Trade

US, China Agree to Establish 'Consultation Mechanism' on Trade

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said Sunday that Beijing and Washington had agreed during weekend talks in Geneva to create a "consultation mechanism", as they strive to de-escalate trade tensions. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, He said that the closed-door discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson ...

US and China Meet in 'Important Step' Towards De-escalating Trade War

Senior US and Chinese officials were meeting in Geneva Saturday in what Chinese state media described as an "important step" towards resolving the trade war sparked by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were holding talks with Chinese Vice Premier ...

Where Things Stand in the US-China Trade War

US and Chinese officials meet this weekend in Geneva for their first formal talks aimed at resolving a grueling tit-for-tat tariff war that threatens hundreds of billions in trade and roils global markets and supply chains. AFP looks at how the trade row between the world's two economic superpowers is playing out. What Steps Have the Two Sides ...

France Defends Cinema Model after Trump Threats

France's culture minister vowed Wednesday to defend the country's system of promoting domestic film production in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump. France has a complex mix of taxes, quotas and levies on film and TV distributors that helps funnel money into the national film sector, making it Europe's cinema powerhouse. "We ...

Trade War: China Navigates the Storm with a Steady Compass

Since Washington decided to strike hard with 145% tariffs, trade relations between China and the US have shifted from a negotiation table to a boxing ring. The blow is heavy: in 2024, the US alone accounted for nearly $500 billion in Chinese imports, making it Beijing’s largest commercial partner. In real terms, nearly one in five Chinese ...

Xi Says China Must 'Overcome' AI Chip Challenges.

President Xi Jinping said China must "overcome" the challenges of developing core AI technologies including high-end chips, state media reported Saturday, as Beijing seeks to become a world leader in the rapidly developing industry. China aims to dominate the artificial intelligence sector, a goal complicated by the trade standoff with Washington ...

Major Trade Wars Since the 19th Century

As the world reels from US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, here is a look back at some major trade wars since the 19th century: 19th century Opium Wars In the mid-19th century, two conflicts over the opium trade, which became known as the Opium Wars, pitted China against the British Empire. The first began in 1839, when Britain ...

EU Offers US Zero Tariffs for Cars and Other Industrial Goods

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday the EU had offered the United States a bilateral tariff exemption for cars and other industrial goods as it works to avert an all-out transatlantic trade war. "We stand ready to negotiate with the United States. Indeed, we have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods, as ...

Fresh Trump Tariffs to Take Effect on April 5 and 9

President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs on US trading partners are set to begin this weekend, said White House officials Wednesday, with a higher rate on "worst offenders" to take effect next week. Declaring that a "national emergency" stemmed from security concerns due to persistent trade deficits, the White House ...