Trade

18 March 2025
An employee works at the VinFast car factory in Haiphong province, Vietnam.
China holds a 90% global share in gallium, which is used to make next-generation semiconductors.
Trade war

China set to tighten export curbs on battery, chip material tech

Beijing seeks to maintain advantage in gallium and cathode production

18 March 2025
Part of the nearly 1,300-kilometer Alaska oil pipeline: State officials are trying to find investors in Japan to help build a gas pipeline, shipping it to that country as liquefied natural gas.
International relations

Alaska officials seek Japan investors for LNG project touted by Trump

Energy companies, analysts wonder if natural gas pipeline is 'sustainable'

17 March 2025
Volkswagen cars wait for delivery at the company's Autostadt complex in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Electric vehicles

Volkswagen, Renault draw closer to China on EVs despite EU tariffs

Earnings shrink at 5 European automakers, spurring cost-saving tie-ups with China

17 March 2025
Higher tariffs against China were among the concerns of Japanese companies regarding the Trump administration.
Supply Chain

U.S.-China trade war pushes Japan firms to rethink supply chains: KPMG

27% of respondents weigh shift from China while universal Trump tariffs lead concerns

15 March 2025
Vietnamese and American companies signed deals on energy and minerals during a visit to the U.S. by Vietnam's trade minister, Nguyen Hong Dien.
International relations

U.S., Vietnam companies sign deals on energy and minerals: report

Southeast Asian country scrambles to avoid tariffs threatened by Trump

14 March 2025
Oil tankers off Singapore, where vessel calls for bunkering in February this year fell 14.1% from the prior month to 3,075, hitting two-year lows.
Commodities

Singapore marine fuel sales slip to lowest in 20 months

Weak demand has dragged on market so far this year, pulling premiums down

14 March 2025
Atsuhide Sakamoto said U.S. tariffs hurting the stock market could hinder consumption in the crucial high-income sector.
Trade war

Trump tariffs could boost U.S. inflation 1 percentage point: economist

SMBC expert says Japan could be hit by duties to fix trade imbalance

14 March 2025
The S&P 500 is in a correction, having declined 10.1% on March 13 from its record high close on Feb. 19.
Markets

S&P 500 confirms correction from February high as tariffs weigh

Latest drop follows Trump threat of 200% duty on European alcohol

14 March 2025
An employee at a steel factory in India: Over the past few years, steel prices in the country have been driven down by an influx of finished steel, especially from China.
Trade

India braces as Trump tariffs could create a surge in steel imports

New Delhi considers safeguard duty as oversupply from China, South Korea, Japan looms

13 March 2025
A montage of the three Nikkei Asia articles that won the Economics Award in the U.S. Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW)'s 2024 Best in Business Awards
Announcements

Nikkei Asia wins Best in Business Award from SABEW for economics reporting

Package of three stories focused on global impact of Chinese exports

13 March 2025
Vehicles drive past shipping containers from China at the Port of Los Angeles on Feb. 4. The port reported the busiest start to a year in its history.
Trade war

China front-loading choppy as Trump uncertainty washes over trade

Threats of even higher U.S. tariffs and hefty port fees keep shippers on edge

13 March 2025
Trucks head toward a U.S. border crossing in British Columbia, Canada, in November 2024.
13 March 2025
The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on imports of Australian steel and aluminum, declining to grant a carve-out as it did in President Donald Trump's first term. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Trade war

Asia response to U.S. metals tariff muted as EU comes out swinging

Australia and Japan lament lack of exceptions while South Korea pursues negotiations

12 March 2025
Ten pills of the antibiotic amoxicillin are seen at a pharmacy in Germany.
Health Care

EU plans to cut reliance on Asia for antibiotics, other critical drugs

But member countries cite cost pressures as they retain final say

12 March 2025
The agreement includes COSCO ships making calls in Germany's Bremerhaven port at least twice a month. (COSCO Shipping)
Transportation

China's COSCO teams with Germany's BLG to ship cars to Europe

Shipper looks to reduce mounting costs for Chinese EV makers

11 March 2025
Beef is an important Australian export, and the country's farmers are closely monitoring the fallout from U.S. trade tariffs. 
Agriculture

Trump's tariffs could aid Australian farm exports -- eventually

Uncertainty over China's appetite and political tit-for-tats leave exporters guessing

11 March 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing ceremonies of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, one of the annual Two Sessions along with the National People's Congress, in Beijing on March 10. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Trade war

China rolls out U.S. farm tariffs as Xi digs in for wider trade war

Fresh salvo against Canada seen as warning against aligning with Trump policy

10 March 2025
International demand is growing for scallops from Japan, even with China no longer a customer. (Photo by Takumi Sasaki)
Fisheries

Japanese scallops whet world's appetite amid China's ban

Monthly exports double, while wholesale prices hit record high

9 March 2025
A Ukrainian soldier passes a residential building damaged by Russian military strikes in the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 6.
Ukraine war

Trump threatens Russia with sanctions until Ukraine peace reached

Measures could include banking curbs and tariffs, U.S. president says

8 March 2025
India has long protected its agriculture sector in the interest of small farmers.
Trade

U.S. commerce chief urges India to lower tariffs, look at 'grand' deal

Howard Lutnick calls on New Delhi to open up agriculture and other sectors

8 March 2025
Chinese provinces and cities are sending delegations to the U.S. in an effort to shore up trade ties and talk investment, which one expert described as a "good sign." (Nikkei montage/Source photo by AP)
Trade war

Chinese local officials visit U.S. seeking path through fog of trade war

Jiangxi delegation to LA nets $116m in cooperation deals despite Trump tariffs

7 March 2025
Japan and the U.K., in their first "two-plus-two" economic dialogue in Tokyo on March 7, promised to work together to promote free trade and to address energy and economic security challenges.
Trade

Japan, U.K. to promote free trade amid Trump tariff threats

Two countries hold their first economic 'two-plus-two' dialogue in Tokyo

7 March 2025
China's export growth slowed in the first two months of 2025 partly due to the front-loading of orders in the preceding months in anticipation of the U.S. raising tariffs.
Trade

China export growth slows as U.S. trade tension escalates

Imports unexpectedly plummet 8.4% due to sluggish demand

7 March 2025
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at an Economic Club of New York event on March 6.
Trade

Current global trade system 'not sustainable' for U.S., Bessent says

Treasury secretary outlines Trump's 'America First' economic agenda in address

7 March 2025
A farmer sprays pesticide over his rice field in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Agriculture

Thailand seeks ties with India, Vietnam to support rice prices

Commerce Ministry says paddy prices down by 30% as exports expected to fall 24%

6 March 2025
Containers at a port in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The trade-reliant economy is known as a manufacturing hub for apparel and electronics.
Trade

Vietnam posts rare trade deficit in February as imports surge

Though trade surplus rises with U.S. in first two months of the year

6 March 2025
Malaysia's investment, trade and industry minister, Zafrul Aziz, calls for broader intra-ASEAN trade in an interview with Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

Malaysia calls for broader intra-ASEAN trade to counter U.S. tariff risks

Minister says competition to draw investment away from China 'not zero-sum game'

6 March 2025
Shipping containers at the port of Yangshan, outside Shanghai. Chinese companies have been accused of evading U.S. tariffs by shipping products through third countries.
Trade

U.S. lawmakers urge probes into alleged Chinese tariff dodging

House members seek stronger enforcement as Trump hikes duties

6 March 2025
Japan and the U.K. are stepping up cooperation on economic security as the U.S. imposes tariffs on trading partners. (Source photos by Nikkei)
Trade

Japan, U.K. to advocate for free trade at first economic 2-plus-2

Partners to address challenges amid Trump tariff push at meeting Friday

6 March 2025