Ralph Jennings
Correspondent, Political Economy
Ralph Jennings joined the Political Economy desk as a Senior Reporter in August 2022 having worked as a freelancer since 2011. Ralph previously covered news for Thomson Reuters in Taipei and for local newspapers in California. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication.
Ralph Jennings joined the Political Economy desk as a Senior Reporter in August 2022 having worked as a freelancer since 2011. Ralph previously covered news for Thomson Reuters in Taipei and for local newspapers in California. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication.
Languages Spoken:
English, Mandarin
State-backed funding is driving American efforts to build domestic supply, but industry trends and price gaps are still seen as hurdles to reducing reliance on China.
While college enrolment in Chinese stalls, K-12 immersion schools are seeing renewed popularity as parents seek advantages for their children.
With Chinese imports low according to a trade association, farmers are compensating by finding new markets and selling to biofuel makers.
Measures tied to alleged forced labour carry litigation risk, as localisation and procurement rules now weigh on Chinese firms, reports say.
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Flagship narrowbody airliner makes international debut, regional jet wins record order, push to fast-track widebody and domestic jet engine projects.
Chinese brands like Pop Mart are winning over American consumers by projecting a global image and targeting niche markets.
Survey finds that 65 per cent of higher-education institutions have seen increases or no drop-off in number of applications from China.
Rebalancing economy and offsetting a record trade surplus requires targeted stimulus to counter growing global trade barriers, analysts say.
US steel production rose 7 per cent year on year through July, with the country rising to be the world’s third-largest producer in 2025.
Despite trade tensions and tariffs, California wineries are hopeful that US wine exports to China will recover as trade relations stabilise.
The modest rise still lags regional averages and comes as firms try to retain staff amid aggressive recruitment, according to a new report.
Beijing may attempt to trade manufacturing assistance for access to Indonesia’s vast, export-restricted reserves.
Chinese imports of the pungent fruit have increased by 47 per cent in the first half of 2026, prompting a sharp decline in prices.
The hulking striker has become a huge star in China during the World Cup, helping his homeland attract a growing wave of tourists.
Officials meeting in Beijing also expanded list of approved Chinese cities to 11, including Chongqing.
Delegation from prominent Japanese organisation seeks October talks in Beijing and Xian to repair business partnerships after geopolitical disputes snarled exchanges.
Government document lays out plan for thousands of islets, many of which are rich in minerals and fresh water but have been damaged over time.
Goldman Sachs says deploying an 800 billion yuan financial instrument into strategic investments could provide an economic boost.
Wanning, on tropical Hainan Island, is now home to 160 surf clubs and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.
In some cases, popular live-streamers with online stores and millions of fans paid taxes as low as a few hundred yuan, authorities say.
Additional screenings now required for pilots to access parts of the capital, affecting mountain tours and Great Wall flights, industry insider says.
Inbound tourism has grown since late 2023, when China began expanding its visa-free entry scheme to cover an additional 50 countries.
Chinese travellers are gaining easier access to destinations worldwide, even as they still require visas for more countries than they can enter freely.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing says China is trying to circumvent the USMCA through its automotive investments in Mexico.
The whole 11-city network, including the global financial hub Dubai, is due to be completed in March, according to state media.
A growing number of foreign travellers are taking advantage of looser rules to venture inland, fuelling a shift away from traditional hotspots.
Beijing’s ‘milestone’ mandate seen authorising retaliatory responses to trade barriers while restricting research leaks.
Tokyo’s new industrial strategy reflects growing concern over economic security amid frayed bilateral ties with Beijing, analysts say.
Middle Corridor through Kazakhstan and across Caspian Sea would have transit time of 15 to 18 days, compared with 45 to 60 for ocean routes.
