4 d. ago Robots take centre stage at Canton Fair, defying US tariff concerns

At the autumn session of the twice-yearly Canton Fair – China’s oldest and largest trade exhibition – which opened this week, the busiest pavilions were those showcasing robotics, smart manufacturing and new energy vehicles. At the exhibition halls in Guangzhou, the capital of southern China’s Guangdong province, cameras flashed, crowds surged and long queues formed at booths displaying hi-tech products, with concerns about the shadows cast by US tariff increases thin on the ground. The sales...

Politics

8 d. ago Delicate trade truce with China hangs in the balance after export controls

Delicate trade truce with China hangs in the balance after export controls  KSNV

Politics

2 w. ago Can China, Israel work around Gaza rift with trade, tech links?

Two years ago, the war in Gaza triggered a chill in diplomatic ties between China and Israel, once described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a marriage made in heaven”. But Beijing and Tel Aviv appear now to have restored some balance in the relationship, driven by a shared interest in maintaining trade and technological links. However, observers warn that the fallout from the Gaza crisis, combined with a growing rivalry between China and the US – Israel’s closest ally – could...

Politics

2 w. ago Putin visit to test India’s diplomatic balancing act amid US trade tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in December, a trip that could test New Delhi’s delicate balancing act between Moscow and Washington amid escalating pressure from the United States over oil and weapons purchases from the sanctioned country. Analysts say the visit is likely to deepen India’s defiance of Western demands as it strengthens energy and defence ties with Russia. But it could also complicate Delhi’s strategic ambitions – including a potential trade deal with...

Politics

3 w. ago US to Southeast Asian chipmakers: move production to America or face tariffs

Semiconductor manufacturers in Southeast Asia must shift production to the US or face punitive tariffs, Washington’s top trade official warned on Thursday, saying tariffs “are the solution” if trade talks with regional governments fail to deliver results. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer delivered the message in Kuala Lumpur, where he met with ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Greer’s comments came as members of the regional bloc raced to secure better...

Politics

4 w. ago Asean to leverage trade pact with US in talks with Greer as tariffs dent growth

Asean ministers will seek to leverage an existing trade and investment agreement with the US during their meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Malaysia on Wednesday, amid the adverse impact of Washington’s tariffs on regional economies. The imposition of tariffs of between 10 and 40 per cent on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by US President Donald Trump has led to regional economists cutting growth forecasts and businesses reconfiguring their supply chains. Speaking...

Politics

4 w. ago US Greer wants Asean to commit to ‘fair and balanced trade’ amid tariff concerns

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has called for “fair and balanced trade” with Asean in talks with his counterparts from the bloc, as the region continues to grapple with the prospects of slower economic growth due to the impact of US tariffs, and businesses worry about narrowing access to the world’s largest consumer market. Washington’s trade tsar, who was in Kuala Lumpur to attend a meeting with the economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said on Wednesday...

Economics

4 w. ago US urges Asean to commit to ‘fair and balanced trade’ amid tariff concerns

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has called for “fair and balanced trade” with Asean in talks with his counterparts from the bloc, as the region continues to grapple with the prospects of slower economic growth due to the impact of US tariffs, and businesses worry about narrowing access to the world’s largest consumer market. Washington’s trade tsar, who was in Kuala Lumpur to attend a meeting with the economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said on Wednesday...

Economics