GYEONGJU – Chinese President Xi Jinping took centre stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea on Friday, meeting counterparts from Canada, Japan, and Thailand after securing a fragile trade truce with US President Donald Trump. The agreement, reached just before Trump’s departure from South Korea, suspends further US curbs on China’s […]
global economy
Global gold demand hits record high
LONDON: Global demand for gold soared to a record high in the third quarter of 2025, as investors turned to the precious metal amid mounting geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, according to a report released by the World Gold Council (WGC) on Thursday. The WGC data showed that total demand rose 3 percent year-on-year in […]
Oil prices climb as U.S.–China trade framework boosts market optimism
Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Monday after U.S. and Chinese officials outlined a trade-deal framework, easing global economic concerns and boosting investor sentiment. The agreement between the world’s top two oil consumers is seen as a step toward reducing trade tensions that have weighed on global growth and energy demand. Brent crude […]
A Connected World
For years, the global economy has tilted toward protectionism, each tariff and travel ban drawing new borders around old anxieties. It is against this backdrop that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s quiet campaign for regional economic cooperation feels refreshing. In an age when isolation has become political currency, Islamabad is choosing engagement, and that choice deserves […]
Trump Admits 100% Tariff on China “Not Sustainable”
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday admitted that his proposed 100% tariff on Chinese imports would not be economically sustainable, but insisted Beijing’s actions forced Washington into the latest trade escalation. “It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network, when asked about the […]
China Calls Restrictions “Consistent with Global Practice”
BEIJING, October 17, 2025 — China on Thursday issued a seven-point rebuttal to US accusations that its new rare earth export controls amount to a “global supply-chain power grab,” as trade tensions between the two largest economies continue to escalate ahead of an expected meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. Read More: China […]
China’s Trade Surges Despite Looming Tariff Escalation with U.S.
BEIJING – China’s overseas trade grew faster than expected in September, offering a rare boost for its struggling economy just as fears rise over a fresh escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, official data showed Monday. According to the General Administration of Customs, exports jumped 8.3% year-on-year, well above a Bloomberg forecast of 6.6%, while […]
Trump’s Tariff Threats Overshadow IMF
WASHINGTON– Finance ministers and central bankers gathering in Washington this week for the IMF and World Bank annual meetings are facing renewed global uncertainty after Donald Trump reignited the US-China trade war, threatening 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. The move has rattled markets and overshadowed what was expected to be a week focused on the […]
Oil Prices Dip as Gaza Ceasefire Lowers Market Risk Premium
SINGAPORE – Oil prices slipped slightly on Friday as traders reacted to easing geopolitical risks following a landmark ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, marking the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war. Brent crude futures were down 7 cents at $65.15 per barrel by 03:38 GMT, while US […]
Aurangzeb pushes for inclusive trade and debt restructuring at Boao forum
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for global trade reforms to help developing nations overcome trade barriers, excessive tariffs, and financial restrictions. Speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia 2025, Aurangzeb pointed out how current global trade practices disproportionately benefit developed countries. He warned that if inequalities continue, the gap between rich and poor nations […]