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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.

Taiwan

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

Debate centres on Taiwan’s financial commitment to the US – whether US$250 billion or US$500 billion – and if it will harm the economy.

20 Jan 2026 - 9:18PMvideocam

Semiconductors

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

20 Jan 2026 - 3:47PM

My Take

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

19 Jan 2026 - 2:21PM

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.

16 Jan 2026 - 9:41PMvideocam

Taiwanese leader William Lai has said the agreement will strengthen Taiwan’s global competitiveness and deepen hi-tech cooperation with Washington. Photo: AFP

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.

16 Jan 2026 - 7:26AMvideocam

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.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:00PM

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.

15 Jan 2026 - 5:04PM

Cobalt mined in Congo is mainly sent to China for refining. (Photo: AFP)

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.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:29AMvideocam

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.

9 Jan 2026 - 3:30AMvideocam

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.

28 Dec 2025 - 11:53PM

Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

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.

23 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a military parade in Beijing in September. Photo: AP

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.

18 Dec 2025 - 1:24AMvideocam

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.

4 Dec 2025 - 6:26AMvideocam

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.

27 Nov 2025 - 10:06PMvideocam

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.

25 Nov 2025 - 2:00PMvideocam

(From left) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and EU trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic hold a joint press briefing in Brussels on Monday. Photo: AFP

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.

22 Nov 2025 - 4:38AMvideocam

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.

20 Nov 2025 - 9:36AMvideocam

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.

30 Oct 2025 - 11:02PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave a bilateral meeting in South Korea on Thursday. With many deals already finalised ahead of the meeting, the two leaders had plenty of space for cordiality. Photo: Reuters

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.

29 Oct 2025 - 6:15AMvideocam

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.

21 Oct 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

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.

18 Oct 2025 - 7:16AMvideocam

Former government officials and analysts say that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are ignoring diplomatic norms as the trade war intensifies. Photo: AFP

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.

16 Oct 2025 - 3:22PMvideocam

Containers waiting for export are stacked at a pier in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Photo: EPA/Yonhap

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.

15 Oct 2025 - 12:44AM

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.

12 Oct 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

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.

10 Oct 2025 - 9:34PMvideocam

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.

3 Oct 2025 - 5:00PM

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.

2 Oct 2025 - 10:57PMvideocam

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.

2 Oct 2025 - 9:45PM

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Howard Lutnick

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

Debate centres on Taiwan’s financial commitment to the US – whether US$250 billion or US$500 billion – and if it will harm the economy.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Will Trump’s new industrial policy make the global memory chip shortage worse?

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | Taiwan has just sold out TSMC and half its chips industry to the US

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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