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Howard Lutnick

Howard Lutnick
Howard Lutnick is the 41st United States Secretary of Commerce, having assumed the role in February 2025. Previously, he was widely known as the long-serving Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, alongside leading BGC Group and Newmark Group. His tenure at Cantor Fitzgerald is notably marked by his resilient leadership in rebuilding the firm after the devastating 9/11 attacks, establishing a significant relief fund for victims’ families. As Commerce Secretary, he is central to US trade negotiations, advocating for tariffs and overseeing areas like semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency regulation. His expertise spans financial services, real estate and technology.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
United States

My Take | How Elon Musk and his merry band of billionaires run the United States

China follows a different system, but perhaps America should look into why the richest Chinese do not pose a problem similar to those in the US.

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Year in Review

SCMP Plus Year in Review 2025: China

US-China relations

‘A risk’: wealthy Chinese appear to shun Trump’s ‘gold card’ immigration scheme

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US-China relations

Nvidia CEO meets Trump, says he’s not sure if China would accept H200 chips

He says he and the US president discussed export controls before he met lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks briefly to reporters in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
Nexperia

China, EU shift Nexperia strategy: let the companies work it out

Wang Wentao shifts focus to the boardroom but warns the Dutch government must still scrap the executive order and court ruling fuelling the crisis.

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China-EU relations

EU ministers court Trump on joint China policy, even as public scepticism grows

European officials lobby American counterparts to ‘push back’ on Beijing together, while German poll shows wariness towards Washington.

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US-China trade war

US-China: a fragile truce, divergent accounts and a Thanksgiving test

Washington pushes a rare earth timeline Beijing never acknowledged, underscoring how far apart the two sides still appear to be.

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Three weeks Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were photographed smiling and shaking hands in South Korea, there is still no official deal between the two nations. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

Exclusive | Top Democrat demands US probe into Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

Letter by Raja Krishnamoorthi to US Commerce Department claims wafers made by China-based suppliers pose safety and reliability concerns.

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US-China relations

‘Amazing’ praise: Xi and Trump thaw summit ice with loads of warmth

Amid a bruising trade war, the two leaders rekindle friendly tone ahead of their first face-to-face encounter in six years.

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US-China trade war

Why Trump’s unpredictability and inconsistency could hamper meeting with Xi

US president’s erratic style of diplomacy and lack of strategy or focus may leave Beijing baffled, say analysts and former officials.

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Donald Trump greets well-wishers before boarding Air Force One from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Monday. The US president will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Explainer | How a single rule change sparked a major flare-up in US-China tensions

A string of recent events – from China’s new export curbs to the Dutch seizure of chip firm Nexperia – had the same trigger, analysts say.

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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One. The United States’ decision to widen its trade blacklists in late September may have sparked the latest escalation in the US-China trade war, analysts say. Photo: AP
US-China trade war

Trump and Xi’s shock tactics see trade war remain in a stalemate

Former government officials and analysts believe this is the price you pay when diplomatic negotiation fails and compromise is ignored.

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South Korea

South Korea, US edge closer to US$350 billion trade deal breakthrough

Top Seoul officials have flown to Washington in a sign that major progress is being made in the tough trade talks.

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Singapore

Singapore doubles down on zero tolerance for identity politics

Speaking in parliament, Minister K Shanmugam and opposition leader Pritam Singh disagreed over a preacher’s support for a WP candidate.

People walk in an underground MRT train station in Singapore. The government reiterates its stance in parliament on Tuesday against the politics of race and religion. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

William Lai’s pledge to ‘help make America great again’ stirs debate in Taiwan

Leader calls for closer cooperation on chips and AI, but critics say it could hollow out the island’s industrial base and weaken leverage.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s remarks triggered an online backlash. Photo: EPA
United States

Opinion | In a reverse Marshall Plan, Trump is squeezing US allies for cash

While the post-war plan saw America send money and aid to revive Europe, Trump’s aim is to commandeer funds from Japan, South Korea and the EU for US aims.

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Taiwan economy

Taiwan rejects US chip split, five-year plan meeting, ‘golden week’ travel

This week: Taiwan refuses to share chip production with US, dates set for key Communist Party meeting, US expands Chinese companies blacklist. Next week: ‘Golden week’ travel data, September auto sales, NBA returns to China and more.

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Taiwan

Taiwan ‘won’t agree’ to 50-50 chip split with US, VP Cheng Li-chun says

Island’s lead trade negotiator returns from trade talks to fears that the ‘silicon shield’ could be under attack.

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Taiwan has rejected US suggestions that it divide chip manufacturing evenly with the US. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Chinese AI models deemed a security risk by new US government report

The evaluation marks the first time the US government has comprehensively assessed DeepSeek’s capabilities in relation to leading US models.

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Donald Trump

Trump says Pfizer will cut drug prices for tariff relief

The White House is also planning a direct-to-consumer website called TrumpRx for Americans to buy medication.

India

India poised to gain as Trump curbs H-1B visas

Experts suggest US companies may relocate jobs in AI and finance to India as a way to avoid the new US$100,000 fee associated with H-1B visas.

US President Donald Trump’s new visa restrictions are prompting US firms to reconsider their labour strategies, with India emerging as a possible key beneficiary of outsourcing. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Has Lutnick signalled the end of Taiwan’s ‘silicon shield’ against Beijing?

Island sees its semiconductor industry as a security guarantee but the US commerce secretary wants production split 50-50 with America.

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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the concentration of semiconductor production in Taiwan is a vulnerability for America. Photo: AP
China technology

Editorial | China forges own path to AI ecosystem free from US dominance

With Huawei at the centre, China puts in motion plans for its own tech breakthroughs, taking the competition directly to America’s AI giants.

US-China tech war

China’s Anker faces US scrutiny for alleged tariff evasion and security risks

Congressional letter alleges that Anker bypassed US tariff regulations by re-routing shipments through Southeast Asian countries.

South Korea

Can South Korea afford to fulfil Trump’s US$350 billion trade demand?

Delivering on an order amounting to 84 per cent of South Korea’s foreign currency holdings could trigger a financial meltdown, analysts warn.

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (right) talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in New York on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
United States

Trump admin proposes new H-1B visa process that favours highly paid workers

The US president has introduced a US$100,000 fee for the visas, which American firms rely heavily on for hiring skilled workers.

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The Trump administration has intensified its focus on the H-1B programme, popular with tech and outsourcing companies for hiring skilled foreign workers. Photo illustration: Reuters
China technology

Chinese tech workers miss mainland weddings, rethink plans amid H-1B fee chaos

Companies and affected H-1B holders initially scrambled to figure out who would be subject to paying the new visa fee.

United States

‘It’s tragic’: H-1B workers rushing back to US liken panic to Covid-era madness

‘Everything is changing in an instant,’ says an engineer holidaying in Japan, who rushed to reschedule his return flight.

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