Economy

21 February 2025
 U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on tariffs on aluminum imports on Feb. 10.
ASEAN leaders pose for a photo at the 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane, Oct. 11, 2024.
International relations

Malaysia says ASEAN plans U.S. summit to discuss tariff concerns

Foreign minister says levies would be 'huge blow' if not resolved

20 February 2025
The World Trade Organization's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Trade war

WTO holds 'constructive' talks after China condemns Trump's 'tariff shocks'

Trade wars appear on agenda of organization's top decision-making body for first time

20 February 2025
Subaru, which imports nearly half the cars it sells in the U.S., could be among the Japanese automakers hit hard by new tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Subaru)
Automobiles

Trump auto tariffs seen dealing blow to Mazda and Subaru

Estimates show 6 Japanese automakers facing up to $21bn more in U.S. levies

20 February 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Feb. 18.
Trump administration

Trump calls for '25% and higher' auto tariffs, says details coming April 2

President envisions companies moving production to U.S. over next 2 years

19 February 2025
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda, left, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke by phone shortly before the Feb. 7 U.S.-Japan summit. (Source photos by Nikkei and Reuters) 
Currencies

U.S. may welcome BOJ rate hikes despite strong-dollar policy

Treasury chief Bessent signals low tolerance for perceived currency manipulation

19 February 2025
Donald Trump and Narendra Modi prepare to shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025. 
Opinion

Trump's pivot to the Indo-Pacific from Europe is clear

White House meeting with Modi follows close on the heels of Ishiba's visit

18 February 2025
Containers sit at a terminal at the Yangshan deepwater port in Shanghai on Oct. 10, 2024.
Opinion

China can counter Trump using his own trade playbook

Beijing has expanded ways to fight back against U.S. president's 'reciprocal' tariffs

17 February 2025
Over the past few months, in anticipation of Trump's return, China has shored up ties with several key Asian nations.
Opinion

Global perceptions of China are shifting -- thanks to Trump

Beijing is positioning itself as a stable alternative to Washington for U.S. partners

17 February 2025
Trump's tariff threat could discourage Chinese manufacturers considering investment in Mexico. 
Trade war

China Inc. rethinks investment in Mexico under Trump's tariff threats

Uncertainty and higher costs prompt businesses to strategize for risk

17 February 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the White House to engage with President Donald Trump on Feb. 13.
Equities

Indian shares fall as Modi-Trump summit fails to end market angst

Nifty and Sensex face 'sharper losses' from tariff fears than others in Asia

14 February 2025
Containers are loaded onto a ship at Tien Sa port in Da Nang, Vietnam.
International relations

Vietnam 'ready' to import more U.S. farm products, says trade minister

Manufacturing hub for Apple and Samsung has wide duty gap, large trade surplus

14 February 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
14 February 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump announces his tariff plan from the Oval Office of the White House, flanked by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on Feb. 13.
Trade war

Trump orders introduction of reciprocal tariffs, beginning with probes

U.S. to also investigate non-tariff trade barriers as unfair practices

14 February 2025
The yen slid to 154.6 against the dollar following the release of U.S. inflation data. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Yen slides to 154 against dollar as U.S. inflation tops expectations

Greenback gains and stocks fall as anticipation of Fed rate cut diminishes

13 February 2025
A woman sells eggs at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City.
Economy

U.S. consumer prices climb more than expected in January

Businesses seen responding to tariff threat; Fed rate cut chances shrink

12 February 2025
A shopper at a supermarket in New York City. U.S. consumers may end up shouldering President Donald Trump's tariffs, analysts say.
Trump administration

Trump tariffs may signal stealthy shift to consumption tax, analysts say

U.S. consumers would pay more to fund transition away from income tax

12 February 2025
China's largest chipmaker SMIC has seen a rush of orders in the first half of 2025 but warns the industry may face a hangover effect later in the year. 
Semiconductors

Top China chipmaker SMIC says tariff war sparking 'rush orders'

Stockpiling in first half could lead to softer prices later, co-CEO warns

12 February 2025
A poster showing Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen outside a steel plant in Anyang, in China's Henan province, in 2019.
Trade war

China girds for 'indirect impact' from Trump's steel tariffs

U.S. move could close more doors just when Chinese steelmakers need exports most

11 February 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 10.
Trade war

Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports

'No exceptions,' president says as he pushes for U.S. production

11 February 2025
China hit the U.S. with fresh tariffs on crude oil and liquefied natural gas on Monday, responding to new duties on Chinese imports imposed by the Trump administration.
Trade war

China's sluggish economy could hinder negotiations on Trump tariffs

Weak consumer spending leaves less room to ramp up U.S. imports

11 February 2025
Robot maker Fanuc is among the Japanese companies to build new U.S. facilities in recent years.
Economy

Japan investment in U.S. hits record amid China concerns

Trump's targeting of trade deficit seen potentially accelerating FDI shift

11 February 2025
Pepsi India bottler Varun Beverages is one of PepsiCo's largest franchisees outside the U.S.
Food & Beverage

Pepsi India bottler sees 40% rise in sales but misses profit estimates

Varun Beverages' market growth overshadowed by higher raw material costs

10 February 2025
Trump during his first term imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum but later granted several trading partners duty-free quotas.
Trade war

Trump to announce 25% steel, aluminum tariffs Monday in latest trade escalation

'Reciprocal' tariffs on many countries to also be announced Tuesday or Wednesday

10 February 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, welcomes Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro to Beijing in 2023. (Pool via Reuters)
Trade

Amid tariff crossfire, China set to widen trade with Colombia

New COSCO-operated shipping route to open in U.S.'s backyard

10 February 2025
A Japanese rice farmer inspects his crop. High levies on rice imports by Japan could encourage higher U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports.
Trade war

Japan faces Trump's reciprocal tariffs on farm goods and autos

Tokyo's average tariff on U.S. imports is 3.2%, while Washington imposes 1.4%

9 February 2025
The Trump administration closed an exemption that let U.S. shoppers avoid paying tariffs for shipments below $800 from China, but President Donald Trump on Feb. 7 signed an executive order delaying the measure.
Trade war

Trump pauses de minimis repeal as packages pile up at U.S. customs

President earlier had closed tariff exemption for shipments below $800

8 February 2025
President Donald Trump hopes to help solve U.S. budgetary woes with higher tariffs.
Trade

Trump says he will announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries next week

U.S. president did not identify which trade partners might be hit

8 February 2025
A "Help Wanted" sign hangs in a restaurant window in Medford, Massachusetts, in 2023.
Economy

U.S. job growth short of estimates in January; unemployment at 4.0%

Figures seen helping Federal Reserve wait on rate cuts until June

7 February 2025
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security will be squarely at the center of the U.S.-China competition for next-generation technology.
Trump administration

Trump's export controls team takes shape amid China tensions

Jeffrey Kessler, Washington trade lawyer, tapped to lead Bureau of Industry and Security

7 February 2025