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Economy, Trade & Business

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China trade
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Vice-Premier He Lifeng delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
World Economic Forum (WEF, aka Davos)

China’s He Lifeng warns of ‘law of the jungle’, blasts protectionism, at Davos

Amid escalating transatlantic rifts fuelled by Donald Trump, vice-premier urges global cooperation, free trade and dialogue, pledging to boost imports and open China’s market.

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Semiconductors

Explainer | Will Trump’s new industrial policy make the global memory chip shortage worse?

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China GDP

IMF raises China’s 2026 growth forecast to 4.5%, citing US ‘truce’ and stimulus

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Banking & finance

In wake of Trump post, calls mount for China to impose rate cap on online loans

Beijing tightened oversight of China’s online lending market last year, but many are still borrowing, especially those of younger generations.

The number of credit cards in China has dropped by about 100 million since September 2022. Photo: SCMP
The number of credit cards in China has dropped by about 100 million since September 2022. Photo: SCMP
Taiwan economy

TSMC buys up land in Arizona as Taiwan pledges US$500 billion US tech investment

Chip giant TSMC plans to build a ‘gigafab cluster’ in the US, with Taiwan committing to US$500 billion investment under a new trade deal.

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US-China trade war

China’s slowing growth, bilateral tensions top US business concerns

Survey by American Chamber of Commerce in China finds that expectations for Sino-US ties have ‘improved significantly’.

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US-China relations

Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Trade official says island must stay in Trump’s favour for protection, but says he still plans an April China visit amid good ties with Xi.

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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right) and US President Donald Trump are seen last year in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right) and US President Donald Trump are seen last year in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP
Rare earths

US lawmakers propose US$2.5 billion agency to boost production of rare earths

The US is moving to reduce reliance on China after Beijing used its dominance in critical minerals to gain leverage in the trade war.

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Semiconductors

Chinese firms to incur higher costs for deploying AI chips from US: analysts

‘Beijing has made it politically unpalatable for private firms to rely too much on imported AI chips,’ EIU senior analyst Chim Lee says.

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Artificial intelligence

OpenAI sees another ‘seismic shock’ from China as talks swirl of DeepSeek launch

There is heightened anticipation about a potential major DeepSeek release around the Lunar New Year.

Open-sourcing AI models “in weeks, rather than months” helps DeepSeek and other Chinese tech firms drive global adoption, according to OpenAI. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China trade war

Why China may buy Nvidia’s AI chips as US eases curbs – and replace them later

As the US reverses Biden-era restrictions, Beijing likely to take advantage – without compromising own industry, analysts say.

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China’s domestic chip industry has made rapid advances in recent years, but it still lags the US in cutting-edge models. Photo: Shutterstock
China’s domestic chip industry has made rapid advances in recent years, but it still lags the US in cutting-edge models. Photo: Shutterstock
China trade

As China’s US exports plunge, Beijing banks on diversification for 2026 growth

Shipments to Asean and Africa surged to drive a record US$1.19 trillion surplus for China, offsetting headwinds as leaders push to boost local demand.

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US-Venezuela conflict

‘Expansion to defence’: China firms strategise in Latin America after Venezuela

After the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, many Chinese entrepreneurs in the region say they are staying put – for now.

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Donald Trump

Cuba defiant after Trump threat to cut off ‘oil and money’ lifeline

Cuban president says island is prepared to ‘defend homeland to last drop of blood’ as Trump ramps up pressure after action in Venezuela.

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Cubans rally in Havana on January 3 in solidarity with Venezuela after the US captured President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country. Photo: AP
Artificial intelligence

Chinese smart eyewear makers shine at CES with focus on challenging Meta

‘The rise of smart glasses is riding directly on advances in AI,’ LLVision founder and CEO Wu Fei says.

Visitors flock to Hangzhou-based Rokid’s eye-catching exhibition booth at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Photo: Wency Chen
Visitors flock to Hangzhou-based Rokid’s eye-catching exhibition booth at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Photo: Wency Chen
Alibaba

Alibaba logistics unit Cainiao opens US-Mexico cross-border service

Cainiao is expected to control key nodes including sorting, line-haul transfer and last-mile delivery for the service.

Artificial intelligence

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame sees AI-driven appliances run household chores

The firm’s ambition is to become a ‘world-class technology company’, global president Chang Xinwei says.

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China trade

With US focused on Venezuela, China has window to pressure Japan: analysts

Beijing’s trade actions raise stakes with Tokyo, as China’s rare earth power and Japan’s chip dominance are seen as potentially key levers in their bilateral dispute.

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A worker helps make semiconductor chips for export at a factory in China’s Shandong province. Japan has a commanding market share in semiconductor equipment and materials. Photo: AFP
A worker helps make semiconductor chips for export at a factory in China’s Shandong province. Japan has a commanding market share in semiconductor equipment and materials. Photo: AFP
Semiconductors

China semiconductor expert suggests vigilance in buying Nvidia’s H200 AI chips

The US has an inconsistent stance on advanced chips, alternating between limited easing and renewed pressure, Wei Shaojun says.

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US-China trade war

China says US trade war, tech curbs have spurred ‘independent innovation’

In the first year of new five-year plan, party mouthpiece says list of ‘chokepoint technologies’ is narrowing.

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US-China trade war

BYD’s win, Tesla’s defeat, Ford’s pivot: the widening gap in US-China EV markets

From wavering policy to cost gaps, analysts say decades of state backing have given China a decisive edge over US rivals.

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Cars come off the assembly line at BYD’s plant in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province. Photo: Xinhua
US-Venezuela conflict

US to take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely after tanker seizures

Trump says Venezuela ‘stole’ US oil and vowed that proceeds from crude would be sold and controlled by him to benefit both countries.

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US forces board the M/T Sophia in the Caribbean Sea on January 7, 2026. Photo: US Department of Defence via AP
US forces board the M/T Sophia in the Caribbean Sea on January 7, 2026. Photo: US Department of Defence via AP
Technology

Singapore, Beijing land in top 10 of Savills’ Matcha Index of global tech cities

Even with its premium-priced matcha drinks, Singapore ranks among the world’s most ‘liveable’ cities for tech workers.

US-Venezuela conflict

After Venezuela takeover, Chinese investors brace for era of regional anxiety

Washington’s moves to assert dominance in the western hemisphere could see tighter restrictions to curb Beijing’s growing footprint.

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Insilico

Insilico signs US$888 million AI drug deal days after Hong Kong IPO

Multi-year partnership with France’s Servier will use Insilico’s AI platform to explore novel cancer drugs.

The deal further validates Insilico’s AI-driven drug discovery platform, which the company claims can slash drug-development timelines to 12 to 18 months from the average of 4.5 years. Photo: Shutterstock
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