https://www.scmp.com/rss/521969/feed The latest news and top stories on the US Trade Representative. A prominent Washington D.C.-based governmental body, the US Trade Representative is dedicated to developing and coordinating US international trade policy. Its main areas of focus include leading bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations, expanding market access for American goods and services and addressing unfair trade practices. Established in 1962 as an agency within the Executive Office of the President, it plays a pivotal... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Just weeks before a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Washington’s top trade negotiator signalled a cautious, tightly managed approach to China ties, ruling out a pre-summit visit to Beijing, favouring continued virtual engagement, and indicating no new push to expand bilateral investment. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated on Tuesday that preparatory talks with Chinese counterparts would take place virtually, ruling out an in-person... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349312/only-virtual-talks-no-new-investment-push-xi-trump-summit-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349312/only-virtual-talks-no-new-investment-push-xi-trump-summit-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:03:49 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Direct trade between China and the United States continues its shrinking trend, new US government data showed on Thursday, as the anniversary of “Liberation Day” highlights how last year’s tariff escalations deepened tensions between the two global powers. The figures come ahead of a planned leaders’ meeting in Beijing next month, where both sides are expected to explore ways to stabilise relations after a period of renewed economic strain, and just hours before he announced a fresh set of... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:25:26 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Washington’s top trade negotiator suggested on Tuesday that, in a break from usual practice, members of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet will not visit Beijing ahead of the expected mid-May summit with President Xi Jinping to prepare or discuss deliverables. “I don’t think we’re going to need to do that,” Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television when asked about meeting his Chinese counterparts soon, ahead of the much-anticipated leaders’... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348590/trump-xi-summit-us-trade-chief-casts-doubt-pre-meeting-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348590/trump-xi-summit-us-trade-chief-casts-doubt-pre-meeting-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:19:16 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan As US President Donald Trump heads to a delayed, high-stakes mid-May summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, he is already claiming victory, touting on Friday past trade talks with Xi as a win for American farmers, a crucial electoral bloc battered by his tariffs and the ongoing war with Iran. “Thanks to our trade deals, you’re now sending over US$40 billion in American soybeans to China,” Trump said on Friday, telling farmers and ranchers at the White House he personally secured the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348219/trump-pitches-china-trade-win-us-farmers-ahead-xi-meeting-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348219/trump-pitches-china-trade-win-us-farmers-ahead-xi-meeting-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:21:27 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China and the US ended the first day of trade talks in Paris on Sunday without any major developments. Talks will continue tomorrow when the US delegation is set to leave. The Chinese delegation will stay one more day before leaving on Tuesday. The first day of the sixth round of trade talks between the world’s two biggest economies – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – was rather uneventful for journalists waiting outside the venue, the headquarters... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346687/us-china-trade-talks-low-key-start-negotiations-after-first-meeting-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346687/us-china-trade-talks-low-key-start-negotiations-after-first-meeting-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:33:25 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore said it ran a trade deficit with the US in 2024, disputing figures published by Washington that showed the city state posted a surplus and challenging suggestions that it is contributing to global manufacturing overcapacity. The dispute surfaced after the Office of the US Trade Representative announced this week that it had launched investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into the acts, policies and practices of 16 economies, including Singapore. The investigations... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346560/singapore-contests-us-claim-trade-surplus-amid-excess-capacity-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346560/singapore-contests-us-claim-trade-surplus-amid-excess-capacity-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:02:46 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The United States’ decision to launch Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices by China and several other economies – which could allow Washington to reimpose higher tariffs – is a “bluff” designed to give US President Donald Trump some perceived leverage ahead of his expected trip to China, analysts said. But the threat is unlikely to work on Beijing, which has grown used to the president’s “art of the deal” tactics, they added. “Trump’s move before his China trip is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346365/trumps-tariff-investigation-bluff-will-not-work-china-analysts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346365/trumps-tariff-investigation-bluff-will-not-work-china-analysts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration on Wednesday opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries – an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down US President Donald Trump’s previous use of tariffs by declaring an economic emergency. Trump and his team have made clear that they’re seeking to replace the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenues after the Supreme Court’s February ruling by using different laws to establish new tariffs. In this case, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346279/us-launches-trade-probe-china-and-eu-bid-revive-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346279/us-launches-trade-probe-china-and-eu-bid-revive-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:46:48 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Donald Trump’s plan to increase a broad 10 per cent tariff rate to 15 per cent is likely to be implemented this week. “That’s likely sometime this week,” Bessent said on Wednesday on CNBC in response to a question about when the increase to 15 per cent would be made. Bessent’s comments offer the clearest indication yet regarding when the US will follow through on Trump’s pledge to raise tariffs. The president last month imposed a 10 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345479/trumps-15-global-tariffs-likely-start-week-us-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345479/trumps-15-global-tariffs-likely-start-week-us-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:14:01 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US and Chinese trade negotiators are slated to meet in mid-March, according to people familiar with the matter, signalling that a planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is pushing ahead despite American strikes against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng are expected to convene in Paris at the end of next week to discuss business deals that could stem from the leaders’ meeting, said the people who... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345326/us-and-china-trade-chiefs-meet-mid-march-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345326/us-and-china-trade-chiefs-meet-mid-march-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:35:28 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda sharpens and, in some ways, reshapes Washington’s approach to Beijing, blending enforcement with a new emphasis on “managed” trade between the world’s two largest economies. United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer delivered the 2026 Trade Policy Agenda and 2025 Annual Report to Congress on Monday, highlighting a significant shift in the US-China trade relationship. Managing trade with China for “reciprocity and balance” is one... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3345191/trumps-2026-trade-agenda-sharpens-push-managed-us-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3345191/trumps-2026-trade-agenda-sharpens-push-managed-us-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:45:28 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The United States Supreme Court, which dealt a serious blow to US President Donald Trump’s tariff-based trade policy, may have helped to steady the rocky trade ties between China and the United States ahead of a crucial summit meeting. In a stunning decision that cut across ideological blocs, six out of the nine justices ruled that Trump lacked the authority to impose the emergency tariffs he did last year on nearly all imports into the US, including the so-called reciprocal duties on dozens of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344879/china-now-holds-more-cards-ahead-xi-trump-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344879/china-now-holds-more-cards-ahead-xi-trump-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:15:16 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Washington will keep China tariffs at their current level as the Trump administration seeks “continuity” after the Supreme Court struck down the levies it imposed last year, according to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, weeks ahead of a high-stakes meeting between the two countries’ leaders. The US will keep in place current China tariffs, which have varied from 35 per cent to 50 per cent depending on the product, since the countries “de-escalated” the trade war last year, Greer said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344658/us-keep-china-trade-tariffs-steady-ahead-key-trump-xi-meeting-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344658/us-keep-china-trade-tariffs-steady-ahead-key-trump-xi-meeting-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:11:22 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer issued a statement on President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a new levy after the Supreme Court struck down “reciprocal” and fentanyl tariffs imposed last year. The 10 per cent global tariff takes effect today and will run for 150 days. After announcing the levy, Trump had said it would be raised to 15 per cent. Ambassador Greer's Statement on Supreme Court IEEPA Decision by scmp https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3344433/us-trade-chiefs-statement-trumps-global-tariff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3344433/us-trade-chiefs-statement-trumps-global-tariff?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:20:38 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen As US President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing from March 31 to April 2, analysts say recent American policy reversals, including a Supreme Court ruling striking down broad tariffs, have shifted trade tensions into a phase of cautious stability rather than escalation. The legal setback has strengthened China’s negotiating position, bolstered by lowered effective tariffs, its leverage over critical minerals like rare earths, and a more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344388/us-tariff-ruling-points-steadier-us-china-ties-ahead-april-summit-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344388/us-tariff-ruling-points-steadier-us-china-ties-ahead-april-summit-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:49:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration reached a trade deal with Taiwan on Thursday, with Taiwan agreeing to remove or reduce 99 per cent of its tariff barriers, the office of the US Trade Representative said. The agreement comes as the US remains reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips, the exporting of which contributed to a trade imbalance of nearly US$127 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, according to the Census Bureau. Taiwan’s exports to the US will be taxed at a 15 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343386/trump-admin-signs-trade-deal-lower-taiwans-tariff-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343386/trump-admin-signs-trade-deal-lower-taiwans-tariff-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:30:16 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao US-blacklisted company iFlytek has set up a new corporate entity to expand into semiconductors and other artificial intelligence-related fields as part of efforts to bolster China’s broader tech self-sufficiency initiatives. The new entity, Shandong Yixun Information Technology, was incorporated last week with a registered capital of 50 million yuan (US$7.1 million), according to the latest information from Chinese corporate data provider Qichacha. The scope of this entity’s operations would... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337659/chinese-ai-champion-iflytek-sets-new-entity-expand-semiconductor-design?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337659/chinese-ai-champion-iflytek-sets-new-entity-expand-semiconductor-design?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang China said on Wednesday it would hit back against the latest US tariffs targeting its semiconductor sector. On Tuesday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative said it would raise the tariffs on June 23, 2027, with the level to be announced at least 30 days in advance. It followed the release of the findings of a year-long probe into China’s chip sector, launched in the final month of the Joe Biden administration. The office said Beijing’s push to dominate the sector was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337653/china-vows-retaliate-against-unreasonable-us-semiconductor-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337653/china-vows-retaliate-against-unreasonable-us-semiconductor-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:00:24 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan In a new trade move against China’s semiconductor industry, the US Trade Representative Office said it had determined that Beijing’s drive for dominance in the sector is “unreasonable and discriminatory” and poses a direct threat to US commerce. In a formal notice of action filed with the Federal Register, the agency said the US is implementing a tariff action on a wide range of Chinese semiconductors, with an initial rate of 0 per cent. The rate is set to rise in 18 months, on June 23, 2027, to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337543/us-launches-tariff-action-chinese-chips-flags-economic-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337543/us-launches-tariff-action-chinese-chips-flags-economic-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:58:53 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Indonesia said it has resolved all substantive issues in trade talks with the US and is on course to sign an agreement in late January, removing a major source of uncertainty for Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Both countries have aligned on the “crucial issues” in their draft agreement, protecting the mutual interests of both parties, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in an online presentation on Tuesday, after meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337450/prabowo-trump-sign-indonesia-us-trade-deal-january-issues-resolved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337450/prabowo-trump-sign-indonesia-us-trade-deal-january-issues-resolved?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:28:21 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is on track to slash its reliance on imported soybeans to less than 30 per cent within a decade, from the current 90 per cent, research from Goldman Sachs suggests, as Beijing accelerates efforts to shore up self-sufficiency – including inoculating its food supply against trade shocks. Demand-management strategies for the crop – a vital source of cooking oil and animal feed, as well as a key commodity at the centre of Beijing’s trade relations with Washington – reduced annual consumption... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336111/chinas-food-security-push-slash-soy-imports-two-thirds-decade-goldman-sachs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336111/chinas-food-security-push-slash-soy-imports-two-thirds-decade-goldman-sachs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:00:08 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang The United States is striving for a more “constructive” relationship with China after this year’s trade war and will continue to pursue a “managed” bilateral trade relationship, its chief trade envoy said, despite concerns lingering over China’s grip on critical minerals and pushback over the White House’s recent approval of H200 AI chip sales. The comments by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer came after Beijing and Washington fought fiercely throughout the year over tariffs. The Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3335970/us-seeks-constructive-reset-china-trade-tensions-ease-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3335970/us-seeks-constructive-reset-china-trade-tensions-ease-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:51:45 +0000 Reuters Reuters Mexico’s lower house early Wednesday approved tariffs of up to 50 per cent next year on imports from China and several other Asian countries, aiming to boost domestic production and address trade imbalances. With 281 votes in favour, 24 against, and 149 abstentions, the chamber passed the bill, which still requires Senate approval, despite opposition from China and local business groups. The proposal would impose or raise tariffs – mostly up to 35 per cent – throughout 2026 on goods such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3335962/mexico-lawmakers-approve-tariff-increase-chinese-and-other-asian-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3335962/mexico-lawmakers-approve-tariff-increase-chinese-and-other-asian-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:53:41 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to speak with a top Indonesian official this week in hopes of salvaging a trade framework at risk of collapsing, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Greer will speak to Airlangga Hartarto, the Indonesian coordinating minister for economic affairs, in an effort to revive a deal struck in July that would see US tariffs on Indonesian goods reduced from a threatened 32 per cent to 19 per cent in exchange for a series of concessions. But US officials... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335824/us-says-indonesia-backtracking-trade-pledges-trump-deal-risks-falling-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335824/us-says-indonesia-backtracking-trade-pledges-trump-deal-risks-falling-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 01:10:48 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang Beijing and Washington held a call on Friday to discuss bilateral trade and economic ties, as a variety of practical issues – from soybean orders to computer chips – remain problematic despite the trade truce in October. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng’s video call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was part of a bilateral negotiation mechanism started this year to address issues between the world’s two largest economies. The two sides had... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3335425/chinas-he-lifeng-holds-constructive-call-trump-officials-bessent-and-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3335425/chinas-he-lifeng-holds-constructive-call-trump-officials-bessent-and-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:59:50 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump could decide next year to withdraw from the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), Politico reported on Thursday, citing US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. “The president’s view is he only wants deals that are a good deal. The reason why we built a review period into USMCA was in case we needed to revise it, review it or exit it,” Greer told Politico’s White House bureau chief Dasha Burns in a podcast episode that will be broadcast on Friday. Greer... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3335256/trump-could-decide-next-year-withdraw-usmca-says-us-trade-representative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3335256/trump-could-decide-next-year-withdraw-usmca-says-us-trade-representative?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:12:24 +0000 Reuters Reuters The United States and Britain announced a deal on Monday to secure zero tariffs on British pharmaceutical products and medical technology in return for Britain spending more on medicines and overhauling how it values drugs. Under the agreement, Britain will raise the net price it pays for new US medicines by 25 per cent. In return, UK-made medicines, drug ingredients and medical technology will be exempt from Section 232 sectoral tariffs and any future Section 301 country tariffs. “The United... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3334813/us-uk-deal-slashes-tariffs-medicines-boosting-nhs-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3334813/us-uk-deal-slashes-tariffs-medicines-boosting-nhs-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:15:50 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that Donald Trump may travel to China in November 2026 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, one of four possible in-person meetings between the US leader and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming year. As with many features of the Trump presidency, this level of contact would be unprecedented, matched only by Trump’s four meetings with Xi in 2017 during his first term. Speaking on CNBC shortly before US markets opened, Bessent... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334142/trump-may-attend-apec-china-next-year-us-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334142/trump-may-attend-apec-china-next-year-us-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:02:03 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham As they look to keep the United States engaged in Ukraine and push for lower trade tariffs, EU ministers lobbied their US counterparts for joint policies on China on Monday – even as new public opinion polling shows a waning appetite for such a partnership. The China carrot was dangled by successive ministers ahead of and after a meeting of the bloc’s trade council in Brussels, which was attended by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. This is despite... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334031/eu-ministers-court-trump-joint-china-policy-even-public-scepticism-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334031/eu-ministers-court-trump-joint-china-policy-even-public-scepticism-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Thailand’s insistence that trade negotiations with the US can proceed separately from talks over a fractious border dispute with Cambodia has been met with deep scepticism given Washington’s increasing use of economic policy as a political instrument and US President Donald Trump’s personal stake in the ceasefire deal. Bangkok announced on Saturday that tariff talks with the United States would “remain separate from border issues”, a pledge government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333223/why-trump-wont-let-thailand-keep-tariff-border-talks-separate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333223/why-trump-wont-let-thailand-keep-tariff-border-talks-separate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:24:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States and Switzerland said on Friday that they had reached an agreement to sharply lower tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, with the Alpine nation vowing to invest US$200 billion in the US to win over the White House. The deal was announced a day after talks in Washington, where Swiss economy minister Guy Parmelin visited in hopes of easing steep duties the Trump administration rolled out this year. Trump shocked Switzerland in August when he slapped an added 39 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332884/trumps-tariffs-us-and-switzerland-reach-trade-deal-after-rolex-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332884/trumps-tariffs-us-and-switzerland-reach-trade-deal-after-rolex-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:34:00 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The decision to suspend new port fees on Chinese-built, owned, or operated vessels starting on Monday has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who say it undercuts US President Donald Trump’s claims of being tough on China. They are not alone in pushing back. While shippers see the move easing costs and boosting trade, labour unions are warning that it could weaken American maritime leverage, send the wrong signal to Beijing, and contradict the administration’s own rhetoric on holding China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:39:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A group of trade unions led by the United Steelworkers slammed the Trump administration for suspending port fees on Chinese ships that workers argued would bring about a revival in the once-dominant domestic shipbuilding industry. The unions expressed “strong disappointment” with the administration’s decision and said it would have negative consequences in the nation’s attempt to restore the US maritime sector, according to a letter sent to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The letter,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332078/us-unions-slam-trump-giving-china-pass-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332078/us-unions-slam-trump-giving-china-pass-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 22:23:26 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Just back from his whirlwind Asia tour, US President Donald Trump on Friday hailed a newly negotiated trade deal with China as a “long-lasting” victory even as he teased the possibility of more tariff concessions. Aboard Air Force One en route to his Palm Beach, Florida, resort, Trump painted the Busan, South Korea, summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as a blockbuster for US agriculture, especially soybeans, and dangled the prospect of stronger trade ties. “The deal with China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331140/trump-hails-lasting-deal-xi-dangles-more-possible-tariff-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331140/trump-hails-lasting-deal-xi-dangles-more-possible-tariff-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:06:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Thailand has asked President Donald Trump for a “better” trade deal as the two countries press ahead with tariff talks following a US-brokered peace agreement between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made a direct plea to Trump during an informal chat after a dinner with other leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit late on Wednesday in South Korea, according to a Thai government statement. Trump told Anutin that he would talk to US Trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3330884/thailand-chases-better-trade-deal-trump-after-signing-cambodia-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3330884/thailand-chases-better-trade-deal-trump-after-signing-cambodia-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:54:07 +0000 Frank Tang,Khushboo Razdan Frank Tang,Khushboo Razdan Beijing’s top envoy in Washington has emphasised the need for “shared prosperity”, framing a possible summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in South Korea as an opportunity for cooperation rather than confrontation. Speaking at an event on Friday, China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, said that China and the US, as the world’s two largest economies, should improve communication and manage their differences. “In this chaotic world, we... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330299/chinese-envoy-calls-shared-prosperity-possible-xi-trump-summit-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330299/chinese-envoy-calls-shared-prosperity-possible-xi-trump-summit-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:41:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s sanctions on Hanwha Ocean will drive up the firm’s costs in the medium term but may also end up boosting South Korean ties with the US over the long term as Washington seeks to expand naval shipbuilding capacity, analysts said. Last week, the Chinese commerce ministry announced it had imposed sanctions on five US-based affiliates of Hanwha Ocean, one of South Korea’s largest shipbuilding companies. The ministry alleged that Hanwha had supported Washington’s investigation into Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330219/chinese-sanctions-will-cost-south-korean-shipbuilder-could-boost-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330219/chinese-sanctions-will-cost-south-korean-shipbuilder-could-boost-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:00:12 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In a move that piles up further US leverage in advance of next week’s planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the US trade representative announced an investigation on Friday into Beijing’s compliance with the Phase One Trade Agreement. The latest tit-for-tat salvo comes as the two economic giants amass threats that, if carried through, could cripple the global economy. “The initiation of this investigation underscores the Trump administration’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3330280/us-launches-investigation-chinas-compliance-trumps-2020-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3330280/us-launches-investigation-chinas-compliance-trumps-2020-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:21:43 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan After repeated on-again, off-again signalling in recent weeks, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he has a “pretty long meeting scheduled” in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure that “we can work out a lot of our questions and our doubts”. This followed comments by Trump on Tuesday that the meeting between himself and Xi might not take place. The mercurial US president has a history of teasing events for publicity and in order to extract last-minute concessions from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329981/us-china-trade-officials-meet-malaysia-amid-escalating-rare-earths-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329981/us-china-trade-officials-meet-malaysia-amid-escalating-rare-earths-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:04:20 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China and the United States are set to hold fresh trade talks next week, following a video call between Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday morning Beijing time. “Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media after their call. “We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.” In its readout, China described He’s discussions with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329494/top-us-and-china-trade-envoys-set-trade-talks-after-constructive-phone-call?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329494/top-us-and-china-trade-envoys-set-trade-talks-after-constructive-phone-call?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 03:46:06 +0000 Frank Tang,Khushboo Razdan Frank Tang,Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump’s administration vowed on Wednesday to work with its allies and other countries to get an upper hand in its trade talks with China, claiming Beijing’s recent rare earth control as a sign of being an “unreliable partner” that threatens global supply chains. The remarks marked the latest in a series of threatened countermeasures, as Trump officials have previously announced 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods from November 1 and also struck back on such targets like... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329166/us-rallies-allies-confront-china-over-rare-earth-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329166/us-rallies-allies-confront-china-over-rare-earth-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:57:16 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Beijing and Washington conducted working-level talks on Monday despite a renewed escalation in trade tensions, China’s Ministry of Commerce has said, urging the US to “show sincerity” in its relations. “The US cannot engage in dialogue while intimidating and threatening to impose new restrictions. This is not the right way to deal with China,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. “China urges the US to immediately correct its wrong practices and show sincerity for dialogue.” Tensions... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328883/china-and-us-held-working-level-talks-monday-despite-trade-spat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328883/china-and-us-held-working-level-talks-monday-despite-trade-spat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 01:51:38 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The outlook for US-China relations appeared to hit another snag on Sunday when the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that China had rebuffed an attempt to communicate, even as US President Donald Trump appeared to downplay the ongoing trade differences. This follows Trump’s threat on Friday to impose an extra 100 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods starting November 1 and to curb the export of “any and all critical software”, a doubling down on his China trade policy a day after... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328725/us-trade-envoy-says-china-deferred-when-us-tried-discuss-export-controls-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328725/us-trade-envoy-says-china-deferred-when-us-tried-discuss-export-controls-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:05:58 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China hits back at Trump’s port fees with reciprocal charges for US ships China will levy phased fees on US-linked vessels calling at its ports starting next Tuesday, a retaliatory action set to take effect the same day as similar charges that were announced in April by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. 2. Trump threatens to halt Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328570/china-strikes-back-us-port-fees-trump-threatens-imports-halt-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328570/china-strikes-back-us-port-fees-trump-threatens-imports-halt-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:15:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China will levy phased fees on US-linked vessels calling at its ports starting next Tuesday, a retaliatory action set to take effect the same day as similar surcharges that were announced in April by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Having been granted approval by the State Council, China’s cabinet, Beijing will apply the fees to vessels under several classifications: those owned or operated by US enterprises, organisations and individuals; those whose owners or operators... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328537/china-hits-back-trumps-port-fees-reciprocal-charges-us-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328537/china-hits-back-trumps-port-fees-reciprocal-charges-us-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:15:30 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China are unlikely to ease, despite ongoing talks towards a comprehensive deal targeted for November, according to two people familiar with the matter. The US seems “very comfortable” with the current rate of tariffs, the sources said, adding that the recent negotiations have mostly revolved around “broader” issues like TikTok, subsidies, trade deficit and export controls since the Trump administration remains focused on collecting revenues to fix the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3327555/trumps-china-tariffs-seen-status-quo-amid-tiktok-talks-other-issues-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3327555/trumps-china-tariffs-seen-status-quo-amid-tiktok-talks-other-issues-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:33:57 +0000 Reuters Reuters US tariffs on Chinese imports of around 55 per cent are a “good status quo,” but the Trump administration would like to find areas where bilateral trade could increase more freely, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday. Greer’s comments at the Economic Club of New York indicated no immediate move towards lowering US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods ahead of a November 10 deadline for the expiration of a trade truce between the world’s two largest economies. “If... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3327448/trump-trade-chief-greer-calls-55-china-tariffs-good-status-quo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3327448/trump-trade-chief-greer-calls-55-china-tariffs-good-status-quo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:55:34 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Top trade negotiators from India and the United States failed to resolve their tariff dispute during talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, with New Delhi urging Washington to drop levies linked to Russian energy imports, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday. The pair were joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3327059/india-us-trade-talks-un-sidelines-fail-break-impasse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3327059/india-us-trade-talks-un-sidelines-fail-break-impasse?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:18:02 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Efforts this week by Asean nations to water down Washington’s tariffs through talks with the US’ point man on trade appear to have failed, experts say. Instead, fresh threats were issued of levies unless lopsided trade deals favouring America can be quickly reached. During a two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur that began on Wednesday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer made it clear that Washington would not budge on its goal of reclaiming control of key industries – including semiconductors,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326959/asean-hopes-sway-us-trade-tariffs-its-not-looking-promising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326959/asean-hopes-sway-us-trade-tariffs-its-not-looking-promising?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 07:07:56 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Semiconductor manufacturers in Southeast Asia must shift production to the US or face punitive tariffs, Washington’s top trade official warned on Thursday, saying tariffs “are the solution” if trade talks with regional governments fail to deliver results. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer delivered the message in Kuala Lumpur, where he met with ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Greer’s comments came as members of the regional bloc raced to secure better... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326886/washington-southeast-asian-chipmakers-shift-production-us-or-face-tariff-solution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326886/washington-southeast-asian-chipmakers-shift-production-us-or-face-tariff-solution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:04:15 +0000