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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.
The main entrance of the port of Balboa in Panama City, taken on February 12. Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings, is seeking US$2 billion in damages from the Panamanian government over what it described as the “illegal takeover” of the operations of two ports at either end of the strategic canal. Photo: AFP
Hutchison’s Panama ports deal

China summons Maersk, MSC on shipping operations amid Panama saga, Iran war

Beijing gave no reason for order – but both firms at centre of dispute after Panama ruled against CK Hutchison’s operation of two ports.

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China exports

China’s exports surge 21.8% to start 2026 – biggest gain in 4 years

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Mainland China

US to counter China’s critical minerals dominance with innovative upgrades

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US-China relations

China-US trade relations may reach a ‘tactical truce’, as 2 superpowers talk

Foreign companies in China quietly confident on US ties, but are bracing for ongoing geopolitical tensions.

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Companies in southern China are feeling growing confidence in the state of US-China relations. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US and China clash over fentanyl and tariffs at global drugs meeting

The exchange underscored tensions ‌between the two countries ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting in China at the end of the month.

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2026 Trump-Xi summit

Exclusive | Trump’s China visit confined to Beijing due to schedule, security needs: sources

‘Given the situation [in the Middle East], the visit’s security arrangements must be extremely careful’.

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Rare earths

US firms face ‘economic bind’ as China mineral truce fails to ease shortages

Businesses hope US President Donald Trump’s visit to China in late March will ease bottlenecks.

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China currently mines about 70 per cent of the world’s rare earth metals, a subset of critical minerals, and holds 90 per cent of the global processing capacity. The US relies heavily on these materials for defence manufacturing and throughout the hi-tech hardware supply chain. Photo: Reuters
Two Sessions 2026

Is Trump’s China trip still on? Despite Iran, Wang Yi sees potential

Chinese foreign minister suggests the summit with Xi is still on track and high-level engagement remains key.

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US-China relations

As US universities retreat from China, who is filling the academic void?

Many elite Sino-American ventures have ended under the strain of geopolitics but other, more diverse, programmes are emerging.

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United States

US tariff refund system to be ready in 45 days, after Trump duties struck down

The US customs agency is trying to hammer out a process for returning US$166 billion in tariff ‌payments to around 330,000 importers.

A US flies in front of shipping containers at the Port o Los Angeles in June 2025. Photo: TNS
Yuan

Beijing vows yuan stability, fires back at currency-depreciation claims

PBOC governor reaffirms yuan stability, refuting trade partners’ accusations ahead of critical US talks in Paris.

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A woman walks by an exchange shop decorated with banknotes. There has been mounting pressure from China’s trade partners to allow the yuan to strengthen. Photo: Felix Wong
Two Sessions 2026

China vows support for tech, trade rebalance, stock reforms - as it happened

The heads of China’s major economic institutions detailed plans for growth, trade and tech on the sidelines of the ‘two sessions’.

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Two Sessions 2026

China targets lowest growth range in 35 years as pressures rise

Beijing to prioritise hi-tech over stimulus-driven growth with focus on the people in notable shift, premier’s work report to NPC reveals.

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US-China relations

Opinion | China waits and watches as the US fights all its tigers at once

Far from freeing up resources to focus on China, Trump’s administration finds itself fighting fires on several fronts, sapping its resources.

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Security forces fire tear gas to disperse a protest against US and Israeli attacks on Iran, at a bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located, in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 2. Photo: AP
China trade

Despite loss of Panama Canal, China investing US$23.9b in global seaports: study

Beijing funds 363 ports outside the Panama Canal to safeguard against East-West decoupling and US bid to curb China’s supply chain influence.

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A view of the Port of Balboa, managed by CK Hutchison Holdings based in Hong Kong, at the entrance to the Panama Canal in Panama City. On February 24, 2026, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison objected to a takeover by Panamanian authorities of two ports its subsidiary previously controlled on the Panama Canal. Photo: AFP
Donald Trump

Trump’s 15% global tariffs likely to start this week, US Treasury chief says

US president imposed a 10 per cent levy after the Supreme Court invalidated his previous measures, then threatened to raise it further.

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US-China relations

Iran war leaves China in foreign policy divide

China is leading opposition to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, while also seeking to avoid a breakdown in its relationship with Washington.

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US-China relations

China and US to hold high-level talks in Paris before Trump’s Beijing visit

Delegates to discuss trade and investment deals amid rising global tensions in lead-up to President’s first visit since returning to power.

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(From left to right) US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris for high-level trade talks, in the lead-up to US President Donald Trump’s forthcoming Beijing visit. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

US and China trade chiefs to meet mid-March before Trump-Xi summit

The planned Paris talks suggest a meeting between the two countries’ leaders will go ahead despite American strikes against Iran.

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Donald Trump’s China policy

Trump’s tariff wars reshaped US-China trade – at what cost to American firms?

US exporters lost tens of billions of US dollars in sales to China in 2025, economist says.

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Mainland China

Trump-Xi trade detente weathers US strikes on Iran

US attacks on Chinese oil supplier Iran have done little damage to relations between the world’s two largest economies ahead of Trump’s planned trip to Beijing.

Beijing shoppers watch coverage of US-Israeli air strikes in Iran. Photo: EPA
US-China relations

Exclusive | US, China discuss investment revival ahead of Trump’s trip: sources

Both sides exploring structured joint ventures and licensing deals, with Beijing seeking protection and Washington eyeing better market access amid declining capital flows.

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US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping shake hands at an October meeting in South Korea. The two are expected to meet again in four weeks. Photo: Reuters
United States

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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US-China relations

Will Iran attack derail Trump’s high-stakes China visit to meet Xi Jinping?

China has condemned killing of Iranian leader as a grave violation of sovereignty and called US incitement of regime change ‘unacceptable’.

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US-China relations

Editorial | China now holds more cards ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

US Supreme Court reversal of Trump’s tariffs leaves China with lower tariffs and US deals with allies in doubt.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening of a study session on January 20. Photo: Xinhua
China shipbuilding

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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

Government departments are tasked with researching and assessing likely demands by the US leader as well as formulating possible concessions.

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