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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.
US President Donald Trump speaks at a mining industry round table in Washington on Friday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US unveils critical minerals deals in latest push to counter China

Trump administration seeks Beijing-free supply chains for key defence materials as Iran war strains US weapons stockpiles.

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China-Latin America relations

UnionPay to link Chinese payment apps to Brazil’s Pix after US tariffs

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US-China relations

In Focus | Race for UN top job enters final stage: choice may ‘make or break’ bloc

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China trade

Lab-made diamonds ride AI demand for chip cooling as China leads industrial boom

Exports surge in first half of year, as the superior heat dissipation of diamonds expands market beyond jewellery, positioning China for further growth.

A worker checks a diamond at a facility in China’s Henan province. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

July trade robust, fresh Chinese sanctions, Unitree IPO opens

This week: July trade growth moderates, Beijing retaliates against US sanctions and services activity growth slips. Next week: Subscriptions start for Unitree IPO, Tencent and Chinese chipmakers report interim earnings, July factory gate prices and more.

US-China relations

China buys at least 10 more cargoes of US soybeans, traders say

These are the latest in a flurry of purchases ahead of President Xi Jinping’s expected US visit in September.

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US-China relations

Will latest trade ‘speed bump’ slow China-US ties, or even stop Xi-Trump summit?

As Beijing and Washington trade curbs, analysts say only major action or breach of the other’s core interests can prevent summit.

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US President Donald Trump met China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May. They are expected to meet again in the US in September, despite recent China-US friction on several fronts. Photo: AFP
Cybersecurity

China launches probe into Palo Alto Networks as US trade tensions intensify

The move comes just a day after Beijing imposed sanctions on a string of US firms and tightened controls over the drone supply chain.

US-China relations

China adds US sanctions, drone curbs in trade tit-for-tat

Beijing tightens curbs on unmanned aerial vehicle exports after US robotics import ban, sanctions firms for aiding measures targeting Xinjiang.

Mainland China

China’s retaliation against US shows depth of its trade war strategy: analysts

Beijing’s latest export controls and sanctions against American companies show its ‘countermeasures framework and toolkit have come of age’.

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China has broadened its economic strategy, introducing a growing array of legal, regulatory, and trade measures to respond more forcefully to US sanctions. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Latin America relations

Brazil to become regular borrower in China, treasury official says

Brasilia cannot guarantee debut will happen this year, but wants it repeated to give companies a yuan benchmark to aim for.

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Brazil intends to sell yuan bonds in China every year, a senior Brazilian treasury official said on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

US hawks push Trump on multibillion-dollar Taiwan arms deal ahead of Xi summit

Observers say US leader may be ‘miscalculating’ if he attempts to use the US$14 billion package to ramp up pressure on Beijing.

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US-China relations

Seasoned seeds as bio-weapons? Chinese netizens mock US targeting of food brands

The latest batch of Washington’s import restrictions – targeting snack firms – is creating quite a stir among China’s social media users.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Disputes over AI, robotics, trade mount ahead of planned Xi-Trump summit in US

Tech and trade rifts and forced labour claims test US-China cooperation ahead of Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington in September.

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Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shake hands after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, China, on May 15. Photo: Reuters
US-China tech war

Chinese optical-module stocks rebound as analysts weigh ‘mild’ US AI curbs

FCC plan would preserve existing supplies while targeting next-generation products, forcing Washington to balance security concerns with cost of replacing Chinese capacity.

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Workers are seen at a data centre. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China tech war

Opinion | Chinese and Western firms are teaming up even as governments fight

To survive trade restrictions and regulatory barriers, companies on both sides are turning to joint ventures.

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Commodities

Copper floods US as traders anticipate Trump tariffs while ‘Taco’ concerns loom

Traders ship more than 200,000 tonnes of the industrial metal into American ports in July to front-load anticipated levies, as fears of policy reversal persist.

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US-China relations

China hits back at US with barrage of sanctions, drone industry curbs

Beijing frames the measures as a ‘restrained’ response to the US’ recent sanctions and robot import ban, but warns of potential further actions.

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A US and Chinese flag wave outside a commercial building in Beijing. Photo: TNS
China technology

Beijing decries ‘bullying’ US tech curbs that ensnare Chinese firms and products

State mouthpiece warns that Washington’s bans on green energy and advanced manufacturing will backfire, while defending China’s open-source AI models.

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China-Latin America relations

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

Israel

US-Saudi nuclear doubt, Boko Haram’s AI terrorism: 7 global relations reads

From US arms promises to EU sanctions and USMCA troubles, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in July 2026.

Boko Haram has been found to use both Chinese and American AIs in their terrroism plots – possibly with advice from Islamic State. Photo: Shutterstock
Trade

Strong as steel: Trump tariffs spark a US production increase

US steel production rose 7 per cent year on year through July, with the country rising to be the world’s third-largest producer in 2025.

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Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill in the US is shown under construction in the California desert. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

US tech giants invited to discuss AI security tests at White House

Meta, Anthropic among companies to review voluntary framework on Tuesday as US government seeks early access to most advanced AI models.

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Donald Trump

Democratic-led US states sue Trump over latest round of global tariffs

Coalition of 25 states claims president exceeded legal authority in imposing duties on 60 trading partners.

US-China relations

Trump election claims debunked, US-China AI gap: 7 US-China relations reads

From smaller US-China AI gap to crawfish soup on Mars, here are highlights from our overseas correspondents in the second half of July 2026.

US President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office of the White House on July 29. Photo: AP
DeepSeek

China’s DeepSeek tests AI ‘harness’ as cheap V4 model jolts Silicon Valley

Hangzhou-based firm is recruiting developers to test software that turns language models into autonomous agents, escalating price war with US rivals.

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A smartphone screen displays the logo for Chinese AI company DeepSeek. Illustration: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

Potential US ban on Chinese AI models could cost businesses US$12 billion a year

Washington is reportedly mulling a ban on foreign open-source AI models, but the move would likely raise costs for a slew of US companies.

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China exports

Why US, EU curbs on Chinese power inverters risk upending green supply chains

As Western governments move to end dependence on world’s top producer, analysts warn rapid decoupling could drive up costs and derail projects.

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