Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos marked a new era in how the West talks about itself. One could say he was the first Global North leader to frame the rules-based international order (RIP) in Global South terms:
“We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew ...
Category: Tariffs
South Africa Targets Chinese, Indian Auto Imports With New Tariffs to Boost Local Production
The South African government is considering imposing new tariffs on imported cars to boost the country's ailing auto manufacturing sector. "We're looking specifically at how we can turn the tide on localization," said Mkhululi Mlota, chief director of automotives at the ...
China Says Will ‘Safeguard’ Interests After Trump Tariff Threat Over Iran
China said on Tuesday it would protect its rights and interests after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran. "We have always believed that there are no winners in a tariff war, ...
China Pressure Hangs Over Indonesia’s U.S. Tariff Deal
Indonesia’s planned tariff deal with the United States risks drawing pressure from China, if Jakarta grants Washington terms not extended elsewhere, an Indonesian economist warned, as the agreement nears signing. “China might use this as a basis to demand the same ...
Indonesia to Resume U.S. Tariff Talks After Reports Deal at Risk
Indonesia will send a negotiating team to Washington next week to resume tariff talks with the United States. Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said Friday The move follows reports that a July trade framework is at risk. Airlangga said ...
Uganda’s First Zero-Tariff Exports to China Depart, Underscoring Challenge of Low-Value Goods
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni proudly waved his national flag at a send-off ceremony on Friday for 11 tons of dried chili bound for China. This shipment is among the first Ugandan exports to China that will benefit from Beijing's new zero-tariff ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
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 Pushes Back on Mexican Tariff Plans
China’s Foreign Ministry has lodged its opposition to plans by the Mexican government to impose a range of tariffs on Chinese imports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Tuesday that Beijing “firmly opposes moves taken under coercion to impose restrictions on China or hurt China’s legitimate ...
US, China Outline Trade Truce Plan Ahead of Trump–Xi Talks
The United States and China said they have agreed on a basic outline to limit their trade fight, and U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects to “have a deal with China” when he meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week.
Indonesia Rejects U.S. Bid to Ban Chinese Ships in Tariff Talks
Indonesia Rejects U.S. Bid and pressing U.S. trade officials to allow the use of Chinese-flagged or China-built ships for its Washington-bound exports, warning that it “don’t want to give in to all their demands” as the two sides finalize a 19% tariff deal, senior officials said. ...
Geely Starts Assembly in Indonesia as the U.S. and EU Tariffs Rise
Geely, the Chinese carmaker, has begun knock-down (KD) assembly in Indonesia through its unit Geely Auto Indonesia. The work is taking place at a plant in West Java. The company says building locally will shorten delivery times for Indonesian buyers. ...
Trump Tariffs Boosting Nigerian E-Commerce Giant
The CEO of the Nigerian e-commerce company Jumia says the Trump administration’s tariffs are easing its access to Chinese manufacturers. Francis Dufay told Bloomberg that trade barriers in the U.S. are forcing Chinese suppliers to find other markets, which benefits Nigerian consumers. This is strengthening Jumia’s hand ...
U.S. Tariffs Hit China’s Exports; Pressure Rises in Southeast Asia
China’s exports to the United States fell 25% between April and August 2025, about $57 billion, yet shipments redirected to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe helped offset the hit, a recent UNDP study finds. Southeast Asia took the most significant ...