All articles tagged with #us trade
South Korea’s parliament approved a law to create a government-backed investment corporation to execute its $350 billion pledge to the United States, including $150 billion for shipbuilding and $200 billion for strategic sectors (capped at $20 billion per year), as part of a deal tied to more favorable tariff terms amid U.S. Section 301 actions.
The Supreme Court overturned Trump’s emergency tariffs, paving the way for refunds on roughly $175 billion in duties; the process is legally murky, may take months or years, and could backfire politically as refunds may flow to consumers or Chinese importers, underscoring the policy’s flawed design and economic cost.
The US plans a $12 billion critical minerals stockpile (Project Vault) to counter China’s dominance, financed with $10 billion from the Export-Import Bank and $2 billion from private capital. It will stockpile minerals such as rare earths, copper and lithium via Traxys, Mercuria and Hartree Partners, aiming for about 60 days of material for emergencies and to shield manufacturers from supply shocks; membership includes major firms, though analysts say it’s a meaningful first step rather than an immediate fix.
Japan's exports rose 5.1% year-on-year in December 2025, missing Reuters' 6.1% forecast as shipments to the United States fell 11.1% after a prior month gain. Shipments to mainland China rose 5.6% and to Hong Kong 31.1%, with Asia up 10.2%. December imports gained 5.1%. For 2025, exports increased 3.1%—slower than 2024—as shipments to China (-0.4%) and the U.S. (-4.1%) fell, while Hong Kong (+17.8%) and Taiwan (+15.1%) rose. The release comes ahead of snap elections on Feb. 8; a Takaichi victory could support a weaker yen and expansionary fiscal policy.
Boeing outsold Airbus on gross orders in 2025 for the first time this decade, booking 1,075 gross orders (Airbus: 1,000) as countries rushed to buy US aircraft to curry favor with the Trump administration. Boeing delivered 600 commercial jets, while Airbus delivered 793, and the backlog climbed to about 6,130. The turnaround has been aided by FAA relief allowing Boeing to certify its own jets again and by the Spirit AeroSystems acquisition, with large orders from carriers like Alaska Airlines helping late-year momentum.
The US has reduced proposed tariffs on Italian pasta from as high as 92% to between 2% and 14%, following Italy's cooperation, though final decisions are pending. This move alleviates potential cost increases for consumers and reflects ongoing US-Italy trade negotiations, amid broader trade tensions.
Over a dozen Italian pasta brands, including Barilla, face potential disappearance from US stores due to tariffs totaling 107%, resulting from an antidumping investigation accusing Italian producers of unfair pricing, which could make importing their products in the US nearly impossible.
China will suspend some export controls on rare earth metals and end investigations into US semiconductor firms, while the US will pause tariffs on China for a year and halt plans for a 100% export tariff, in a trade deal aimed at easing tensions between the two countries, though the agreement may be a short-term truce.
Japanese companies, including Toyota, announced initiatives to strengthen U.S. relations and address trade tensions during President Trump's visit to Tokyo, with Toyota planning to import U.S.-made vehicles to Japan and open its distribution network to U.S. automakers.
Malaysia is negotiating to keep its semiconductor exports tariff-free in a trade deal with the US, amid concerns over potential tariffs on semiconductors and a possible critical minerals agreement during President Trump's visit to Kuala Lumpur, highlighting Malaysia's strategic focus on the electronics and rare earths sectors.
China's exports to the US declined by 27% in September amid ongoing trade tensions, while its global exports increased by 8.3%, driven by growth in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Despite resilience in overall exports, uncertainties due to tariffs and export controls persist, complicating future trade prospects.
President Trump’s new 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals will not apply to the EU and Japan due to existing trade agreements, with EU duties capped at 15% and Japanese rates as per their pact. The UK, however, faces the full tariff unless they build manufacturing plants in the US, which could exempt their products. The tariffs are part of broader trade policy adjustments, including auto tariff reductions.
Canada and Mexico are holding a summit without the U.S. to discuss strengthening their trade relationship, diversifying away from U.S. reliance, and navigating the complexities of U.S. trade policies under Trump, amid ongoing tensions and the need to preserve their free trade partnership.
Indian factories, especially in textiles, jewelry, and shrimp sectors, are severely impacted by the US's 50% tariffs, leading to reduced orders, layoffs, and economic uncertainty, with trade diversification efforts underway but facing challenges.
Canadian U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc expressed disappointment over Trump's tariffs, emphasizing the importance of the trade relationship and ongoing negotiations to resolve issues related to tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other sectors, while highlighting Canada's strategic interests and efforts to maintain a strong, integrated economy with the U.S.