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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.
Protestors don masks of US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance at an anti-Trump rally outside the US Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
South Korea

South Korea tariff hike: is Trump ‘sending message’ to US court ahead of ruling?

Trump’s message appears more focused on pushing through the US-South Korean trade bill than on permanently raising tariffs, analysts say.

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Donald Trump

‘Never been more relevant’: did Trump make Davos great again?

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Taiwan

Critics in Taiwan question true cost of US deal hailed for tariff cut

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Semiconductors

Explainer | Will Trump’s new industrial policy make the global memory chip shortage worse?

The US government warns major memory chipmakers to either pay 100 per cent duties or build their products in America.

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The current shortage and rising prices of regular dynamic random access memory chips have severely affected the consumer electronics market. Photo: Shutterstock
My Take

My Take | Taiwan has just sold out TSMC and half its chips industry to the US

The so-called silicon shield is bust as there will not be much left of the island to defend after the forced relocation of a significant chunk of industrial base under new tariff deal.

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Taiwan

Taipei hails US 15% tariffs ‘home run’ despite fears over US$500 billion cost

Deal risks gutting Taiwan’s semiconductor sector, opposition parties warn, as Beijing dubs it a plot to drain lifeblood of island’s industry.

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US-China relations

Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Trade official says island must stay in Trump’s favour for protection, but says he still plans an April China visit amid good ties with Xi.

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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right) and US President Donald Trump are seen last year in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP
Semiconductors

Chinese firms to incur higher costs for deploying AI chips from US: analysts

‘Beijing has made it politically unpalatable for private firms to rely too much on imported AI chips,’ EIU senior analyst Chim Lee says.

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Rare earths

Trump tackles China’s rare earth grip with talks instead of tariffs

The US president’s new global deal-making drive kick-starts what is likely to be a years-long effort to pare reliance on Chinese critical minerals.

US-China trade war

Trump sets 180-day deadline to counter China’s control of critical minerals

US government warns global suppliers to negotiate agreements to secure reliable, diversified supplies for the US or face new trade hurdles.

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In a proclamation signed on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that the US’ reliance on foreign-processed critical minerals poses a national security threat. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

US will end China’s dominance of rare earths, Trump adviser Navarro predicts

The president’s trade aide says American innovation will ‘quickly wipe away’ Beijing’s ‘weaponisation’ of critical minerals.

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White House trade adviser Peter Navarro speaks to reporters in Washington in August. Photo: 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

As the year comes to a close, SCMP Plus highlights the biggest China-related stories of the year.

US-China relations

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

Initial excitement fizzles amid limited benefits and security concerns, immigration agents say.

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US President Donald Trump holds up the original US$5 million gold card as he speaks to reporters while on board Air Force One, on April 3. Photo: AP
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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