6 h. ago How a Chinese delicacy got caught in the crossfire of Trump's trade war

President Donald Trump’s trade war with China is crippling an entire industry that hand-harvests geoducks

Events

24 h. ago China to cut interest rates in response to trade war with US

Half-point cut to be made to banks’ reserve requirement ratio and 1tn yuan released into banking systemBusiness live – latest updatesChina will cut interest rates and inject some much-needed liquidity into the domestic economy, as the country steels itself for a bruising trade war with the US.The People’s Bank of China said on Wednesday it would make a half-point cut to the banks’ reserve requirement ratio, its benchmark interest rate, and release 1tn yuan (£103.6bn) into the banking system. Continue reading...

Events

49 h. ago UK business activity falls for the first time since October 2023 as trade tensions hurt economy, and car sales slide – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrump’s foreign film tariffs could ‘wipe out’ UK movie industry, ministers toldCar sales across the UK fell by over 10% last month, compared to a year ago.New industry data shows that 120,331 new vehicles were registered in April, 10.4% fewer than in April 2024.In what is traditionally a quieter month following the March plate change, volumes were also impacted by the late timing of Easter, resulting in fewer working days.In addition, the implementation of VED changes affecting all new cars, including the Expensive Car Supplement which became applicable to many new EVs from 1 April, pushed transactions into March as shrewd buyers got ahead of the tax increases. Continue reading...

Economics

50 h. ago UK car sales drop 10% in April; Ford predicts $1.5bn profit hit from Trump tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrump’s foreign film tariffs could ‘wipe out’ UK movie industry, ministers toldCar sales across the UK fell by over 10% last month, compared to a year ago.New industry data shows that 120,331 new vehicles were registered in April, 10.4% fewer than in April 2024.In what is traditionally a quieter month following the March plate change, volumes were also impacted by the late timing of Easter, resulting in fewer working days.In addition, the implementation of VED changes affecting all new cars, including the Expensive Car Supplement which became applicable to many new EVs from 1 April, pushed transactions into March as shrewd buyers got ahead of the tax increases. Continue reading...

Economics

52 h. ago China’s service sector hit by trade war; Ford predicts $1.5bn profit hit from Trump tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrump’s foreign film tariffs could ‘wipe out’ UK movie industry, ministers toldAmerican children face paying higher prices for Barbie dolls due to the Trump tariffs on imports.Mattel, the toy manufacturing giant, revealed last night that it plan to raise prices on American toys due to tariffs, and is also looking to move some manufacturing out of China.Accelerating diversification of its supply chain and further reducing reliance on China-sourced product,Optimizing product sourcing and product mix, andWhere necessary, taking pricing action in its U.S. business.In an uncertain macro environment that has intensified due to the potential impact of tariffs, we are focused on what we can control.We are improving our supply chain agility, taking decisive cost actions to mitigate financial impact where possible, and ensuring we can continue to serve our customers and consumers. Continue reading...

Economics

65 h. ago The Guardian view on Trump’s shock therapy: warehouse and transport workers are the first victims of a class war | Editorial

Behind the slogans and tariffs lies a calculated strategy – fuelled by elite interests, eroding labour rights and stoking global recessionThe White House, eager to win a trade war it barely understands, has yanked the emergency brake on China-US trade without checking who’s inside the vehicle. Donald Trump’s early April trade decree has taken a month to hit the economy – that’s how long Chinese containers need to reach Los Angeles. And on cue, US pacific ports registered a 45% drop in container bookings this week from China. When warehouses fall quiet and trucks idle in California, the silence will creep eastward. Unemployment will surely tick upwards.Even if Washington reverses course by the end of May, and Beijing plays nice, the best-case scenario is delayed damage. Some goods are being rerouted to avoid charges, but you can’t reboot global logistics overnight. This isn’t strategic decoupling – it’s economic self-harm. By the time the Trump administration notices, it will be too ...

Events

5 d. ago China says it is ‘evaluating’ US offer for talks on Trump tariffs

Beijing warns Washington that any attempt to use talks as pretext to engage in coercion and extortion won’t work

Politics

6 d. ago Stock markets gain as China ‘evaluates’ offer of US trade talks – business live

Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as FTSE 100 gains on hopes of US-China trade thaw; Shell profits drop 28% to $5.5bnCommodities companies are among the best performers on stock markets this morning.They would be among the best placed to benefit from the US backing down in its trade war with China. The FTSE 100 has a lot of Europe’s big mining listings, and they are leading the way on Friday. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Shell profits fall as big oil faces slump in prices; UK cuts NatWest stake below 2% – business live

Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as FTSE 100 oil company profits drop 28% to $5.5bnStock markets have gained across Europe, as investors welcomed signs of a possible thaw in the trade war between the US and China.Germany’s Dax gained 1.2% in the early trades, while France’s Cac 40 was up 1.4% – after both were closed over the May Day bank holiday. The Stoxx 600 index, which tracks big companies across Europe, rose by 0.9%. The FTSE 100 was up 0.9%.“The US has recently taken the initiative on many occasions to convey information to China through relevant parties, saying it hopes to talk with China,” the statement said, adding that Beijing was “evaluating this”.“Attempting to use talks as a pretext to engage in coercion and extortion would not work,” it said.This optimism has continued overnight after China’s Ministry of Commerce said that it’s evaluating trade talks with the US. The ministry said this comes as “the US has recently sent messages to C...

Economics

7 d. ago Trump says kids may only get ‘2 dolls instead of 30’ due to possible toy shortage over trade war with China: Live updates

President tries to deflect blame to predecessor as new GDP figures show U.S. economy contracted for first time in three years

Politics

7 d. ago US GDP report to show if economy expanded in last quarter, after eurozone growth accelerates – business live

First estimate of US GDP for Q1 2025 will show whether tariffs hurt growthUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumption, and the savings rate is se...

Economics

8 d. ago France and Germany avoid recession as eurozone growth accelerates; Taiwan’s GDP boosted by pre

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Politics

8 d. ago France and Germany avoid recession as economies return to growth; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Economics

8 d. ago France avoids recession as economy returns to growth; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warAverage UK house prices fell this month, lender Nationwide reports, after the rush to avoid an increase in stamp duty faded.According to Nationwide, house prices fell by 0.6% in April, with the average price dropping to £270,752 from £271,316 in March.Early indications suggest there was a significant jump in transactions in March, with buyers bringing forward their purchases to avoid additional tax obligations.“The market is likely to remain a little soft in the coming months, following the pattern typically observed following the end of stamp duty holidays. Nevertheless, activity is likely to pick up steadily as summer progresses, despite wider economic uncertainties in the global economy, since underlying conditions for potential home buyers in the UK remain supportive. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Trump doubles down on trade war with China and insists Americans ‘signed up for this’

The president also denied that there would be tough economic periods for Americans, saying instead that he believed ‘great times’ were ahead

Politics

9 d. ago Chaos is Trump’s calling card. But reality is biting back | Lloyd Green

In his first 100 days, the president has taken a sledgehammer to institutions and the constitution. We can only guess what’s nextIn nearly 100 days on the job, Donald Trump has outlasted Liz Truss and a fabled head of lettuce. That’s a fact, not an achievement. Like the hapless British prime minister, the 47th president blazes a trail of wreckage. Chaos is his calling card. If, when and how the carnage ends is anyone’s guess.The US simultaneously wages economic war on its allies and China. Tariffs soar. It’s as if Trump forgot the words “Smoot-Hawley” and “Great Depression”. The president risks higher inflation and a recession for an idealized yesteryear that never quite was. Back on Earth, markets signal potential capital flight and stagflation.Lloyd Green is an attorney in New York and served in the US Department of Justice from 1990 to 1992 Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago US tariff war hurting trade with China; M&S tells hundreds of warehouse agency staff not to come to work after cyber

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBack in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry has said President Xi Jinping had not spoken to Donald Trump.The ministry also denied that the two administrations are in talks to strike a tariff deal, which contradicts a claim from Trump last week.“As far as I know, the two heads of state have not called each other recently,“I would like to reiterate that China and the U.S. have not conducted consultations or negotiations on the tariffs issue. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago US tariff war hurting trade with China; Beijing ‘confident’ of hitting growth targets – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in food delivery group Deliveroo have jumped by 17% at the start of trading in London, after receiving a takeover approach from US rival DoorDash.On Friday night, the news broke that DoorDash had offered to buy Deliveroo for $3.6bn (£2.7bn). Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Trade war hits foreign companies in China with double tariffs

Many manufacturers are exposed to paying duties on imports as well as exports

Events

1 week ago Apple ‘aims to source all US iPhones from India’, reducing reliance on China

Report suggests tech firm – swept up in Donald Trump’s trade war – will make change as soon as 2026Apple is reportedly planning to switch assembly of all iPhones for the US market to India as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on a Chinese manufacturing base amid Donald Trump’s trade war.The $3tn (£2.3tn) technology company aims to make the shift as soon as next year, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...

Politics