Category: Economy>Trade

How Paraguay’s Veto Power Could Reshape China’s Trade Future in South America

Amid a flurry of headline-grabbing geopolitical developments, one story has flown largely under the radar: several recent signals from within Paraguay suggest a potential shift in the country’s long-standing diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. While it might seem like just another chapter in the long-running contest between Beijing ...

Will China’s Trade Strategy in Africa Succeed Where Europe’s Didn’t?

At a recent ministerial meeting in the central Chinese city of Changsha, Beijing announced an ambitious new phase of its engagement with Africa: the possibility of eliminating customs duties on exports from all 53 African countries (except for Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan). While many ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

China-Led Study Proposes Global Energy Network

A globally connected network of solar and wind energy could provide three times the global energy demand by 2050 at a lower cost than independent national power systems. This is the finding of a study led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with researchers from the United States and Denmark.

The study focused on how areas with high solar and wind capacity (such as deserts) can be linked to ...

China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming

The United States and China have signed a long-awaited framework agreement aimed at restarting rare earth mineral shipments and easing trade tensions ahead of a critical July tariff deadline, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed this week. The deal, finalized ...

South Africa Should be Wary of China’s Zero-Tariff Offer, Warns Top Agricultural Expert

South African farmers are among those who stand to benefit the most from China's new proposal to remove tariffs on exports from 53 African countries. China sources just 0.4% of its agriculture from South Africa, a figure that is widely expected ...

Where U.S. Tariff Talks Stand with Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand

The U.S. is ramping up pressure on Southeast Asia to curb the flow of Chinese-made goods rebranded through regional supply chains, with all four key countries scrambling to finalize bilateral concessions ahead of a July 8 tariff decision. Vietnam and ...

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. ...

U.S. Tariff Pressure Mounts as China Exports Hit Southeast Asia

The United States is pressuring Vietnam to reduce reliance on Chinese technology in its exports to the U.S. market ahead of a July 8 tariff deadline, as redirected Chinese goods flood Southeast Asia and drive record trade deficits across the region, and fuel both internal economic pressures ...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Xi Jinping to Attend Central Asia Summit in Astana

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to the Kazakh capital, Astana, next week to take part in a summit with Central Asian leaders. Xi is also scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with his five counterparts from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Africa Now Has Duty-Free Access to the China Market, Now What?

Last year, in January, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni called on China to do more to open its vast market to African goods by removing trade tariffs for the entire continent. This week, Museveni got what he asked for when China removed ...

In a Swipe at the U.S., China Removes Tariffs for Nearly Every African Country

China will remove all trade tariffs on imported goods from 53 African countries in a move that starkly contrasts with U.S. President Donald Trump's pro-tariff agenda. Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the policy on Wednesday at the conclusion of a gathering ...

28 Days to Trump’s Tariffs, U.S. Still Silent on Jakarta’s Trade Offer

28 Days until Trump’s Tariffs, Washington remains silent on Indonesia’s $18B trade offer, placing Indonesian exports at risk, as the tariff clock continues to tick. Each passing day without a response from Washington brings Indonesia closer to a potentially devastating trade ...

U.S. Firms Urge Washington to Lower Tariffs on ‘Valued Partner’ Vietnam

U.S. companies in Vietnam have urged the Trump administration to lower tariffs on Hanoi, according to a letter from the American Chamber of Commerce obtained by AFP on Tuesday, warning the levies would hurt their business. The Southeast Asian manufacturing hub ...

China Turns to Global South to Make Up for Trade Losses With the United States

China's total global trade edged slightly higher in the first five months of the year to about $2.5 trillion, buoyed by a 7.2% increase in exports. Those positive figures, though, mask a profound change in Chinese trade patterns where exports ...

Choosing Sides or Playing Both? Latin America Navigates U.S.–China Rivalry

Latin America is the key focal point for the United States in its global competition with China. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he deems China's growing presence in the Western Hemisphere a direct threat to U.S. interests in ...
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