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EU states back small parcel duties to tackle China flood

EU finance ministers have agreed to scrap a bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value orders from the likes of retail giants Temu and Shein to help tackle a flood of cheap Chinese imports.

Business • 21 hrs

Chinese retail sales rose 2.9% year-on-year last month, slightly lower than the 3% increase recorded in September

China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year

Retail sales in China grew last month at the slowest pace in over a year, official data showed today, highlighting the battle facing authorities' efforts to counteract persistent consumer malaise.

Business • 21 hrs

Chinese workers sort packages on a conveyer belt

China's 'Singles Day' shopping fest loses its shine

Chinese shoppers worried about the economy and overwhelmed by near-constant retail promotions are growing weary of the annual "Singles Day" sales bonanza, a discouraging sign as the government tries to boost consumption.

Business • 11 Nov

Chinese goods dumping started before tariffs - ECB study

Weak domestic demand rather than US tariffs is the main reason China is dumping surplus product on European markets at rock-bottom prices at the expense of domestic producers, a European Central Bank study argued today.

Business • 11 Nov

People walk past a while Tesla car at at Chinese car show

Tesla's China sales fall to 3-year low amid tepid demand

Tesla's sales in China dropped to 26,006 vehicles in October, their lowest in three years, as the US electric vehicle maker struggles with tepid demand in the hyper-competitive market.

Business • 10 Nov

China's consumer prices rose in October

China's consumer prices rose in October, official data released over the weekend showed, reversing months of stagnation and decline as the country battles a range of economic headwinds.

Business • 10 Nov

Lots of smoking chimneys in a dark environment

US and China were once united on climate, no longer

A little more than ten years ago, the US and China's joint commitment to combat climate change paved the way for the Paris Agreement. Now the US has turned its back on climate policy while China forges ahead with renewables. Will the world have to choose between the petrostate and the electrostate?

Analysis and Comment • 06 Nov

A man walks past a Starbucks Coffee store in a traditional-style Chinese building with a decorative stone archway inscribed with Chinese characters at the entrance

Starbucks to sell control of China business to Boyu

Starbucks said it would sell control of its operations in China to Boyu Capital in a deal that values the business at $4 billion - one of the largest divestments of a China unit by a global consumer company in recent years.

Business • 04 Nov

A Nvidia chip is seen through a magnifying glass on a green motherboard

Trump says China, others can't have Nvidia top AI chips

Artificial intelligence giant Nvidia's most advanced chips will be reserved for US companies and kept out of China and other countries, US President Donald Trump said.

Business • 03 Nov

McGrath to visit China amid boom in 'dangerous' products

Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will visit China this week to meet senior government figures to discuss the protection of EU consumers, with concerns about the volumes of potentially dangerous products entering Europe from China amid a boom in low-value e-commerce purchases.

Business • 03 Nov

A journalist watches a recorded livestream of Chinese President Xi Jinping being greeted by South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung

China's Xi meets South Korean leader at APEC summit

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung, after taking centre stage at an Asian summit in the wake of US President Donald Trump's departure.

World • 01 Nov

US President Donald Trump, wearing a white shirt, red tie and dark suit, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is wearing a white shirt, navy tie and navy suit. The background is dark.

What now for China-US trade tensions?

While the most important meeting of US President Donald Trump's four-day Asia tour ended with no formal press briefing and no formal deal signing, he insisted that it was "very successful".

Analysis and Comment • 30 Oct

US President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base

Fentanyl, beans and Ukraine: What did Trump and Xi agree?

A beaming US President Donald Trump hailed his "great success" in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the South Korean city of Busan.

World • 30 Oct

Four circular shaped magnets sit in a clear plastic dish on a green table.

What are the rare earths referenced in US, China deal?

What are rare earths and what are they used for?

World • 30 Oct

Trump cuts China tariffs after 'amazing' meeting with Xi

US President Donald Trump has said that he agreed to reduce tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, resuming US soybean purchases and maintaining the flow of rare earth minerals.

US • 30 Oct

US President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on board the USS George Washington aircraft carrier

Trump lauds Japan's 'great' leader, signs rare earth deal

US President Donald Trump lavished praise on Japan's first female leader Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo today, welcoming her pledge to accelerate a military buildup and signing deals on trade and rare earths.

World • 28 Oct

Oil prices slip on concerns over US-China trade tensions

Oil prices fell around 1% today as investors weighed a potential global glut, with US-China trade tensions adding to concerns about an economic slowdown and weaker energy demand.

Business • 20 Oct

China's Q3 GDP growth slows to one-year low

China's economic growth slowed to the weakest pace in a year in the third quarter as fragile domestic demand left it heavily reliant on manufacturing production and exports, stoking concerns about deepening structural imbalances.

Business • 20 Oct

Rescue workers at the wreckage of an AirACT cargo aircraft operated for Emirates Airline near the runway at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. The aircraft skidded into the sea after hitting a ground crew vehicl

Two killed as cargo plane skids off Hong Kong runway

A cargo plane hit a vehicle on the runway at Hong Kong's airport during landing and skidded into the sea, killing two ground crew workers, authorities have said.

World • 20 Oct

Donald Trump unveiled additional levies of 100% on China's US-bound exports a week ago

Trump says 100% tariffs on China not sustainable

US President Donald Trump said his proposed 100% tariff on goods from China would not be sustainable but blamed China for the latest impasse in trade talks that began with Beijing tightening control over its rare earth exports.

Business • 17 Oct

Apple's Cook vows to boost investment in China

Apple's Tim Cook has today pledged to boost the tech giant's investment in China as it navigates the trade war between Beijing and Washington.

Business • 15 Oct

China's consumer price index - a key measure of inflation - dropped 0.3% year-on-year in September

China's consumer spending prices fell again last month

China's consumer prices continued to fall last month, with official data highlighting the battle leaders face in trying to kickstart domestic spending in the world's number two economy while fighting a trade war with the US.

Business • 15 Oct

A Chinese port with a truck and container in front of a large red crane

China trade beats forecasts as tariff fears rise

China's trade grew faster than expected last month, official data showed today, though fresh fears are rising of a major escalation in the tariff war between Beijing and Washington.

Business • 13 Oct

Metal cubes representing rare earth elements are stacked in front of China's flag

China tightens rare earth export controls

China has tightened its rare earth export controls, expanding restrictions on processing technology and spelling out its intention to limit exports to overseas defence and semiconductor users.

Business • 09 Oct

India and China to resume direct flights after five years

India and China will resume direct flights between their two countries this month after a five-year suspension, officials said, with bookings opening today.

Business • 03 Oct