https://www.scmp.com/rss/326745/feed Breaking news and analysis on the US-China trade war, its history and timeline, and the impact on the global economy. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Coco Feng Coco Feng US President Donald Trump and Chinese officials discussed artificial intelligence “guardrails” and Nvidia’s H200 chips during his just-ended state visit to Beijing. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One during his return flight, Trump said the two sides “talked about possibly working together for guardrails” on AI, characterising them as “standard guardrails that we talk about all the time”. Regarding Nvidia’s H200 graphics processing units (GPUs) – shipments of which have yet to be approved by... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3353764/trump-xi-weigh-ai-guardrails-nvidia-chip-exports-hang-balance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3353764/trump-xi-weigh-ai-guardrails-nvidia-chip-exports-hang-balance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 13:45:47 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the US this autumn, the first in more than a decade, as the two powers seek stability amid their deepening rivalry. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed late on Friday that Xi would make the trip at the invitation of his US counterpart Donald Trump. “Both sides should work together to make thorough preparations, create a favourable atmosphere, and achieve more substantive outcomes for the interactions and exchanges between the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353761/xi-jinping-pay-first-state-visit-us-more-decade-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353761/xi-jinping-pay-first-state-visit-us-more-decade-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 13:31:26 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Fans of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace all have their own reasons for loving the epic novel. Some read it as a story of personal growth, reflected in Prince Andrei’s spiritual quest. Others favour its portrayal of the Russian aristocracy in the early 19th century. As for myself, the novel punctured the myth of the military genius – not just Napoleon’s. The book’s final section on Tolstoy’s philosophy of history presented the most significant challenge to G.W.F. Hegel – specifically regarding French... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353547/beijing-had-already-won-trump-xi-summit-even-started?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353547/beijing-had-already-won-trump-xi-summit-even-started?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Frank Chen,Xiaofei Xu Frank Chen,Xiaofei Xu US President Donald Trump said China has agreed to purchase at least 200 commercial aircraft from Boeing, and up to 750 if certain conditions are met – a commitment which would end a nearly decade-long order drought – following a state visit to Beijing, where Trump said a purchase of up to 450 aircraft engines from General Electric was also agreed upon. “We made a lot of great trade deals, including over 200 planes for Boeing, with a promise of 750 planes, which would be by far the largest order... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353749/trump-touting-deal-says-china-buy-200-boeing-jets-promise-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353749/trump-touting-deal-says-china-buy-200-boeing-jets-promise-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 12:24:59 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Stephen Miran’s departure from the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors will smooth the leadership transition to incoming chair Kevin Warsh, but his exit is unlikely to alter the central bank’s policy trajectory, analysts said. The move is also sparking speculation about what comes next for Miran – a former top economic adviser to US President Donald Trump – with market watchers debating whether he will return to the White House or re-enter the private sector. Miran submitted his resignation as... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353705/stephen-miran-trumps-economic-guru-leaving-fed-what-happens-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353705/stephen-miran-trumps-economic-guru-leaving-fed-what-happens-now?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Shortly after US President Donald Trump departed Beijing, China’s ruling Communist Party has called for strengthening the real economy – particularly manufacturing – to gain a competitive edge in the global economy. An article in Qiushi, set to be published on Saturday, curated selections from past speeches by President Xi Jinping to reiterate “our economy was built on the real economy and it must continue to rely on it for the future,” state-run news agency Xinhua reported on Friday. “At... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353732/after-trump-visit-chinas-top-party-journal-doubles-down-manufacturing-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353732/after-trump-visit-chinas-top-party-journal-doubles-down-manufacturing-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 10:59:50 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China next week, days after US counterpart Donald Trump concluded a visit that was heavy on ceremony and light on substance. Putin’s one-day trip will take place on Wednesday, the South China Morning Post said, citing unidentified sources. It is unlikely there will be any elaborate parades or welcome ceremony for the routine visit, according to the report (see SCMP Plus Xi meeting tracker). This will be the first time that China has hosted Russian... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353692/putin-follows-trump-china-xi-hosts-us-president-baidu-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353692/putin-follows-trump-china-xi-hosts-us-president-baidu-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:58 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang US President Donald Trump wrapped up his visit to China on Friday, the first by a US leader in nine years. The three-day trip, originally scheduled for March, had been postponed as due to the Iran war. Following Trump’s departure, Russian leader Vladimir Putin will pay a one-day visit on Wednesday, the South China Morning Post reported exclusively. His trip will mark the first time Beijing has hosted the leaders of the two powers in the same month. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3353670/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-may-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3353670/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-may-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:14 +0000 Ji Siqi,Zhang Shidong Ji Siqi,Zhang Shidong While US President Donald Trump concluded his three-day state visit to Beijing by hailing “fantastic trade deals”, an immediate lack of specifics left some investors wondering if the high-stakes meeting delivered more theatre than substance. China’s benchmark CSI 300 Index dropped 1.1 per cent on Friday for a second straight day of declines, with investors taking profits from a record-setting rally in tech stocks after Trump wrapped up his tour. For the week, the gauge slipped 0.3 per cent. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353655/trump-hails-fantastic-china-trade-deals-signalling-boeing-oil-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353655/trump-hails-fantastic-china-trade-deals-signalling-boeing-oil-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 04:51:59 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Day one of the summit in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump opened with a welcome ceremony befitting the importance of the event, and ended with a significant agreement on the future of the China-US relationship. Most importantly, the two sides have agreed to establish a new strategic framework of “constructive strategic stability”. This hopefully will define the bilateral relationship for the rest of Trump’s term. It is not simply the definition of a relationship... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353587/xi-trump-summit-beijing-heralds-start-constructive-stable-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353587/xi-trump-summit-beijing-heralds-start-constructive-stable-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the latest instalment of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we explore the intensifying US-China legal arms race. For years, global businesses have been struggling to navigate rising trade tensions between the United... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353567/us-china-trade-war-entering-worrying-new-phase-legal-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353567/us-china-trade-war-entering-worrying-new-phase-legal-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 22:00:18 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil’s government expressed concern over China’s renewal of US beef import licences, warning the move could reshape competition in the country’s largest meat export market. A senior Brazilian government official told the South China Morning Post that the renewal brought “anxiety” to the sector and could affect domestic cattle prices. China is Brazil’s largest beef market, and the quota system already reduces the country’s competitiveness, the official said. The comments came after Bloomberg... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353616/china-restores-us-beef-trade-amid-trump-xi-summit-alarming-brazilian-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353616/china-restores-us-beef-trade-amid-trump-xi-summit-alarming-brazilian-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 20:46:09 +0000 Josephine Ma,Cao Jiaxuan Josephine Ma,Cao Jiaxuan The meeting may have been delayed but when the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump took place on Thursday, it yielded a forward-looking agreement. Sitting down for talks at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, the two leaders agreed to make stability a key goal of relations over the next three years – and beyond, according to state media. Trump also invited Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan to visit the White House, setting the date for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353608/xi-and-trump-set-sights-stability-china-and-us-note-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353608/xi-and-trump-set-sights-stability-china-and-us-note-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 16:02:44 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as the next chair of the United States Federal Reserve has fuelled debate over whether potential policy compromises with the administration of US President Donald Trump could undermine American financial credibility and inadvertently strengthen Chinese assets. The Senate confirmed Warsh as the 17th chair of the Fed on Wednesday in a 54-45 vote, mostly along bipartisan lines. He succeeds Jerome Powell, whose term expires on Friday, following a sustained pressure... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353558/china-set-benefit-new-us-fed-chair-kevin-warshs-policy-vision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353558/china-set-benefit-new-us-fed-chair-kevin-warshs-policy-vision?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 15:00:05 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro When US President Donald Trump last met President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, on October 30 last year, the US Federal Reserve had just embarked on a monetary easing cycle. At the end of 2025, bond investors were betting that the Fed would continue reducing interest rates this year. Fast forward to today and the financial landscape is markedly different. While investors were still anticipating cuts in borrowing costs just before the war in Iran erupted at the end of February, they are now... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3353499/trump-xi-summit-puts-us-vulnerabilities-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3353499/trump-xi-summit-puts-us-vulnerabilities-display?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 12:30:04 +0000 Themis Qi,Daniel Ren Themis Qi,Daniel Ren A Ford Motor electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in the US state of Michigan, edging closer to inauguration, has shed light on global marques’ reliance on Chinese technologies to accelerate their EV transition amid US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing. With trade and investment among the top issues on the agenda for the summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping, the US$3 billion facility, with a capacity of more than 400,000 EVs a year, has heightened expectations for similar... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353539/xi-trump-summit-ford-catl-battery-plant-shows-how-global-carmakers-need-chinas-prowess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353539/xi-trump-summit-ford-catl-battery-plant-shows-how-global-carmakers-need-chinas-prowess?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Frank Chen Xiaofei Xu,Frank Chen “Large Boeing orders” are expected as part of US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, adding that China and the US would discuss establishing a joint “board of trade” to manage commercial ties. When asked about the potential for deals in what have come to be known as the “three Bs” ­– Chinese purchases of beans, beef and Boeing aircraft ­– Bessent told CNBC: “I think we’re going to see the large Boeing orders.” The agreement, if... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353578/boeing-nears-large-china-orders-trump-and-xi-forge-new-trade-board-bessent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353578/boeing-nears-large-china-orders-trump-and-xi-forge-new-trade-board-bessent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 10:35:16 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Xi Jinping and Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone at the start of their two-day presidential summit in Beijing, even as the Chinese leader highlighted risks surrounding Taiwan. Pre-summit trade talks “produced generally balanced and positive outcomes”, Xi told the US president at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday, according to Xinhua. “This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world.” Trump repeatedly called Xi a “great leader” in opening comments at the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353545/xi-trump-summit-casts-optimistic-light-lingering-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353545/xi-trump-summit-casts-optimistic-light-lingering-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:24 +0000 Haining Gao,Fan Hou Haining Gao,Fan Hou China’s industrial policy is becoming more systematic and pervasive, shifting from targeting specific sectors towards covering all layers of production, a recent report by the US Chamber of Commerce and Rhodium Group released on Monday has found. The strategy, as laid out in the latest 15th five-year plan, now covers additional frontier technologies, such as biomanufacturing, embodied intelligence and intelligent driving. Coverage has likewise expanded under the country’s “Made in China 2025”... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3353527/chinas-expanding-industrial-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3353527/chinas-expanding-industrial-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 07:35:43 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account below. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our Beijing and Washington bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. US President Donald Trump is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping for a much-anticipated summit that could shape the next stage of rivalry between the world’s two superpowers. It is the first visit to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353488/xi-and-trump-sit-down-far-reaching-talks-china-us-ties-and-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353488/xi-and-trump-sit-down-far-reaching-talks-china-us-ties-and-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 01:30:59 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang A US Senate hearing on nuclear capabilities issued a warning about China on Wednesday, hours before US President Donald Trump was due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Senator Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in his opening statement that China has been engaged in an “unprecedented nuclear expansion” in recent years. China, Wicker said, had “rapidly constructed hundreds of new missile silos, expanded mobile missile and ballistic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3353483/us-senate-warns-chinas-nuclear-capabilities-hours-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3353483/us-senate-warns-chinas-nuclear-capabilities-hours-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 21:14:01 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account below. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our Beijing and Washington bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. US President Donald Trump has arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The state visit is the first by an American president in almost nine years. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353357/donald-trump-set-arrive-beijing-historic-talks-chinese-president-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353357/donald-trump-set-arrive-beijing-historic-talks-chinese-president-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 11:30:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla China has launched a new financing scheme to attract more budget-conscious buyers after its sales in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market fell behind its domestic rivals. The US carmaker said on Wednesday that the down payment for a Shanghai-made Model 3 vehicle – priced at 235,500 yuan (US$34,672) – would be slashed to 55,900 yuan from 79,900 yuan if the buyer chose a five-year car loan offered by Tesla. “Our strong products, combined with attractive incentives for car... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353446/tesla-lures-budget-conscious-chinese-buyers-cheap-loans-ahead-state-visit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353446/tesla-lures-budget-conscious-chinese-buyers-cheap-loans-ahead-state-visit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:44:52 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Senior officials from China and the United States concluded their latest round of trade talks in Seoul after less than four hours on Wednesday, the briefest session since the two countries began holding talks last year. The seventh round of negotiations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – wrapped up just hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in Beijing. The officials ended the session without speaking to the media, a departure... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353424/leaving-so-soon-us-china-hold-briefest-trade-talks-yet-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353424/leaving-so-soon-us-china-hold-briefest-trade-talks-yet-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 09:09:29 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump said he would urge China’s Xi Jinping to “open up” to American business, and belatedly added Nvidia’s Jensen Huang to the list of executives accompanying him on a trip to Beijing. “I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,” Trump said on social media. “I will make that my very first request.” Huang boarded Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Alaska on Wednesday,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353415/trump-flies-beijing-nvidias-huang-joins-trip-last-minute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353415/trump-flies-beijing-nvidias-huang-joins-trip-last-minute?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:30 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As trade wars and deadly conflicts expose Asia’s vulnerability to geopolitical shocks, Chinese policymakers and advisers are warning of an “urgent need” for the world’s biggest trading bloc to reshape regional energy and manufacturing supply chains. Members of the Beijing-backed Asia-Pacific framework must reduce their reliance on vulnerable shipping routes and use the certainty of collaboration to offset growing geopolitical uncertainty, the experts urged at a forum in China’s southern island... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353401/reshaping-rcep-china-advisers-urge-trade-overhaul-shield-bloc-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353401/reshaping-rcep-china-advisers-urge-trade-overhaul-shield-bloc-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 07:11:11 +0000 Coco Feng,Karen Tian Coco Feng,Karen Tian China’s tech-heavy ChiNext Index surged to an all-time high on Wednesday, closing past the 4,000-point mark as investor optimism rose ahead of US President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing. The index, which tracks tech firms listed on Shenzhen’s Nasdaq-style ChiNext board, reached 4,038.33 by market close, its highest finish on record. Other Chinese stock indexes also made strong gains, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising to its highest level since 2015. China’s stock markets have been on an... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3353390/chinese-tech-index-surges-11-year-high-investors-await-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3353390/chinese-tech-index-surges-11-year-high-investors-await-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 06:17:02 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese and US trade delegations meeting in South Korea today are expected to focus on locking in deliverables for this week’s summit in Beijing rather than engaging in substantive negotiations, analysts said, as both sides race through talks hours before US President Donald Trump’s planned arrival in China. The two teams, led by Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, will meet in Seoul for one day, a departure from previous rounds that stretched over two days across... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353377/china-and-us-teams-race-find-easy-summit-deliverables-meeting-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353377/china-and-us-teams-race-find-easy-summit-deliverables-meeting-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 04:59:47 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Senior officials from China and the United States have started a new round of trade talks in Seoul, South Korea, hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in Beijing. The delegations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – arrived at Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport around noon on Wednesday Seoul time. The two officials had both paid courtesy calls to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the morning. This is the seventh round of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353224/china-us-trade-talks-kick-seoul-ahead-high-profile-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353224/china-us-trade-talks-kick-seoul-ahead-high-profile-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:34:15 +0000 Coco Feng,Ji Siqi Coco Feng,Ji Siqi Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has joined US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week – boarding Air Force One during a stop en route to Beijing – with Trump dismissing earlier reports that the tech leader had been snubbed as “incorrect”. The White House confirmed that Huang had boarded Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. It added that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was also travelling on the presidential plane. “Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353346/nvidias-jensen-huang-joins-trumps-trip-china-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353346/nvidias-jensen-huang-joins-trumps-trip-china-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 02:06:44 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The United States announced on Tuesday that it would send a delegation to the second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 2026 Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and related meetings in China this month, just hours after US President Donald Trump departed for Beijing ahead of a high-stakes summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The US delegation will head to Shanghai and Suzhou from May 11 to 24 to “continue advancing ‘America first’ foreign, trade, and investment policies,” according to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353339/us-confirms-delegation-apec-meeting-china-hours-after-trump-sets-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353339/us-confirms-delegation-apec-meeting-china-hours-after-trump-sets-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 23:22:51 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Kandy Wong Sylvia Ma,Kandy Wong US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In this story, part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we explore how the countries’ standing in the world has changed – mostly to China’s benefit – since Trump’s previous trip. When US President Donald Trump unleashed... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353264/after-nearly-9-years-trump-landing-totally-different-china-he-ready?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353264/after-nearly-9-years-trump-landing-totally-different-china-he-ready?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi Against the backdrop of a shifting diplomatic landscape, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing this week for a high-stakes summit. While Washington frames the visit, delayed by the war in Iran, as a pivotal effort to rebalance ties, the bravado of maximum pressure masks a deepening domestic vulnerability. Trump’s arrival comes at a critical juncture; his administration faces multiple crises. The looming 2026 midterms have intensified pressure from a restless agricultural... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353159/trumps-art-deal-playbook-failing-beijing-asserts-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353159/trumps-art-deal-playbook-failing-beijing-asserts-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Beijing lashed out at Paraguay on Monday after President Santiago Pena wrapped up a four-day visit to Taiwan, branding Paraguayan leaders as willing “chess pieces” for independence forces on the self-ruled island that China claims as its own territory. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China “firmly opposes and condemns” the trip and urged Asuncion to “change course at an early date” and recognise the one-China principle. “The wheels of history wait for no one. Rejecting the one-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353335/beijing-calls-paraguay-leaders-willing-chess-pieces-after-disputed-taiwan-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353335/beijing-calls-paraguay-leaders-willing-chess-pieces-after-disputed-taiwan-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 20:06:25 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado China aimed to cooperate with Washington in the spirit of “equality, respect and mutual benefit”, Beijing said on Wednesday ahead of US President Donald Trump’s state visit and a pivotal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the two leaders would hold “in-depth exchanges of views on major issues concerning China-US relations as well as world peace and development”. “China stands ready to work with the United States in the spirit of equality,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353332/trump-heads-beijing-seeking-stability-high-stakes-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353332/trump-heads-beijing-seeking-stability-high-stakes-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 18:49:54 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US President Donald Trump departed for a three-day state visit to China on Tuesday without first lady Melania Trump, travelling instead with Cabinet officials and business executives in a delegation that contrasts sharply with the pageantry of his 2017 visit. Hours before his departure, the office of the first lady confirmed Melania’s no-show in an email response to the South China Morning Post. “First lady Melania Trump is not travelling this time,” a spokesperson said. The confirmation comes a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353328/us-first-lady-not-travelling-china-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353328/us-first-lady-not-travelling-china-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 17:16:45 +0000 Reuters Reuters The US customs agency has ⁠processed refunds including interest ⁠worth US$35.46 billion as of ⁠May 11 for tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump last year that were deemed illegal, according to a Tuesday court filing. As of 7am on May 11, ‌the US Customs and Border Protection had received 126,237 applications for refunds covering an undisclosed number of shipments or entries, according to the court filing. The agency said it had validated 86,874 of those applications covering 15.1 million... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353327/us-finalises-us355-billion-refunds-illegal-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3353327/us-finalises-us355-billion-refunds-illegal-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 17:15:54 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Beyond high-profile names like Apple’s Tim Cook, a number of lesser-known CEOs joining US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week represent industries caught in the crossfire of the trade war, analysts said, and are expected to push for deeper engagement rather than risk becoming a “geopolitical football”. Seventeen American CEOs have been invited in total, according to a list released by the White House on Monday – a smaller business delegation than in 2017, when 27 high-profile... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:34:22 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ann Cao Sylvia Ma,Ann Cao When US President Donald Trump’s delegation touches down in Beijing on Wednesday night, he looks to be flanked by a cadre of corporate executives, headlined by a man seen by much of the Chinese public as the most familiar American entrepreneur of his generation: Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s presence alongside Trump for meetings with President Xi Jinping adds a distinctive commercial and personal layer to a diplomatically delicate trip. “Musk’s inclusion in Trump’s China delegation has... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353293/elon-musk-joins-trumps-beijing-delegation-natural-bridge-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353293/elon-musk-joins-trumps-beijing-delegation-natural-bridge-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Karen Tian Karen Tian German companies in China have grown more optimistic about the country’s economic outlook, even as the Iran war and persistent trade tensions continue to weigh on their operations, according to the German Chamber of Commerce in China. In a survey released on Tuesday, the chamber found that 37 per cent of respondents expected China’s economy to improve over the next six months. That was up 22 percentage points from last year, with only 17 per cent anticipating a deterioration – a sharp reversal... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353294/german-firms-china-more-upbeat-about-economy-despite-iran-war-trade-headwinds-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353294/german-firms-china-more-upbeat-about-economy-despite-iran-war-trade-headwinds-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 11:01:04 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng US business leaders accompanying President Donald Trump on his state visit to Beijing will be given the opportunity to mingle with their Chinese counterparts at an exclusive international business club, according to sources. On Monday, the White House released a list naming dozens of business chiefs accompanying Trump, including high-profile figures such as Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook. Two sources familiar with the arrangement said the Capital Club Beijing had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353283/trump-visit-opens-door-casual-networking-between-us-and-chinese-business-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353283/trump-visit-opens-door-casual-networking-between-us-and-chinese-business-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 10:02:46 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump said a month-long ceasefire with Iran was on “massive life support” as he rejected Tehran’s response to a peace proposal. The Iranian reply was a “piece of garbage”, Trump told reporters in the White House on Monday. “I didn’t even finish reading it.” The comments helped to push the price of Brent crude oil above US$106 a barrel on Tuesday. Trump is expected to discuss the war with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a Beijing summit on Thursday, as Iran’s 10-week shutdown... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353252/trump-rejects-garbage-iran-peace-plan-heading-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353252/trump-rejects-garbage-iran-peace-plan-heading-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:12 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li With a fragile US-Iran ceasefire barely holding, the Strait of Hormuz still blockaded, and all eyes on the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, investors are embracing a new market narrative: “Nacho”. The acronym – short for “Not a chance Hormuz opens” – reflects a growing bet on prolonged gridlock and high oil prices. This marks a sharp pivot from last year’s dominant trade tactic, “Taco” – “Trump always chickens out”, which was born in the chaos of Trump’s tariff blitz and relied on the assumption that... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353215/taco-nacho-new-buzzword-wall-street-amid-trumps-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353215/taco-nacho-new-buzzword-wall-street-amid-trumps-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 03:09:49 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has finally confirmed that US President Donald Trump will make a state visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping from Wednesday to Friday. The bilateral relationship is very important to both countries, and equally so to the rest of the world. At the same time, we should not expect too much of the visit. Many global issues need the attention of China and the United States, whether the rest of the world wants to see a G2 geopolitical leadership duo. It remains to be seen whether... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Ann Cao,Ji Siqi Ann Cao,Ji Siqi US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In this story, part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we examine how artificial intelligence (AI), chip controls and competing technology ecosystems are redefining US-China rivalry. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353180/chinas-ai-ascent-leaves-trump-stark-choice-escalate-or-relax-chip-controls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353180/chinas-ai-ascent-leaves-trump-stark-choice-escalate-or-relax-chip-controls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump is expected to be accompanied by more than a dozen business leaders, including Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk and Tim Cook of Apple, during his trip to China this week. The White House on Monday released the list of executives set to travel to China alongside Musk and Cook, including Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Dina Powell McCormick of Meta and Ryan McInerney of Visa. The delegation spans key industries, including aviation, technology, banking and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353199/trump-heads-china-musk-cook-and-top-ceos-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353199/trump-heads-china-musk-cook-and-top-ceos-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 21:49:13 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Taiwan would be discussed in his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and pledged to raise the case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying at their summit in Beijing this week. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the Chinese President would be more likely than he to bring up the Taiwan issue at their meeting on Thursday and Friday. “He’ll bring up Taiwan, I think, more than I will,” he said. Asked whether the US should... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353197/trump-raise-taiwan-jimmy-lai-case-when-he-meets-xi-beijing-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353197/trump-raise-taiwan-jimmy-lai-case-when-he-meets-xi-beijing-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 21:24:26 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump’s coming visit to China is being closely watched by business leaders, policymakers and Chinese-American groups hoping for signs that Washington and Beijing can stabilise one of the world’s most consequential relationships, even as expectations for major breakthroughs remain limited. The trip comes against the backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war involving Iran and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as continued friction... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353195/trumps-china-visit-watched-us-signs-stability-and-tangible-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353195/trumps-china-visit-watched-us-signs-stability-and-tangible-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 20:23:01 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu The next round of US-China trade talks appears to be a rushed precursor intended to set the stage for President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing, according to analysts who expect only modest deliverables from the negotiations. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng will meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in South Korea this week, both sides have confirmed, marking the latest in a series of diplomatic sprints intended to stabilise the world’s most consequential economic relationship. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353174/us-china-negotiations-seek-quick-seoul-search-deals-ahead-trumps-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353174/us-china-negotiations-seek-quick-seoul-search-deals-ahead-trumps-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet for trade talks in Seoul on Wednesday, probably to iron out final details before a presidential summit in Beijing the following day. The discussions would focus on “economic and trade issues of mutual concern”, China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday. The country also confirmed that US President Donald Trump will make a state visit from Wednesday to Friday, the first by a US president in almost nine years. Trump... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3353144/china-readies-trump-visit-amid-rebound-trade-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3353144/china-readies-trump-visit-amid-rebound-trade-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 09:03:07 +0000