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Trade
News about international trade flows, statistics and policy decisions from the world’s most important trading economies and trade-related bodies, including the World Trade Organisation.
People arrive at the construction site of the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel in Kandal province, Cambodia, on August 5, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
Asean

Opinion | Cambodia aspires to shed its dependencies while staying connected

As it seeks connectivity, Phnom Penh must build diplomatic bridges with as much effort as it constructs ports and canals.

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump scraps Hormuz toll plan but presses ahead with Iran blockade

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China trade

China’s power exports to Asean surge 40% in first half of 2026

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump’s 20% Hormuz toll jolts markets as Asia adapts to oil shock

Alternative trade routes and an AI tech boom are helping the region cushion the blow of a threatened maritime tariff.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he leaves a Nato press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Photo: EPA
China trade

China headed for US$1 trillion trade surplus as exports soar

Torrid pace of export growth in June, fuelled by global AI boom, keeps country on track for another huge surplus despite Iran war headwinds and big rise in imports.

Semiconductors

Global AI boom sees China’s chip exports nearly double in first half of year

Exports of automatic data processing machines and parts jumped more than 41 per cent to top US$138 billion.

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China trade

China’s trade surges in first half of 2026, extending growth streak

Exports rose by 27 per cent year on year and imports grew by 36 per cent last month, both beating projections.

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Containers at a port in Nanjing in China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
Global monetary policy

Amid rising dollar risks, Plaza Accord-style unity not feasible: ex-IMF adviser

Economic historian Barry Eichengreen says if current policy paths persist, modern rifts could bring about a confidence crisis in the US currency.

US-China trade war

US tariff probe unlikely to derail autumn Xi-Trump meeting: analysts

Experts say both sides remain focused on trade negotiations and new tariff-free mechanisms despite fresh investigations.

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US-China relations

Lindsey Graham’s death removes one of Washington’s most influential China hawks

Graham’s sister will fill his Senate seat, but his role as one of Trump’s closest foreign policy advisers may prove harder to replace.

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Lindsey Graham (right) forged a close political alliance with Donald Trump after strongly opposing him during the 2016 Republican presidential primary. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Pentagon invests US$25 million into rare earths start-up ReElement Technologies

The move is part of a push by the US to boost domestic supplies of critical minerals and challenge ‌China’s dominance of the sector.

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The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump to restore Iran blockade, charge fees for Strait of Hormuz shipping

US president says Iranian ships and those trading with Iran will be barred, while other commercial traffic will pay a 20% transit fee.

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China's economic recovery

Shanghai port secures second place in global ranking, overtaking London

A core focus for the port, the busiest in the world and China’s shipbuilding centre, is to become a premier international shipping hub.

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A general view of shipping containers and cranes at Yangshan deep water port in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
China airliners

China’s C919 on Malaysia Airlines’ radar, but Western certification preferred

Opportunities for Comac’s C919 will increase with certification by Western aviation regulators, a Malaysia Aviation Group executive says.

A crowd watches as China's domestically produced C919 passenger jet takes off at an air show in Nanchang, central Jiangxi province, on November 2, 2024. Photo: AFP
India

UK deal to serve as testing ground for India’s Western trade ambitions

The pact will be a ‘practical blueprint’ for resolving issues such as tariffs, services and regulatory cooperation, analysts say.

China-EU relations

China’s car shipments to EU surge, but could be nearing peak: European analysts

The rapid ascent of Chinese car brands in Europe could be nearing a turning point as both the EU and Germany consider protectionist measures.

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China-Asean relations

Asian Angle | Why a second ‘China shock’ is good for Southeast Asia

Fear of Chinese imports is misplaced. Roughly 90 per cent of what the region buys is inputs and machinery driving local manufacturing.

Shipping containers are seen at the port in Nanjing, China’s eastern Jiangsu province, last month. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Gulf capital flowing into Asia as trade with Hong Kong rises 35%: Paul Chan

Finance chief says bilateral trade surged in first five months of 2026 following deepening of ties in recent years.

New Zealand

New Zealand-India trade, defence pact celebrated despite criticism

Anti-immigration members of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s coalition and anti-Modi members of the Indian diaspora opposed the deal.

Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Don’t expect the rising tide of AI to lift all boats

While economies linked to hi-tech supply chains may perform well, unequal outcomes and economic instability still loom for much of the world.

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Workers walk outside a data centre building under construction in Johor Bahru Malaysia, on September 28, 2024. Photo: AP
US-China relations

China accuses US of ignoring Trump, Xi rapport and targeting Chinese firms

Beijing claims US misused its power by blacklisting more than 60 Chinese companies after goodwill generated at Trump-Xi summit in May.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump enjoy a friendly exchange after a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Did Trump’s tariffs paint the US into an economic corner?

The US and China have secured a fragile truce, but analysts warn Washington’s protectionist pivot marks a structural shift likely to last.

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US-China trade war

Why Christmas trees are causing a ruckus in the US-China trade war

US growers urge officials to keep tariffs on Chinese-made artificial trees, saying lower duties threaten family farms and livelihoods.

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Malaysia

Anwar, Anutin hit diplomatic high notes to mask Malaysia-Thailand tensions

Despite the leaders’ personal chemistry, the seafood row shows the ‘frictions’ embedded within the countries’ relationship, analysts say.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (second from left) sings while his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul plays saxophone at the Federal Government office in Putrajaya on Thursday. Photo: The Thai government spokesman office via AP
US, Israel war on Iran

Tanker transit through Strait of Hormuz plunges as US-Iran ceasefire fractures

Renewed hostilities could undermine credibility of future ceasefires with long-term impact on global energy markets, inflation and risk premiums, analyst says.

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Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on July 8. Photo: Reuters
China trade

China issues temporary helium export ban as Iran war strains global supplies

The ban on shipments of the gas, a crucial raw material in semiconductors and other sectors, comes as Middle East conflict strains global supplies.

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China-EU relations

Letters | As heatwaves soar, a trade war with China will only leave Europe sweating

Readers discuss Europe’s air conditioning crisis, setting clear priorities for Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, and the prison service’s bungled anti-drug message.

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