91 m. ago Cairo calling: why Chinese factories are moving to Egypt amid the trade war

Until recently, Jiahao’s guest house in a quiet corner of Cairo was a modest pit stop for Chinese tourists on their way to visit the Egyptian pyramids. But this spring, the hostel suddenly began to attract a different kind of client. Jiahao, the hostel’s 26-year-old owner, began welcoming groups of factory owners from across China and Southeast Asia – grizzled businesspeople whose trips were not about sightseeing, but survival. “Many business owners now book week-long stays,” Jiahao said. “I...

Events

9 h. ago Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

This year’s escalation of the US-China trade war has led many Chinese companies to rethink their overseas expansion strategies, with accessing the American market no longer their top priority when considering building factories in foreign countries, industry insiders said. There had been a “drastic downshift” in inquiries from Chinese companies seeking land to rent or purchase in Mexico, one of their hottest overseas investment destinations in the past, said Jack Lee, an industrial property...

Economics

54 h. ago As Chinese exporters explore home market, how are letters of credit helping?

After the United States imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on imports from China in April, Beijing took steps to help Chinese exporters sell their products domestically. In addition to the staging of product promotion events across the country and the offering of fiscal and financial incentives, Beijing also encouraged the increased use of letters of credit (L/Cs) to help such businesses switch focus to the domestic market. What is a domestic letter of credit? A letter of credit, also known as...

Politics

56 h. ago China delays approval of $35bn US chip merger amid Donald Trump’s trade war

China delays approval of $35bn US chip merger amid Donald Trump’s trade war  Financial Times

Politics

3 d. ago China’s orchard of AI, chip grads now ripe for the pickin’ as tech trade sours

When Jack Wang enrolled as an undergraduate in microelectronics at a prestigious Chinese university, the year was 2019, and China was in the early days of its trade war with the United States. Looking back, his decision to focus on the field revolving around the design and manufacture of hi-tech microchips has proved prescient. Today, it complements Beijing’s aspirations to make world-leading semiconductors amid Washington’s amped-up efforts to curtail China’s technological progress. Indeed, the...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump admin races to break China's hold on rare earth magnets

Trump admin races to break China's hold on rare earth magnets  Axios

Politics

4 d. ago US and China ease trade war tensions by agreeing ‘framework’ truce in London – business live

US and China ease trade war tensions by agreeing ‘framework’ truce in London – business live  The Guardian

Events

4 d. ago Gold Advances Even After US and China Agree to Ease Trade War

Gold Advances Even After US and China Agree to Ease Trade War  Yahoo Finance

Events

4 d. ago Gold Edges Higher Even as US and China Agree to Ease Trade War

Gold Edges Higher Even as US and China Agree to Ease Trade War  Bloomberg

Events

4 d. ago Trump administration and China agree on "framework" to ease trade war disputes

Trump administration and China agree on "framework" to ease trade war disputes  CBS News

Politics

5 d. ago Live updates: Trump officials seek to repair frayed trade war truce with China

Live updates: Trump officials seek to repair frayed trade war truce with China  The Washington Post

Politics

5 d. ago Tariff war ‘not the end of the world’ for Hong Kong companies: trade council chief

The US-China tariff war is “not the end of the world” for Hong Kong businesses, the new head of the city’s Trade Development Council has said, as he outlined strategies to help them capitalise on geopolitical uncertainties. Chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang, who took office on June 1, also said on Monday the council would explore setting up more offices in new markets and rebranding the Asian Financial Forum to include more industry elements. The council has 51 offices around the world, including...

Events

5 d. ago US soybean farmers move to reduce dependence on China as trade war grinds on

Soybean farmers in the United States have stepped up efforts to diversify their export markets while maintaining China as a critical buyer, despite ongoing trade tensions between the two superpowers, according to the head of a leading industry association. Jim Sutter, CEO of the US Soybean Export Council, said that while concerns about possible disruptions persist, China’s strong demand for soybeans – a crucial commodity for food and livestock feed – would ensure the US remains an important...

Events

6 d. ago A Niche Plastics Ingredient Becomes a Trade War Bargaining Chip

A Niche Plastics Ingredient Becomes a Trade War Bargaining Chip  Bloomberg

Events

6 d. ago John Lee exclusive interview, Chinese rethink UK degrees: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Don’t kill your successful DNA’: Hong Kong’s John Lee on tariffs, trade war 2. ‘It’s too much’: Chinese students reconsider UK degrees as policies harden 3. Loitering with intent: Beijing’s new silent South China Sea strategy? 4. Japan grows restless for next-gen fighter jets as progress with...

Politics

7 d. ago Tech hub Shenzhen launches plan to support consumption, exporters amid trade war

China’s top export city and tech hub, Shenzhen, is stepping up efforts to boost domestic consumption and support exporters amid a turbulent trade war between Beijing and Washington. “Consumption is the fundamental driving force behind economic growth and development,” according to a 39-point plan released by the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission on Friday. Shenzhen will leverage its strategic strengths in four key categories: artificial intelligence (AI) terminals, smart home...

Events

7 d. ago ‘Don’t kill your successful DNA’: Hong Kong’s John Lee on tariffs, trade war

Hong Kong will not destroy its “successful DNA” and jeopardise its free-port status by retaliating with counter-tariffs on the US even if geopolitical tensions with China escalate further, the city’s leader has promised. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said his administration had made “contingency plans for the worst” and would increase support for local businesses in finding “blue oceans” in new markets. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with the Post to mark the third anniversary of his...

Events

8 d. ago US retailers demand Chinese firms pay shipping costs as trade pressure grows

US retail giants are demanding that their Chinese suppliers split or even bear the full cost of shipping goods across the Pacific, as freight rates skyrocket amid the disruption caused by the trade war, sources at Chinese export firms told the Post. The move is the latest sign of the intense pressure America’s biggest retailers are putting on Chinese factories to absorb more of the additional costs created by the trade war, with the companies facing calls at home to “eat the tariffs”. Until...

Economics

8 d. ago Trade to tech war: why Trump picked his export control head for next China talks

Trade to tech war: why Trump picked his export control head for next China talks  South China Morning Post

Politics

9 d. ago China’s rare earth weapon changes contours of trade war battlefield

China’s rare earth weapon changes contours of trade war battlefield  Reuters

Events