high on the agenda at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan. The countries represented are huge potential markets for Russian energy, and Vladimir Putin has been pushing for closer ties. China and India in particular have increased their imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal since the invasion of Ukraine. Also on the show: US railworkers reach a deal to avoid a costly strike, and the owner of Patagonia donates the retailer to a climate charity.

The global energy crisis is weighing on households and businesses around the world. The US is more insulated from the high prices because it's a net exporter of energy, and American producers have boosted shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe. But energy and finance analyst Clark Williams-Derry says the ongoing supply issues could change the balance.

The EU Parliament wants to end the export of recyclable plastics, often slammed for degrading health and environment in poorer countries.

In a letter to the Dutch parliament, the country's trade minister has said exporters of chip technology will have to ask for licences to do business abroad, citing concerns over international security. The Netherlands is home to one of the leaders in chipmaking equipment, ASML.

Pakistan's exclusion from the EU's list of "high-risk third countries" is likely to boost exports to the bloc and reduce the legal and financial costs of business with the EU.

Germany witnessed a 5.2% decline in exports in the month of March. The larger-than-expected drop was caused by lower demand from the EU, US and China.