China strikes new Asean trade deal, Beijing rebukes parcel fees: SCMP daily highlights
From China and Asean updating their free trade pact to Beijing’s strong words on EU handling fees, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage
1. As US tariff threat looms, China ups ante with push for new Asean free trade deal
China has negotiated an updated free-trade deal with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), strengthening Beijing’s role in the region amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
2. China delivers strong words to EU over proposed small parcel fees
China has urged the European Union to provide a “fair” playing field for businesses after Brussels proposed a handling fee on every small parcel that enters the bloc, most of which come from the country’s rapidly expanding e-commerce firms.
3. China’s ‘vegetable capital’ to test farming know-how in UAE’s harsh deserts
Shouguang, a city in eastern China known for its copious vegetable production, is building a 100,000-square-meter centre for smart agriculture in the harsh deserts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to export the country’s technological advances in farming.