Economists sharply disputed how much pain Trump's tariffs caused, but the message underscored the centrality of jobs to China's export-reliant economy
US futures jumped Monday and Asian shares mostly fell after US President Donald Trump said he would delay a threatened 50% tariff on goods from the European Union to July 9 from June 1. Trump announced the decision after a call Sunday with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, who said she wants to get down to serious negotiations, according to the US president's retelling. Last week, Trump said on social media that trade talks with the European Union were going nowhere and that straight 50% tariffs could go into effect on June 1. The future for the S&P 500 gained 1% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8%. In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.7% to 37,427.48 while the Kospi in Seoul picked up 1.2% to 2,622.07. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1% to 23,370.94 and the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.3% to 3,338.42. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was nearly unchanged at 8,360.70. Other regional markets were mostly lower. On Friday, US
Trade and economic cooperation will likely dominate the agenda of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit taking place in Kuala Lumpur, along with conflicts in Gaza and Myanmar
A key priority for Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be to deepen the trade-focused country's relations with the major powers, especially the US and China, engaging them honestly in a principled manner while not getting caught in their rivalry. Speaking after his newly re-elected government was sworn-in on Friday, Wong stressed, Where our interests align, we will work with them (the US and China). Where they do not, we will stand firm and protect Singapore's security and sovereignty. He also added that the first priority would be to secure an "assured place" for Singapore in this "changed world". Singapore, said Wong, will also seek new ties with countries in parts of the world, like Africa and South America, where it does not have much presence yet. In a world of shifting alliances, we will be a steady and constructive partner, one willing and able to contribute to peace and stability, to advance dialogue and fraternity, and support a rules-based global order, he said.
China and Asean conclude negotiations to modernise their 15-year-old FTA, even as Beijing and Washington agree to a 90-day tariff truce following weeks of trade retaliation
The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will consider selling leases to extract minerals from the seabed off the South Pacific island of American Samoa, a potential first step in a wider industry push to allow deep-sea mining that environmentalists oppose because they say it could irreparably harm marine ecosystems. The Department of Interior said it is responding to an April request from California-based company Impossible Metals for a commercial auction. The company wants to mine the ocean floor for deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fast-track permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in US and international waters. The move comes amid the Trump administration's trade war with China, which controls many critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese used in high-tech manufacturing, including for military uses. Critical ..
US still leads in military aircraft, outnumbering several nations combined, but much of its fleet is ageing as China's air force rapidly expands, according to World Air Forces 2025 report
Amid US curbs on chip exports, Nvidia seeks to retain foothold in China as competitors rush to fill AI chip vacuum
Retail sales, a gauge of consumption, rose by 5.1 per cent in April, down from a 5.9 per cent increase in March and compared with forecasts for an expansion of 5.5 per cent
The trade war risks worsening the housing slump that has dragged on economic growth and has only recently been showing signs of abating.
Unlike the Biden administration, which emphasized democratic credentials, Trump has signaled that alignment with the US depends more on what partners can bring to the table
On May 17, 1995, just three days after the Dalai Lama recognised him, the six-year-old Panchen Lama and his family were abducted by the Chinese Communist Party
The EU is unwilling to resume the 2020 China investment deal despite diplomatic signals, focusing instead on trade imbalances and Beijing's industrial overcapacity
US' loss could be China's gain: Facing US funding cuts and political pressure, China is offering big paychecks to attract Chinese-born scientists considering leaving American universities and labs
US officials find hidden communication devices in Chinese-made power inverters and batteries, raising fears over security risks to critical energy infrastructure
As Europe tightens checks to block a surge of Chinese goods redirected from the US, data show China's trade surplus with the EU hit a record $90 billion in the first four months of 2025
In India, infrastructure and consumption continue to be the primary themes that investors are keenly monitoring, BofA Securities said
The 90-day temporary easing of US tariffs on China has introduced a high level of uncertainty, with the Chinese auto sector weighing the short-term and long-term impact
The Trump administration's decision to cut the 'de minimis' tariff on Chinese shipments comes a day after the US and China held trade negotiations in Geneva
Vietnam, for example, was better off than China with a 46 per cent rate, while Thailand was at 36 per cent and Malaysia at 24 per cent