Japan's economy contracted in the first quarter of 2025 for the first time in a year, and the decline was sharper than expected. This latest data highlights the fragile nature of the country's recovery, now under added pressure from anticipated US trade actions that threaten to weigh further on exports and consumer sentiment. According to newly released government statistics, Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) shrank at an annualized rate of 0.7% from January

India and the United States are stepping up efforts to finalize the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement by early July, with a high-level Indian delegation set to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to lead negotiations. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to head the talks, signaling a strategic shift from the original plan that aimed for a broader agreement later in the year. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that both sides are opti

Gold prices fell significantly on Monday as investor confidence rebounded in response to a temporary agreement between the United States and China to ease tariffs. The development, seen as a step toward de-escalating prolonged trade tensions, prompted a shift in global risk sentiment and reduced demand for safe-haven assets like gold. Spot gold dropped by 3% to $3,225.28 per ounce in afternoon trading, moving sharply away from the record high of $3,500.05 it reached just weeks ago. Meanwhile, U.

The United States and China have reached a pivotal agreement to pause their escalating trade war, marking a temporary 90-day truce in which both nations will significantly reduce tariffs on each other’s goods. The announcement followed intensive trade talks held in Geneva, signaling a breakthrough in the long-standing dispute between the two largest global economies. Under the terms of the agreement, the United States will lower its tariffs on Chinese imports from an extreme

The United States and China are expected to provide more clarity on the progress made during a series of marathon trade discussions held over the weekend in Geneva. These talks brought together high-level officials from both countries, and their outcomes may mark a turning point in ongoing efforts to resolve longstanding economic tensions between the two largest global economies. While full details have not yet been disclosed, early signals from both sides suggest cautious optimis

A logistics company in the Bay Area is experiencing unexpected business growth due to rising tariffs introduced under the Trump administration. These policy changes have reshaped international trade routes and transformed how companies handle imported goods, particularly increasing demand for bonded warehouses — specialized storage spaces where tariffs don’t apply until items are officially brought into the domestic market. Francisco Garcia, founder of Lynx Logistics i

Stock futures rose sharply on Thursday following an announcement from President Donald Trump that the United States and the United Kingdom have finalized a major trade agreement. This development sparked enthusiasm across Wall Street, especially in technology stocks, and contributed to a strong premarket rally. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 303 points, a 0.7% increase, while futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a major shipment of counterfeit luxury watches at a cargo inspection facility at O’Hare International Airport. The package, which had been shipped from China, contained 243 fake watches replicating well-known luxury brands such as Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Breitling, Bulgari, Cartier, Omega, Panerai, Richard Mille, Tag Heuer, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin. If authentic, the total retail value of these items would have reached

In a significant escalation of tensions following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian government has announced a complete ban on all imports from Pakistan. The decision, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, comes in the wake of mounting national security concerns and is seen as part of a broader strategy to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and economically on the global stage. The notification issued by the Indian government clearly states that "direct or indirect

TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, has come under major regulatory fire in Europe. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), which oversees privacy enforcement for TikTok within the European Union, has imposed a substantial fine of €530 million ($601.3 million) for transferring personal data of European users to China in violation of the EU’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This ruling marks on

 Apple is taking a major strategic step by shifting a significant portion of its iPhone production for the US market to India. The move, confirmed by CEO Tim Cook, is largely driven by economic factors, especially the sharp difference in tariff rates between goods produced in India and China. According to Cook, the cost of exporting iPhones from India to the United States is much lower due to the 10 percent tariff, compared to the far higher rate imposed on Chinese imports. While Apple cont

Veteran emerging markets investor Mark Mobius has shifted nearly all of his investments into cash, citing ongoing global trade tensions and market uncertainty. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Mobius said that he currently has around 95% of his funds in cash, declaring that “cash is king” as the global economy navigates unstable trade dynamics. Mobius, who has over three decades of experience investing across developing markets and co-founded Mobius Capital P

 Adidas has confirmed that U.S. tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump will eventually lead to price increases on all of its products sold in the American market. The German sportswear company made the statement on Tuesday while presenting a strong financial performance for the first quarter, though it acknowledged that continued global trade uncertainty was holding back its growth forecast. The sportswear giant said it could not yet determine exactly how much

 Emerging markets in Southeast Asia are increasingly asserting their autonomy amid the growing intensity of the US-China trade war. As tensions between the two global powers escalate, nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia are finding ways to shield their economies by enhancing intra-regional cooperation and embracing diversified strategies. While the pressure to align with either the US or China is immense, these nations are pursuing a third path—supporting their own regional i

In a significant escalation of the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, Chinese airlines have ceased accepting deliveries of Boeing aircraft. This development follows the imposition of steep tariffs by both nations, with the U.S. levying a 145% tariff on Chinese imports and China retaliating with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods, including aircraft. The suspension of deliveries has led Boeing to consider alternative markets for its aircraft. With approximately 50

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced a partial retreat from his high-profile government role to refocus on Tesla, a move that comes in the wake of a dramatic downturn in the company’s sales and profits. During a recent earnings call, Musk informed investors that starting in May, his commitment to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would be scaled back to just one or two days per week. He defended his involvement with DOGE, stating it was part of a mission to combat national was

US Vice President JD Vance began his four-day visit to India on Monday, launching a strategic mission to deepen trade, defense, and energy partnerships with the South Asian nation. Arriving in New Delhi with his wife Usha and their children, Vance is engaging in high-level meetings and cultural visits, underscoring the personal and diplomatic importance of the trip. At the center of this visit is a scheduled meeting between Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are expected to

Nvidia, the crown jewel of Wall Street's artificial intelligence boom, suffered a staggering market loss this week, shedding nearly 7% of its value — over $148 billion in market capitalization — following the U.S. government's renewed crackdown on advanced chip exports to China. The dramatic sell-off marks one of the most severe single-day hits for the tech giant and signals growing fragility in the semiconductor sector amid intensifying geopolitical tensions. The immediat

India and the United States are preparing to open formal discussions this week on a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, taking advantage of a 90-day pause in escalating tariffs. The two nations, long-standing economic and strategic partners, are moving to resolve trade tensions and explore deeper commercial engagement at a time when global trade is under pressure from protectionist trends and economic uncertainty. The initial discussions will be conducted virtually, with officials from both

 China has indicated a willingness to address India’s rising concerns over a ballooning trade deficit that is projected to touch a record $100 billion in the financial year 2024–25. This development comes as China seeks to offset its economic challenges amid intensifying trade friction with the United States. People familiar with the situation have said that Beijing has informally conveyed its openness to increasing imports from India by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,