https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/506003/feed China’s export-driven economy was for decades the workshop of the world. In 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO), it accounted for 4 per cent of the world’s exports, and by 2017, that had risen to 13 per cent. The trade war with the United States damaged China’s exports as tariffs made its goods more expensive for American buyers. The coronavirus outbreak subsequently damaged overseas demand for Chinese products, leading many analysts to predict a huge slump in exports over... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Alice Li Alice Li China and Brazil are expected to sustain close economic ties following the re-election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president, though his push to strengthen domestic industry and production could complicate the outlook for Chinese companies operating in Latin America’s largest economy, analysts said. Lula defeated right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro in Sunday’s run-off election, securing a fourth, non-consecutive term. Following his victory, Lula told reporters and allies at a hotel in Sao... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372187/brazil-draws-record-chinese-investment-could-lulas-industrial-strategy-complicate-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372187/brazil-draws-record-chinese-investment-could-lulas-industrial-strategy-complicate-ties Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:00:08 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3372161/china-drafts-rules-protect-trade-secrets-foreign-entities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3372161/china-drafts-rules-protect-trade-secrets-foreign-entities Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:28:14 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng From drone lasers to lightweight exoskeletons, Chinese manufacturers used the country’s biggest trade fair to showcase a new wave of hi-tech, and sometimes quirky, hardware to global buyers this week. The vast range of next-generation devices – often on offer at surprisingly affordable prices – is the product of a relentless innovation drive under way in China, as firms plough funds into research and development to cope with intense competition at home and rising trade barriers overseas. The R&D... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371954/exoskeletons-anyone-china-showcases-next-gen-technology-annual-trade-fair https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371954/exoskeletons-anyone-china-showcases-next-gen-technology-annual-trade-fair Mon, 26 Oct 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China is becoming more confident and ambitious, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) executive director said, as the forum returns to the country for the third time in a quarter-century. Eduardo Pedrosa, the executive director of the Apec Secretariat, told the SCMP on Thursday that the forum would crucially bring together people and businesses from across the globe, though he noted that the limelight on meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. “There... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371919/not-g2-world-apec-chief-how-forum-has-changed-through-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371919/not-g2-world-apec-chief-how-forum-has-changed-through-years Sat, 24 Oct 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Beijing has told Brussels not to “fantasise” that pressure will extract concessions. This came after China made a goodwill gesture in the recent hybrid-car trade deal. The European Union responded by doubling down on a proposed trade “kill switch”. The instrument follows a Franco-German proposal. It would let the bloc swiftly restrict single-market access in response to economic coercion. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says all 27 leaders back it. Chemicals and machinery are priority sectors.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371752/eu-its-own-worst-enemy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371752/eu-its-own-worst-enemy Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:30:09 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371927/could-europes-cost-living-protests-sharpen-eu-china-trade-tensions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371927/could-europes-cost-living-protests-sharpen-eu-china-trade-tensions Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma China’s shipbuilding sector now leads the world by an overwhelming margin, with the country’s shipyards accounting for 81.8 per cent of global new ship orders in the first nine months of the year, according to official data. Demand was also expected to stay resilient, with elevated crude oil prices helping to support orders for new vessels, analysts said. Total outstanding orders at Chinese shipyards reached 399.13 million deadweight tonnes (dwt) at the end of September, up 64.8 per cent year on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371906/how-china-captured-nearly-82-worlds-new-ship-orders https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371906/how-china-captured-nearly-82-worlds-new-ship-orders Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Asia Society announced on Thursday that it had marked out territory on the Washington policy landscape with the purchase of a US$17.5 million building that will give it a permanent spot alongside other US capital think tanks dating back more than a century, striving for influence. The 70-year-old institution, founded by the grandson of oil mogul John D. Rockefeller, has focused more on public policy in recent years, in addition to its traditional focus on arts, culture and education, under... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:05:58 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Diplomats from the EU’s 27 member states were pressured this week to lift sanctions on Yusha Group, a Chinese textiles manufacturer accused of selling sensitive European technology to Russian buyers. In exchange, Beijing has pledged that the company will refrain from shipping banned items to Russian military-linked buyers. It will also remove German company Sindlhauser Materials from its own export controls list, according to multiple sources familiar with the affair. The unusual quid pro quo –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371832/eu-mulls-sanctions-reprieve-chinese-fabric-maker-accused-aiding-russia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371832/eu-mulls-sanctions-reprieve-chinese-fabric-maker-accused-aiding-russia Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:32:36 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Sherry Wang Mia Nurmamat,Sherry Wang The European Union’s perception that China is yielding to its pressure tactics on trade is a “serious misjudgment”, as Beijing proved during last year’s tariff war with the United States that it will not back down from a confrontation, a former Chinese diplomat has warned. Beijing’s willingness to compromise during trade talks with the EU earlier this month – where the two sides agreed a quota on Chinese hybrid car exports to Europe – has been taken by some in Brussels as a sign that their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371803/eus-idea-china-caving-pressure-serious-misjudgment-ex-diplomat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371803/eus-idea-china-caving-pressure-serious-misjudgment-ex-diplomat Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa,Franz Jessen Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa,Franz Jessen This month alone, Europe has threatened China with a trade “kill switch”, rebuked it in parliament, sent its trade commissioner on a much-trumpeted trip to Beijing and announced three new economic security instruments. The sequence exposed a European Union that has no clear goal on China, no hierarchy of priorities and has reached no agreement on what it wants from Beijing or on what it would pay to get it. China has built its European policy around this vacuum. Its method rewards patience:... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3371543/europe-still-has-no-clear-goal-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3371543/europe-still-has-no-clear-goal-china Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Frank Chen,Alice Li Frank Chen,Alice Li Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. This month’s edition, the fifth plenum, is attracting even more attention as the world’s second-largest economy takes on a more prominent role in global affairs. In the first part of this series, Frank Chen and Alice Li track the ways top-level policy decisions flow down to local officials – and the challenges those officials face in balancing a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3371666/china-moving-past-gdp-first-mindset-can-local-officials-get-programme https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3371666/china-moving-past-gdp-first-mindset-can-local-officials-get-programme Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:00:07 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371671/germany-wants-avoid-china-trade-war-despite-kill-switch-merz https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371671/germany-wants-avoid-china-trade-war-despite-kill-switch-merz Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The European Union is likely to avoid a full-blown trade confrontation with China due to internal divisions in the bloc and fear of retaliation, according to a prominent research firm. The projection comes amid speculation that the two sides are on the brink of a trade war, with European policymakers raising the alarm about a looming “China shock 2.0” and pushing for stronger measures to protect domestic producers from Chinese competition. But the bloc would “continue to pull its punches” in any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371655/eu-will-pull-its-punches-china-despite-growing-trade-war-talk-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371655/eu-will-pull-its-punches-china-despite-growing-trade-war-talk-analysts Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang - https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3371645/chinas-third-quarter-gdp https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3371645/chinas-third-quarter-gdp Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:23:23 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China Cosco Shipping Holdings, the country’s largest ocean carrier, has prioritised resilience as it rolls out an emergency response system to cope with rising geopolitical conflicts, infrastructure bottlenecks and climate-related disruptions. The company is launching fresh capacity and new trade routes as part of the plan, as it looks to ensure its supply chains can withstand a mix of potential shocks, according to chairman Wan Min. “We believe that true resilience is not merely restricted to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371550/shipping-giant-cosco-launches-new-routes-ride-out-iran-war-climate-risks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371550/shipping-giant-cosco-launches-new-routes-ride-out-iran-war-climate-risks Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. A subtle shift is taking place among Chinese businesses as they adopt a “China plus one” outlook and redirect domestic investments to neighbouring economies – a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:00:05 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong The United States is lulling itself into a “sense of false security” over its military rivalry with China, according to a Republican senator who called for more spending on modern warfare systems and closer cooperation with allies. Speaking at the Hudson Institute after a recent trip to Japan and South Korea, Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania senator and West Point graduate, claimed up to 90 per cent of US defence spending funded decades-old equipment and technologies. “We convince ourselves; we... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371555/china-close-matching-us-spending-new-way-war-republican-senator-warns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371555/china-close-matching-us-spending-new-way-war-republican-senator-warns Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:12:30 +0000 Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan While US President Donald Trump has said he is open to sitting down with Chinese and Russian counterparts Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Apec summit, it remains far from certain that the three leaders will actually meet in a few weeks. Observers said much would depend on whether the countries could agree on an agenda, with one expert describing this as a “critical lever”. Russia was set to gain most if the trilateral meeting took place, experts said, as the summit would be a potent symbol... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371544/will-xi-trump-putin-meet-apec-first-they-must-agree-agenda https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371544/will-xi-trump-putin-meet-apec-first-they-must-agree-agenda Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s hybrid car exports to the European Union tripled in September from a year earlier, with shipments expected to remain elevated before an import cap agreed during recent trade talks takes effect. The country shipped nearly 100,000 hybrid cars to the bloc last month, up 18.9 per cent from August and 204.2 per cent from a year earlier, customs data showed on Tuesday. The surge outpaced a 142.7 per cent year-on-year rise in China’s total exports of passenger cars to the EU. Analysts said the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371541/chinas-hybrid-car-exports-eu-surge-more-200-import-cap-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371541/chinas-hybrid-car-exports-eu-surge-more-200-import-cap-looms Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li As London considers aligning with EU trade measures targeting imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Beijing has warned of “firm countermeasures” if the UK imposes restrictions. “We hope the UK will abide by World Trade Organization rules and think twice before acting, rather than blindly following the EU,” the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. “China will closely monitor developments and take firm countermeasures if the UK insists on restricting Chinese electric vehicles.” The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371472/beijing-warns-london-firm-countermeasures-if-it-aligns-eu-import-curbs-evs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371472/beijing-warns-london-firm-countermeasures-if-it-aligns-eu-import-curbs-evs Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong The US State Department announced on Monday that it was imposing sweeping sanctions under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (PAIPA) on five Chinese entities suspected of stealing trade secrets from American companies. The targets include Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, founded by former Google software engineer Ding Linwei, venture capital firm MiraclePlus and three related entities. Ding was convicted of seven counts of trade secret theft in January. A federal judge subsequently... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371434/us-sanctions-5-chinese-entities-over-ex-google-engineers-ai-trade-secrets-theft https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371434/us-sanctions-5-chinese-entities-over-ex-google-engineers-ai-trade-secrets-theft Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:36:07 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump said on Monday he was open to a three-way meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to China next month, with nuclear weapons on the agenda. “We would have it to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearisation,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before travelling to Kansas. “If President Xi wants to have it, I’d have it.” Trump said the proposed meeting was his suggestion and linked it to his November... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371428/trump-says-hes-open-xi-putin-meeting-china-nuclear-talks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371428/trump-says-hes-open-xi-putin-meeting-china-nuclear-talks Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:20:55 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Honduran migration officials have summoned or placed under review 41 Chinese nationals after inspecting shops in the capital and a hospital being built by a state-owned contractor from China in the south of the country. Teams from the National Migration Institute, working with police and intelligence officers, interviewed 86 Chinese citizens at 54 shops in Comayaguela, Tegucigalpa’s twin city and main commercial district, and told 25 of them to report for further document checks. Migration... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371425/honduras-targets-chinese-shops-and-state-builder-president-sits-taiwan-pledge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371425/honduras-targets-chinese-shops-and-state-builder-president-sits-taiwan-pledge Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:43:05 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China has updated its export rules on drones and industrial equipment, tightening restrictions on some parts and capabilities while easing requirements for less sensitive models. The changes could simplify overseas sales of consumer drones but increase compliance costs and delivery times for industrial models, analysts said. Announced on Monday by the Ministry of Commerce and other authorities, the changes added critical drone components, including high-performance brushless motors, and certain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371415/china-updates-drone-export-rules-less-red-tape-some-tougher-restrictions-others https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371415/china-updates-drone-export-rules-less-red-tape-some-tougher-restrictions-others Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:00:25 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Washington and Beijing should put aside their mutual distrust to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence, much as the United States and Soviet Union cooperated on nuclear arms control during the Cold War, a former US Treasury secretary has urged. Robert Rubin, who served as US Treasury secretary under former president Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999, cited the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between Washington and Moscow decades ago as an example of two superpowers working... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371382/us-china-should-learn-cold-war-era-arms-control-tackle-ai-risks-ex-us-official https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371382/us-china-should-learn-cold-war-era-arms-control-tackle-ai-risks-ex-us-official Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Ronny P. Sasmita Ronny P. Sasmita China’s export machine is accelerating as its domestic economy remains under strain. This comes amid growing trade friction as China’s partners question whether persistent surpluses can coexist with balanced and resilient regional growth. Last month, China’s exports rose 36.3 per cent year on year, while shipments to Southeast Asia jumped 52.3 per cent. The trade surplus reached US$133.5 billion, taking the nine-month total to US$938.1 billion. In contrast, retail sales grew just 0.4 per cent in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371208/chinas-export-boom-creates-difficult-bargain-southeast-asia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371208/chinas-export-boom-creates-difficult-bargain-southeast-asia Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Mandy Zuo Xinyi Wu,Mandy Zuo China’s economy expanded by 4.5 per cent in the third quarter, keeping it broadly on track to meet this year’s growth target but also maintaining pressure on Beijing to deploy further support to address weak domestic demand. China’s year-on-year economic growth for the first three quarters of the year came in at 4.6 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday. Beijing is targeting gross domestic product growth between 4.5 and 5 per cent this year, down from the “around 5 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/economic-indicators/article/3371335/chinas-economy-grows-45-third-quarter-staying-track-annual-target https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/economic-indicators/article/3371335/chinas-economy-grows-45-third-quarter-staying-track-annual-target Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen As Hong Kong hosts the Apec finance ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, this two-part series examines the summit’s significance and its implications for Beijing on the global stage. In part two, Frank Chen explores how the event could help Beijing pitch its philosophies and urge cooperation in digital infrastructure financing. China’s hosting of this year’s Apec meetings, including a finance ministers’ gathering in Hong Kong, will see a more confident Beijing seek to pitch its economic and financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371287/hong-kongs-apec-meetings-give-beijing-venue-pitch-virtues-its-system https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371287/hong-kongs-apec-meetings-give-beijing-venue-pitch-virtues-its-system Mon, 19 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Chinese construction company has reached an agreement to work on tunnel projects in the tiny Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, as China’s global infrastructure push continues to gain momentum after recent railway deals in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The state-owned China Railway Tunnel Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with a subsidiary of the Qatari conglomerate Aamal Co, according to a statement released by the Doha-based company on Tuesday. The two firms had forged a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:00:11 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Almost every year, Kevin Stewart flies to China to find stock for his Indonesian businesses. But increasingly, the factories he visits are selling to his customers too, sometimes for less than they charge him. A data science manager in the tech sector by day, the Chinese-Indonesian entrepreneur also helps run home-living and pet-supply companies that sell to other businesses and direct to consumers, including through e-commerce platforms. Yet Chinese companies listing directly on Indonesian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371179/southeast-asias-ethnic-chinese-traders-feel-china-squeeze https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371179/southeast-asias-ethnic-chinese-traders-feel-china-squeeze Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Beijing warned Brussels not to “fantasise” that taking a hard line will force it into concessions, as the bloc confirmed plans for a gung-ho new kill switch that will allow Brussels to “immediately” kick China out of the single market. Exactly a week after the two sides struck a surprise deal to restrict the volume of hybrid cars China ships to Europe, the flare-up suggests the threat of a trade war between two of the world’s three biggest economies has far from subsided. “The EU should not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371217/china-warns-eu-not-fantasise-trade-approach-brussels-confirms-new-kill-switch https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371217/china-warns-eu-not-fantasise-trade-approach-brussels-confirms-new-kill-switch Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:30:02 +0000 Han Li,Ling Xin,Zhang Tong Han Li,Ling Xin,Zhang Tong A US congressional committee has released details of investigations into dozens of researchers, many of them Chinese-American, revealing the scale of government scrutiny sweeping academia over alleged links to China. The documents – running to hundreds of pages – were released alongside a separate report by the House Select Committee on China. Titled “How to Stop China’s Theft of Taxpayer-Funded Research”, the report pushes back against arguments by universities and academic groups that tighter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3371154/new-details-emerge-us-investigations-chinese-american-scientists-over-china-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3371154/new-details-emerge-us-investigations-chinese-american-scientists-over-china-links Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong A Republican lawmaker is requesting the Pentagon blacklist 58 Chinese universities and 62 technology labs as national security threats, a move Beijing calls Cold War-style overreach and critics warn could freeze US-China scientific collaboration and ultimately undermine American innovation itself. In a letter to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar urged the Pentagon to add several prestigious Chinese institutions – some linked to Nvidia,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371212/china-pushes-back-us-lawmaker-seeks-blacklist-universities-and-tech-labs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371212/china-pushes-back-us-lawmaker-seeks-blacklist-universities-and-tech-labs Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:21:54 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng With the US set to lower tariffs on US$30 billion worth of shipments from China, Chinese exporters said this week they expected a new wave of orders from American buyers and planned to reactivate idle factory capacity. Many among the 32,000-plus Chinese exhibitors and 210,000 preregistered foreign buyers at the twice-yearly Canton Fair, China’s oldest and biggest trade exhibition, shared that upbeat outlook this week – though it was tempered by stiffer headwinds from the European market. Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371178/tariff-threats-ease-us-fashion-again-among-chinese-exporters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371178/tariff-threats-ease-us-fashion-again-among-chinese-exporters Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow European Union leaders supported creating a tool to potentially shut out Chinese goods as a growing flood of low-cost imports pushed the bilateral trade deficit to a record. Officials could start work on developing a trade “kill switch”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signalled to EU leaders at a Brussels meeting on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unidentified people briefed on the talks. Leaders requested a proposal by year-end, Bloomberg News said.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3371152/eu-backs-trade-kill-switch-china-exports-surge-third-quarter-gdp https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3371152/eu-backs-trade-kill-switch-china-exports-surge-third-quarter-gdp Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:00:10 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371149/china-mulls-new-tech-export-bans-covering-ai-biotech-and-solar-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s central bank chief has said exchange-rate adjustments alone cannot resolve global economic imbalances, urging surplus and deficit economies to share responsibility for addressing them. He also pledged to promote yuan-denominated bonds as “eligible collateral widely recognised and accepted globally”. Speaking at the third G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Bangkok on Thursday, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, called for a “more comprehensive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371116/china-says-only-joint-action-not-exchange-rates-alone-can-address-global-imbalances https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371116/china-says-only-joint-action-not-exchange-rates-alone-can-address-global-imbalances Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:13:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Indonesian officials, looking to alleviate poverty in their country and eyeing the rise of rural economies in China, are turning to Beijing for help that may include stoking the exports of a potentially lucrative durian crop. Indonesian Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara began a seven-day visit to China on Monday, with Indonesia’s state-owned Antara news agency saying consultations with Beijing’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, companies and academic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Heavy reliance on imported soy feed in China’s massive pork industry puts affordable protein supply for its 1.4 billion people at risk amid rising regional conflicts and climate change, a new study has warned. The nation, which relies largely on pork for its protein intake, was “exposed” to risks in access to this essential macronutrient, according to the Protein Sovereignty Index published by a Singapore-registered biotech firm on Friday. China faced a medium level of risk on a global scale, as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371086/pork-insecurity-chinas-protein-supply-exposed-amid-reliance-feed-imports-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371086/pork-insecurity-chinas-protein-supply-exposed-amid-reliance-feed-imports-study Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:45:44 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the third in a series of Factsheets on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins... Part III – Sharpening the city’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 20. You can find it at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371054/sharpening-citys-edge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371054/sharpening-citys-edge Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Talk of global decoupling from China has persisted for years, as has speculation that emerging economies such as India and Vietnam could soon replace it as the “world’s factory”. But for Indian hardware engineer Neeraj Arora, the growth of India’s electronics manufacturing industry has not eliminated the need to source components from China. Instead, it has changed the nature of those imports. A decade ago, Arora imported finished phone chargers from the world’s second-largest economy. Today,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth China said on Thursday that the recent government approval allowing American bank card payment giant Visa to operate in the country was the “direct outcome” of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States last month. “The Visa card was granted permission to establish a banking card clearing institution,” said Qiu Wenxing, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese embassy in Washington. “It is a direct outcome of the presidential summit.” Visa received administrative approval... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371067/visas-china-approval-direct-outcome-trump-xi-summit-beijing-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371067/visas-china-approval-direct-outcome-trump-xi-summit-beijing-says Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:53:21 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Brussels is open to developing a powerful new trade weapon that could contain a kill switch that would quickly eject Chinese companies from the EU market, the bloc’s national leaders were told during a top-level meeting in the Belgian capital on Thursday. There was broad support among the 27 members for such a tool, first laid out in a French-German joint paper last week, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signalling that her trade team could get to work on developing it,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371061/chinese-chemicals-and-machinery-eu-crosshairs-leaders-back-more-trade-curbs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371061/chinese-chemicals-and-machinery-eu-crosshairs-leaders-back-more-trade-curbs Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:41:24 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US investigates 9 universities over alleged visa fraud, with focus on China The Trump administration launched an investigation into nine US universities over alleged J-1 visa fraud, with officials raising concerns about Chinese scholars and the Chinese government. Read the full story... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370921/blast-simulation-university-probes-robotics-fine-ai-spies-7-us-china-relations-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370921/blast-simulation-university-probes-robotics-fine-ai-spies-7-us-china-relations-reads Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Canada and Singapore are among the countries that remain committed to strengthening trade ties with China, despite growing global fragmentation and a push by governments towards greater self-sufficiency, officials from both countries said on Wednesday at an economic forum in New Delhi. Canada’s minister of international trade Maninder Sidhu said China was the country’s second-largest trading partner and highlighted opportunities for cooperation in areas where the two economies had complementary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370999/canada-singapore-reaffirm-china-trade-ties-amid-global-push-self-sufficiency https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370999/canada-singapore-reaffirm-china-trade-ties-amid-global-push-self-sufficiency Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:30:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Shenzhen residents have been encouraged to work from home and reduce their driving during the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, as the local government unveiled logistics arrangements for one of the year’s biggest events. The measures included “flexible work arrangements” and “green travel policies”, as the city seeks to balance “high-standard support for foreign affairs activities” and “smooth operation of the economy and society”, Chan Yaodong, deputy secretary general of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371029/shenzhen-offers-discount-fares-other-perks-keep-residents-roads-during-apec-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371029/shenzhen-offers-discount-fares-other-perks-keep-residents-roads-during-apec-summit Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Han Li Han Li The world is on the cusp of a “China shock 3.0” driven by exports of artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and robots, which could hit harder than the current wave, a leading economist on China has said. “We are already at the starting point of the China shock 3.0,” Alicia Garcia-Herrero, a senior fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel and chief economist for Asia-Pacific at investment bank Natixis, told the South China Morning Post from Taipei after a virtual panel hosted by the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370925/china-shock-30-be-driven-ai-biotech-and-robot-exports-economist-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370925/china-shock-30-be-driven-ai-biotech-and-robot-exports-economist-says Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:00:47 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Leaders of the EU’s 27 member states will instruct Brussels to “urgently” come up with new weapons to counter the imbalances they believe are caused by China’s economic policies, at a meeting in the Belgian capital on Thursday. The instruction – part of a draft statement being negotiated ahead of this week’s European Council summit – comes after the European Union and China reached a surprise deal in Beijing last week that will cap the number of Chinese hybrid cars imported to the bloc at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3370914/eu-leaders-urgently-call-new-trade-weapons-tackle-china-shock https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3370914/eu-leaders-urgently-call-new-trade-weapons-tackle-china-shock Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:45:07 +0000