https://www.scmp.com/rss/519894/feed China is the global leader in exports by value, and the world’s largest manufacturing economy. But exports have steadily dropped as a percentage of gross domestic product. Some of this is due to geopolitical tensions and sluggish demand. China’s exports have also been shifting from the “Old Three” mainstays of household appliances, furniture and clothing, to the “New Three” of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and solar cells. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Frank Chen Frank Chen China will strengthen strategic control over its mineral resources – including rare earths – through a new set of regulations that coordinate mining, processing, utilisation and stockpiling, as policymakers prioritise resource security amid intensifying geopolitical competition. The 79-article regulations on implementing the new mineral resources law were promulgated by Premier Li Qiang and will take effect on June 15. They set out principles for building a more secure reserve system for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354400/china-moves-secure-critical-mineral-supply-chain-sweeping-new-framework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354400/china-moves-secure-critical-mineral-supply-chain-sweeping-new-framework?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:06 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi To address widening trade imbalances across the Asia-Pacific region, surplus-heavy nations such as China should be buying more, and deficit-running economies need to bolster their competitiveness, a top Apec official said on Thursday. “China has been developing significantly in recent decades … [becoming] sort of a global producer for the whole world. But now, the next challenge is for China to become the market for the whole world,” said Carlos Kuriyama, director of the Policy Support Unit at... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3354403/asia-pacific-trade-risks-loom-large-apec-official-warns-protectionism-imbalances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3354403/asia-pacific-trade-risks-loom-large-apec-official-warns-protectionism-imbalances?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 12:30:16 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma Despite instability in the Middle East, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has begun building the world’s largest aircraft maintenance complex in the United Arab Emirates, underscoring China’s growing dominance in overseas infrastructure. The project, worth more than US$5 billion and one of the largest construction deals a Chinese builder has secured in the region, will comprise eight large maintenance hangars for aircraft storage, covering about 1.21 million square metres (13 million... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3354372/china-breaks-ground-us5b-aviation-complex-uae-iran-war-risks-linger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3354372/china-breaks-ground-us5b-aviation-complex-uae-iran-war-risks-linger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China needs a coordinated policy package of currency appreciation, tariff cuts and elevated labour benefits to rebalance its massive trade surplus, outspoken former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan said on Tuesday. Speaking at this year’s Tsinghua PBCSF Global Finance Forum in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, Huang described China’s 2025 record-breaking US$1.2 trillion merchandise trade surplus as “shocking”. That momentum has shown no signs of slowing. China’s goods... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354248/china-poised-record-trade-surplus-former-chongqing-mayor-calls-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354248/china-poised-record-trade-surplus-former-chongqing-mayor-calls-action?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 23:30:05 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Washington would not raise future tariffs on Chinese goods above the level stipulated in a trade truce the two countries hammered out late last year, Beijing said, a commitment arising from talks in South Korea held hours before US President Donald Trump’s arrival in the Chinese capital last week. Analysts said the pledge signals a shift in relations between the world’s two largest economies – from unilateral trade shocks towards a phase of “managed competition”. “We hope the US side will honour... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354260/china-us-trade-talks-saw-washington-commit-tariff-ceiling-beijing-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354260/china-us-trade-talks-saw-washington-commit-tariff-ceiling-beijing-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s exports of rare earth permanent magnets to Japan slightly rebounded in April after slumping the previous month, but Japanese firms warn they are facing “severe” shortages as a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo grinds on. Shipments of permanent magnets from China to Japan rose by 2.5 per cent in April compared with the previous month, according to Chinese customs data released on Wednesday. But the modest rise only partly offset the 17.3 per cent plunge recorded in March. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354236/japan-feels-squeeze-chinas-rare-earth-magnet-exports-only-partly-recover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354236/japan-feels-squeeze-chinas-rare-earth-magnet-exports-only-partly-recover?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 10:30:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese investment in Europe hit a seven-year high of €16.8 billion (US$19.5 billion) in 2025, driven by a strong rebound in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and record greenfield completions, a new report has found. But the annual study, published on Tuesday by Rhodium Group and the Mercator Institute for China Studies, cautioned that the pipeline may be thinning, with newly announced projects falling under pressure from Beijing’s push to retain industrial capacity at home and Europe’s growing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354235/chinese-investment-europe-surges-7-year-high-despite-rising-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354235/chinese-investment-europe-surges-7-year-high-despite-rising-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 09:04:18 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. Not long ago, plans were in motion to build an enormous battery factory in the Belgian countryside. If completed, it would have created an estimated 2,000 jobs... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353994/chinas-firms-have-glaring-weakness-they-face-barrage-eu-probes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353994/chinas-firms-have-glaring-weakness-they-face-barrage-eu-probes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China is stepping up economic engagement with Russia by hosting the 10th edition of a major bilateral expo ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected trip to Beijing this week – just days after his American counterpart, Donald Trump, visited there last week. The back-to-back visits to the Chinese capital by two of the world’s most influential leaders highlight an uptick in diplomatic activity as Beijing seeks to stabilise relations with Washington while deepening coordination with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353980/china-and-russia-hold-trade-expo-putin-and-trump-visits-draw-global-attention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353980/china-and-russia-hold-trade-expo-putin-and-trump-visits-draw-global-attention?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Scientists in China have identified a new type of rare earths formation in the frigid northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin – a discovery that could challenge assumptions about how rare earths occur across the country. Unlike the clay-heavy deposits of southern China – which require chemical leaching to release the elements – the northern formations consist of loose sand and gravel formed by natural freeze-thaw cycles. This difference could make extraction more efficient, less costly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3353922/china-rare-earth-breakthrough-icy-northeast-could-cement-countrys-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3353922/china-rare-earth-breakthrough-icy-northeast-could-cement-countrys-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi,Xinyi Wu Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi,Xinyi Wu China and the United States have agreed to establish trade and investment councils, committing in principle to match each other’s tariff cuts on a reciprocal basis. “The two sides will use the Trade Council as a forum to discuss issues such as tariff reductions on specific products,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Saturday, without providing further details. The world’s two largest economies also made progress on agricultural trade and aircraft, the statement added. The two... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353840/china-and-us-agree-establish-trade-and-investment-councils-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353840/china-and-us-agree-establish-trade-and-investment-councils-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 15:05:04 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng US President Donald Trump and Chinese officials discussed artificial intelligence “guard rails” 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 guard rails” on AI, characterising them as “standard guard rails that we talk about all the time”. Regarding Nvidia’s H200 graphics processing units (GPUs) – shipments of which have yet to be approved... 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 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Australia’s trade minister will visit China in an effort to shore up fuel supplies that have run short this year because of bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz during the US–Israeli war in Iran. Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell told a press conference that he would travel to China to meet Commerce Minister Wang Wentao after a stop in Japan on Monday. “Very much the topic of the day will be how do we continue to ensure reliable fuel supplies into this country,” Farrell said,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353673/australian-trade-minister-visit-china-secure-fuel-during-iran-war-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353673/australian-trade-minister-visit-china-secure-fuel-during-iran-war-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 07:30:05 +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 Karen Tian Karen Tian China’s April lending data points to persistently weak borrowing demand among households and businesses, despite a relatively loose monetary policy and strong industrial activity and profits. Banks extended a total of 8.59 trillion yuan (US$1.26 trillion) in new yuan loans in the first four months of this year, with lending barely rising in April, according to data released by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) on Thursday. The rare monthly fall in April – only the second in the past decade –... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353585/chinas-credit-demand-weak-april-despite-policy-support-and-strong-industrial-profits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353585/chinas-credit-demand-weak-april-despite-policy-support-and-strong-industrial-profits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 11:05:54 +0000 Jeffrey D. Sachs Jeffrey D. Sachs The G7 economists’ memo from March and the IMF’s April report on global imbalances arrived at the same prescription: China’s current account surplus is excessive and should be cut by boosting consumption. The diagnosis is wrong. The world economy, especially emerging markets and developing economies, benefits from China’s high saving. A current account surplus is the excess of national saving over domestic investment. The saving is not lost; it is exported abroad in the form of net capital... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353281/why-world-needs-china-save-more-not-less?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353281/why-world-needs-china-save-more-not-less?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 08:30:08 +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 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s shipyards have mounted an astonishing comeback after facing down US efforts to curb their dominance last year, as they saw orders for new vessels nearly double in the first quarter of 2026. Chinese shipbuilders received 59.53 million deadweight tonnes in new orders during the first three months of the year, a staggering 195.2 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353147/china-tightens-its-grip-global-shipbuilding-grabbing-85-new-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353147/china-tightens-its-grip-global-shipbuilding-grabbing-85-new-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 14:30:06 +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 He Huifeng He Huifeng A major benchmark of China’s factory-gate prices continued to rise last month, as the energy shock linked to the US-Israel war on Iran weighs on producers in the world’s second-largest economy. After returning to growth for the first time in more than three years the month before, the producer price index (PPI) recorded a higher-than-expected year-on-year increase of 2.8 per cent in April, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This followed March’s 0.5 per cent year-on-year... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3353089/chinas-producer-consumer-inflation-april-iran-war-pressures-persist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3353089/chinas-producer-consumer-inflation-april-iran-war-pressures-persist?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 03:54:15 +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 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s export sector showed strong resilience last month, with the total value of outbound shipments hitting a monthly record even as the Strait of Hormuz crisis during the US-Israeli war in Iran showed little sign of abating after driving up energy and shipping costs. The value of China’s exports rose in April by 14.1 per cent, year on year, to US$359.44 billion, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Saturday. The reading was above the 6.96 per cent growth... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3352970/china-trade-growth-resilient-april-despite-hormuz-crisis-inflating-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3352970/china-trade-growth-resilient-april-despite-hormuz-crisis-inflating-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 02:52:59 +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 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow US President Donald Trump will bring a scaled-back group of chief executive officers with him on a trip to Beijing next week, reflecting limited expectations for a summit that may be overshadowed by the war on Iran. The White House considered inviting about a dozen business leaders on the May 14-15 trip, compared with the 29 high-profile executives on Trump’s last visit in 2017, Reuters said, citing unidentified people briefed on preparations. Nvidia, Apple and Boeing are among the companies... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352886/trumps-beijing-trip-iran-war-diplomacy-tech-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352886/trumps-beijing-trip-iran-war-diplomacy-tech-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu As the world held its breath over the fate of the Middle East this week, France has been gripped by a very different story: a scandal over a chewy rubber giraffe. Sophie la Girafe, the country’s national toy, has long been a symbol of “made in France” craftsmanship, sold as a gift to newborns across the country. But this week, it was revealed the beloved toy has secretly been manufactured in China for the past decade. Vulli, the company behind the toy, quietly began moving production to China as... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352872/fury-france-national-toy-revealed-be-secretly-made-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352872/fury-france-national-toy-revealed-be-secretly-made-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 07:56:14 +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 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing says it firmly opposes the European Commission’s decision to cut EU funding for clean energy projects that use Chinese inverters, denouncing the move as “unfair and discriminatory” and vowing to take action to defend the interests of its firms. “Without any substantive evidence, the European side has for the first time designated China as a so-called ‘high-risk country’ … this constitutes a smearing of China,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday. It warned that... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:28:05 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The EU’s outgoing top trade official used her departing appearance at the European Parliament to pour cold water on the prospect of an investment deal with China, hinting instead that new weapons for dealing with Chinese “macroeconomic imbalances” could be on the way. Sabine Weyand, who is leaving her role as the EU’s director general for trade after a seven-year tenure, said the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment – signed in the last days of 2020 but frozen soon after in a row over human... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352714/china-eu-investment-deal-should-stay-deep-freezer-warns-outgoing-trade-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352714/china-eu-investment-deal-should-stay-deep-freezer-warns-outgoing-trade-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 06:35:20 +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 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma The European Commission is working on a new trade weapon as the continent struggles to contend with a flood of low-cost imports from China. The tool may be presented at a May 29 gathering of the European Union’s executive branch, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday. Plans for a China-focused meeting were delayed from last month after the US-Israeli war on Iran prompted a new agenda focused on energy prices. It’s not clear what form the instrument will take. Business groups have been... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3352604/europe-readies-trade-war-weapon-amid-china-export-deluge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3352604/europe-readies-trade-war-weapon-amid-china-export-deluge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 09:02:57 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The European Union’s push to bar Chinese suppliers from its critical infrastructure under a proposed new Cybersecurity Act would cost the bloc a jaw-dropping €367.8 billion (US$431.4 billion) over the next five years, a new study has warned. The law’s vast price tag comes from the need to rip out and replace huge amounts of Chinese hardware – a task that alone could cost €146.2 billion – with other losses stemming from resource reallocation, service disruptions, employment adjustments and legal... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352610/eu-cyber-plan-barring-chinese-suppliers-will-cost-us430-billion-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352610/eu-cyber-plan-barring-chinese-suppliers-will-cost-us430-billion-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 08:59:46 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Samsung Electronics’ surprise leadership reshuffle in its TV division points to a strategic pivot away from a hardware-led model, analysts have said, as intensifying competition from Chinese rivals pushes the company to rethink how it generates revenue beyond television sales. The South Korean tech giant on Monday appointed Lee Won-jin, former head of its global marketing office, to lead the visual display business. Samsung said Lee was “expected to spearhead business turnarounds and identify... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352511/samsung-reshuffle-signals-shift-beyond-hardware-china-rivalry-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352511/samsung-reshuffle-signals-shift-beyond-hardware-china-rivalry-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 10:29:35 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham The EU has taken its most direct step yet to cut Chinese clean energy hardware out of publicly funded projects, banning Chinese inverters from all EU-funded schemes in a move Brussels described as the first in a series of actions targeting high-risk suppliers. “We decided we will take concrete action right now … that has included developing guidance on restricting the use of EU funds for projects involving inverters from high-risk suppliers,” European Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry said... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:57:16 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao Other economy factsheets: China’s US$1.2 trillion trade surplus Price wars in China China’s energy mismatch https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3352429/chinas-economy-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3352429/chinas-economy-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:29:56 +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 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s top tech hub, Shenzhen, saw retail sales grow by just 0.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter after reporting gross domestic product growth of 5.8 per cent for the same period, casting a spotlight on its unbalanced development as mortgage and living costs weigh heavily on residents’ sentiment. A policy analyst said the city, in southern China’s Guangdong province, could have already seen retail sales decline if not for the rising number of bargain-hunters from Hong Kong crossing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Nikola Mikovic Nikola Mikovic Amid the trade war with the United States, the last thing China needs is an economic confrontation with the European Union – Beijing’s major export destination. But with the EU seemingly determined to protect its market by introducing measures that many see as controversial, an economic stand-off appears inevitable. When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen blamed China last June for showing an “unwillingness to live within the constraints of the rules-based international system”,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352160/made-europe-law-sets-stage-economic-showdown-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352160/made-europe-law-sets-stage-economic-showdown-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China ordered companies to ignore US sanctions against five oil refiners accused of buying Iranian crude, an unprecedented pushback against American financial measures less than two weeks before a presidential summit. The US action “violates international law and the basic norms of international relations”, China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday. The sanctions cover a refinery in Dalian owned by Shanghai-listed Hengli Petrochemical, along with four independent “teapot” refineries –... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352361/china-says-ignore-us-sanctions-even-trump-visit-nears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352361/china-says-ignore-us-sanctions-even-trump-visit-nears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 09:01:20 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng For decades, the global image of Chinese trade was synonymous with massive container ships loaded with footwear, bags and furniture. However, a profound structural shift is under way. Having conquered the world of physical goods, China is now rapidly ascending the industrial chain as an emerging exporter of manufacturing technology. In 2025, the country’s exports of telecoms, computer and information services reached 808 billion yuan (US$118 billion), marking a robust 13 per cent year-on-year... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352020/footwear-ai-services-china-moves-value-chain-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352020/footwear-ai-services-china-moves-value-chain-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 12:30:12 +0000 Zongshuai Fan Zongshuai Fan Driven by intensifying competition in advanced manufacturing, the world is waking up to “China shock 2.0”. The first “shock”, associated with China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, focused on low-tech manufacturing. Of course, this latest “shock” isn’t framed as such by Chinese policymakers. They present it as an upgrade in export strength, often described as a shift from the “old three” of textiles, furniture and home appliances to the “new three” of electric vehicles,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351863/beyond-subsidies-whats-really-driving-chinas-industrial-climb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351863/beyond-subsidies-whats-really-driving-chinas-industrial-climb?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Beijing’s decision to block Meta Platforms’ proposed acquisition of artificial intelligence firm Manus should not be seen as a restriction on foreign investment, Chinese state media said, urging companies in the sector to “go global when ready” and “pursue partnerships where appropriate”. “What stands out from Meta’s Manus deal is that the AI industry is transcending simple commercial logic,” Yuyuan Tantian, the influential social media account run by state broadcaster CCTV, said on Wednesday in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352005/chinas-manus-block-warning-other-ai-firms-global-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352005/chinas-manus-block-warning-other-ai-firms-global-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Chinese solar exports surged in March, doubling to a record high as demand accelerated across dozens of markets, according to a new report. The spike comes as global energy systems react to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the dual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the US. The Persian Gulf shipping corridor, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas flows, has become a focal pressure point amid escalating tensions that began on February 28 with US-Israel... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351938/crisis-surge-or-lasting-shift-chinas-solar-exports-double-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351938/crisis-surge-or-lasting-shift-chinas-solar-exports-double-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:08:29 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China is flexing its dominance over the global supply chain – claiming the world’s largest reserves of 14 essential minerals, including rare earths and graphite – while preparing to ramp up exploration through the end of the decade. The Ministry of Natural Resources disclosed the information at a monthly media briefing on Wednesday, vowing that China would continue accelerating its search for minerals during the 15th five-year plan period spanning 2026 to 2030. The message underscores Beijing’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351864/trumps-visit-china-touts-mineral-dominance-fortifies-resource-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351864/trumps-visit-china-touts-mineral-dominance-fortifies-resource-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong As the US-Israel war in Iran drags into its third month, sulphuric acid – a chemical ingredient critical for fertiliser production and metal processing that has seldom grabbed global headlines – has become a keenly watched commodity. The military conflict in the Gulf and the effective blockage of the Strait of Hormuz initially triggered a squeeze on sulphuric acid, with prices on the rise after shipments in the region – which accounts for a quarter of global production – were largely stalled... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351630/how-chinas-reported-ban-sulphuric-acid-exports-could-have-overseas-buyers-reeling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351630/how-chinas-reported-ban-sulphuric-acid-exports-could-have-overseas-buyers-reeling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The long-standing rivalry between China’s two largest economic heavyweights – with each boasting a gross domestic product comparable to Group of Seven members Italy and Canada – reflects the regional dynamism and shifting economic gravity within the world’s second-biggest economy. Jiangsu has been threatening to end Guangdong’s uninterrupted reign as China’s largest provincial economy since the late 1980s, and the latest economic data reveals the gap between the two narrowed further in the first... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has delivered its largest-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, bringing the number of domestic shipyards capable of designing and building the advanced vessels to five, as the country steps up its challenge to South Korea’s dominance in the high-value sector. The milestone was marked by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, which delivered the 180,000-cubic-metre (6.36-million cubic-feet) vessel on Sunday, according to a company press... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:48:04 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Electric vehicles (EVs) made in China now account for one in every three new registrations in South Korea, as Tesla’s Shanghai-built models power the surge and Chinese carmakers start to gain traction. The country’s auto manufacturers have further room to expand, analysts said, supported by higher fuel prices linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran and looser restrictions than traditional target markets. Still, tightening subsidy regimes could slow the pace of expansion, they cautioned. Sales of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu As one of the world’s largest automotive glass producers, and the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary, Fuyao Glass is a familiar name in the United States. Now, its founder has warned he is prepared to shut down his American plants if trade friction and tariffs cause severe losses. Responding to questions regarding geopolitical risks at the company’s annual general meeting, Cao Dewang said that the company would not engage in loss-making ventures. “How much in duties you want to impose is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351347/billionaire-behind-american-factory-firm-warns-us-exit-amid-trade-friction-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351347/billionaire-behind-american-factory-firm-warns-us-exit-amid-trade-friction-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000