A lack of talent and funding to advance technology have sent Japan sliding in an annual digital competitiveness ranking. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura) 
Economy

Japan sinks to new low in digital ranking on talent shortage

Tokyo, just ahead of Malaysia, falls further behind South Korea, Taiwan and China

1 December 2023
A banner promoting the South Korean city of Busan's bid for World Expo 2030. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Economy

Riyadh beats South Korea's Busan to host World Expo 2030

Saudi capital also competed with Rome for the five-yearly event

29 November 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a dinner for APEC leaders in San Francisco on Nov. 16: Washington emphasized the themes of inclusivity, resiliency and sustainability at the summit. 
Opinion

U.S. made the most of APEC given what it had to work with

Progress on IPEF and other agendas not flashy but still significant

27 November 2023
South Korean Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun speaks to Nikkei Asia on Nov. 25 in Seoul about a U.S. move giving South Korean companies a way around "hopelessly difficult" restrictions on shipments to China. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Semiconductors

South Korea welcomes new rules easing chip tool shipments to China

Updates to U.S. regulations 'very significant' for Samsung, SK Hynix, trade minister says

27 November 2023
CEFJ and CCI Paris Ile-de-France Chairman Dominique Restino: "Japan and France can share many things between each other."
International relations

Japan-France ties 'model' for Europe and Asia, says CEFJ chief

French business leader says 'stability' vital for good economic relations

22 November 2023
A Houthi fighter stands on the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released by the militants on Nov. 20. (Houthi Military Media via Reuters)
Middle East crisis

Red Sea ship hijacking delivers a warning on supply chain risks

Japan-operated vessel reportedly in Yemen; Suez still vital despite threat

21 November 2023
Former St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard says he prefers "to not be dogmatically hawkish or dovish."
Interview

U.S. to 'most likely' avoid recession, ex-St. Louis Fed's Bullard says

Former central banker sees 'relatively low probability' of deep rate cuts in 2024

18 November 2023
Crude oil inventories in Cushing, Oklahoma, where many pipelines and refineries are located, have hit the highest level in two months.
Commodities

Oil prices plunge 20% from year's peak on weaker U.S., China demand

Oversupply likely to persist even if Saudi Arabia continues production cuts

18 November 2023
Hokkaido scallops are offered up at the APEC summit in San Francisco on Nov. 16. Japan is pushing for a recovery in its seafood exports. (Photo by Yifan Yu)
APEC

Japanese seafood makes splash at APEC summit amid safety concerns

Tokyo is keen for China to lift import bans imposed after release of treated water

17 November 2023
Cabinet-level officials from members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework wrapped up negotiations on Nov. 14 in San Francisco. (Photo courtesy of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Indo-Pacific

IPEF struggles to deliver trade benefits as U.S. looks inward

San Francisco talks fail to bridge divide on labor, environmental rules

16 November 2023
Negotiators for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework discuss trade rules in San Francisco. 
Indo-Pacific

IPEF trade talks stall over cross-border data flows, labor rules

U.S. political tide turns against compromise on worker protections

15 November 2023
Netherlands-based ASML is a major supplier of lithography equipment for manufacturing advanced chips. (Photo courtesy of ASML)
Semiconductors

China's chipmaking equipment imports surge 93% despite curbs

Purchases from Netherlands jump as Chinese buyers grab what they can

14 November 2023
Regional business leaders looking to make deals are expected to descend on San Francisco for the APEC CEO Summit that will be held in parallel with the official APEC meetings.
Opinion

The U.S. is out of sync with APEC priorities

Asian leaders coming to San Francisco summit will be looking to make trade deals

13 November 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, pictured here at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022, will meet on Nov. 15 in San Francisco for the first time in a year.
Your Week in Asia

Sri Lanka budget, Xi-Biden summit, Japan Q3 GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

12 November 2023
A heavy machinery factory in China. Shock waves from the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy are hitting the earnings of manufacturers around the globe.
Companies

China's slow economy takes 9% off global manufacturers' profits

Chemical, electronics and seven other industries suffer declines

9 November 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden attends an IPEF launch event in Tokyo in May 2022.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. looks to postpone IPEF talks on digital trade rules

Congressional antipathy to Big Tech chills interest in pact on cross-border data

8 November 2023
Micron Technology is attending the China International Import Expo for the first time this year. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Semiconductors

U.S. chipmakers descend on China import fair despite tech curbs

General-purpose products sell briskly as companies fear further restrictions

7 November 2023
China's nuclear development program has evaded sanctions to obtain some of the world's most advanced machine tools. 
Supply Chain

China's nuclear program skirts Western machine tool sanctions

Nikkei probe finds Japanese and German 'mother machines' where they shouldn't be

7 November 2023
The Nikkei Stock Average logged its biggest point gain of the year on Nov. 6. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Markets

Japan stocks stage fragile rally on lower U.S. Treasury yields

Nikkei average rises by most this year, extending winning streak

7 November 2023
The InterContinental Hotel in Beijing. Western hotel operators anticipate growth in their business in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China.
Travel & Leisure

Hope for hotel rebound in China now a reality, InterContinental says

Asia-Pacific drives growth at Western hospitality chains as tourism returns

3 November 2023
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has kept the possibility of further rate hikes on the table.
Markets

U.S. Treasury yields take a breath, but Asia stays on guard

India, Philippines and Thailand appear most exposed to Fed tightening

3 November 2023
A Senegalese farmer carries freshly harvest eggplants: India and Africa can strengthen agribusiness ties by channeling funds into agrotechnology.
Opinion

India is driving change by working together with Africa

Modi has taken lead in championing trade and investment links with the continent

2 November 2023
Toyota says it is raising factory worker pay in the U.S. to remain competitive in the country's labor market. (File photo by AP)
Automobiles

Toyota to give U.S. factory workers pay hikes of up to 9%

The decision comes after American automakers agreed to significant wage increases

2 November 2023
The yen slumped beyond after the Bank of Japan announced a tweak to its yield curve control policy. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
2 November 2023
Mary Ng was in Japan for a Group of Seven trade ministers meeting. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Interview

Canada backs Ukraine's entry to CPTPP, trade minister says

Mary Ng says pact must maintain 'high standards' as it weighs new members

1 November 2023