https://www.scmp.com/rss/326746/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 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 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 Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help broker an end to the Iran conflict and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring how Middle East tensions have become intertwined with a broader effort by Washington and Beijing to steady relations. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity set to air on Thursday evening in the US, Trump said Xi had personally expressed willingness to assist amid mounting concerns over disruptions in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353610/trump-says-xi-offered-help-iran-china-seeks-keep-hormuz-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353610/trump-says-xi-offered-help-iran-china-seeks-keep-hormuz-open?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 17:28:41 +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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Jane Cai Jane Cai Nine years after his lavish first visit to China as US president, Donald Trump is scheduled to head back to Beijing on May 13-15. With tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry still simmering, the summit will test whether the world’s two biggest powers can stabilise their fractious relationship. What to expect Pragmatic deals over grand resets Don’t look for a historic breakthrough. The focus is expected to be on extending the trade truce, locking in fresh Chinese purchases of American... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353055/trumps-china-return-whats-changed-his-friendly-2017-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353055/trumps-china-return-whats-changed-his-friendly-2017-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the latest part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we look at how Trump’s weakened hand could tilt summit talks. When next week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352986/trump-heads-china-weakened-xi-gains-leverage-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352986/trump-heads-china-weakened-xi-gains-leverage-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000 Karen Tian Karen Tian China’s trade with the United States has declined this year, official data shows, as US President Donald Trump heads to Beijing next week for a high-stakes visit that could determine the future of economic relations between the two superpowers. China’s merchandise exports to the US fell 10.2 per cent year on year to US$133.4 billion in the first four months of 2026, according to data released on Saturday by the General Administration of Customs. Imports from the US also declined 10.9 per cent to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352992/not-decoupling-what-us-china-trade-data-signals-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352992/not-decoupling-what-us-china-trade-data-signals-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 11:00:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump filed an appeal on Friday after the latest legal setback to his signature tariff policy, piling on more chaos and global uncertainty and setting up a new tussle over billions of US dollars in refunds. The appeal follows a decision on Thursday by the US Court of International Trade that invalidated his use of a Section 122 trade provision that saw him slap 10 per cent import taxes on nearly every country on earth. In its ruling, the court found that he failed to meet the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352965/trump-appeals-latest-court-loss-tariffs-chaos-and-uncertainty-amp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352965/trump-appeals-latest-court-loss-tariffs-chaos-and-uncertainty-amp?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 22:29:53 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called for stability with Beijing days before US President Donald Trump’s closely watched trip to China, saying the US was not out to reshape the Chinese economy but to rebalance trade. The trade chief told Fox News on Friday that while the world’s two largest economies “always had a really robust trading relationship … it’s been wildly unbalanced with China exporting just vast amounts of goods to the United States and largely blocking a lot of US imports... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 18:57:54 +0000 Kandy Wong,Frank Chen Kandy Wong,Frank Chen The administration of US President Donald Trump is inviting American CEOs from Boeing, Mastercard, Citigroup and other major corporations to join his delegation to China next week, according to multiple sources. Trump is visiting China on May 14 and 15 after his scheduled visit for March 31 was postponed following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Boeing, Mastercard and Citigroup declined to comment, but sources said several CEOs had received invitations from the White House. A full list of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352883/trump-invites-boeing-mastercard-ceos-join-china-trip-next-week-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352883/trump-invites-boeing-mastercard-ceos-join-china-trip-next-week-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 08:31:53 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that his country’s rare earth reserves are open to investment from China and any other nation willing to process the minerals on Brazilian soil, resisting pressure to side with Washington in its contest with Beijing over critical mineral supply chains. “We have no preference. What we want is to share with whoever wants to invest in Brazil,” Lula said at a press conference at the Brazilian embassy in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352824/lula-wont-sideline-china-or-anyone-rare-earths-tells-trump-refining-stays-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352824/lula-wont-sideline-china-or-anyone-rare-earths-tells-trump-refining-stays-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 23:01:58 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Trump ⁠administration is inviting CEOs from ⁠Nvidia, Apple, Exxon, Boeing and other big companies to accompany the president on his trip to China next week, Semafor reported on Thursday. Executives from Qualcomm, Blackstone, Citigroup ‌and Visa are also on the invitation list, according to the report. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser was invited. Qualcomm confirmed the invitation but declined to comment further. Reuters was not able to confirm ⁠the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352821/white-house-inviting-ceos-nvidia-apple-trumps-china-trip-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352821/white-house-inviting-ceos-nvidia-apple-trumps-china-trip-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 21:47:23 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado The Trump administration has expanded its pressure campaign against Cuba into the critical minerals sector, sanctioning a nickel joint venture tied to Canadian miner Sherritt International in a move that could reverberate through China-linked battery supply chains. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Thursday against Moa Nickel SA, a joint venture between Sherritt and Cuba’s state-owned General Nickel Company, as part of a broader effort targeting Havana’s military-controlled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352815/us-targets-cuba-nickel-operation-move-implications-china-linked-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352815/us-targets-cuba-nickel-operation-move-implications-china-linked-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 18:15:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing’s study of the wars in Iran and Ukraine could sharpen its ability to wage information warfare against Americans during a Taiwan Strait conflict, exposing vulnerabilities in US preparedness, experts said on Wednesday. S. Clinton Hinote, a retired US Lieutenant General, said he was “impressed” with the propaganda coming out of Iran since the outbreak of the war in February, warning that Beijing would deploy similar tactics if conflict erupts over Taiwan. “That’s coming,” he told a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352811/chinas-use-propaganda-may-outwit-us-if-taiwan-conflict-arises-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352811/chinas-use-propaganda-may-outwit-us-if-taiwan-conflict-arises-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 17:00:29 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China made Brazil its top global investment destination last year, pouring US$6.1 billion into the country across a record 52 projects. The figures come from the China-Brazil Business Council (CBBC), which released its annual report on Thursday. The 45 per cent jump in value from the previous year far outpaced the 4.8 per cent rise in total foreign investment into Brazil. It also dwarfed China’s worldwide outbound flows, which grew just 1.3 per cent. Brazil absorbed 10.9 per cent of all Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352676/china-pours-us61b-brazil-making-it-beijings-top-investment-worldwide-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352676/china-pours-us61b-brazil-making-it-beijings-top-investment-worldwide-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 14:30:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A trial of a US citizen of Chinese descent accused of creating a covert police station in Manhattan opened on Wednesday, considering evidence of what the US government says is part of Beijing’s bid to expand its influence well beyond Chinese shores. Lu Jianwang, 64, faces three charges in the US Eastern District Court of New York: acting as an unauthorised agent of China; conspiracy to act as a foreign agent; and obstruction of justice. He is accused of using the fourth floor of a building in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352677/us-trial-opens-over-alleged-chinese-secret-police-station-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352677/us-trial-opens-over-alleged-chinese-secret-police-station-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 23:40:42 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The scheduled summit next week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will almost certainly include proclamations about cooperation, friendship and respect between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, but beneath the surface, major trade conflict is building, said trade experts on Wednesday. In the past, a weaker China was forced to grit its teeth and grudgingly accept US tariffs, export restrictions and other restrictions, but Beijing has quietly and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 21:11:48 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China urged the United States to drop its latest Section 301 investigations into alleged excess capacity, calling the probe legally flawed at a Washington hearing just days before a planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. “[It] lacks sufficient statutory basis and supporting evidence” and “circumvents several established multilateral mechanisms”, Michelle Zang, speaking on behalf of the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), a state-backed trade body, told the hearing. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352544/china-urges-us-drop-trade-probe-key-trump-xi-summit-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352544/china-urges-us-drop-trade-probe-key-trump-xi-summit-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected suggestions that China has challenged his administration over the Iran war, highlighting his “very good relationship” with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of their planned summit next week. Speaking at a White House fitness event, Trump told reporters that when it comes to Iran, “we haven’t been challenged by China. They don’t challenge us,” adding that Xi “wouldn’t do that – I don’t think he’d do that because of me”. Iran is set to be on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352542/trump-dismisses-china-friction-over-iran-war-touts-xi-ties-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352542/trump-dismisses-china-friction-over-iran-war-touts-xi-ties-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 19:45:29 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China’s top diplomat on the US-Mexico border denounced protectionism as a dead end at the weekend, delivering a pointed defence of open trade just weeks before Mexico, the United States and Canada sit down to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that governs North American commerce. Consul General Fu Xinrong told a business gathering in Tijuana that unilateralism benefits no one and called on nations to build economic ties based on sovereignty and mutual respect rather than... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352418/chinas-consul-tijuana-calls-protectionism-dead-end-trade-tensions-us-escalate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352418/chinas-consul-tijuana-calls-protectionism-dead-end-trade-tensions-us-escalate?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 19:40:46 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The US-Israel war on Iran could bolster Beijing’s leverage on issues such as hi-tech supply chains and Taiwan during the coming Trump-Xi summit, according to American experts. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, next week. “He’s not going to move to reschedule it,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, after Trump confirmed on Friday that his visit would take place as scheduled. The summit, expected to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352399/iran-war-could-give-xi-upper-hand-meeting-trump-us-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352399/iran-war-could-give-xi-upper-hand-meeting-trump-us-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new financing facility aimed at strengthening critical mineral supply chains across the Asia-Pacific region, as a global push to loosen China’s chokehold over the sector continues. The initiative is designed to help Asia-Pacific nations move up the critical minerals value chain – moving beyond just mining – by equipping them with the technical capabilities to process and recycle the materials, according to the ADB. “Asia and the Pacific should be... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352352/asia-races-de-risk-critical-minerals-supply-chain-new-financing-tool?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352352/asia-races-de-risk-critical-minerals-supply-chain-new-financing-tool?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 08:15:00 +0000 Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump said he is still planning to travel to China as scheduled this month despite the stalemate in the negotiations with Iran. When asked about the trip to Beijing, Trump told reporters on Friday: “It is going to be amazing. The visit with China and Chairman Xi [Jinping] – that’s going to be great. “We have the trip with China coming up. And I think it will be an amazing event.” Trump had initially planned to visit Beijing in late March, but put the trip back to May 14 and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 10:02:17 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The United States on Friday announced fresh sanctions on entities and individuals it said were involved in trading Iranian petroleum, including a China-based oil terminal operator and a Chinese national, as it ramped up pressure on Tehran to end the conflict. The State Department said the operator, Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd, “imported tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil”. Also on the sanctions list are Li Xinchun, a Chinese national who is the president of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3352195/us-sanctions-china-based-operator-others-over-alleged-iran-oil-trade-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3352195/us-sanctions-china-based-operator-others-over-alleged-iran-oil-trade-links?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 19:08:21 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected six of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chile exposes smuggling ring that shipped US$917m in stolen copper to China Chinese buyers were the end destination of a five-year smuggling pipeline that drained an estimated US$917 million worth of stolen copper from Chile, authorities said in April after police dismantled the network... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351914/beijing-backs-cuba-brazil-slams-byd-slave-labour-conditions-latin-america-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351914/beijing-backs-cuba-brazil-slams-byd-slave-labour-conditions-latin-america-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The United States is stepping up pressure on China across multiple strategic fronts, in moves analysts say could strengthen US President Donald Trump’s hand ahead of his planned high-stakes mid-May meeting with President Xi Jinping. But they cautioned that Beijing was likely to remain unfazed because it had already adapted to earlier curbs by reducing its reliance on the American market. US lawmakers in the House Foreign Affairs Committee have advanced 20 new export control measures this month... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351891/chips-oil-and-iran-why-us-raising-pressure-china-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351891/chips-oil-and-iran-why-us-raising-pressure-china-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong A press photo of a US protective agent responding to a gunman breaching security during last weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has ignited debate within America’s firearms community. The controversy centres not on the agent’s actions, but on what appeared to be a Chinese-made Holosun red dot sight mounted on her Glock pistol. The image, which spread rapidly across firearms forums after being shared on social media, shows a plain-clothes agent with her weapon drawn as US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351850/are-us-agents-around-trump-armed-chinese-red-dot-sights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351850/are-us-agents-around-trump-armed-chinese-red-dot-sights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000