45 m. ago Trump says US Justice Department may owe him ‘a lot of money’ over probes

US President Donald Trump said he believed the Justice Department probably owes him compensation, following a report that he was seeking some US$230 million after he faced multiple federal investigations. “As far as all the litigation, everything that’s going on, yeah, they probably owe me a lot of money,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday at the White House. The New York Times reported earlier that Trump had initiated administrative claim processes alleging violations of his rights. The...

Politics

2 h. ago Can Trump’s pragmatism override China hawks to keep ties from rupture?

China’s rocky trade relationship with the United States was on full display this month as US President Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports. Separately, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denounced China’s move to expand curbs on rare earth exports, calling it “a sign of how weak their economy is”. He also described Li Chenggang, one of China’s trade negotiators, as “pretty unhinged and very aggressive”. Trade ties between the rival powers remain fraught, even...

Politics

15 h. ago Can Scott Bessent see China’s trade counterstrike with clear eyes?

After a video call last Saturday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng are expected to meet in Malaysia this week to hopefully ease tensions before US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping potentially meet on the sidelines of this year’s Apec summit. The meeting was in doubt when Trump threatened to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on China, despite later relenting that it might not be sustainable. Washington blamed Beijing for the escalation,...

Events

15 h. ago The View | Can Scott Bessent see China’s trade counterstrike with clear eyes?

The View | Can Scott Bessent see China’s trade counterstrike with clear eyes?  South China Morning Post

Events

30 h. ago China fires top trade negotiator after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls him ‘unhinged’

China fires top trade negotiator after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls him ‘unhinged’  New York Post

Events

33 h. ago Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test

Argentina on Monday formalised a currency swap agreement with the United States for up to US$20 billion aimed “at contributing to Argentina’s economic stability,” the South American country’s central bank said. The deal is part of huge financial support from the administration of Donald Trump, a strong backer of Argentine President Javier Milei, who is under pressure ahead of midterm elections on October 26. The peso has been fluctuating wildly ahead of the vote, disrupting the savings and...

Politics

43 h. ago China replaces negotiator Li Chenggang at WTO, UN after Bessent spat

China replaces negotiator Li Chenggang at WTO, UN after Bessent spat  Nikkei Asia

Events

3 d. ago Hong Kong homebuyers flock to Henderson Land project in Wan Chai

Hong Kong homebuyers snapped up new flats at a Henderson Land project in Wan Chai in the latest sign of a real-estate market recovery. By early evening on Saturday, all 75 units on offer at the Woodis residential development on Wood Road were sold out, according to property agents. The buying spree aligns with market expectations, following Henderson’s decision to price the units competitively with neighbouring flats in the secondary market. The average discounted price was set at HK$23,224...

Politics

3 d. ago Top US and China envoys set trade talks after ‘constructive’ phone call

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a phone call on Saturday morning and stated that trade negotiators from their countries would meet next week. “This evening, Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media on Friday evening in Washington. “We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.” In a separate read-out, China described He’s...

Politics

3 d. ago Top US and China envoys set trade talks after ‘constructive’ video call

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a video call on Saturday morning and stated that trade negotiators from their countries would meet next week. “This evening, Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media on Friday evening in Washington. “We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.” In a separate read-out, China described He’s...

Politics

3 d. ago Top US and China trade envoys set for talks after ‘constructive’ video call

China and the United States are set to hold fresh trade talks next week, following a video call between Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday morning Beijing time. “Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media after their call. “We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.” In its readout, China described He’s discussions with...

Politics

4 d. ago Bessent urges IMF, World Bank to take tougher stance on China's economic practices

Bessent urges IMF, World Bank to take tougher stance on China's economic practices  Reuters

Economics

4 d. ago Watch Bessent Says He’ll Likely Meet With China’s He Next Week

Watch Bessent Says He’ll Likely Meet With China’s He Next Week  Bloomberg.com

Politics

4 d. ago Bessent Says Will Meet China’s He in Malaysia Likely Next Week

Bessent Says Will Meet China’s He in Malaysia Likely Next Week  Bloomberg.com

Politics

4 d. ago US, Hong Kong ‘both lose’ if Cathay added to planned Russian airspace ban

The United States and Hong Kong face a lose-lose scenario if global travellers are forced to pay higher airfares over the proposed barring of Cathay Pacific Airways from flying over Russian airspace to the east coast of North America, analysts have warned. Wednesday’s warning followed calls by United Airlines for the Trump administration to ban Hong Kong’s flag carrier from flying over Russia for routes between the US and the city in a bid to force Cathay Pacific to align with other...

Politics

5 d. ago US Chamber of Commerce sues Trump administration over US$100,000 H

The largest American business lobbying group filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging US President Donald Trump’s US$100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The lawsuit by the US Chamber of Commerce, which says it represents 300,000 businesses, is the group’s first against the Trump administration since the Republican president took office for a second term in January. The chamber says in the lawsuit that Trump’s September proclamation imposing the fee on new H-1B visa...

Politics

5 d. ago The squeeze is on: Beijing and Washington flex muscles as narrative war heats up

As China and the United States accuse each other of provoking the latest escalation in trade tensions and disrupting the world economy, analysts say both share a goal in their war of words: applying maximum pressure until a deal is struck. In the past few days, Washington has framed the recent flare-up in relations as “China versus the world”, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting on Wednesday that Beijing’s restrictions on the export of rare earth elements unveiled last week made...

Events

5 d. ago US phones allies over rare earths, China’s food security: 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. ‘This is China versus the world’: US calls allies over Beijing rare earth curbs US President Donald Trump’s administration vowed on Wednesday to work with its allies and other countries to get an upper hand in its trade talks with China, claiming Beijing’s recent rare earth control as a sign of being an “unreliable partner” that threatens global supply...

Events

5 d. ago MP Materials Stock Rises as Bessent Gives Hope on China Trade and Rare Earths

MP Materials Stock Rises as Bessent Gives Hope on China Trade and Rare Earths  Barron's

Politics

5 d. ago Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slams China as Beijing threatens "hellfire" over trade war

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slams China as Beijing threatens "hellfire" over trade war  tag24.com

Events