Economy

A security personnel member stands guard in front of a construction site of Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Village.
Economy

China gains momentum in race to overtake US economy

Beijing's quick pandemic response gives an edge, as GDP reaches 70% of America's

1 March 2021
Farms in advanced economies have been relying on foreign labor. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Datawatch

Pandemic travel ban triggers spike in global food prices

Shortage of labor for harvests causes key index to surge to six-year high

28 February 2021
Katherine Tai, nominee for U.S. trade representative, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Feb. 25. 
Biden's Asia policy

Biden's trade chief pick dodges question on rejoining TPP

World has changed since trade pact's signing, Katherine Tai tells Senate

26 February 2021
The U.S. business organization highlights Japan's relatively poor performance in digital competitiveness, digital talent and startup ecosystems.
Economy

Japan digital transformation can boost GDP by $735bn: ACCJ

Fujitsu, NTT Data and other large vendors 'should modify business models'

25 February 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers holds a semiconductor chip as he speaks prior to signing an executive order, aimed at addressing a global semiconductor chip shortage, in the State Dining Room at the White House on Feb. 24.
Biden's Asia policy

Chip shortage can't be used as leverage against us, Biden says

Executive order seeks to secure strategic supply chains with 'trusted friends'

25 February 2021
Tesla has made Bitcoin mining 20% more lucrative.
Opinion

Elon Musk is the Bitcoin-buying hypocrite we deserve

Tesla's vow to promote sustainable energy undermined by cryptocurrency purchase

22 February 2021
Economists forecast that inflation will rise in the U.S. as the vaccination rollout continues. (Source photo by Reuters)
Datawatch

Japan and US savings surge, with vaccines set to trigger spending

With 'herd immunity' in sight hopes rise that economies will reopen

21 February 2021
Jeff Bezos, pictured in April 2018: all of the senior leaders like him found that every career has a midnight hour.
Opinion

The Jeff Bezos trait we all share

Focus on impact and reinvention is the new career trajectory of the century

20 February 2021
A Kabuki actor makes up his face to play a female role: gender-bending and cross-dressing have a long and respectable history.
Opinion

The remarkable diversity of Japan and its people

Island nation home to hundreds of dialects, festivals, music and craft traditions

16 February 2021
Empty chairs on a beach in Phuket, pictured in March 2020: an inability to vaccinate its populations means the country will be less appealing as a tourist destination.
Opinion

The looming complications of long COVID

Start-and-stop recovery will have economic, political and social consequences

16 February 2021
President Joe Biden salutes before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, for a trip to Camp David on Feb. 12.
International relations

Biden administration kicks off global tour of multilateralism

President to attend G-7 virtual meeting and address Munich Security Conference

15 February 2021
Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, left, is among the first current and former generals sanctioned by the U.S. under a new executive order by President Joe Biden. (Photos by Reuters)
Myanmar Crisis

US sanctions on Myanmar: 5 things to know

Military-linked enterprises bear brunt, but other businesses risk public wrath

12 February 2021
A South Korean-flagged tanker that was seized by Iran is seen in the Persian Gulf off the Iranian coast on Jan. 4.
Iran tensions

South Korea and Iran remain split over tanker seizure issue

Seoul caught between pressures from Washington and Tehran

6 February 2021
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. President Joe Biden. Analysts see the bilateral relationship getting warmer under a Biden administration. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Economy

US and Taiwanese companies vow to collaborate on chip supply chain

First economic dialogue of Biden presidency shows warmth of bilateral ties

5 February 2021
Victor Peng, president and CEO of Xilinx, says the U.S. chipmaker is doing its best to meet customers' needs amid a severe semiconductor shortage. (Photo courtesy of Xilinx)
Semiconductors

Chipmaker Xilinx says car supply crunch goes beyond semiconductors

Shortage of other inputs also poses uncertainty for rosy 2021 growth outlook

4 February 2021
U.K. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has formally requested to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in a push to expand post-Brexit trade with the Asia-Pacific region.
Trade

UK formally applies for TPP: Are Thailand, South Korea and China next?

Britain says the pact is a priority for the 'newly independent trading nation'

2 February 2021
It has taken China so long to react.
Opinion

The dangerous legal war posing a new threat to China-US relations

Intended purpose of Beijing's blocking statute is more bark than bite

1 February 2021
As connoisseurs of Reddit's WallStreetBets forum bought shares of GameStop, the "smart money" lost untold billions.
Opinion

Reddit uprising beats Davos Man at his own game

GameStop crusade draws parallels to Occupy Wall Street movement

1 February 2021
A Samsung smartphone plant in Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. The South Korean company operates two huge smartphone factories in the Southeast Asian country. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Economy

Vietnam courts chip investment to power up digital economy

Communist Party aims to grow tech sector to 30% of GDP in a decade

29 January 2021
Yuan and dollar banknotes: the cards may now be set for a reshuffle.
Opinion

Will China overthrow US dollar hegemony in East Asia?

Dependence on the dollar has long been a thorn in Beijing's side

28 January 2021
President Joe Biden has pledged to invest $2 trillion in infrastructure over his four-year term. (Source photos from AP and Shin-Etsu Chemical)
Materials

Shin-Etsu to boost US plastic production on back of Biden stimulus

Japanese chemical maker plans $1.25bn investment, anticipating infrastructure push

27 January 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to strengthen American manufacturing at the White House.
Trade

Biden tightens 'Buy American' rules with executive order

President slams Trump but maintains inward focus ahead of procurement drive

26 January 2021
A highway bridge under construction in Tibet: China drew 19% of global foreign direct investment last year as its economy recovered rapidly from the pandemic's impact.
Economy

China surpasses US as top destination for foreign investment

Inflows spurred by country's swift rebound from virus and cross-border M&As

26 January 2021
It is increasingly becoming clear that the stock rallies caused by monetary easing are not reflecting the real economy. (Source photo by Reuters)
Datawatch

K-shaped recovery complicates world economy amid pandemic

Chip and car industries heat up, while hotels and restaurants still suffer

24 January 2021
To take advantage of the Biden factor, experts say South Korean corporations will need to join U.S.-led supply chains while remaining on friendly terms with China.
Business trends

What Korea Inc. stands to gain from a Biden presidency

More certainty and continued pressure on China would help Samsung and others

20 January 2021