Singapore to Seek Clarity Amid Trump’s Tariff Pressure
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore will actively engage with the United States Trade Representative’s office to seek clarity on trade data and the recently announced Section 301 investigations. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently launched two trade investigations into excess industrial capacity in major trading countries,
Vietnam Scraps Fuel Tariffs Amid Iran War Disruptions
In an effort to secure energy supplies amid a worsening Middle East crisis, the Vietnamese government has announced that it will temporarily remove fuel import tariffs. The Ministry of Finance is leading the initiative, which attempts to stabilise a domestic rocket rocked by the intensifying military confrontation between the United
19% US Tariff Set: A Major Win for Bangladesh Trade
Bangladesh and the United States signed a landmark trade agreement on 9 February that lowers the standard tariffs on Bangladeshi exports upto 19%. Washington proposed this significant drop from 37%, following months of negotiations led by Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. A major change in Bangladesh’s garment
Asia’s Manufacturing Struggles as Orders Drop and Tariffs Bite
Asia’s manufacturing sectors faced continued challenges in November, with factory activity declining across key economies amid sluggish demand. Despite some positive signs from U.S. trade negotiations, these improvements have yet to translate into a notable recovery in orders. Several purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) released on Monday revealed varied conditions regionally:
China Export Decline Deepens as Tariff Pressures Mount
China’s exports declined unexpectedly in October, marking the worst performance since February. Outbound shipments fell by 1.1%, reversing from an 8.3% increase in September, and missing the forecasted 3.0% growth. This decline was partly due to a high base last year when exports surged in anticipation of President Trump’s tariffs
Trump and Xi Strike Tariff Deal to Ease U.S.-China Tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he reached a deal with President Xi Jinping to lower tariffs in exchange for China cracking down on illegal fentanyl, resuming U.S. soybean purchases, and maintaining rare earth exports. Their first face-to-face meeting since 2019 took place in Busan, South Korea, as part of Trump’s
India on Edge as Trump Unveils 100% Tariff on Pharma
US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, with rates up to 100 percent starting October 1, 2025. India, a major exporter of generic and biosimilar drugs to the US, could be heavily impacted by these measures. Trump stated that branded and patented pharmaceutical products would face tariffs
Vietnam Moves for Trade Deals to Counter US Tariffs
Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, announced that Hanoi is actively pursuing new trade agreements in 2023 to offset the adverse effects of U.S. tariffs on its exports. This effort comes amid concerns that U.S. duties could slash Vietnam’s exports to America by up to 20%, according to the United
Trump Finalises Japan Trade Deal With 15% Tariffs Amid Party Rift
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a trade deal with Japan, which includes a 15% baseline tariff on most Japanese goods, such as autos. The agreement, finalised in July after several months of negotiations, includes Tokyo investing $550 billion in projects chosen by the U.S., boosting imports
Trump Targets India Over Russia Oil, Hints at Heavy Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump escalated trade friction Monday, warning of steeper duties on Indian exports due to its continued oil purchases from Russia. New Delhi rejected the threat as “unfounded” and pledged to protect its economic interests. In a pointed social media post, Donald Trump alleged that India is reaping
