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World Trade Organization (WTO)

World Trade Organization (WTO)
The latest news, analysis and opinion on World Trade Organization (WTO). In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A foreign buyer checks footballs at a store in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
China trade

How this Chinese city is netting profits amid 2026 World Cup fever

Yiwu, the world’s capital of small goods, tackles global market for football-related merchandise as buzz builds ahead of major tournament.

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SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

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China-EU relations

China threatens EU firms over cybersecurity plans targeting Chinese companies

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China GDP

First tariffs, now war: how Asia is facing a second year of economic shocks

Global institutions forecast slower growth in Asia-Pacific this year, as the Iran war and tariff risks combine to disrupt global trade.

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A crane loads cargo onto a ship at a port in Zhangjiagang, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Yiwu market owner eyes Hong Kong IPO to support overseas expansion

Hong Kong listing plan comes after the company reported net profit of 4.2 billion yuan for 2025, up 36.8 per cent from a year earlier.

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Only virtual talks, no new investment push before Xi-Trump summit: Greer

US Trade Representative underscores US seeks substantial tariffs, unhindered rare earth access, and a stability-preserving leaders’ meeting.

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Taiwan

Names and games: Taipei hits back over ‘China’ label, but will it pay off?

Taiwan retaliates against countries that have changed its name in official systems, but analysts and lawmakers warn measures could backfire.

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Taiwan says it has adopted a strategy combining “flexibility and firmness” to resolve its naming dispute with South Korea. Photo: EPA
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.

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Trade

Opinion | As Trump wrecks trade, WTO meeting in Cameroon is a show of defiance

Trade ministerial conference shows that most nations still value multilateral cooperation over the chaotic whims of a hegemon.

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China trade

China says Mexico’s tariff hikes constitute ‘trade barriers’ after probe

The tariff increases – made in part to appease demands from Washington – have been designated a breach of trade rules by Beijing.

Natural gas-powered buses bound for Mexico are loaded onto a ship at Yantai Port in east China’s Shandong province. Photo: Xinhua
CPTPP

Opinion | Pacific trade vitality shows multilateralism is alive and well

With the US in retreat, nations committed to economic integration are moving forward through partnerships like the CPTPP.

Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China trade war

Trump’s 2026 trade agenda sharpens push for ‘managed’ US-China ties

US Trade Representative report touts deficit drop, pledges tougher Section 301 enforcement ahead of Trump’s Beijing summit with Xi.

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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.

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China trade

China defends WTO’s ‘equal treatment’ rule – what it means for global trade

Beijing warns that ending non-discrimination in global trade rules could see powerful countries dominate smaller ones.

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The WTO launched a formal self-review in 2022, and is expected to discuss reform proposals in March. Photo: AFP
Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces daunting post-election challenges in economy, garment sector

A key concern for Dhaka is the upgrade to developing nation status, with the key garment sector set to face stiffer competition.

Garment workers tailor clothes in a factory in Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | The 21st-century order has outgrown 20th-century institutions

Despite international tensions, countries still seek cooperation based on shared interests. Institutions must embrace this trend.

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US-China relations

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

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European Union

China cuts EU dairy tariffs, easing trade tensions after EV dispute

EU called Beijing’s tariffs ‘unwarranted’, and mulls WTO action, but China cutting some duties signals possible improvement in ties.

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China slashes EU dairy tariffs easing trade tensions. Photo: Reuters
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Outside In | Apec’s quiet cooperation still matters in a noisy, divided world

Year-round, multiple intensive working meetings keep the forum an ‘engine room’ of cooperation, reflecting its commitment to multilateralism.

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US-China trade war

Canada’s former deputy PM hopes for less economic dependency on China in future

Canada’s former deputy prime minister supports economic system ‘in which China works’ but other countries’ vulnerabilities are limited.

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US-China relations

WTO faults US in dispute brought by China over clean energy subsidies

Large tax credits under Biden’s landmark climate law are inconsistent with WTO agreements and should be withdrawn, a panel ruled.

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The World Trade Organization logo is seen at its headquarters in Geneva in February 2024. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Opinion | How the world can design a new trade architecture

Even as the US overhauls world trade norms, China’s quiet but influential role in redefining globalisation is impossible to ignore.

Cargo containers are stacked on a ship at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, on October 15, 2025. Photo: EPA
China-Latin America relations

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

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Jimmy Lai trial

Beijing, Hong Kong slam European bid to sanction officials over Jimmy Lai trial

Resolution in response to conviction of former media boss also calls for rethink of city’s trade status under World Trade Organization.

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China-EU relations

Editorial | China-EU compromise over EVs bodes well for trade and overall ties

With the Trump administration turning aggressive towards allies and foes alike, Beijing and Brussels have more reasons to work together.

Vehicles wait to be loaded onto a carrier at the Taicang Port on January 11, 2025 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
China energy security

Can China’s cheap, renewable energy help it outrun the US in the AI race?

China’s energy buildout means cheap, green and reliable electricity fuels its manufacturing and tech industries, giving it an edge over rivals.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China-EU relations

China-EU deal on EVs marks rare agreement in frosty relations

The EU will waive tariffs on China-made battery electric vehicles if carmakers set a minimum price that offsets the effect of subsidies.

European Union

Opinion | A complicated new EU-China showdown is quietly taking shape

For now, both sides still need each other and there is nowhere else to turn. But behind this reliance, irritation and paranoia are rising.

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