Good Morning. Welcome to The Wire’s daily news roundup. Each day, our staff gathers the top China business, finance, and economics headlines from a selection of the world’s leading news organizations.
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The Wall Street Journal
- U.S. Slaps Steep Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Imports — Commerce department found some Chinese producers shipped through Southeast Asia to avoid tariffs.
- From Fake Eyelashes to Care Bears, U.S.-Bound Goods Are Stuck in Tariff Limbo — Some companies are torn: Do they revamp supply chains or wait for the trade war to ebb?
The Financial Times
- China’s Yellow Sea fish farms stoke anger in South Korea — Expansion in disputed waters could open latest front in Beijing’s ‘grey zone’ tactics, experts warn.
The New York Times
- Opinion: Trump’s Tariffs Will Pay Off, for China — Picking trade fights with countries across the Asia-Pacific plays right into Beijing’s plans to increase its sway over the region. By James Crabtree.
Caixin
- China-Europe Rail Freight Slump Continues Amid Russian Headwinds — Moscow’s successive tightening of auto import rules and seizing of Europe-bound dual-use goods kicked off a sharp decline in the first quarter.
- Beijing’s Half-Marathon Robots Prove to be Also-Rans. But They’ll Be Back — First humanoid robot race proves to be a modest performance, but this is an industry accelerating at pace.
- U.S. and China Locked in a ‘Mutual Embargo’ That Trump Won’t Win, Says Former WTO Chief — Trump’s bid to solve the U.S. trade deficit won’t work, says Pascal Lamy.
- China Expands Pilot to Liberalize Service Sector Amid Trade Tensions — New measures will apply to industries including telecom, health care, finance, transportation, commerce and tourism in 15 regions.
South China Morning Post
- China adds nearly 2 million private firms in first quarter as calls for support rise — Top market regulator says 40 per cent of business registrations from January-March were in emerging sectors and new technologies.
- Chinese robotics star Unitree opens Hangzhou factory amid humanoid frenzy — Unitree opened the 10,000-square-metre facility this year, located just 15 minutes from its headquarters.
- Chinese EV maker Nio to join fray in right-hand-drive car markets — Company’s Firefly minicar, priced around US$16,400, will be competitive in global markets despite tariffs, president says.
Nikkei Asia
- China buyers lift ‘stateless’ gold to new highs amid U.S. tensions — Trade friction drives investors away from traditional safe haven Treasurys.
- China woos trade war ‘circle of friends’ as Kenya, Azerbaijan leaders visit — Xi Jinping’s outreach comes as U.S. wields tariffs and reins in aid.
- Opinion: China looks beyond the U.S. with new chief trade negotiator — Beijing’s goal is a multilateral standing that will give it rulemaking power. By Hao Nan.
Bloomberg
- Trump’s Tariffs Risk Pushing Cambodia Further into China’s Embrace — A massive canal highlights Beijing’s deep investment in Cambodia just as the U.S. is pulling back, leaving the Southeast Asian nation with less room to balance ties.
- China Tech Firms Eye U.S. Listings Despite Widespread Ructions — The IPO plans are developing even with the threat of potential delistings.
- China Trade Immune So Far to Tariffs With Growth Pickup in April — The resilience likely reflects a 90-day delay in Trump’s imposition of his so-called reciprocal duties on dozens of other partners.
Reuters
- ‘For our country’: China’s patriots are buying the dip — Many retail investors are joining the state-backed ‘national team’ to defend the stock market.
- China’s cutthroat EV revolution leaves little margin for profit — The burning question facing China’s EV industry as it gathers in Shanghai is how and when it can convert explosive sales of ground-breaking vehicles into sustainable profits.
Other Publications
- Foreign Affairs: The Once and Future China — How will change come to Beijing?
