Geopolitics & Trade: News, Analysis & Insights
US-China relations, tariffs, sanctions, and the tech cold war
Robot fake in India: university excluded from AI summit
Robot fake in India: university excluded from AI summit An Indian university was kicked out of the prestigious AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday. A pro
U.S. and Taiwan seal trade pact: 15% tariff compromise
U.S. and Taiwan seal trade pact: 15% tariff compromise The United States and Taiwan have finalized their bilateral trade agreement. Washington confirms a 15% ta
ByteDance Develops Own AI Chip with Samsung
ByteDance Develops Own AI Chip with Samsung ByteDance headquarters in Beijing ByteDance wants to break free from the shackles of US sanctions and dependence on
Beijing urges banks to reduce US Treasury holdings
Beijing urges banks to reduce US Treasury holdings Chinese regulators have instructed banks to reduce their holdings of US Treasury bonds. Official reason: Conc
US trade reset signals potential turnaround for Indian markets
US trade reset signals potential turnaround for Indian markets India’s financial markets are reacting with visible relief to a long-awaited trade agreement betw
This is how much the Trump administration is investing in "Project Vault" to break China's dominance in rare earths.
This is how much the Trump administration is investing in "Project Vault" to break China's dominance in rare earths. Resource Reserve: The US is establishing it
🌊 Japan drills for freedom: Rare earths from 6,000 meters deep
Japan drills for freedom: Rare earths from 6,000 meters deep Japan has successfully recovered rare earth sediments from a depth of 6,000 meters in the Pacific f
🇨🇳 German companies: China's a hit, USA's a miss
German companies: China's a hit, USA's a miss Nice photo ops and talks—yes. But investments? Better not. While politicians philosophize about "de-risking," Germ
Trump tightens the screws: 25% punitive tariffs on South Korea
Trump tightens the screws: 25% punitive tariffs on South Korea Back when the world was still in order… Donald Trump has increased tariffs on South Korean import
🌪️ Wind row in Davos: Trump vs. China
️ Wind row in Davos: Trump vs. China Chinese wind farm at an altitude of over 5,000 meters Donald Trump used his Davos speech for a broadside against wind power
🛍️ China’s consumer giants storm the USA
️ China’s consumer giants storm the USA China’s latest export hit: Bubble tea. Despite trade tariffs and political frost, a new generation of Chinese brands is
💸 The $250 billion deal: Taiwan’s "protection money" for Trump
The $250 billion deal: Taiwan’s "protection money" for Trump In order to avert US punitive tariffs and secure military support, Taiwan is massively shifting its
🥁 Drum diplomacy: South Korea is the laughing winner
Drum diplomacy: South Korea is the laughing winner Scenes from the official YouTube channel of the South Korean President. South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung
🥈 The new weapon in the trade war: silver
The new weapon in the trade war: silver Since January 1, Chinese exporters need a government license for silver exports. What sounds like bureaucracy is actuall
🤝 Asia M&A Review 2025 and Outlook for 2026
Asia M&A Review 2025 and Outlook for 2026 What happened: Trade War 2.0, Trump-driven volatility, and fluctuating interest rates distorted global M&A flows. Capi
That’s how many EVs BYD has sold at the end of November 2025, overtaking Tesla in the race to become the world’s largest electric vehicle maker.
That’s how many EVs BYD has sold at the end of November 2025, overtaking Tesla in the race to become the world’s largest electric vehicle maker. New No. 1 in EV
⚒️ Strategic smelting: Korea Zinc builds America’s new metal alliance
️ Strategic smelting: Korea Zinc builds America’s new metal alliance Not just critical to use for bibimbap: Korean metals move onto the geopolitical menu Billio
This is how much India is investing in domestic rare-earth magnet production.
This is how much India is investing in domestic rare-earth magnet production. Magnet offensive: With the 72.8-billion-rupee program, Delhi plans to build five p
That’s how many flight tickets to Japan have been cancelled by Chinese airlines since Saturday.
That’s how many flight tickets to Japan have been cancelled by Chinese airlines since Saturday. ️ Mass cancellations instead of Sakura trips: On Sunday, every n
💸 US sanctions make China’s AI chip star super rich
US sanctions make China’s AI chip star super rich US export bans on high end chips were meant to slow China’s AI ambitions. Instead, they created a new billiona
🇨🇳🇯🇵 Travel warnings, warships and sharp words
Travel warnings, warships and sharp words Takaichi & Xi on October 31: The brief moment of calm did not last. A remark by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
💾 China lifts Nexperia export ban
China lifts Nexperia export ban No Nexperia chips, no cars. China has resumed chip exports from the Dutch-owned Nexperia plants — a move that brings relief to E
🎶 K-pop makes a comeback in China
K-pop makes a comeback in China The unexpected winner of the APEC summit: K-pop After nearly a decade of diplomatic chill between China and South Korea, a cultu
🤝 Trump & Xi: A deal both can live with
Trump & Xi: A deal both can live with After nearly six years of silence, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea. Here’s what each side is saying:
🇯🇵🇺🇸 Japan’s $550B US Investment Package: Here’s the Plan
Japan’s $550B US Investment Package: Here’s the Plan ️ Trust as the Driver: The investment package is the centerpiece of the July deal in which Trump cut auto t
So many Americans now want closer cooperation with China, for the first time since 2019 more than half of them.
So many Americans now want closer cooperation with China, for the first time since 2019 more than half of them. Shift in sentiment: According to a new survey by
🇯🇵 Takaichi-Trump tandem: Tokyo’s tactics test
Takaichi-Trump tandem: Tokyo’s tactics test Trump talks to Takaichi Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo today
📉 –95,9%: Porsche in Free Fall
–95,9%: Porsche in Free Fall Porsche reports its first quarterly loss since going public. The reasons: an expensive EV strategy shift, weak demand in China, and
💰 Trump makes it happen: Crypto king walks free
Trump makes it happen: Crypto king walks free Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. The crypto billionaire, convicted of money launderi
🏭 Resource shock: China tightens the screws
Resource shock: China tightens the screws China is once again stepping up export controls on rare earths. In September, shipments of magnets to the U.S. plunged
This is how strongly Kyrgyzstan’s economy grew in the first 9 months of 2025.
This is how strongly Kyrgyzstan’s economy grew in the first 9 months of 2025. Boom in the mountains: Driven by construction, industry, trade, and mining, GDP ro
🏅 How Asia (and Trump) are driving gold to record highs
How Asia (and Trump) are driving gold to record highs Caught gold-handed Since May, China has not ordered a single shipment of US soybeans. For American farmers
🇺🇸🌱 US Farmers Shaken as Trade War Hits America’s Heartland
US Farmers Shaken as Trade War Hits America’s Heartland Alone in the fields: China no longer wants US soybeans. Since May, China has not ordered a single shipme
That’s how large Q3 deal volume involving Chinese companies was – up 22% year-on-year and the strongest third quarter in four years.
That’s how large Q3 deal volume involving Chinese companies was – up 22% year-on-year and the strongest third quarter in four years. China leads : Global corpor
💊 Pharma poker between Xi and Trump
Pharma poker between Xi and Trump On their last visit, they looked at textiles. They’re talking again : in current discussions between Donald Trump and Xi Jinpi
Pony Ma
Pony Ma Source: Wikipedia By 中国新闻网, CC BY 3.0 The man who built the everything app Pony Ma didn’t invent the chat app, he perfected it. He weaponized speed and
⚖️ TikTok and Tariffs: U.S. and China Keep Talking
️ TikTok and Tariffs: U.S. and China Keep Talking They’ve been shaking hands a lot lately: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lif
-60%
-60% China's venture capital market crashed to $2.6 billion in August, the weakest month in three months. Fundraising Drought: Only nine PE/VC funds raised a me
13 billion USD
13 billion USD That’s how much global market leader CATL is investing in three European battery plants. Expansion After Northvolt’s Collapse: 90% of European ca
🇰🇷 Billion-Dollar Deals: South Korea Courts Trump With Ships, Planes, and Investments
Billion-Dollar Deals: South Korea Courts Trump With Ships, Planes, and Investments Now Trump is waiting for a similar offer from the North… Details Investment P
<1 ton
<1 ton That’s how little US energy China imported in July in total. It’s the lowest level since the 2019 trade war and shows the shift away from US supplies. LN
- 2.6%
- 2.6% Japan's exports recorded their steepest decline in over four years in July, with both main markets USA and China weakening. Auto Collapse: Vehicle export
🚨 Trump’s Auto Tariffs Cost Toyota Billions
Trump’s Auto Tariffs Cost Toyota Billions Details Record Hit: Toyota expects ¥1.4 trillion (≈ $9.5 billion) in additional costs from the new US import duties th
🧾 Adidas Warns: Trump’s Asia Tariffs Are Driving Up Shoe Prices
Adidas Warns: Trump’s Asia Tariffs Are Driving Up Shoe Prices Even his sneakers are getting more expensive… Adidas warns of massive extra costs from new US tari
🇺🇸 US Automakers Complain Over Japan Deal
US Automakers Complain Over Japan Deal At least these two are happy… Details 15% Tariff Instead of 25%: Trump cuts the punitive duty on Japanese imports to 15%,
📦 How Trump’s Tariff Club Is Wearing Down Asia
How Trump’s Tariff Club Is Wearing Down Asia Within 24 hours, US President Donald Trump announced three “deals”: a 15 percent tariff pact with Japan , a 19 perc