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
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
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
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
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
Stream article image
Photos

Through the Lens: Trump's Asia-Pacific tour

A selection of photos from across Asia

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
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
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
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
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrive at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Oct. 28.
International relations

Japan PM Takaichi and US President Trump tout 'new golden age' for alliance

Leaders sign deals on trade implementation and rare earths at first summit in Tokyo

28 October 2025
The Japanese national flag waves at the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo on March 18, 2024.
Opinion

The BOJ must define a strategy for its ETF holdings -- not just its sales

Central bank needs to decide what to do with what they hold until everything is sold

28 October 2025
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who spoke to Nikkei in Tokyo on Oct. 27. (Photo by Seiko Ota)
Interview

Japan's $550bn package targets US infrastructure, commerce chief says

More than half of funds may go to electricity and energy development

27 October 2025
Hopes are high for newly inaugurated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to deliver an expansionary fiscal package to support growth. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Equities

Nikkei average hits 50,000 for 1st time on US-China deal, likely Fed cut

Yen trades around 153 per dollar, depreciating to all-time low against euro

27 October 2025
Takaichi vs. Ueda: While concerns over "the Trump tariffs" have somewhat eased, domestic politics are now creating complexities. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Suzuki, Seiko Ota and Akira Kodaka)
Trading Asia

BOJ early rate hike bets recede amid potential Trump, Takaichi impacts

Volatile yen and fragile US economy weigh on Japanese central bank decision

27 October 2025
Toyota plans to ship models to Japan from its U.S. factories, such this facility in Kentucky. (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky)
Automobiles

Toyota looks to announce 'reimports' of US-made cars during Trump visit

Unclear whether larger American models will become hits with Japanese consumers

26 October 2025
Nippon Express Holdings' Busan facility in South Korea will accept cargo to be forwarded on to export destinations in the event of a Nankai Trough earthquake. (Nippon Express Holdings)
Business trends

Japan logistics firms add cargo hubs to fortify megaquake response

Facilities in South Korea and western coast ports to allow shipments during disaster

25 October 2025
Tokyo Gas has signed a letter of intent to explore purchasing liquefied natural gas from the Alaska LNG project. (Source photos by Kosuke Imamura and screenshot from Alaska LNG's website)
Energy

Second Japanese firm to explore possible Alaska LNG purchase

Tokyo Gas signs letter of intent following JERA ahead of Trump's visit next week

24 October 2025
Japanese Prime minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a policy speech in parliament in Tokyo on Oct. 24. (Photo by Marina Inoue) 
Japan's new PM

Japan PM Takaichi vows to boost defense spending to 2% of GDP by March

Call to achieve target 2 years ahead of time comes as Trump set to visit

24 October 2025
The Bank of Japan released its twice-yearly Financial System Report on Oct. 23. (Photo by Miki Kamiyama)
Finance

BOJ warns Japan banks on lending risk for buyout firms as real estate prices soar

Stock market showing signs of overheating, central bank says

24 October 2025
Just days after her election as Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, seen here at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Oct. 21, is expected to leverage her political affiliation with her late predecessor, Shinzo Abe, to build a relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting Japan next week. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Policy Asia

Japan's Takaichi awaits Trump with economic security in spotlight

New PM to make her diplomatic debut with ASEAN trip; Abe 'lineage' seen strengthening US links

24 October 2025
Japan has agreed to purchase $8 billion in U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, as part of this summer's tariff agreement with the Trump administration.
Commodities

Japan looks to subsidize storage of soybeans bought under Trump tariff deal

Government to demonstrate commitment to trade pact ahead of US president's visit next week

24 October 2025
Okuma's machine tools feature built-in robots that can learn from experienced human workers. (Photo by Mai Ishitsubo)
Business trends

Japan machine tool makers bank on automation amid US tariffs

DMG Mori highlights 'physical AI' technology at Nagoya trade expo

23 October 2025