https://www.scmp.com/rss/521139/feed Xiaofei joined SCMP in 2025 after four years at CNN's Paris bureau where he covered the rise of far-right forces in France, the economic fallout of the war in Ukraine and many other subjects. Xiaofei has a master's degree in French History from the University of Chicago. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Humanoid robots represent the next frontier for Pudu Robotics, according to founder and CEO Felix Zhang Tao, as the global commercial robotics leader takes on Elon Musk’s Tesla in the growing sector and explores manufacturing in Europe, its largest overseas market. “It’s definitely a competitor, but a long-term one,” Zhang told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview, adding that Tesla was a “very good” rival whose high profile had driven innovation and broadened market awareness in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3373641/chinas-pudu-robotics-which-makes-80-its-sales-abroad-takes-tesla-humanoids https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3373641/chinas-pudu-robotics-which-makes-80-its-sales-abroad-takes-tesla-humanoids Sun, 08 Nov 2026 09:00:28 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s State Council has pledged improved policy mechanisms to stabilise the country’s struggling stock market, after stocks slid again on Friday following a meltdown on the US markets. “We will enhance the inherent stability of the stock market and foster the steady and healthy development of the capital market,” officials at the State Council executive meeting, chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, were quoted as saying on Friday. The comments came as the CSI 300 Index, which tracks major... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3373602/beijing-calls-more-efforts-stabilise-stock-market-after-renewed-sell https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3373602/beijing-calls-more-efforts-stabilise-stock-market-after-renewed-sell Fri, 06 Nov 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Almost 600,000 people took to the streets across France on Thursday to protest stagnant wages, the rising cost of living and underfunded schools, as a wave of anger continues to build after nearly a decade under President Emmanuel Macron, just months ahead of presidential elections. The government mobilised 70,000 police officers and gendarmes around the country as the Interior Ministry counted 575,000 protesters nationwide. The protests were largely peaceful, yet the movement and the debate... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3373539/frances-fiscal-dilemma-intensifies-protest-turnout-swells-amid-government-paralysis https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3373539/frances-fiscal-dilemma-intensifies-protest-turnout-swells-amid-government-paralysis Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:23 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu European firms are heading to this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China’s biggest annual import fair, in search of new trade opportunities, with many treating the event as a test of Beijing’s promise to open up its market as frictions persist between Beijing and Brussels and the EU’s deficit with China keeps widening. “France wants to continue deepening its trade with China, under fair competitive conditions based on reciprocity and openness, as well as on better... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373246/chinas-annual-import-fair-eu-firms-test-beijings-promise-open-its-markets https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373246/chinas-annual-import-fair-eu-firms-test-beijings-promise-open-its-markets Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Shanghai-listed Wingtech Technology has rejected a restructuring proposal under which it would lose control of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia’s assets outside China, condemning the plan as an “expropriation” driven by discrimination. The stand-off deepens a year-long dispute between Wingtech and Dutch authorities, as the company faces an impending delisting deadline at home, while Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten prepares for an official visit to Beijing in the spring. In a statement on Tuesday,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3373244/wingtech-rejects-nexperia-restructuring-cites-discrimination-towards-chinese-investors https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3373244/wingtech-rejects-nexperia-restructuring-cites-discrimination-towards-chinese-investors Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:30:15 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Though Serbia’s incoming Student List government called for the resignation of several senior officials and an audit of public projects, some of them built by Chinese contractors, analysts and insiders said it was unlikely the new coalition’s victory would lead to a sea change in the business relationship between the two countries. The message at Thursday’s Student List news conference – the first since the electoral coalition defeated former president Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372715/chinese-firms-serbia-not-expecting-big-changes-change-government https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372715/chinese-firms-serbia-not-expecting-big-changes-change-government Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:08:06 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu A mobile network outage in France this week has raised questions about the reliability of Finnish telecoms giant Nokia’s products against the backdrop of continued European Union efforts to phase out Chinese suppliers Huawei Technologies and ZTE over security concerns. The problem first hit the network of France’s biggest telecoms provider Orange at 11.37am on Monday and lasted until 8.30pm, resulting in outages of up to nine hours for some customers, Orange France CEO Jerome Henique told French... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3372699/france-network-outage-puts-nokia-under-scrutiny-eu-pushes-phase-out-huawei-zte-gear https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3372699/france-network-outage-puts-nokia-under-scrutiny-eu-pushes-phase-out-huawei-zte-gear Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:00:47 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing reiterated its opposition on Thursday to potential new European Union trade safeguards targeting Chinese exports, vowing to take “all necessary measures” to defend the interests of its companies. “Artificially restricting normal trade is suspected of violating World Trade Organization rules,” said Huang Ling, spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, at a weekly press conference. “Far from improving the competitiveness of EU industry, it will increase the burden on downstream... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372612/china-slams-eus-potential-new-trade-safeguards-says-they-may-violate-wto-rules https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372612/china-slams-eus-potential-new-trade-safeguards-says-they-may-violate-wto-rules Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:47:50 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu A former CIA official has called for Washington to spy on foreign companies to help US firms stay ahead in the technology race, in what would represent a break from long-standing US policy amid intensifying competition with China. “The US lead in many crucial advanced technologies is being contested or even erased by China,” wrote David Cohen, who served as deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in an article published by Foreign Affairs... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372475/us-should-spy-chinese-firms-maintain-edge-tech-race-ex-cia-official https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372475/us-should-spy-chinese-firms-maintain-edge-tech-race-ex-cia-official Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Sylvia Ma Xiaofei Xu,Sylvia Ma Chinese vice-minister of finance Liao Min has been appointed one of the International Monetary Fund’s four deputy managing directors, the IMF announced on Wednesday. Liao will take over from Li Bo, a former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, whose term expires at the end of November. It remains unclear whether Liao will leave his position in the Chinese government before taking on the role in Washington. Serving as one of China’s four vice-ministers of finance since 2018, Liao has... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3372481/imf-appoints-chinese-finance-vice-minister-liao-min-next-deputy-managing-director https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3372481/imf-appoints-chinese-finance-vice-minister-liao-min-next-deputy-managing-director Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:55:30 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu A former high-ranking official with China’s securities regulator was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Tuesday over bribery charges, as Beijing continues its sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Wang Huimin, who served as a member of the Communist Party committee of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) from 2014 to 2019, was found to have taken more than 436 million yuan (US$65 million) in bribes. “The amount involved was especially large and caused especially heavy... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3372339/china-hands-former-regulator-suspended-death-sentence-over-us65m-bribery-charge https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3372339/china-hands-former-regulator-suspended-death-sentence-over-us65m-bribery-charge Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:35:34 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Xiaofei Xu Sylvia Ma,Xiaofei Xu French football superstar Kylian Mbappe has issued an apology after an “ill-judged” comment about China sparked intense backlash on social media and led a string of major Chinese brands to cut ties with him. After a video began circulating widely online that appeared to show the France and Real Madrid striker making a controversial remark about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, several Chinese firms including the dairy giant Mengniu announced they were pulling out of deals with him on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372298/football-star-kylian-mbappe-faces-huge-china-backlash-over-unacceptable-remark https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372298/football-star-kylian-mbappe-faces-huge-china-backlash-over-unacceptable-remark Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:00:17 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Xiaofei Xu Sylvia Ma,Xiaofei Xu China has drafted special rules to protect the country’s trade secrets and is seeking public feedback on the proposed strictures, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. In the draft document, the ministry said the rules apply “where a foreign entity engages in acts infringing upon Chinese trade secrets in the course of international economic, trade and related activities” and those acts endanger or pose a real threat to “China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests”. Under... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3372161/china-drafts-rules-protect-trade-secrets-foreign-entities https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3372161/china-drafts-rules-protect-trade-secrets-foreign-entities Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:28:14 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Protests across France were largely peaceful on Saturday, despite heightened tensions and sporadic clashes between protesters and the police, but authorities remained on high alert as night fell. The French Interior Ministry counted 410,000 people who hit the streets across the country on Saturday, down from the 550,000 who protested last weekend. The October 17 demonstrations descended into looting and the worst urban rioting France had seen in years. A total of 249 protests took place in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372031/france-high-alert-paris-march-begins-uneasy-calm https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372031/france-high-alert-paris-march-begins-uneasy-calm Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:17:24 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu France is bracing for another day of mass protests on Saturday, with the government promising that 70,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed across the country amid fears that last weekend’s scenes of violence and looting could repeat themselves. For many Chinese students living in Paris, the events last Saturday were their first taste of a major French protest turned violent. While most said the experience had not put them off staying in France, many said they worried about the country’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371981/chinese-students-paris-hunker-down-city-braces-more-mass-protests https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371981/chinese-students-paris-hunker-down-city-braces-more-mass-protests Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi As violent protests fuelled partly by the cost-of-living crisis shake parts of Europe, most notably France, analysts say the unrest could add to pressure on European policymakers to take a tougher trade stance towards China. “One could argue that the EU looks weaker, but then one could also argue that there is more of a need to show external strength at a time of such events,” said David Henig, director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371927/could-europes-cost-living-protests-sharpen-eu-china-trade-tensions https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371927/could-europes-cost-living-protests-sharpen-eu-china-trade-tensions Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu France’s 10-year borrowing cost topped 5 per cent again in early Paris trading on Thursday, a day after touching that level for the first time since 2002, as the country recovers from its worst urban riots in years and braces for more clashes to come. Analysts expected market pressure to persist in the near term amid uncertainties at home and abroad, but noted that the situation remained far from turning into another euro-zone crisis. The spread between 10-year French and German bonds widened to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371724/frances-borrowing-costs-reach-24-year-high-riots-deepen-budget-worries https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371724/frances-borrowing-costs-reach-24-year-high-riots-deepen-budget-worries Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Preparing for war is meant to prevent war – an idea with deep roots in ancient Chinese strategic thought that may have just found an echo in Berlin. The EU’s proposed “kill switch”, intended to swiftly cut off market access for third countries including China, was put forward by France and Germany and unanimously endorsed by member states. But ideally it would never have to be used, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday, stressing that Berlin was seeking “a new balance in trade”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371671/germany-wants-avoid-china-trade-war-despite-kill-switch-merz https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371671/germany-wants-avoid-china-trade-war-despite-kill-switch-merz Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Two days have passed since the scenes of chaos and looting on Saturday, but walking down Rue Beaurepaire in Paris on Monday, one can still smell smoke in the air, likely coming from the heaps of burned rubbish and charred bicycles left among the smashed shopfronts. Among the most damaged was La Barrique, a local bar-tabac – a French establishment combining a cafe, bar and tobacco shop – that was burned down by rioters. Its owner, Aline Li, a middle-aged Chinese immigrant from Zhejiang province,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3371455/night-violence-lingers-over-paris-one-chinese-cafe-owner-counts-costs-protest https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3371455/night-violence-lingers-over-paris-one-chinese-cafe-owner-counts-costs-protest Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:00:30 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu France experienced a weekend of shocks as weeks-long high school student protests for better study environments were hijacked by violent looters across major cities, angered by rising fuel prices and an ongoing cost of living crisis. While the rallies saw hundreds of thousands protest peacefully, clashes over the weekend led to chaotic scenes: hundreds of shops were pillaged, the historic city hall of Limoges was burned down and multiple public buildings across cities like Paris, Marseilles and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3371360/french-protests-over-declining-school-standards-amid-china-catch-ambitions-turn-violent https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3371360/french-protests-over-declining-school-standards-amid-china-catch-ambitions-turn-violent Mon, 19 Oct 2026 07:26:37 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu France and Germany have unveiled a joint position on Europe’s automotive package, with a tighter geographic definition of “Made in Europe” and a research and development requirement for cars to qualify for subsidies or public procurement, which industry insiders say would put further pressure on Chinese carmakers to invest in production within the bloc. The automotive sector’s “Made in Europe” classification would include only the 27 member states of the European Union, with an opt-in to include... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China on Friday unveiled a draft plan to impose new export bans affecting 14 technologies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence to biotechnology and photovoltaic solar power. The notice – jointly issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology – proposes export bans for a string of AI-related technologies; certain cell and gene therapy technology platforms; and technology for producing certain kinds of solar cell modules. It also lists a further 26... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3371149/china-mulls-new-tech-export-bans-covering-ai-biotech-and-solar-power https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3371149/china-mulls-new-tech-export-bans-covering-ai-biotech-and-solar-power Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:31:39 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu French luxury giant LVMH Group kicked off a global open-house event showcasing its craftsmanship in Shanghai on Thursday, as the event’s founder Antoine Arnault hailed a “special bond” with Chinese customers at a launch event in Paris. It came as the group faced pressure from sluggish demand in China and a backlash over a lawsuit against a local tea company. At the launch event at the Samaritaine department store in central Paris for this year’s Les Journées Particulières, first initiated by... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3371145/lvmh-touts-special-bond-china-subdued-backdrop-weighs-sales https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3371145/lvmh-touts-special-bond-china-subdued-backdrop-weighs-sales Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:23:33 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML expects China to account for about 20 per cent of its total sales this year, after seeing shipments to the market more than double during the previous quarter despite mounting US pressure for tighter export restrictions on less advanced chipmaking machinery. The company’s sales to China surged 109 per cent in the third quarter compared with the previous three months, according to financial results released on Wednesday. That took China’s share of ASML’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3370904/asmls-chip-equipment-sales-china-soar-109-despite-us-export-curb-push https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3370904/asmls-chip-equipment-sales-china-soar-109-despite-us-export-curb-push Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu No Chinese carmakers were represented at a dinner on Sunday attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and around 60 European automotive industry players, but they were hard to miss when he visited the Paris Motor Show the next day. Allianz Trade said in a report that Chinese marques comprised half the exhibitors at this year’s show, even as they dealt with the fallout from a China-EU agreement to curb the growth of China’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid automotive exports to the bloc. Against the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370746/import-curbs-loom-chinese-carmakers-make-stand-paris-motor-show https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370746/import-curbs-loom-chinese-carmakers-make-stand-paris-motor-show Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Weeks of high-wire negotiations between China and the EU culminated in a surprise trade deal that will, among other measures, impose strict quotas on Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc and slash Chinese tariffs on a variety of European goods. The deal, unveiled on Friday, takes some of the heat out of searing bilateral trade tensions and temporarily averts the prospect of a bruising trade war – a cooldown augmented by Beijing’s subsequent reduction of value-added tax (VAT) export rebates on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3370623/china-eu-take-breath-after-surprise-deal-brings-temporary-halt-trade-tussle https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3370623/china-eu-take-breath-after-surprise-deal-brings-temporary-halt-trade-tussle Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:56:34 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim,Xiaofei Xu The European Union and China have “reached an understanding” that will cut Chinese hybrid car shipments to the bloc by “more than a half”, in a temporary salve to trade tensions that have threatened to boil over into a full-blown trade war. Speaking after marathon trade talks in Beijing, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the deal would see China slash its hybrid car exports “by several million cars” over a four-year period. “This is the first time that China has accepted to moderate its exports... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370385/china-and-eu-reach-understanding-hybrid-vehicles-after-crunch-trade-talks https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370385/china-and-eu-reach-understanding-hybrid-vehicles-after-crunch-trade-talks Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:59:22 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The World Trade Organization (WTO) has nearly doubled its forecast for merchandise trade volume growth this year amid a stronger than anticipated surge in artificial intelligence-related capital investment. The group raised the forecast to 3.9 per cent from an earlier prediction of 1.9 per cent, it said in its global trade outlook report published on Thursday. “It is somewhat surprising that [merchandise trade growth] is so resilient to all the shocks that have been going on,” said WTO chief... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3370196/wto-nearly-doubles-trade-volume-forecast-ai-surge-counters-middle-east-disruptions https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3370196/wto-nearly-doubles-trade-volume-forecast-ai-surge-counters-middle-east-disruptions Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s central bank published a position paper on the yuan exchange rate on Thursday, arguing that China has no need to gain a competitive edge through devaluing its currency and has never resorted to deliberate devaluation. The report was published on the same day that China and the European Union kicked off a fresh round of trade talks, with growing European calls for a stronger yuan to help address the bloc’s widening trade deficit with China. “Global economic imbalances are deeply... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370215/chinas-central-bank-slams-currency-manipulation-claims-eu-trade-talks-begin https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370215/chinas-central-bank-slams-currency-manipulation-claims-eu-trade-talks-begin Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:57:55 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu As China and the European Union began a fresh round of trade talks in Beijing on Thursday, observers on both sides appeared to agree on one thing: a big breakthrough was unlikely. Chinese firms based in Europe said they hoped the talks could achieve some “limited progress” to help stabilise the trade relationship, while European analysts remained cautious about the potential outcome. “They’re bound to get some results,” said a Chinese source with knowledge of the talks, adding that EU Trade... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370119/china-and-eu-begin-crunch-trade-talks-optimism-short-supply https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3370119/china-and-eu-begin-crunch-trade-talks-optimism-short-supply Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:28 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Despite the recent surge in French borrowing costs that pushed the country’s 10-year bond yield spread with Germany to a level unseen since the euro zone crisis, analysts are urging calm, saying France is not facing a debt crisis but cautioning that future uncertainties remain. “The short answer is no, this is not a debt crisis,” said Stephane Colliac, senior economist at BNP Paribas. France’s effective interest rate is lower than the rising market yields, at slightly above 2 per cent, around... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3370020/despite-rising-yields-and-political-gridlock-france-not-facing-debt-crisis-analysts https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3370020/despite-rising-yields-and-political-gridlock-france-not-facing-debt-crisis-analysts Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu In the industrial heartland of Normandy, more than 100km (62 miles) away from Paris, lies the small town of Cleon. Home to fewer than 5,000 residents and a Renault factory, the town and its environs are a near-perfect reflection of the current state of France’s rust belt, where economic activity and jobs are dwindling – the factory’s workforce has shrunk from almost 5,000 to 3,124 in 10 years. Yet the planned arrival of an assembly line from Chinese firm Shanghai E-Drive next year, in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3369753/renaults-plan-chinese-ev-motor-assembly-small-french-town-sparks-job-loss-fears https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3369753/renaults-plan-chinese-ev-motor-assembly-small-french-town-sparks-job-loss-fears Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:05:28 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu In the strongest sign yet of a shifting European Union policy on China, the leaders of France and Germany have demanded a new trade weapon that would cut off access to the EU market when third countries cause severe distortions. The tool would effectively act as a kill switch, allowing Brussels to respond rapidly to systemic distortions, potentially immediately. It would grant dramatic new powers to the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, which manages trade policy for the 27-member... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369828/france-germany-call-new-weapon-allowing-immediate-cut-china-eu-market https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369828/france-germany-call-new-weapon-allowing-immediate-cut-china-eu-market Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:08:31 +0000 Ben Jiang,Xiaofei Xu Ben Jiang,Xiaofei Xu In February 2023, the budget shopping platform Temu announced itself on the world stage in the brashest way possible: becoming one of the youngest ever brands to buy a Super Bowl advertising spot. “Download the Temu app and shop like a billionaire,” a voice proclaimed in the 30-second commercial, as a woman danced on screen and ordered a series of outlandishly cheap items: from a US$8.99 dress to a US$4.99 wig. The commercial – which aired twice during the game, costing Temu an estimated US$14... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3369595/temu-took-world-storm-has-shopping-app-lost-its-thunder https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3369595/temu-took-world-storm-has-shopping-app-lost-its-thunder Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:00:19 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese and US firms are “neck-and-neck” in the quality battle for the next generation of drone patents, despite China having a lead in volume, a study published on Thursday shows. Chinese companies accounted for 44 per cent of the world’s drone patent filings in 2024, against 17 per cent for American firms, according to a report published by LexisNexis. Measured by value, however, US drone patents were on a par with China’s, leaving the two countries roughly even in total global patent asset... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3369466/china-leads-drone-patent-volume-us-matches-quality-start-ups-drive-innovation-study https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3369466/china-leads-drone-patent-volume-us-matches-quality-start-ups-drive-innovation-study Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:24 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The Ministry of Commerce has criticised a reported Franco-German push for the EU to develop a trade tool similar to the US’ Section 301 to counter China, calling it “protectionist and unilateralist” and warning that Beijing would “resolutely respond” to any discriminatory measures against Chinese companies or products. “The EU has itself been a victim of such tools in the past: do not do unto others what you would not have done unto yourself,” it said in a statement issued on Tuesday. The timing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369272/beijing-criticises-push-eu-develop-section-301-style-trade-tool-counter-china https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369272/beijing-criticises-push-eu-develop-section-301-style-trade-tool-counter-china Wed, 30 Sep 2026 03:00:18 +0000 Huizhao Huang,Xiaofei Xu Huizhao Huang,Xiaofei Xu Wang Xixi still remembers her first experience with Germany’s trains 21 years ago. It left her with a question: how could a railway be so empty, clean and punctual, and still make money? The carriages were bright, the toilets almost spotless and the fittings modern. During four years as a student in Bavaria, travelling on a regional rail pass, she barely remembers a delay. At the time, China’s high-speed railway network was just getting started, while Germany was a major exporter of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3369202/how-years-thin-investment-have-stalled-germanys-rail-network-chinas-speeds-ahead https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3369202/how-years-thin-investment-have-stalled-germanys-rail-network-chinas-speeds-ahead Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video call with German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche on Monday, just over a week before the next round of trade talks between Beijing and Brussels, amid reports that Germany and France are pushing for a new tool that would enable the EU to swiftly shut China out of the European market. Wang and Reiche “exchanged opinions on the Sino-German and Sino-European economic and trade relations”, according to a short statement published by the Chinese side... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3369133/beijing-and-berlin-exchanged-opinions-amid-reported-plan-shut-china-out-eu-market https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3369133/beijing-and-berlin-exchanged-opinions-amid-reported-plan-shut-china-out-eu-market Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:31:22 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting on Monday that called for a series of policies to strengthen support for the economy, including encouraging local governments, where conditions allow, to pilot measures to boost consumption. “In response to emerging challenges in the economy’s operation, efforts should be made to intensify countercyclical adjustment of macro policies and promote innovation-driven, high-quality and sound economic development,” according to a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369129/china-asks-local-governments-pilot-high-quality-policies-boost-consumption https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369129/china-asks-local-governments-pilot-high-quality-policies-boost-consumption Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:07:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu As President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to the United States, observers in Europe welcomed the stabilisation of ties between the world’s two largest economies – particularly the two-month extension of their trade truce. But some also fear the continent risks being sidelined by bilateral negotiations in which it had no seat at the table, and opinion is split on whether this is good news for the next round of the European Union’s trade talks with China. “The stabilisation of relations between... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3368938/why-xis-us-trip-leaves-europe-relieved-trade-truce-wary-what-comes-next https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3368938/why-xis-us-trip-leaves-europe-relieved-trade-truce-wary-what-comes-next Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:01:19 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing and Brussels remain “deadlocked” on trade in medical devices following discussions in Beijing this week, a source said, adding that “intensive consultations” were under way about Brussels’ plan to launch import safeguards against made-in-China plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji – China’s deputy international trade representative – held discussions with Ditte Juul Jorgensen, the European Commission’s director general for trade and economic... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3368811/china-and-eu-deadlocked-medical-devices-still-talking-phev-curbs-source https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3368811/china-and-eu-deadlocked-medical-devices-still-talking-phev-curbs-source Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:30:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Sylvia Ma Xiaofei Xu,Sylvia Ma China tightened its controls on the export of fentanyl precursors to the United States, Canada and Mexico, adding two new chemicals to its list requiring export licences on Tuesday, one day ahead of President Xi Jinping’s announced visit to the US. China’s Ministry of Commerce, together with four other government agencies, added two N-phenethyl piperidine esters to part one of China’s Catalogue for the Administration of Exports of Precursor Chemicals to Specific Countries (Regions), according to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3368405/china-tightens-control-more-fentanyl-precursors-ahead-xi-trump-meeting https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3368405/china-tightens-control-more-fentanyl-precursors-ahead-xi-trump-meeting Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:44:57 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Pascal Lamy served two consecutive terms as director general of the World Trade Organization from 2005 to 2013. Before that, he spent decades in various French government roles, contributing to the building of the European Union. He was chief of staff to European Commission president Jacques Delors from 1985 to 1994, and European trade commissioner from 1999 to 2004. Here, he discusses Europe’s trade tensions with China, the continent’s growth potential problem and the WTO’s need for stronger... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367981/former-wto-head-pascal-lamy-eus-china-choice-get-rebalance-or-go-protectionist https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367981/former-wto-head-pascal-lamy-eus-china-choice-get-rebalance-or-go-protectionist Sun, 20 Sep 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Taobao Instant Commerce, Alibaba’s on-demand delivery service that was revamped last year and is known as Taobao Shangou in Chinese, won a top French Design Award prize on Saturday for its delivery worker uniform, marking the first time the prize was awarded for a design for frontline workers. “We think the [Taobao Shangou] suit design would transform delivery workwear into a recognisable professional uniform, helping reshape how society sees this essential profession,” said Dario Olivero, chair... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3368121/first-top-european-design-prize-awarded-eu20-uniform-chinas-delivery-drivers https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3368121/first-top-european-design-prize-awarded-eu20-uniform-chinas-delivery-drivers Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Pascal Lamy served two consecutive terms as director general of the World Trade Organization from 2005 to 2013. Before that, he spent decades in various French government roles, contributing to the building of the European Union. He was chief of staff to European Commission president Jacques Delors from 1985 to 1994, and European trade commissioner from 1999 to 2004. Here, he discusses Europe’s trade tensions with China, the continent’s growth potential problem and the WTO’s need for stronger... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3367931/pascal-lamy-says-europe-moment-truth-china-trade https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3367931/pascal-lamy-says-europe-moment-truth-china-trade Fri, 18 Sep 2026 03:22:48 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The next round of China-EU trade talks is set to take place in Beijing from October 8 to 9, Brussels announced on Thursday following a video call between European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, adding that Europe wanted to see a “credible” outcome. The European Commission said that during a call lasting more than an hour, the two sides reviewed “extensive work” carried out at senior-official level covering issues including the management of Chinese exports... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3367937/brussels-announces-next-round-china-eu-trade-talks-be-held-beijing-next-month https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3367937/brussels-announces-next-round-china-eu-trade-talks-be-held-beijing-next-month Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:43:17 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s state-of-the-union speech offered few details on new trade measures targeting China, but its sharp tone was designed to send a message to Beijing, analysts said. During her speech on Wednesday, von der Leyen warned that a “second China shock” was already affecting Europe and vowed that Brussels would use all available tools to rebalance its trade relationship with the country. Her remarks came as the European Union’s October deadline for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367891/von-der-leyens-china-shock-speech-aimed-send-beijing-message-analysts https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367891/von-der-leyens-china-shock-speech-aimed-send-beijing-message-analysts Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed the bloc’s resolve to use all available tools to rebalance trade with China. After opening remarks about energy and innovation during her annual State of the Union speech at the European Parliament on Wednesday, she quickly pivoted to the EU’s trade deficit with China and contended that the “second China shock” had already arrived. She argued that European firms must compete on a level playing field, noting that while Brussels was... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367731/eus-von-der-leyen-vows-tough-china-trade-stance-words-are-good-deeds-are-better https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367731/eus-von-der-leyen-vows-tough-china-trade-stance-words-are-good-deeds-are-better Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:56:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Sweden found itself in political uncertainty this week, as its parliamentary election on Sunday turned out to be extremely tight. With 95 per cent of the votes counted, the opposition left-wing bloc holds a three-seat lead over the governing right-wing bloc, with final results expected on Thursday. I’ve been to multiple election night parties across Europe as a journalist. The one on Sunday night with the Social Democrats, the main centre-left party seeking to regain power, was definitely on the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367705/swedens-long-election-night-ends-without-answers-caution-china-seems-certain https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3367705/swedens-long-election-night-ends-without-answers-caution-china-seems-certain Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Millions of Swedish voters head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament. Whatever the outcome, analysts say, the country is likely to look more towards Beijing for its technology edge and to diversify away from an increasingly unreliable Washington, despite persisting challenges in China-EU trade. “Many factors right now suggest that relations between Sweden and China will change in the long term – not necessarily directly linked to the elections – because I see more Swedish businesses... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3367143/why-sweden-once-one-beijings-most-outspoken-critics-europe-has-changed-its-tune https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3367143/why-sweden-once-one-beijings-most-outspoken-critics-europe-has-changed-its-tune Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:30:06 +0000