TOPIC

/ people

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.

United States

US eases ban on AI model Mythos feared to aid cyberattacks

Washington has given Anthropic the nod to supply some ‘trusted’ US firms, a fortnight after blocking the software over safety.

27 Jun 2026 - 10:50AM

United States

US billionaire Leon Black defends US$158 million paid to Epstein

27 Jun 2026 - 2:21AM

US-China trade war

Exclusive | Dutch semiconductor giants join delegation to China as US pushes curbs: source

24 Jun 2026 - 5:32PM

US-China trade war

Why the US remains ‘fragmented’ in a critical copper clash against China

Washington’s efforts to rebuild the domestic copper industry are colliding with Chinese dominance in a metal central to advanced tech and defence systems.

24 Jun 2026 - 10:22AMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

US blocks foreign access to Anthropic’s newest AI models over security risks

The commerce department’s mandate forces a shutdown of top-tier systems after officials reportedly found ways to bypass safeguards.

13 Jun 2026 - 1:06PMvideocam

United States

Senators blast Trump over export of AI chips to overseas units of Chinese firms

Elizabeth Warren called on the commerce secretary to testify on the issue amid concerns over fuelling China’s military capabilities.

2 Jun 2026 - 6:53AM

2026 Xi-Trump summits

China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls?

Beijing and Washington are locked in an era-defining contest – and China’s rapid technological progress raises questions about limits of containment.

12 May 2026 - 9:34AMvideocam

United States

Trump’s ‘gold card’ visa granted to just 1 person so far

This appears to fall short of an earlier claim that the scheme had brought in US$1.3 billion ‘worth’ in just days.

24 Apr 2026 - 7:32AMvideocam

US-China relations

Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing.

24 Apr 2026 - 6:59PMvideocam

US-China trade war

Zero H200 chips sold to China ‘as of today’, Lutnick tells US lawmakers

Commerce chief says Beijing is prioritising its own semiconductor industry when asked whether selling US chips would aid Chinese military.

23 Apr 2026 - 9:18AMvideocam

Howard Lutnick testifies at a Senate hearing on the 2027 budget in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Canada

Canada PM hits back after Trump team demands ‘entry fee’ before trade talks

Washington is reportedly seeking concessions before agreeing to open negotiations on revising the US trade pact with Canada and Mexico.

23 Apr 2026 - 5:01AMvideocam

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

15 Apr 2026 - 9:06AMvideocam

US-China relations

Washington launches export initiative to ensure ‘future of AI’ is led by US

Chinese competitors targeted as US companies invited to form consortiums to offer full-stack AI solutions around the world.

3 Apr 2026 - 7:07PM

Robotics

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

21 Mar 2026 - 6:18PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the company’s global AI conference in San Jose, California, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

United States

Bill Clinton grilled over Epstein ties by US lawmakers

His testimony follows that of his wife, Hillary Clinton, who says the panel asked her about UFOs and a 2016-era conspiracy theory.

28 Feb 2026 - 5:14AM

Former US president Bill Clinton speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 2024. Photo: AP

Japan

Is Japan’s US$550-billion Trump ‘signing bonus’ a deal with strings attached?

Tokyo races to fund US projects to keep a 15 per cent tariff rate, as critics question if the ‘signing bonus’ is a gift or a high-interest loan.

12 Feb 2026 - 4:46PMvideocam

United States

Trump’s commerce chief admits going to Epstein island, but plays down relationship

Howard Lutnick acknowledges a 2012 visit to the sex offender’s island that contradicts his previous claims of cutting ties in 2005.

11 Feb 2026 - 1:20PM

Semiconductors

Taiwan pushes back on Washington’s aggressive chip relocation demands

The new reality in geopolitics is the structural transformation from ‘made-in-Taiwan’ to ‘made-by-Taiwan’, according to one analyst.

10 Feb 2026 - 8:00PM

US-China relations

Top US trade official spells out plan to break China’s grip on critical minerals

Howard Lutnick accuses China of dumping and weaponising supply chains as White House tries to rally allies to its cause.

4 Feb 2026 - 10:13AMvideocam

South Korea

‘Lopsided deal’: South Korean trade experts warn against US tariff pressure

Washington’s tariff pressure is aimed at pushing Seoul to ‘move as fast as Japan’ in implementing its promised investments, analysts say.

3 Feb 2026 - 8:56AM

US-China trade war

Trump unveils US$12 billion push to curb China’s grip on critical minerals

The initiative, dubbed Project Vault, aims to create a commercial stockpile to shield US manufacturers from supply shocks and price swings.

3 Feb 2026 - 9:35PMvideocam

Project Vault would serve as a commercial “shock absorber”, marking the first civilian-scale US strategic reserve for critical minerals. Photo: Handout

Semiconductors

Chinese firms set for market growth as the global memory super cycle heats up

Eye-watering DRAM prices are bad news for consumers and smartphone brands, but present an opportunity for Chinese firms led by CXMT and YMTC.

31 Jan 2026 - 11:47AM

Sexual harassment and assault

Final set of Epstein files released, with mentions of Trump, Musk and Lutnick

The batch contains over 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

31 Jan 2026 - 6:39PM

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.

27 Jan 2026 - 7:50PMvideocam

Donald Trump

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

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

23 Jan 2026 - 8:42PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Photo: AFP

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

Taiwanese opposition parties have warned that what officials portray as a tariff win could carry heavy long-term costs for the island’s economy and industrial base. Photo: AFP

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.

20 Jan 2026 - 3:47PM

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.

19 Jan 2026 - 2:21PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Howard Lutnick

US eases ban on AI model Mythos feared to aid cyberattacks

Washington has given Anthropic the nod to supply some ‘trusted’ US firms, a fortnight after blocking the software over safety.

US billionaire Leon Black defends US$158 million paid to Epstein

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Dutch semiconductor giants join delegation to China as US pushes curbs: source

Why the US remains ‘fragmented’ in a critical copper clash against China

Washington’s efforts to rebuild the domestic copper industry are colliding with Chinese dominance in a metal central to advanced tech and defence systems.

US blocks foreign access to Anthropic’s newest AI models over security risks

The commerce department’s mandate forces a shutdown of top-tier systems after officials reportedly found ways to bypass safeguards.

Senators blast Trump over export of AI chips to overseas units of Chinese firms

Elizabeth Warren called on the commerce secretary to testify on the issue amid concerns over fuelling China’s military capabilities.

China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls?

Beijing and Washington are locked in an era-defining contest – and China’s rapid technological progress raises questions about limits of containment.

Trump’s ‘gold card’ visa granted to just 1 person so far

This appears to fall short of an earlier claim that the scheme had brought in US$1.3 billion ‘worth’ in just days.

Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing.

Zero H200 chips sold to China ‘as of today’, Lutnick tells US lawmakers

Commerce chief says Beijing is prioritising its own semiconductor industry when asked whether selling US chips would aid Chinese military.

Canada PM hits back after Trump team demands ‘entry fee’ before trade talks

Washington is reportedly seeking concessions before agreeing to open negotiations on revising the US trade pact with Canada and Mexico.

Exclusive | Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

Washington launches export initiative to ensure ‘future of AI’ is led by US

Chinese competitors targeted as US companies invited to form consortiums to offer full-stack AI solutions around the world.

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

Bill Clinton grilled over Epstein ties by US lawmakers

His testimony follows that of his wife, Hillary Clinton, who says the panel asked her about UFOs and a 2016-era conspiracy theory.

Is Japan’s US$550-billion Trump ‘signing bonus’ a deal with strings attached?

Tokyo races to fund US projects to keep a 15 per cent tariff rate, as critics question if the ‘signing bonus’ is a gift or a high-interest loan.

Trump’s commerce chief admits going to Epstein island, but plays down relationship

Howard Lutnick acknowledges a 2012 visit to the sex offender’s island that contradicts his previous claims of cutting ties in 2005.

Taiwan pushes back on Washington’s aggressive chip relocation demands

The new reality in geopolitics is the structural transformation from ‘made-in-Taiwan’ to ‘made-by-Taiwan’, according to one analyst.

Top US trade official spells out plan to break China’s grip on critical minerals

Howard Lutnick accuses China of dumping and weaponising supply chains as White House tries to rally allies to its cause.

‘Lopsided deal’: South Korean trade experts warn against US tariff pressure

Washington’s tariff pressure is aimed at pushing Seoul to ‘move as fast as Japan’ in implementing its promised investments, analysts say.

Trump unveils US$12 billion push to curb China’s grip on critical minerals

The initiative, dubbed Project Vault, aims to create a commercial stockpile to shield US manufacturers from supply shocks and price swings.

Chinese firms set for market growth as the global memory super cycle heats up

Eye-watering DRAM prices are bad news for consumers and smartphone brands, but present an opportunity for Chinese firms led by CXMT and YMTC.

Final set of Epstein files released, with mentions of Trump, Musk and Lutnick

The batch contains over 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

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.

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

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

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.

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.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}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.

Exclusive | Dutch semiconductor giants join delegation to China as US pushes curbs: source

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