With U.S.-South Africa ties in the deep freeze, it was notable to see the sheer size of the U.S. delegation sent to this week’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town – one of the most prominent industry gatherings and one of the few where the Global South gets a prominent voice.
The Trump administration’s famous Afrophobia seems (momentarily at least) tempered by its greed for minerals. It is reportedly walking ...
Category: Deals
China Close to Deal Selling Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles to Iran
After two years of negotiations, Iran is close to finalizing a deal with China to buy supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, according to Reuters. Reuters cited six sources who confirmed that Iran is poised to acquire Chinese-made CM-302 missiles, nicknamed "Carrier-Killers," that are ...
Djibouti Signs Minerals Deal with Chinese Company
The small East African country of Djibouti signed a $50 million deal with the Singapore-based Chinese company Tze Kuen for mineral exploration and extraction over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. ...
How China Plans to Dominate Global Trade Long After Trump
By Joe Cash China sees an opening to turn President Donald Trump's tariffs to its advantage by reshaping global trade in ways that would insulate its $19 trillion economy from U.S. pressure for the foreseeable future.
Kenya Secures Duty-Free Access to China. Its Farmers May Still Struggle to Cash In
There's been a lot of discussion in Kenya over the weekend about how the country can best take advantage of a preliminary trade agreement signed late last week that grants 98.2% of Kenyan exports duty-free access to the Chinese market.
Panama Ports Deal Hits a Wall
The Trump administration’s efforts to lessen Chinese influence in the Panama Canal have reportedly hit an impasse. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Chinese government is demanding a majority stake for the Chinese shipping giant Cosco in a proposed deal to sell several ports to the U.S. ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Iran and Türkiye Agree on Joint Construction of Cross-Continental Rail Line
Iran and Türkiye have agreed to cooperate on building a rail line that will connect to a Eurasian logistics network connecting China and Europe. On Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan at a ...
China’s Premier Import Expo Creates More Space for Global South, But Hurdles Remain
The China International Import Expo (CIIE), which concluded early this week, was mainly taken as a litmus test of Beijing’s trade relations with conventional partners amid ongoing tariff disputes. Chinese importers signed $83.5 billion in import deals at the expo in Shanghai. ...
China and Russia Align with Iran as Nuclear Deal Runs Out
China and Russia joined Iran in declaring the official end of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, and UN Resolution 2231. The three countries sent an official letter to the United Nations on ...
Vanuatu Pushes Back on China-Excluding Deal with Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to cancel the signing of a landmark treaty with Vanuatu because it would limit the Pacific island state’s infrastructure cooperation with China. The Nakamal Agreement would see Australia allocate AU$500 million (about US$330.3 million) for ...
U.S. Agrees Trade Deal with Philippines Amid Geopolitical Tension
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the United States will impose 19% tariffs on the Philippines, slightly reduced from the 20% he threatened earlier. The U.S. will have tariff-free access to the Philippine market.
Looking Beyond Mining in the Africa-China Relationship
Last week’s China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Changsha, Hunan province drew very little press attention, but it gave a glimpse of the growing centrality of agricultural trade to the Africa-China relationship. The event delivered 176 new project deals worth $11.39 billion. The number ...
Africa-China Trade Fair Delivers $11.39 Billion in Deals
The fourth annual China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) concluded on Sunday with deals signed for 176 new projects, worth a total of $11.39 billion. The number of deals jumped by 45.8%, while the total value increased by 10.6% since the previous fair in 2023. ...