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
In Turkey and other Mediterranean countries, wild tuna are captured and then farmed in pens. (Photo by Momoko Kidera)
Fisheries

Turkish tuna farmers tripled exports to Japan over past decade

Industry expands operations into North Africa and seeks a larger fishing quota

25 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
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, inspects infantry fighting vehicles in November 2015. (Reuters/Alexei Nikolskyi/Sputnik/Kremlin)
Ukraine war

Russia procures tank parts from Japan and Taiwan via China

Documents show company in Shenzhen used to evade U.S., U.K. sanctions

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
A train arrives at a metro station in the Dominican Republic's capital in 2011. The nation's government is looking to expand transport system in the capital.
International relations

Japan aims to export metro railway tech to Dominican Republic

Tokyo's push comes as China's influence grows in Latin America

21 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
A crude oil tanker in Russia. Russia accounted for around 30% of India's oil imports in 2023.
Trade

Indian imports of Russian oil drop to lowest in a year

Oil minister cites prices, says New Delhi has 'already diversified'

20 February 2024
Indian Prime Minister Modi, left, shakes hands with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 13. (UAE Presidential Court via Reuters)
International relations

India's Modi woos UAE and Qatar to counter China in Middle East

New Delhi advances push for competing economic corridor to Europe

15 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
New BYD cars wait to be loaded onto the BYD Explorer No. 1 for its maiden voyage in Yantai, in eastern China's Shandong province, on Jan. 10. (FeatureChina via AP)
Trade

Chinese EVs set to make bigger splash in Europe with huge new ships

BYD, SAIC tackle transport bottleneck that has held them back

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