Nippon Steel's plan to purchase U.S. Steel is facing increased political risk ahead of the U.S. presidential election this fall. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Business deals

Nippon Steel executive to negotiate with union on U.S. Steel deal

Japan steelmaker aims to complete purchase before November presidential election

5 March 2024
Package volume of goods that fall under the U.S.'s duty-free threshold increased from 411 million in 2018 to 771 million in 2021, an 88% jump.
Trade

Chinese e-commerce flood into U.S. raises safety concerns

Senators move to scrap duty-free status of sub-$800 shipments from China

2 March 2024
Nippon Steel's planned acquisition of U.S. Steel has been opposed by the United Steelworkers union and lawmakers from Pennsylvania, where the American company is based. 
Trade

Nippon Steel taps Republican lobby firepower for U.S. Steel deal

Former congressional staffer retained to help advocate on Capitol Hill

28 February 2024
If former U.S. President Donald Trump wins the November election, he is expected to revive protectionist policies, including imposing import tariffs. 
Interview

Trump could impose universal tariff on Day 1: ex-U.S. trade official

Former USTR chief of staff expects push to end trade deficit with Japan

27 February 2024
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the framework should he return to the White House.
Indo-Pacific

Trump comeback threatens to scuttle IPEF in its infancy

Economic framework's supply chain agreement goes into effect Saturday

24 February 2024
The S&P 500 index has climbed above 5,000 for the first time ever.
Markets

Historic stock rallies fuel investor optimism as China apathy lingers

Investors still bullish on Asia-Pacific while Chinese economy loses steam

23 February 2024
U.S. commerce official Thea D. Rozman Kendler says Washington has no interest in expanding restrictions on cutting-edge exports to China to legacy chips. (Photo by Sadayasu Senju)
US-China tensions

U.S. export curbs on China won't extend to legacy chips: official

Assistant commerce secretary says controls are 'as narrow as possible'

23 February 2024
Google will prepare a production line for its high-end Pixel 8 Pro smartphone in southern India as it looks to tap the country's massive market.
Supply Chain

Google plans to begin Pixel phone production in India in Q2

Search engine giant joins Apple, Samsung in tapping big South Asian market

22 February 2024
Beijing's stepped-up efforts to clamp down on espionage is making foreign investors more hesitant to park their money in China.
The Nikkei View

China should not underestimate impact of inward FDI plunge

Focus on Communist Party power consolidation, anti-spying campaign turn off overseas investors

21 February 2024
GlobalFoundries produces legacy chips that still serve a critical role both in the U.S. defense industrial base and in consumer product manufacturing.
Semiconductors

U.S. boosts chipmaker GlobalFoundries as China worries mount

But Chinese rivals aren't main concern in competitive foundry sector, expert says

21 February 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said he aims to "completely eliminate" American dependence on China in key areas with his trade plan.
Trade war

Trump likely to raise tariffs on China in two steps, former official says

Japan and Europe would also be in the trade line of fire if ex-president reelected

21 February 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends a rally in the state of Nevada. His chances of being reelected have improved in recent weeks.
Comment

Japan should remain a bastion protecting free trade

Tokyo should fight back against protectionism if Trump is reelected

12 February 2024
An LNG terminal in Texas: The largest Asian importers of American LNG plan to reduce gas use over the next decade. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Opinion

Biden's 'pause' on LNG export terminals is good for Asia

To boost region's energy security, U.S. should support development of renewables

9 February 2024
A container ship is docked at the Tianjin port in China. Mexico overtook China in 2023 as the top exporter to the U.S. (Xinhua via Kyodo)
Trade

U.S., Japan and South Korea scale back trade reliance on China

Global economic rift widens as emerging countries embrace Beijing

8 February 2024
The Bank of Japan is widely expected to end its negative interest rate policy in the coming months.
Bank of Japan

Additional BOJ hikes seen by some once negative rates end

Overseas investors in particular view possibility of successive hikes

7 February 2024
Cornell University professor Eswar Prasad says China's economy "faces a variety of fragilities." 
Economy

China economy overtaking U.S. is increasingly unlikely: ex-IMF official

Cornell professor predicts global protectionism and volatility if Trump wins election

5 February 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Jan. 27. Trump imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods in 2018 and 2019.
U.S. elections 2024

Trump says U.S. must impose more tariffs on China, possibly over 60%

Republican presidential candidate denies he would start new trade war with Beijing

5 February 2024
ByteDance increased its lobbying spending by 77% in 2023 over the previous year.
Companies

ByteDance, Shein sharply boost spending on lobbying in U.S.

Chinese firms seek to minimize effects of alarm over bilateral tensions

3 February 2024
The Japanese currency weakened against the dollar on Feb. 2 after the release of strong employment data in the U.S.
Currencies

Yen softens to 148 against dollar on strong U.S. jobs report

Traders see smaller possibility of a Fed rate cut in March

3 February 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden leaves the stage at a United Auto Workers event in Illinois in November. Biden's Democratic Party fears losing Midwestern voters over trade.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. politics turn against trade, leaving IPEF talks in limbo

Washington-led effort to counter China influence threatened by Washington itself

3 February 2024
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks after meeting with members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at their headquarters in Washington on Jan. 31. 
Business deals

Trump throws wrench into U.S.-Nippon Steel with vow to block

Former president's rejection piles pressure on Biden as both eye Pennsylvania vote

1 February 2024
Elon Musk gets in a Tesla in Beijing in May 2023: Musk seems to be admitting that the company could lose its edge to Chinese carmakers as the EV industry matures.
Opinion

Elon Musk gave a lot away with his call for new China tariffs

If innovation was still Tesla's strength, it wouldn't be seeking corporate welfare

1 February 2024
Residents visit a fair ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing.
Economy

Resilient China and U.S. lift IMF global economic outlook for 2024

Growth forecasts also upgraded for India, ASEAN-5 but cut for Japan

31 January 2024
: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Persian Gulf.
Commodities

Iran's oil exports reach 5-year high, with China as top buyer

Rising supply from sanctions-hit country tamps down prices amid tensions

31 January 2024
As uncertainty around tariffs and sanctions rises ahead of the U.S. presidential elections, more and more Asian companies are vying for access to the inner workings of the White House. 
Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: The Washington watchers

Shin Nakayama shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

26 January 2024