3 d. ago US reported to have seized Chinese cargo, Mexico stands by tariffs: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Testing the waters’? US reported to have seized Chinese cargo bound for Iran The reported US seizure of a ship allegedly carrying Chinese-made dual-use components to Iran might signal Washington was “testing the waters” on reviving an old tactic to pressure Beijing’s ties with its adversaries, but such moves risked breaching international law, analysts...

Transport

3 d. ago US ‘seizes’ Chinese cargo, Mexico stands by tariffs: SCMP daily highlights

US ‘seizes’ Chinese cargo, Mexico stands by tariffs: SCMP daily highlights  South China Morning Post

Transport

3 d. ago China sets import tariff of almost 10 per cent on Belgian pork

China sets import tariff of almost 10 per cent on Belgian pork  belganewsagency.eu

Politics

4 d. ago Mexico stands by 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, says move will protect 350,000 jobs

Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on Monday defended Mexico’s decision to impose new tariffs on imports from China and other Asian countries, describing the move as a necessary step to protect hundreds of thousands of domestic jobs rather than a provocation to any trading partner. The tariff package, approved by Congress last week, will take effect on January 1 and introduce duties ranging from five to 50 per cent on 1,463 products from countries without trade agreements with Mexico. These...

Politics

4 d. ago Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods  South China Morning Post

Politics

6 d. ago Mexico’s Sheinbaum is standing up for indigenous women, a stitch at a time

In the Mexican mountain town of San Isidro Buen Suceso, Virginia Veronica Arce Arce begins her days as she has for decades: seated at her vintage Singer sewing machine, guiding bright threads into intricate patterns passed down through generations. Arce is part of a group of talented female indigenous artisans who collaborate to create the colourful embroidered dresses and huipiles – traditional blouses worn by indigenous women – that have become a wardrobe staple for Mexican President Claudia...

Politics

8 d. ago Mexico slaps tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Chinese goods as US trade pact review looms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday defended her government’s decision to impose new import tariffs, hours after the Senate approved legislation allowing duties of up to 50 per cent on more than 1,400 products from Asian countries. The measure, widely seen as aimed at curbing Chinese imports, comes as Mexico prepares for a review of its trade agreement with the United States and Canada next year. Sheinbaum described the move as part of her administration’s plan to strengthen domestic...

Politics

8 d. ago Mexico slaps tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese goods as US trade pact review looms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday defended her government’s decision to impose new import tariffs, hours after the Senate approved legislation allowing duties of up to 50 per cent on more than 1,400 products from Asian countries. The measure, widely seen as aimed at curbing Chinese imports, comes as Mexico prepares for a review of its trade agreement with the United States and Canada next year. Sheinbaum described the move as part of her administration’s plan to strengthen domestic...

Politics

8 d. ago Mexico’s tariffs on China aim to placate US – but could backfire: analysts

Mexico’s move to place tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Chinese and other Asian goods underscores US efforts to pressure other countries to take action against China – and Beijing may well retaliate, analysts said. The Mexican Senate on Wednesday approved duties between 5 and 50 per cent on 1,463 product categories – including auto parts, textiles and plastics – starting from January 2026. President Claudia Sheinbaum had proposed the tariffs in the name of protecting local industries, subject to...

Events

9 d. ago Mexico lawmakers approve tariff increase on Chinese and other Asian imports

Mexico’s lower house early Wednesday approved tariffs of up to 50 per cent next year on imports from China and several other Asian countries, aiming to boost domestic production and address trade imbalances. With 281 votes in favour, 24 against, and 149 abstentions, the chamber passed the bill, which still requires Senate approval, despite opposition from China and local business groups. The proposal would impose or raise tariffs – mostly up to 35 per cent – throughout 2026 on goods such as...

Politics

1 week ago US says Indonesia backtracking on trade pledges as deal risks falling flat

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to speak with a top Indonesian official this week in hopes of salvaging a trade framework at risk of collapsing, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Greer will speak to Airlangga Hartarto, the Indonesian coordinating minister for economic affairs, in an effort to revive a deal struck in July that would see US tariffs on Indonesian goods reduced from a threatened 32 per cent to 19 per cent in exchange for a series of concessions. But US officials...

Events

1 week ago US says Indonesia backtracking on trade pledges as Trump deal risks falling flat

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to speak with a top Indonesian official this week in hopes of salvaging a trade framework at risk of collapsing, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Greer will speak to Airlangga Hartarto, the Indonesian coordinating minister for economic affairs, in an effort to revive a deal struck in July that would see US tariffs on Indonesian goods reduced from a threatened 32 per cent to 19 per cent in exchange for a series of concessions. But US officials...

Politics

1 week ago Supply chain guru Victor Fung warns of ‘20% tax’ as tariffs reshape global trade

Hong Kong tycoon Victor Fung Kwok-king former chairman of supply chain management conglomerate Fung Group, warned on Tuesday that consumers around the world will ultimately bear the cost of a de facto 20 per cent tariff in global trade. Speaking at the Global Supply Chain Business Summit 2025 held by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Li & Fung Supply Chain Institute, the 80-year-old said the global trading environment was converging towards an average tariff rate of about 20...

Events

2 w. ago India and Japan show impact of Trump’s tariffs extend beyond trade

For a sign of the degree to which US President Donald Trump’s decision in August to double tariffs on most Indian goods to a staggering 50 per cent – the highest rate across Asia – is weighing on investor sentiment, look no further than the rupee. Having plumbed a series of record lows in recent months, India’s currency has been the worst performer in Asia this year and has breached the psychologically important level of 90 per US dollar. One of the last major economies yet to strike a trade...

Politics

2 w. ago India’s strong economic growth impresses amid doubts on ‘overstated’ data

The better-than-expected growth of India’s economy, driven by strong performance in the domestic consumer and manufacturing sectors, highlights its near-term resilience despite a slowdown in exports and US import tariffs. While India’s 8.2 per cent year-on-year growth figure in the July to September quarter was the fastest among major economies, analysts warn that the headline numbers may not provide a true picture of the challenges it faces. Private consumer spending, which accounts for more...

Economics

2 w. ago China Demands That Tajikistan Protect Chinese Citizens After Attack

China Demands That Tajikistan Protect Chinese Citizens After Attack  The Times Of Central Asia

Events

2 w. ago Like a ‘debt collector’? US ambassador irks Singaporeans for justifying tariff

The United States’ new ambassador to Singapore has come under fire for his remarks defending the 10 per cent tariff on the city state by framing it as the US seeking help from a friend after it had played an important role in Singapore’s economic miracle. Orthopaedic surgeon Anjani Sinha, who officially started his tenure on November 17, told government-funded local media outlet The Straits Times that the US was asking friends such as Singapore to help President Donald Trump “rebalance” and...

Politics

2 w. ago Like a ‘debt collector’? US ambassador irks Singaporeans by justifying tariff

The United States’ new ambassador to Singapore has come under fire for his remarks defending the 10 per cent tariff on the city state by framing it as the US seeking help from a friend after it had played an important role in Singapore’s economic miracle. Orthopaedic surgeon Anjani Sinha, who officially started his tenure on November 17, told government-funded local media outlet The Straits Times that the US was asking friends such as Singapore to help President Donald Trump “rebalance” and...

Politics

3 w. ago Swiss probe Rolex gifts to Trump over bribery concerns after tariff deal

Two Swiss lawmakers have asked prosecutors to examine whether gifts reportedly given to US President Donald Trump – including a Rolex watch and a gold bar - by Swiss business leaders may have violated Switzerland’s anti-bribery laws. Switzerland this month struck a framework agreement with the US to cut a 39 per cent tariff on Swiss goods to 15 per cent. The deal came 10 days after a delegation of Swiss business leaders visited Trump in the Oval Office, bearing the gifts, according to Swiss...

Politics

4 w. ago Xiaomi reaffirms safety focus after raising 2025 sales target to 400,000 units

Xiaomi, one of Tesla’s biggest challengers in mainland China over the past year, pledged to focus on the safety and reliability of its cars after its factory reached another milestone. Founder and CEO Lei Jun said on Thursday that Xiaomi had raised its full-year delivery target from 350,000 vehicles to 400,000 after ramping up production, but stressed that the quality of the SU7 sedan and YU7 SUVs would not be compromised. “We firmly believe that safety is a foundation and a priority,” he said...

Economics