Economy

Representatives of members of Trans-Pacific Partnership after the signing agreement ceremony in Santiago, Chile, on Mar. 8, 2018.
The landscape near the copper and gold mine site in the Reko Diq district in southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Materials

Japan to dig into Pakistan's Reko Diq mine amid copper deficit fears

JBIC likely to finalize loan by early 2026; Komatsu plans to supply equipment, experts

Chinese e-commerce sites such as Temu and Shein have benefited from Japan's tax exemption on imports for personal use.
Economy

Japan looks to end tax break on e-commerce, small imports for personal use

Shipments from Shein, Temu face lower levies, hitting domestic retailers

3 November 2025
Richard Choi, a Liberal Democrat councillor, hosted an event to celebrate the efforts of Hong Kong volunteers in Sutton, in southwest London, in December 2024. (Courtesy of Richard Choi)
Immigration

Hong Kongers navigate challenges of settling in Britain

English proficiency, local engagement help, but family ties can come under pressure

2 November 2025
A WeRide Mini Robobus is displayed during the 29th Guangzhou Fair in Guangzhou on Oct. 27, 2021. The company will debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange this week.
Your Week in Asia

Chinese robotaxi IPOs, Toyota earnings, Indonesia's GDP

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

2 November 2025
The Oct. 30 meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump yielded no progress on correcting trade imbalances. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Comment

Trump's China trade war backfires over strategic missteps

US unilateralism, short-termism and tariff strategy leave Beijing with upper hand

2 November 2025
APEC leaders stand for a group photo in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Nov. 1.
International relations

South Korea's APEC: Two days of heavy diplomacy end

Trump's early exit handed Xi the starring role at the gathering in South Korea.

1 November 2025
Summer months are a peak time for power consumption due the need to run air conditioners. (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama)
Energy

Tokyo faces summer power crunch as aging plants go offline

No risk of an electricity supply shortfall forecast for winter

1 November 2025
U.S. tariffs and stagnation of real wages are two big components of the Japanese economy's expected first quarterly decline in more than a year. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Economy

Japan's GDP declined in July-September on US tariffs, economists say

1st contraction in six quarters predicted at annualized 2.4%

1 November 2025
Soybeans are loaded into a truck from a transfer hopper during harvest season in Deerfield, Ohio, in October 2021.
Commodities

China finds leverage over Trump in trade talks with soybeans boycott

Prices surge on expectation that Beijing will resume crop purchases

1 November 2025
An employee holds a box of wafers at Nexperia's main front-end semiconductor plant in Hamburg, Germany.
Supply Chain

Chipmaker Nexperia halts wafer supplies to its China plant

Move by Dutch-controlled company fans fears of global automotive semiconductor shortage

1 November 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump swept through Asia, with the region left to ponder the impact. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Trump tariffs

Trump's 5-day Asian trade tour: 5 things to know

President's emphasis on 'deals' yields results but leaves some wary

31 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping seal a fresh trade war truce in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30.
Trade war

China and US pull some trade war punches to fight another day

Trump and Xi had reasons to dial down tensions but analysts see fragile detente

31 October 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung meet for the first time on the red carpet in Gyeongju. (Yonhap)
International relations

South Korea's APEC: Xi makes 5 point proposal for inclusive globalization

Lee says that world order stands at 'turning point'; 'National interests may not always align'

31 October 2025
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in Gyeongju, South Korea on Oct. 31.
Trade

APEC leaders seek consensus in Gyeongju amid US-China trade war truce

Differences remain over multilateralism among member economies

31 October 2025
Stream article image
Photos

Through the Lens: Trump's Asia-Pacific tour

A selection of photos from across Asia

31 October 2025
People lined up for the launch of the new iPhone 17 series in an Apple store in Shanghai on Friday, September 19. (Apple) 
Supply Chain

Apple China sales dip despite overall iPhone 17 boost

US tech giant expects next quarter to be 'best ever' as Chinese market improves

31 October 2025
The Mount Weld mine in Western Australia is expected to supply roughly 30% of Japan's dysprosium and terbium demand. (Lynas Rare Earths)
Supply Chain

Japan's Sojitz launches Australian rare-earth imports to reduce China risk

Operation marks Japan's first rare earth imports from non-China source

31 October 2025
The Bank of Japan has delayed raising rates since its last hike in January, as the U.S. sharply raised tariffs and the Japanese public's frustration over higher prices grew. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Yen weakens to level not seen since February on BOJ's wage talk emphasis

Investor expectations for a December rate increase pushed back

30 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the APEC forum, in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30.
Trade war

Trump cuts China fentanyl tariff to 10% as Xi delays rare-earth controls

At summit, Chinese president says 'reality demands' superpower friendship

30 October 2025
The decision, led by BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda, follows a move by the U.S. Federal Reserve on Oct. 29 to cut interest rates for the second time this year as the labor market slows.
Bank of Japan

BOJ 'not behind the curve' says Gov. Ueda after standing pat

Policy rate held at 0.5% amid tariffs, Takaichi impact; inflation outlook steady

30 October 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump tariffs

Trump says he expects to lower fentanyl-linked tariffs on China

President's deal conditional on Beijing's commitment to curb inflow of chemicals

29 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, stands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea on Oct. 29.
International relations

US and South Korea agree to trade deal at APEC summit

Seoul to provide $200 billion in cash investments for lower US tariffs

29 October 2025
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is hosting world leaders this week at the APEC forum, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump all due in Gyeongju. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yusuke Hinata, Ken Suzuki and Reuters) 
International relations

Trump and Xi supercharge South Korea's APEC: 5 things to watch

Lee Jae Myung faces diplomatic test as leaders gather in Gyeongju

29 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One to depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport for South Korea on Oct. 29.
International relations

Trump in Japan: How the US president's stay unfolded

Visit featured baseball talk with emperor, bonding with Takaichi, dinner with execs

29 October 2025
A new Chinatown in the Huai Khwang district in Bangkok. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Opinion

Thailand's 'new Chinatowns' bring in the wrong type of investment

Bangkok must find a balance between the lure of foreign capital and the protection of national interests

29 October 2025
The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index temporarily surpassed 4,000 on Oct. 28 -- its highest in just over 10 years. (Photo by Noriyuki Doi)
Equities

China moves to avert slump as tech-heavy Shanghai Composite zips past 4,000

Previous stock price surges have been followed by sharp drops and volatility

29 October 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the country must maintain an appropriate rate of economic development over the next five years. (Xinhua via Kyodo)
Economy

China's proposed 5-year economic road map omits GDP growth outlook

Xi vows to lift Chinese per-capita development to that of a midlevel nation

29 October 2025
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son pose with an investment agreement in hand in a ceremony on Oct. 28 in Tokyo. (Photo by Shintaro Ino)
Business deals

SoftBank, Toshiba, Hitachi among firms tipped to make $400bn in US deals

At least 21 potential projects mentioned, from energy and AI to critical minerals

28 October 2025
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, left, greets U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting in Tokyo on Oct. 27. (Pool photo)
Bank of Japan

US Treasury seeks 'sound monetary policy' from Japan amid weak yen

Bessent tells Japanese counterpart conditions differ from Abenomics era

28 October 2025