Economy

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has left rice farmers fuming over a policy that was supposed to curb inflation but also enhance their competitiveness. (© Nikkei montage/Source photos by Getty Images)
Asia Insight

Duterte's war on inflation hammers Philippine farmers

Backlash over cheap rice imports casts doubt on agricultural reform

29 October 2019
Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to be the biggest contributors to the growth of digital consumer spending in Southeast Asia over the next five years.
Economy

Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam vie for digital spending crown

Study shows middle class to drive Southeast Asia's $120bn internet economy

18 October 2019
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15 October 2019
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10 October 2019
Tsai Ing-wen rejuvenated the New Southbound Policy in 2016 while Beijing launched its measures to bring Taipei back into line.
Opinion

Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is decreasing its reliance on China

Looking to regional neighbors for closer trade relationships is bearing fruit

4 October 2019
A worker walks the tracks of Hanoi's planned metro system in 2015. Construction has mostly finished, but safety checks face delays.
Economy

Hanoi's planned metro, already 2 years late, hit with new delays

Safety checks screech to halt as Chinese builder fails to submit paperwork

4 October 2019
Smart Axiata launches 5G technology in Phnom Penh in July.
5G networks

Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines named as likely 5G laggards

Reports suggest digital divide in Southeast Asia with Singapore leading

3 October 2019
Thang Long Industrial Park II is one of two sites that will be expanded, with groundbreaking on new land set for 2021.
Trade war

Sumitomo expands Vietnam industrial parks to tap trade war demand

$177m extension to aid Japanese manufacturers fleeing tariffs

27 September 2019
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26 September 2019
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Nikkei Markets

Asian stocks decline on uncertain Fed outlook on rates

Energy related stocks extend losses as crude oil price eases

19 September 2019
While Trump sends tweets on his Asian-assembled smartphone, his introduction of new tariffs means the products that were assembled across global supply chains are going to cost more.
Opinion

Trump's tariffs revive damaging prewar world of trade barriers

Contagion through Asian nations would hurt global economy

17 September 2019
Japanese contract electronics manufacturers with plants in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia are enjoying a boom as production moves out of China.
Business trends

Tariffs benefit Japan's contract manufacturers in Southeast Asia

Experience in region helps capture production fleeing China

5 September 2019
A Uniqlo store in Tokyo: The chain earns 5% of its sales in North America. (Photo courtesy of Fast Retailing)
Trade war

Newest US tariffs on China drive Japan Inc. toward Southeast Asia

Uniqlo, Seiko and more weigh production shifts amid growing trade war

2 September 2019
Nguyen Xuan Phuc's government now has political cover to increase borrowing.
Opinion

Vietnam's surprise GDP revision risks damaging economic credibility

Investors will lose trust in Asian nations as unexpected bonuses keep coming

2 September 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump has openly declared: "I like tariffs."  
Datawatch

China tariffs backfire on Trump -- and threaten global growth

Japanese and other Asian economies hurt by slowing Chinese exports to US

1 September 2019
Google's smartphone business is still small enough to shift away from China with relative ease, analysts say.
Tech scroll Asia

Google to shift Pixel smartphone production from China to Vietnam

Internet giant aims to double shipments in 2019 in aggressive hardware campaign

28 August 2019
The Mekong River in Laos: drought is a reflection of the broader inability of the Mekong countries to agree on a regional plan for managing their water resources.
Opinion

Mekong nears tipping point as US-China rivalry grows

Difficult choices ahead as drought takes hold in downstream countries

27 August 2019
People hope that their children's lives will be far better than theirs.
Opinion

Growing Asian economies breed high expectations among citizens

Governments must handle slowdown carefully to avoid rise of populism

22 August 2019
Singapore downgraded its full-year growth forecast to a range of 0% to 1% from the previous 1.5% to 2.5%.
Economy

Southeast Asia set for more headwinds after lackluster 2Q growth

More stimulus expected as trade war bites export-reliant economies

19 August 2019
A freight train departs from Henggang in China on its way to Vietnam. In one survey, a leading 66% identified Vietnam as a place with BRI opportunities.
Belt and Road

Vietnam and Indonesia stand out as Belt and Road bets, reports show

Southeast Asia draws flurry of investment but concerns over China linger

18 August 2019
A cloth stall in Jakarta: Indonesia is seen exporting more textiles and clothing to the U.S. to fill the hole left by China.
Trade war

Southeast Asia poised for export boost from new US tariffs

Businesses seek reprieve as trade war squeezes Chinese shipments

13 August 2019
Cat Lai Port: Vietnam is attracting Chinese manufacturers looking to avoid punitive U.S. tariffs. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Business trends

Goodbye China: Chinese manufacturers follow multinationals out the door

Companies look to Vietnam and beyond amid protracted trade war and rising costs at home

12 August 2019
A man works at a factory in Hanoi.
Trade war

Hanoi narrows 'made in Vietnam' to block Chinese detours

Locally added value must be 30% or higher, government says

8 August 2019
The yen's rise reduces the odds Japan Inc. will fatten paychecks. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Opinion

Japan and South Korea will be biggest losers in US-China currency war

ASEAN countries will also be collateral damage as demand falls and exports are hit

8 August 2019
Solar panels could provide an efficient option in tropical nations requiring significant new generating capacity.
Opinion

Asia is the right place for a US 'Green New Deal'

Funding environmentally friendly projects would curb emissions and provide BRI alternative

7 August 2019