The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...
Category: Week in Review
WEEK IN REVIEW: Trump’s New Tariff Threat Hits Asia, Africa, Global Stocks
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a letter on social media on Wednesday saying he intends to impose a 50% tariff on "any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States" from August 1. Unlike his other tariff letters, this one specified that the levy is in response ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Modi’s Tour Targets Critical Minerals Diversification and Lessen Dependence on China
The Trump administration has reportedly suspended a regulation that compelled companies to seek government licenses to sell chip design software to China. The U.S. Commerce Department reportedly informed three key providers of chip design software – Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, and Siemens – that government licenses to do ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China to Shift to a Massive-Scale Consumption Economy – China’s Premier Li Qiang
The Taiwanese tech company Foxconn, a major assembler of Apple products, received approval from Taiwan’s regulator for a $2.2 billion investment in facilities in India and the U.S. The Department of Investment Review in Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs also approved a $1.49 billion investment in a subsidiary ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Russia, China Plan Joint Military Drills 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said on Wednesday that Russia is planning joint military exercises with China in 2025. No details about the date and nature of the exercises were released. China and Russia last held joint exercises in September 2024 off Russia’s eastern coast. (REUTERS) ...
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.
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
WEEK IN REVIEW: Wang Yi Meets Over 50 African Envoys on Africa Day
Brazilian prosecutors announced they are suing the Chinese carmaker BYD and two of its contractors for slave-like labor conditions. Prosecutors in Bahia state are seeking about $50 million in damages from BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil, and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes. The suit follows a complaint last year that ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Mining Company CMOC Urges Congo to Lift Cobalt Ban
The Chinese mining company CMOC has called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to lift its export ban on cobalt. The country imposed a four-month ban on exports in the hope of raising prices. The ban is scheduled to expire next month. CMOC’s Vice President ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Trump Administration Warns on Using Huawei AI
The Trump administration warned companies around the world that using Huawei AI chips could lead to penalties for breaching U.S. export controls. The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security said it is “issuing guidance that using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls,” because ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Trump Administration Warns on Using Huawei AI
The Trump administration warned companies around the world that using Huawei AI chips could lead to penalties for breaching U.S. export controls. The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security said it is “issuing guidance that using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls,” because ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s CATL Seeks $1B Loan for Major Battery Plant in Indonesia
U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t consider pulling back the 145% trade tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to spur a trade deal. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he simply said, “No.” Asked what he ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s CATL Seeks $1B Loan for Major Battery Plant in Indonesia
U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t consider pulling back the 145% trade tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to spur a trade deal. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he simply said, “No.” Asked what he ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Apple Plans to Moves U.S. iPhone Production from China to India Amid Trump Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the economic impact of the trade war on U.S. consumers in an interview with ABC News. He said he doesn’t believe that hard times are ahead for the U.S. and that China will likely absorb the impact of the steep trade levies imposed ...