Prime Minister Keir Starmer's landmark visit to Beijing marks a cautious pivot in UK-China relations, yielding agreements on tariffs, visas, and green energy. But can British businesses navigate the opportunities and challenges of re-engagement?
A landmark trade agreement secured during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing will see Chinese import duties on Scotch whisky cut from 10% to 5%, effective immediately. The move, hailed by industry leaders, is projected to inject £250 million into the UK economy and boost competitiveness in a key growth market.
Despite facing increased US duties, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have expanded their trade surplus with the United States over the past year, even as their deficits with China grow, highlighting shifting global trade dynamics under renewed protectionist pressures.
In a significant diplomatic gesture, China has agreed to remove travel restrictions on a group of sanctioned British lawmakers, Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed following talks with President Xi Jinping. The move comes during the first UK leader's visit to China in eight years, aimed at thawing bilateral relations.
As BHP Group advances plans to create one of the world's first fully autonomous copper mines at Escondida Norte, it simultaneously contends with Chinese import restrictions on its Jimblebar iron ore and ramps up exploration via its 2026 Xplor program, highlighting the complex balancing act facing the global mining giant.
Morgan Stanley's top strategist argues that recent U.S. trade shifts have prompted nations worldwide to reassess and leverage their own economic strengths, creating a multi-year investment opportunity in a more multipolar global order.
Beijing has lowered punitive tariffs on key EU dairy products, offering some relief to exporters like Arla and Lactalis. While welcomed as a de-escalation, European trade bodies argue the remaining duties are unjustified and call for continued negotiations to resolve the trade dispute.
As Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12 under an interim government, its geopolitical alignments are shifting. The outcome will test the influence of regional powers India, China, and Pakistan in a nation navigating a post-Hasina political landscape.
A surge of competitively priced Chinese electric vehicles and consumer goods is rapidly transforming Latin American markets, forcing governments from Mexico to Brazil to enact new tariffs and trade defenses to shield domestic industries from the influx.
The Trump administration has escalated pressure on Cuba by declaring a national emergency and threatening punitive tariffs on countries supplying it with oil, while simultaneously finalizing a reciprocal trade agreement with Guatemala aimed at bolstering Western Hemisphere supply chains.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed during his Beijing visit that China has removed sanctions against six UK MPs and peers, a move signaling a diplomatic reset after years of tension over human rights concerns.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai Friday with over 50 business leaders, aiming to deepen UK-China commercial ties. The visit, the first by a UK premier in eight years, comes against a backdrop of renewed US skepticism over Western engagement with Beijing.
Wall Street and the dollar advanced as robust economic indicators and a U.S.-India trade pact overshadowed a continued historic selloff in precious metals. Investors recalibrate around growth optimism and shifting geopolitical winds.
The United States and India have announced a significant trade agreement, dramatically reducing tariffs after months of tension. The deal, linked to India halting Russian oil purchases, aims to boost bilateral trade and supply chain diversification.
The White House has confirmed the launch of a major strategic initiative to stockpile rare earth elements, aiming to reduce American dependence on China for the critical minerals used in defense tech and consumer electronics.
NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang indicates that Chinese regulatory approval for the sale of its flagship H200 AI chip is still pending, amid high demand from major tech firms and ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions.
A new bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Guatemala aims to eliminate tariffs and streamline preferential treatment for textiles and apparel, a move hailed by U.S. industry leaders as a strategic step to reinforce regional manufacturing networks and counter Asian dominance.
A last-minute, short-term extension of the cornerstone US-Africa trade program AGOA has been passed, averting immediate expiration but leaving businesses and governments on both continents anxious about the partnership's long-term trajectory.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow, reiterated Russia's firm support for Beijing's position on Taiwan, calling it an 'inseparable part' of China. The talks underscore deepening strategic coordination between the two powers amid global tensions.
A private gauge of China's manufacturing activity edged higher in January, defying expectations of a slowdown, as export-oriented firms outperformed. The reading contrasts with weaker official data, highlighting a two-speed industrial sector amid persistent domestic headwinds.
