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Wang Wentao

The latest news on Chinese politician Wang Wentao, including political stories and updates.

Born

May 1964

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Minister of Commerce, China

A proposed new tool to tackle competition from China’s manufacturers is expected to be considered by EU commissioners on May 29. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU sounds out industry over new trade weapon against China’s overcapacity

Brussels is polling business groups ahead of commissioners’ meeting but few details of the proposed instrument have been revealed.

5 May 2026 - 5:48PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

25 Apr 2026 - 5:14AMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy

13 Apr 2026 - 12:02AM

China trade

Qiushi reaffirms China’s trade push, calls old export-led growth ‘unsustainable’

Global tensions, weak high-end exports, and record trade surpluses are spurring a strategic shift to boost imports, develop services trade and deepen market integration.

1 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

Vehicles await export at a port in China’s Jiangsu province on March 15. A commentary in the latest issue of the Qiushi Journal says the traits of China’s economy render an export-driven growth model “unsustainable”. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

China launches investigations into US trade practices. Why now?

Washington’s measures may breach WTO rules and past agreements, commerce ministry says.

27 Mar 2026 - 10:30PM

China-Germany relations

Germany’s Merz floats EU-China trade deal as European capitals soften on Beijing

Remarks urging ‘strategic partnerships around the world’ underscore how tensions with the US are inducing a more accommodating stance.

26 Mar 2026 - 8:31PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

Beijing vows to expand imports amid ‘China shock’ fears

Beijing promises to source advanced tech, consumer goods and agricultural products from overseas while diversifying markets.

7 Mar 2026 - 11:42AMvideocam

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speaks at the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 6. Photo: AFP

Two Sessions 2026

China pledges full support for tech sector with broad range of new policies

China’s top economic officials outline plans to support tech firms with stock market reforms and measures to stimulate demand.

6 Mar 2026 - 9:05PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

6 Mar 2026 - 6:57PMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

Commissioner calls for faster trade probes and WTO reform as Brussels confronts overcapacity, subsidies and a US$424 billion deficit.

25 Feb 2026 - 9:18AMvideocam

Maros Sefcovic said Brussels is reviewing trade defence tools and monitoring imports of Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles. Photo: AFP

China trade

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

China’s average effective tariff rate estimated to be as low as 1.3 per cent in 2025, helping it secure raw materials and build soft power.

20 Jan 2026 - 11:24PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping and African leaders arrive at a forum on China-Africa cooperation in Beijing. China has pledged to cut tariffs on most African imports to zero. Photo: Xinhua

China-South Korea relations

Blackpink for Ayumi? Why China may reward South Korea’s soft stance on Japan row

Beijing is reviving stalled trade talks with Seoul as the Lee administration breaks with Tokyo on Taiwan, and analysts say Chinese market access could be the geopolitical prize.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:44AMvideocam

China-Germany relations

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

9 Dec 2025 - 2:08PM

China-Germany relations

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

8 Dec 2025 - 9:38PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (left) with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao before talks on Monday. Photo: dpa

China trade

Chinese minister calls for more opening-up as key planning meeting looms

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s remarks echo similar calls by other senior officials ahead of annual central economic work conference.

8 Dec 2025 - 6:30PMvideocam

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has called for China to push ahead with opening-up policies over the next five years. Photo: Xinhua

Semiconductors

Tensions flare as Wingtech slams chipmaker Nexperia’s head office over deception

The heightened tensions underscore the complexity in resolving the two sides’ dispute over the control of the Dutch chipmaker.

28 Nov 2025 - 10:27PM

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

Semiconductors

Explainer | A timeline of the Sino-Dutch row over the control of chipmaker Nexperia

The Hague suspends use of Cold War-era law called upon to seize control of Chinese-owned Nexperia, as dispute imperils global supply chains.

21 Nov 2025 - 9:00PM

Nexperia’s Chinese owner, Wingtech Technology, aims to use all possible legal means to take back control of the Dutch chipmaker. Photo: Shutterstock

China consumption

800 million: how a new target indicates a shift in China’s economic strategy

China projects it will have 800 million people living on middle incomes in 10 years, as it pledges to ‘invest more in people’.

17 Nov 2025 - 4:12PMvideocam

US-China trade war

China patient in Nexperia row – but escalation seen as possible as talks loom

Beijing wants diplomatic solution but may take countermeasures if Dutch side refuses to budge, analysts warn.

14 Nov 2025 - 7:30PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Has Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?

The Japanese prime minister’s comments about military intervention were unusually direct for such a sensitive topic.

13 Nov 2025 - 1:19PMvideocam

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has walked back some of her direct comments on Taiwan. Photo: EPA

China trade

China pushes for trilateral trade pact with Japan, South Korea amid US tension

Divergent interests, new governments and Washington’s influence complicate Beijing’s efforts to forge deeper economic ties with Japan and South Korea.

4 Nov 2025 - 10:54AMvideocam

A cargo ship sails into the port in Qingdao in China’s Shandong province on Monday. Photo: AFP

China-Japan relations

China’s Okinawa remarks challenge militarisation, not sovereignty: analysts

Observers say Chinese envoy’s comments about ‘indigenous’ Okinawans not intended to question Japan’s rule over southern prefecture.

1 Nov 2025 - 6:36PMvideocam

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

Semiconductors

Nexperia’s China factory cuts output as Dutch takeover deepens global chip supply tensions

Nexperia’s main China factory has cut production after Dutch authorities seized control of its headquarters.

27 Oct 2025 - 9:02PM

One part of the Nexperia factory in Dongguan has idled one-third of its machines, say workers. Photo: Coco Feng

Semiconductors

Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts car sector supply chain at risk

All eyes are on Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels to defuse the row over Nexperia.

26 Oct 2025 - 11:00AM

Semiconductors

Nexperia parent Wingtech warns of ‘cash flow risk’ despite 280% surge in profit

Wingtech’s semiconductor operations posted revenue of 4.3 billion yuan in the quarter, accounting for 97 per cent of the total.

25 Oct 2025 - 6:00PM

China-EU relations

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

25 Oct 2025 - 5:51PMvideocam

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Wang Wentao

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | EU sounds out industry over new trade weapon against China’s overcapacity

Brussels is polling business groups ahead of commissioners’ meeting but few details of the proposed instrument have been revealed.

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy

Qiushi reaffirms China’s trade push, calls old export-led growth ‘unsustainable’

Global tensions, weak high-end exports, and record trade surpluses are spurring a strategic shift to boost imports, develop services trade and deepen market integration.

China launches investigations into US trade practices. Why now?

Washington’s measures may breach WTO rules and past agreements, commerce ministry says.

Germany’s Merz floats EU-China trade deal as European capitals soften on Beijing

Remarks urging ‘strategic partnerships around the world’ underscore how tensions with the US are inducing a more accommodating stance.

Beijing vows to expand imports amid ‘China shock’ fears

Beijing promises to source advanced tech, consumer goods and agricultural products from overseas while diversifying markets.

China pledges full support for tech sector with broad range of new policies

China’s top economic officials outline plans to support tech firms with stock market reforms and measures to stimulate demand.

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

Commissioner calls for faster trade probes and WTO reform as Brussels confronts overcapacity, subsidies and a US$424 billion deficit.

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

China’s average effective tariff rate estimated to be as low as 1.3 per cent in 2025, helping it secure raw materials and build soft power.

Blackpink for Ayumi? Why China may reward South Korea’s soft stance on Japan row

Beijing is reviving stalled trade talks with Seoul as the Lee administration breaks with Tokyo on Taiwan, and analysts say Chinese market access could be the geopolitical prize.

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

Chinese minister calls for more opening-up as key planning meeting looms

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s remarks echo similar calls by other senior officials ahead of annual central economic work conference.

Tensions flare as Wingtech slams chipmaker Nexperia’s head office over deception

The heightened tensions underscore the complexity in resolving the two sides’ dispute over the control of the Dutch chipmaker.

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.

Explainer | A timeline of the Sino-Dutch row over the control of chipmaker Nexperia

The Hague suspends use of Cold War-era law called upon to seize control of Chinese-owned Nexperia, as dispute imperils global supply chains.

800 million: how a new target indicates a shift in China’s economic strategy

China projects it will have 800 million people living on middle incomes in 10 years, as it pledges to ‘invest more in people’.

China patient in Nexperia row – but escalation seen as possible as talks loom

Beijing wants diplomatic solution but may take countermeasures if Dutch side refuses to budge, analysts warn.

Has Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?

The Japanese prime minister’s comments about military intervention were unusually direct for such a sensitive topic.

China pushes for trilateral trade pact with Japan, South Korea amid US tension

Divergent interests, new governments and Washington’s influence complicate Beijing’s efforts to forge deeper economic ties with Japan and South Korea.

China’s Okinawa remarks challenge militarisation, not sovereignty: analysts

Observers say Chinese envoy’s comments about ‘indigenous’ Okinawans not intended to question Japan’s rule over southern prefecture.

‘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.

Nexperia’s China factory cuts output as Dutch takeover deepens global chip supply tensions

Nexperia’s main China factory has cut production after Dutch authorities seized control of its headquarters.

Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts car sector supply chain at risk

All eyes are on Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels to defuse the row over Nexperia.

Nexperia parent Wingtech warns of ‘cash flow risk’ despite 280% surge in profit

Wingtech’s semiconductor operations posted revenue of 4.3 billion yuan in the quarter, accounting for 97 per cent of the total.

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

Exclusive | EU sounds out industry over new trade weapon against China’s overcapacity