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US-China trade war

US-China trade war
Breaking news and analysis on the US-China trade war, its history and timeline, and the impact on the global economy.
Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te delivers a New Year’s Day speech on January 1 at the presidential hall in Taipei. Photo: Handout via AFP
Taiwan

As I see it | Taipei must break free of its abusive relationship with Washington

US President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz is not Taiwan’s fault, but the self-ruled island must come to see that Washington is unreliable.

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US-China relations

Exclusive | China scours for Trump bargaining chips ahead of Beijing summit with Xi: sources

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China exports

After Trump’s tariff setback, will US firms rush to stockpile Chinese goods?

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong exports surge 33.8% in January thanks to rebound from 2025’s low base

Value of Hong Kong’s exports of goods rose in January to HK$520.6 billion.

Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. “Exports to most markets and of most major commodities increased visibly,” a government spokesman said. Photo: Eugene Lee
China exports

As China’s firms go global, foreign expertise is becoming a hot commodity

Chinese companies are rushing to hire a range of service contractors to help them expand overseas – from compliance experts to TikTok gurus.

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US-China relations

China’s rare earth curbs hit US aerospace, chips hard despite trade truce

American firms face deepening yttrium and scandium shortages, threatening jet engine coatings and 5G chip production.

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US-China relations

Xi-Trump talk plans rattled by chaotic US team: ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’

Analysts warn thin US coordination and rushed timelines risk weak deliverables and surprises ahead of high-stakes Beijing meeting.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
China-EU relations

China-EU trade ties are at a crossroads. Could tech bridge the divide?

A hostile Washington is creating openings for a reset – but deep-seated issues remain, analyst says.

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Canada

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

United States

US to keep China tariffs steady ahead of key Trump-Xi meeting: Greer

Trade envoy confirms levies on Chinese goods to remain within range of 35 per cent to 50 per cent depending on the product as tensions ease.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has confirmed that the Trump administration will keep tariffs on China at their current level. Photo: Reuters
China trade

Trump’s USMCA exit threat seen pushing Canada into China’s arms

Analysts expect Ottawa to diversify trade as future of North American trade pact remains uncertain, while a US departure would ‘hit Canada like an earthquake’.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appears alongside President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 16. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

IMF urges China to focus on consumption-led rebalancing, curb industrial policy

Global monetary body calls on Beijing to roll out more forceful fiscal stimulus to bolster domestic demand amid record trade surplus.

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Yuan

China’s yuan strengthens to near 3-year high as US dollar uncertainty grows

The offshore currency continues to appreciate, with official fixing also hitting its strongest level since May 2023.

Mainland China

US warns of deep distrust even as officials seek stable China ties for summit

Congressional hearings reflect bipartisan concern and highlight persistent advanced tech market tension as key Trump-Xi summit looms.

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The Trump administration wants stable relations with China but does not trust the country, a senior State Department ⁠official said. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump’s China policy

China braces after Trump imposes new global tariff – how will it respond?

Beijing is on alert but signals readiness to engage ahead of high-level trade talks and Trump’s first visit to China in his second term.

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US President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick speaks during a press briefing at the White House, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping global tariffs last year. Photo: Reuters
United States

Opinion | Despite Supreme Court ruling, Trump has legal cards for tariffs in hand

The US’ trading partners are understandably taking a wait-and-see approach to the tariff landscape after the court decision.

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China food security

Explaining China’s 2026 rural blueprint

SCMP Plus annotates the No 1 document released by the Communist Party’s Central Committee and State Council setting out key rural policies for the year.

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Mainland China

US trade chief’s statement on Trump’s global tariff

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer issued a statement elaborating on Trump’s decision to impose a new global tariff following Supreme Court’s ruling.

Photo: Reuters
China trade

US-Indonesia deal threatens China’s ‘entrenched position’ in nickel market: analysts

A new deal gives America unrestricted access to Indonesia’s nickel – and challenges China’s ‘preferential’ position in the market, analysts say.

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US-China relations

US tariff ruling points to steadier US-China ties before April summit: analysts

Court decision lowers effective duties, easing tensions and steering Xi-Trump talks towards stability rather than escalation.

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China-Africa relations

Opinion | China’s zero-tariff offer to Africa is a game changer

In contrast to Western proposals that come with strings attached, China has turned its own market into the main instrument of partnership.

A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children during a hands-on experience session at the Ethiopian pavilion of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park in Changsha, Hunan province on August 30, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

What next for China’s export machine after top US court blocks Trump’s tariffs?

The high-stakes meeting between Trump and Xi may determine whether current reprieve gives way to a more durable trade deal, analyst says.

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By invalidating duties imposed under emergency presidential powers, the US Supreme Court ruling removes a powerful tool the White House had used to pressure Beijing, potentially weakening Washington’s bargaining position. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

Trump tariff loss is win for Chinese exporters

Chinese manufacturers will no longer face higher tariffs than rivals elsewhere in the world after the US Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump.

US-China relations

Critical minerals rivalry expands to copper, silver

The US and China are intensifying efforts to secure copper and silver supply chains amid surging industrial demand which has driven up prices of the metals, delivering big returns for investors in 2025.

Donald Trump

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Food and agriculture

Opinion | How China’s national food security push could reshape global markets

Amid increasing pressure from trade wars and climate change, Beijing is reframing agriculture as a matter of national security.

Farmers pick grapes in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province on June 6, 2025. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
United States

Trump lashes out at US Supreme Court, rolls out new 10% global tariffs

Decision threatens administration’s trade agenda; casts shadow on Xi-Trump summit as some China tariffs wiped out before Beijing talks.

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Mainland China

Why looming US-China trade talks could hinge on an obscure metal: gallium

China’s ban on exports of the vital metal could kick in again in November – and the US still has no realistic alternative supplier.

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