4 h. ago ‘Truly regrettable’: Trump slaps 25% tariffs on South Korea and Japan. What now?

US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of 25 per cent tariffs on imports from key trade partners including South Korea and Japan has been viewed less as a final blow and more as a high-stakes bargaining tactic. The move highlights Trump’s preference for brinkmanship-style deal-making and leaves room for diplomacy, as Seoul races to craft its response ahead of the new August 1 deadline, according to analysts. South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency meeting of cabinet...

Politics

5 h. ago Malaysia seeks urgent trade talks with US after 25% tariff blow

Malaysia will press ahead with talks towards a “comprehensive” trade agreement with the United States, its trade ministry has said, as Kuala Lumpur races to soften the blow of a newly imposed 25 per cent tariff on its exports unveiled by US President Donald Trump. On Monday, Trump revealed he had sent letters to leaders of 14 countries announcing tariffs ranging from 25 to 40 per cent, in an apparent gambit to accelerate trade negotiations. The new 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian goods is one...

Politics

3 d. ago China using TikTok as a pawn to squeeze Trump in trade talks: sources

China using TikTok as a pawn to squeeze Trump in trade talks: sources  New York Post

Politics

5 d. ago Some EDA suppliers confirm US lifts chip design curbs on China; a positive sign of advancing framework for implementing Geneva trade talks consensus: analysts

Some EDA suppliers confirm US lifts chip design curbs on China; a positive sign of advancing framework for implementing Geneva trade talks consensus: analysts  Global Times

Economics

6 d. ago Why Japan plans to spend billions fixing up its shipyards – and US warships

Japan is drawing up plans to build and upgrade shipyards that could support the repair of US Navy vessels, in a strategic move seen as both an economic security measure and a bargaining chip in fraught trade and defence burden-sharing talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration. The proposal, expected to be finalised in the autumn, includes a government-backed “national dockyard” initiative under which Tokyo would finance the restoration or construction of facilities before handing...

Economics

7 d. ago China bets on tax perks to win back foreign investors amid global headwinds

China has stepped up efforts to attract foreign investors, as policymakers look to bolster the domestic economy and safeguard its position in global supply chains amid negotiations with major trade partners. New tax breaks unveiled this week aim to encourage foreign firms to reinvest profits locally – part of a broader effort to restore confidence and signal openness as challenging trade talks continue with the European Union and United States. The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance...

Economics

7 d. ago Japan races against time to avoid US car tariffs as deadline looms

Japan’s top negotiator has made a last-ditch trip to Washington in hopes of heading off a steep US tariff on Japanese cars – but with just over a week to go, and President Donald Trump doubling down in recent comments, analysts say neither side appears willing to compromise. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief trade envoy on the issue, flew into the US capital on Thursday and spoke twice to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by phone over the weekend. But he failed to secure a meeting with Treasury...

Economics

8 d. ago New York/New Jersey holds firm in May as Trump advances China and Canada trade talks

New York/New Jersey holds firm in May as Trump advances China and Canada trade talks  WorldCargo News

Politics

1 week ago Trump: US to tell countries ‘what they have to pay’; China, India deals coming

With the July 9 deadline for “Liberation Day” tariffs nearing, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington would inform countries “what they have to pay” to do business with America “over the next week and a half or so”. His remarks came hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested trade talks could continue to September. Trump also directed a new salvo at Canada, announcing an immediate halt to trade talks in retaliation for Ottawa’s plan to introduce a digital trade tax...

Politics

1 week ago Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says he is terminating trade talks with Canada; US, China clinch truce

Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says he is terminating trade talks with Canada; US, China clinch truce  Yahoo Finance

Politics

1 week ago China, US finalise trade deal; global conflict warning: 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. China, US finalise trade deal as Beijing confirms breakthrough in talks China said on Friday that it would review and approve export applications for controlled items while the US would also remove some limits – confirming a breakthrough in trade talks centred on export controls. 2. China should be alert to risk of US being drawn into war by allies, analyst...

Events

1 week ago Ahead of a crunch summit with China, the EU is complaining of ‘stinking fish’

A month out from a crunch summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of the European Union, senior EU officials have landed on an unsavoury term to describe their trade ties with China: “the stinking fish.” The analogy, used when briefing member state diplomats on progress in trade talks with China, refers to the European Commission’s frustration that each of its top demands from Beijing is around the removal of measures that were introduced to punish Europe or the US. Brussels...

Politics

1 week ago Beijing, Washington finalize trade framework after London talks | Daily Sabah

Beijing, Washington finalize trade framework after London talks | Daily Sabah  Daily Sabah

Politics

1 week ago Trump says he's terminating trade talks with Canada, 'effective immediately'

Trump says he's terminating trade talks with Canada, 'effective immediately'  NPR

Politics

1 week ago China, US finalise trade deal as Beijing confirms breakthrough in talks

China said on Friday that it would review and approve export applications for controlled items while the US would also remove some limits – confirming a breakthrough in trade talks centred on export controls. Beijing and Washington have been in close communication since a two-day round of trade talks in London earlier this month, with the two sides further confirming details of the framework, China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Friday afternoon. “China will review and approve export...

Economics

1 week ago China, US reach agreement on export controls as trade talks bear fruit

China said on Friday that it would review and approve export applications for controlled items while the US would also remove some of its limits – confirming much-needed progress in trade talks centred on the two countries’ extensive, reciprocal export controls. Beijing and Washington have been in close communication since a two-day round of trade talks in London ended earlier this month, with both sides further confirming details of the framework solidified in those meetings, China’s Ministry...

Politics

1 week ago US, China reach ‘understanding’, Xi to miss Brics summit: SCMP’s 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. White House says US reaches ‘understanding’ with China on rare earth shipments The United States and China reached a “framework” agreement on how to facilitate rare earth shipments, implementing a deal based on bilateral trade talks that started last month in Geneva,...

Politics

1 week ago US, China reach ‘understanding’, Xi to miss Brics summit: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. White House says US reaches ‘understanding’ with China on rare earth shipments The United States and China reached a “framework” agreement on how to facilitate rare earth shipments, implementing a deal based on bilateral trade talks that started last month in Geneva,...

Politics

1 week ago Trump says US signed agreement with China; White House clarifies

The United States and China reached a “framework” agreement aimed at implementing a deal based on trade talks that started in Geneva, Switzerland last month, the White House said. The clarification came shortly after US President Donald Trump said that the US had signed a trade agreement with Beijing a day earlier, offering no further details. “Everybody, everybody wants to make a deal and have a part of it, right? I know [US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer] and [Commerce Secretary] Howard...

Politics

1 week ago White House says US reaches ‘understanding’ with China on rare earth shipments

The United States and China reached a “framework” agreement on how to facilitate rare earth shipments, implementing a deal based on bilateral trade talks that started last month in Geneva, Switzerland, the White House said. “The administration and China agreed to an additional understanding for a framework to implement the Geneva agreement,” a White House official said. The understanding focuses on “how we can implement expediting rare earths shipments to the U.S. again”. Speaking in a Bloomberg...

Events