Tag: trade

US, Japan open trade talks seeking quick deal

by Heather SCOTT with Kyoko HASEGAWA in Tokyo WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US and Japanese negotiators opened the first round of trade talks on Monday in the latest front in President Donald Trump’s aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to address “chronic US trade imbalances.” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer welcomed the team from Tokyo led by Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi at the start of two days of talks looking for a rapid deal. After launching […]

Asian markets resume rally on earnings hopes, trade optimism

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets chalked up healthy gains Monday as investors cheered a strong start to the US earnings season, while Donald Trump’s treasury chief indicated trade talks with China were in their end-stage. The gains put a regional equities rally back on track after last week’s stutter, supported by data last week showing a sharp jump in credit growth in China as easing measures kick in, while exports beat expectations and […]

China’s Xi calls for early conclusion of US trade talks: Xinhua

BEIJING, China (AFP) –Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the “early conclusion of negotiations” on the text of a trade deal with the United States, state media reported Friday. The comments, carried by the Xinhua news agency, came as speculation mounted that the two sides were close to finalising an agreement to resolve their nine month-trade war. The remarks were part of a message conveyed by Chinese vice premier Liu He at a meeting […]

US, China trade talks could wrap in four weeks: Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and China could wrap up trade talks within four weeks after making quick progress on the potentially “epic” deal. “We are getting very close to making a deal,” he said ahead of a White House meeting with Chinese trade envoy Liu He. “Progress is being made at a very rapid pace.” “We will probably know over the next four weeks. It […]

US-China trade talks open in Beijing

by Ryan MCMORROW BEIJING, China (AFP) — The United States and China open the latest round of their trade talks Thursday as the economic superpowers edge towards a deal to resolve a months-long spat that has rattled the global economy. The two-day meetings between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin with China’s top economic official Liu He is the first since China put into law new measures seen as an olive […]

Singapore hopeful for China-backed Asia trade pact this year

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Singapore’s trade minister said Wednesday he was hopeful that an Asia-wide trade pact, which is backed by China and excludes the United States, could be sealed by the end of the year. On a visit to Washington, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said that a clearer picture would emerge on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in May after elections in four countries that are part of […]

Singapore hopeful for China-backed Asia trade pact this year

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Singapore’s trade minister said Wednesday he was hopeful that an Asia-wide trade pact, which is backed by China and excludes the United States, could be sealed by the end of the year. On a visit to Washington, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said that a clearer picture would emerge on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in May after elections in four countries that are part of it […]

Trump: China tariffs may remain for ‘substantial period’

by Sebastian Smith / Douglas Gillison WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that US tariffs on Chinese imports could remain in place for a “substantial period,” dampening hopes that a new trade agreement would see them lifted soon. Top American trade negotiators are due to travel to Beijing next week for a fresh round of talks, and officials have said they were in the final stages of negotiations on resolving […]

Asia markets extend rally as eyes turn to Fed meeting

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets rose Monday as investors tracked a positive lead from Wall Street on optimism over the China-US trade talks, while attention turns to the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting this week. The pound held gains as Prime Minister Theresa May tries to push her EU divorce deal through parliament for a third time, failure of which could see Britain extend its exit deadline or possibly crash out of the […]

Pound tracks back from Brexit highs, Asia markets mixed

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — The pound retreated from nine-month highs in Asia on Thursday as investors are dogged by Brexit uncertainty, while equities were mixed as a healthy Wall Street lead was offset by more disappointing Chinese economic data. In another night of drama in Westminster, MPs voted against leaving the European Union without a deal, having rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s agreement with the bloc for a second time. The move sent the […]

Trump sees ‘very good chance’ of trade deal with China

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he sees a “very good chance” of reaching a trade deal with China but is in “no rush” to reach an agreement. “I think there’s a very good chance the deal will be made,” Trump said. “They want to make a deal. China wants to make a deal.” But he also said that he is “in no rush. I want the deal to be […]

Britain says to scrap tariffs on 87% of imports in no-deal Brexit

Britain will slash import tariffs in case of a no-deal Brexit and will not apply customs checks on the border with Ireland, the government said on Wednesday. Under the new system, which would come into force if Britain leaves the EU on March 29 without an agreement, tariffs would be retained but reduced for some agricultural products to protect British producers. The new regime is aimed at avoiding a jump in prices of EU imports […]