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☆ China vows to help its EV champions succeed overseas despite threats of sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, China’s Commerce Ministry posted a document signed late last year by nine government agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the central bank, vowing to support Chinese EV makers with their globalization push. It also encouraged Chinese EV companies to cooperate with foreign manufacturers in technology and build supply chains that can benefit everyone. Chinese EV makers are taking the world by storm, even if they are largely locked out of key markets like the United States. Chinese EV makers are seeking alternative growth engines overseas because the picture is gloomy at home. The flood of cheaper Chinese vehicles has triggered trade tensions with some countries.

Persons: “, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Commerce, Foreign Ministry, Chinese EV, Getty, EV, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, European Commission, Wall Street Locations: China, Hong Kong, Europe, United States, Chinese, China's Shandong, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, Shenzhen, Hungary

☆ Chinese stocks are having their worst start to a year since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Anna Cooban | Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Shenzhen Component Index, a tech-heavy benchmark, had its worst day in nearly two years, plunging 3.5%. It’s the worst start to a year for Chinese stocks since 2016, when investors were ditching their holdings following a market crash in 2015. The country’s economy grew by 5.2% last year. That beat government projections but is still one of China’s worst economic performances in over three decades. The International Monetary Fund forecasts the country’s economic growth to slow to 4.2% this year.

Persons: Ken Cheung, ”, Europe’s, Premier Li Qiang, Brian Martin, Daniel Hynes, Li, “, ” Stephen Innes, managing Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shenzhen Component, Mizuho Bank, CSI, Nikkei, Premier, Economic, ANZ Research, Monetary Fund, China’s Commerce Ministry, Investors Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, China, United States

☆ Microsoft's president meets with the Chinese government to discuss AI co-operation
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-07 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cezaro De Luca | Europa Press | Getty ImagesMicrosoft President Brad Smith met with China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on Wednesday to discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to trade relations between Washington and Beijing, according to a Youdao-translated Chinese government announcement. The meeting underscores China's attempt to show it remains favorable to American businesses amid continued tensions with the U.S., as it looks to reinvigorate its economy. China's own technology giants — from Alibaba to Baidu and Tencent — have also been launching their own AI models and rival products. Washington has sought to restrict China's access to key technologies such as semiconductors, and U.S. export curbs recently targeted chips from Nvidia, which are used to train artificial intelligence models. During the Biden and Xi meeting, the two leaders "affirmed the need to address the risks of advanced AI systems and improve AI safety through U.S.-China government talks," according to a White House readout.

Persons: Brad Smith, Cezaro De Luca, Commerce Wang Wentao, Smith, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang, Xi Organizations: Europa Press, Getty, China's, Commerce, U.S, Ministry, Microsoft, Baidu, Technology, Nvidia, Biden Locations: Madrid, Spain, Washington, Beijing, China, U.S, Alibaba

Now "it's like 'plus-10' and then China," he added, with the latter down to providing half of Industry West's products and being trimmed more. China recorded its first-ever quarterly deficit in foreign direct investment in July-September, suggesting capital outflow pressure. But for the first time in the four decades since China opened up to foreign investments, executives are now also concerned about long-term growth prospects. Primavera Capital founder Fred Hu cites mounting macroeconomic uncertainty, a "murky capital market outlook," and lingering concerns over past regulatory crackdowns on high-growth industries such as technology and education. Despite the challenges, foreign investment flows are not unidirectional.

Persons: Jordan England, Nicholas Lardy, England, I'm, Li Qiang's, Li, Michael Hart, Noah Fraser, Fred Hu, Hu, Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang, Kane Wu, Eduardo Baptista, Don Durfee, Kripa Jayaram, Marius Zaharia, Jamie Freed Organizations: China, Reuters, Peterson Institute for International Economics, LONG, Conference Board, China International, Canada China Business Council, Reuters Graphics, Primavera Capital, Tech, Thomson Locations: China, BEIJING, HONG KONG, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico, England, Florida, Washington, Beijing, consultancies, U.S, Asia, Australia, Europe, Hong Kong

One Russian banking source close to the Russian central bank said receiving revenue in a non-convertible currency with little value outside India was "pointless". They said, however, the problem remained of finding a viable alternative to the dollar, and that the problems affect buyers in Africa, China and Turkey which have become top buyers of Russian oil. The biggest issue, however, concerns India, which has been buying more than 60% of Russian seaborne oil, according to LSEG data and Reuters calculations. India's top refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) is struggling to settle some payments, mainly for the purchase of Russia's light, sweet Sokol grade from the Sakhalin 1 project. From October, several UAE banks have tightened control over Russia-focused clients to ensure compliance with the price cap, according to five oil trading and bank sources.

Persons: Yang Mei Hu, Tatiana Meel, Ivan Nosov, Sokol, YUAN, Barbara Lewis Organizations: COSCO Shipping, REUTERS, U.S ., UAE, Reuters, Indian Oil Corp, Sokol, IOC, UAE dirhams, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka, Russia, Ukraine Russian, MOSCOW, DELHI, Ukraine, India, Russian, Hong, Africa, China, Turkey, Washington, Moscow, United States, Russia's, Sakhalin, UAE

☆ China pledges deeper trade ties with Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pledged to deepen bilateral trade ties with Vietnam during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, China's commerce ministry said. China and the United States have been jostling for influence among Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, which in September elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting its one-time enemy on par with Beijing and Moscow. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held "frank and friendly talks" on bilateral ties, land borders and maritime issues with Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu in Hanoi earlier this month. Wang also met Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnamese Communist Party secretary Nguyen Van Nen on Saturday, the Chinese commerce ministry said. Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Wentao, Pham Minh, Wang, Sun Weidong, Nguyen Minh Vu, Xi Jinping, Ho, Nguyen Van Nen, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Commerce, Vietnamese, Beijing, Foreign, Vietnam's, Reuters, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, China, United States, Washington, Moscow, Hanoi

☆ China Pledges Deeper Trade Ties With Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pledged to deepen bilateral trade ties with Vietnam during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, China's commerce ministry said. Wang said China-Vietnam trade cooperation had already achieved "fruitful results" and would include strategic areas such as the digital economy, green development and cross-border e-commerce, according to a readout published late Saturday by the Chinese ministry. China and the United States have been jostling for influence among Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, which in September elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting its one-time enemy on par with Beijing and Moscow. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held "frank and friendly talks" on bilateral ties, land borders and maritime issues with Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu in Hanoi earlier this month. Wang also met Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnamese Communist Party secretary Nguyen Van Nen on Saturday, the Chinese commerce ministry said.

Persons: Wang Wentao, Pham Minh, Wang, Sun Weidong, Nguyen Minh Vu, Xi Jinping, Ho, Nguyen Van Nen, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Commerce, Vietnamese, Beijing, Foreign, Vietnam's, Reuters, Communist Party Locations: BEIJING, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, China, United States, Washington, Moscow, Hanoi

☆ Taliban Minister Raises Return of Deported Afghans' Assets in Pakistan Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Charlotte GreenfieldISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The Taliban's acting commerce minister said he had asked Pakistan to help return the assets of expelled Afghans and discussed ways to overcome Afghanistan's stalled banking sector transactions during a four-day visit to Islamabad this week. Acting minister Nooruddin Azizi's arrival in the Pakistani capital marked the first public visit by a senior Taliban official since Pakistan announced its policy to deport thousands of undocumented Afghans and other foreign citizens after Nov. 1. The Taliban have said the security issues are a domestic matter for Islamabad and called on Pakistan to stop deportations. Azizi said a major focus of the visit had been raising the problem of Afghan deportees being unable to return their assets from Pakistan. Pakistan's commerce minister and a spokesman for the commerce ministry did not respond to request for comment.

Persons: Charlotte Greenfield, Nooruddin, Azizi, Asif Shahzad, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, William Maclean Organizations: Taliban, Pakistan, Reuters Locations: Charlotte Greenfield ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Islamabad, Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate, Uzbekistan, China, Kabul

BEIJING, Nov 17 (Reuters) - China's commerce minister expressed concern over U.S. curbs on semiconductor exports to China, as well as sanctions on Chinese firms and tariffs on Chinese imports, when he met U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday, his ministry said Friday. "Wang Wentao expressed concern about the final rules of the U.S. semiconductor export controls against China, sanctions against Chinese companies, two-way investment restrictions, and Section 301 tariffs," according to China's commerce ministry. Two-way trade hit a record $690 billion last year, as U.S. demand for Chinese consumer goods rose and Beijing's demand for U.S. farm products and energy grew. This year is off to a significantly slower pace, however, with two-way trade flows through September down $104 billion, or 19%, from the first nine months of 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Wang and Raimondo also agreed to hold the first meeting of a commerce working group at the vice minister level in the first quarter of 2024, China's commerce ministry said.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Wang Wentao, Raimondo, Joe Biden, Trump, Wang, Joe Cash, Christopher Cushing, Mark Potter Organizations: U.S, Commerce, Southeast, China, Census, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, San Francisco, Southeast Asia, U.S, Canada, Mexico

[1/2] India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal takes part at the panel discussion "Trade: Now what?" during the World Economic Forum 2022 (WEF) in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland May 25, 2022. This meeting is to ensure that talks between India and Tesla "are moving in the right direction," the person added. Prime Minister Modi's office held a meeting with various ministries on Monday to expedite the new EV policy, said a third source. Reporting by Aditya Kalra, Aditi Shah and Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Piyush Goyal, Arnd, Elon Musk, Narendra Modi, Tesla, Aditya Kalra, Aditi Shah, Shivangi, Chizu Organizations: India's, REUTERS, Tesla, Indian, Reuters, U.S, EV, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, DELHI, United States, U.S, India

☆ Russian oil shaves India's import costs by about $2.7 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Crude oil accounts for about a third of India's overall imports by value. Access to cheap Russian oil enabled India to cut imports from the Middle East, where prices strengthened following Saudi Arabia's voluntary additional supply cuts since July. India imported 69.06 million metric tons of Russian oil, equivalent to 1.85 million barrels per day (bpd), between January and September, commerce ministry data showed, including Russian oil imported from South Korea, Greece and Spain through transshipments. The average price for Russian oil delivered to Indian refiners was $525.60 per ton during that period, including shipping and insurance costs, Reuters calculations based on ministry data showed. Discounted Russian oil cuts India's crude import billIndia saved at least $2 billion in buying discounted Russian oilBy importing Russian oil, Indian refiners benefit from lower feedstock costs, which have buoyed gross refining margins and curtailed revenue loss from subsidised retail fuel sales.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, India doesn't, Nidhi Verma, Florence Tan, Tony Munroe, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Europe, Moscow, Ukraine, South Korea, Greece, Spain, transshipments, Russia, Saudi, Sokol, China

☆ China FDI: Foreign investors are really frustrated with country’s economic challenges
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —The world’s second largest economy is struggling to attract foreign companies and investments, despite Beijing’s efforts to address its myriad economic challenges, according to new data from China. A gauge of foreign direct investment (FDI) into China has slipped into the red for the first time since 1998, underscoring the country’s failure to stem capital outflows. It suggests foreign companies may be taking their money out of the country, instead of re-investing in their operations. Direct investment liabilities include profits belonging to foreign companies that have not yet been repatriated or distributed to shareholders, as well as foreign investment in financial institutions, according to the government. Late last month, China’s legislature approved one trillion yuan ($137 billion) in sovereign bonds to support the economy.

Persons: Refinitiv, Ant, “, Xu jingbai, ICHPL, Xi Jinping, ”, ” Carlo D’Andrea, Shanghai —, JP Morgan, Tesla Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Commerce Ministry, Vanguard, BlackRock, CNN, Bloomberg, China, European Union Chamber of Commerce, People’s Bank of, HSBC, American Chamber of Commerce Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, outflows, People’s Bank of China

☆ Australia-China: After seven years of strain, leader Albanese heads to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Stakes are high for the four-day visit, which begins on Saturday and will see Albanese meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and make stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Albanese’s trip also carries symbolic overtones, marking 50 years since the first official visit by an Australian leader to Communist China after the two countries established ties. James Bugg/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesUS relations loomAlbanese is heading to Beijing less than two weeks after he met with US President Joe Biden in Washington. As he aims to repair ties with China, Albanese will need to walk a line between these interests and China’s suspicions about the aims of these blocs, analysts say. “Beijing came to learn that the weaponization of trade did not force a close US ally to back down,” said Collinson.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Scott Morrison’s, Jingdong Yuan, ”, Cheng Lei, Yang Hengjun, Yang, ” Albanese, Elena Collinson, teeters, ” Collinson, James Bugg, Joe Biden, “ Albanese, Yuan, Xi, Biden, Collinson, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Foreign Ministry, University of Sydney, Reuters, Huawei, Albanese’s Labor, Canberra, Albanese’s, University of Technology Sydney’s, China Relations Institute, Trans, Pacific, Bloomberg, Getty, Albanese, China, China - Asia Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Economic Cooperation, Australia Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Australia, Washington, Seoul, Communist China, Asia, Pacific, Darwin, Pacific Islands, South, University of Technology Sydney’s Australia, Europe, Yarra, Victoria, South China, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Sydney, Stockholm, San Fransisco

☆ China warms to U.S. chipmaker Micron, as tensions with Washington ease
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company logo is seen on the Micron Technology Inc. offices in Shanghai, China May 25, 2023. "We welcome Micron Technology to continue to take root in the Chinese market and achieve better development under the premise of complying with Chinese laws and regulations," Wang added. The detente comes just months after China's cyberspace regulator said Micron had failed a network security review and barred Chinese operators of key infrastructure from buying from the largest U.S. memory chipmaker. China's move against Micron was widely seen as retaliation for Washington's efforts to restrict Beijing's access to key technology. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Sonali Paul and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Wang Wentao, Sanjay Mehrotra, Wang, China's, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Sonali Paul, Lincoln Organizations: Micron Technology Inc, REUTERS, Rights, Micron Technology, Commerce, Micron, Economic Cooperation, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Washington, Asia, San Francisco

☆ China's economy stumbled again in recent months with factory activity falling and foreign investment plunging 34%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China's economy has stumbled since coming out of the country's COVID-19 lockdown late last year. Factory activity declined in October, while foreign investment tumbled 34% in September. Experts say the nation is at risk of a debt-deflation crisis that could produce a "lost decade" for its economy. AdvertisementAdvertisementData from September and October show China's economy stumbling further, with factory activity falling and foreign investment seeing a significant decline. Factory activity dropped through the month of October, with China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index falling to restrictive territory at 49.5.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, China's Commerce Ministry, Ministry, CSI Locations: China, Beijing, freefall

☆ Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. Graphite companies in the country process both the natural material mined domestically and overseas, as well as synthetic forms. Under the new rules, China will require export permits starting Dec. 1 for high-end synthetic graphite, as well as key forms of natural graphite. NATURAL GRAPHITE HITGlobal companies using natural graphite include Hitachi Chemical, part of Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp (4004.T), South Korea's POSCO Future M (003670.KS) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical, which produces natural graphite at two plants in China, according to research firm CRU Group.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Sunit Kapur, Zhang Yan, Siyi Liu, Brenda Goh, Satoshi Sugiyama, Heekyong Yang, Seoul ， Paul Lienert, Jing Xu, Dominique Patton, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, EV, Qingdao, Reuters, China's Ministry of Commerce, Gotion High Tech, BTR, Material Technology, Hitachi Chemical, Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp, Mitsubishi Chemical, CRU Group, Mitsubishi, Resources, Materials, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, Beijing, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, U.S, Shanghai, Ningbo Shanshan, Indonesia, Finland, Japan's, Australia, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, North Carolina, Toyko, Seoul ，, Detroit

[1/2] Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - As China moved to control some exports of key battery mineral graphite on Friday, miners elsewhere face a race against time to bring new projects to fruition to secure supplies for the next generation of electric vehicles. To stay ahead in a fast-changing industry, carmakers have been investing directly in mining projects to ensure future supplies of the battery inputs. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving domestic graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex's graphene division. "We've aligned ourselves with several graphite miners outside of China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Hugues Jacquemin, China's, John DeMaio, DeMaio, Stefan Bernstein, Graphite's Jacquemin, Shishir Poddar, Nelson Banya, Clara Denina, Divya Rajagopal, Ernest Scheyder, Veronica Brown, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Graphex, HK, EV, GreenRoc, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, Greenland, Northern, Tirupati, Madagascar, Mozambique

☆ China Tightens Its Chokehold on Graphite Needed for EV Batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Wenxin Fan | Sha Hua | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Graphite has uses in strategic markets ranging from energy storage to nuclear power. Photo: FABIAN BIMMER/REUTERSHONG KONG—China is strengthening restrictions on exports of graphite, a key mineral needed for the production of electric-vehicle batteries and fuel cells, the latest move in an intensifying global tussle over the building blocks of critical technologies. Citing national-security concerns, China’s Commerce Ministry said Friday that exports of several categories of natural and synthetic graphite materials would require permits under a system used to control trade in items with dual civilian and military uses starting Dec. 1.

Persons: FABIAN BIMMER Organizations: REUTERS, China’s Commerce Locations: REUTERS HONG KONG — China

☆ Analysts' comments on China's export permits for some graphite products
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Here is what analysts are saying about the measure:IVAN LAM, SENIOR ANALYST, COUNTERPOINT RESEARCH:"In addition to China, other countries and regions also implement graphite export controls. Graphite has a wide range of applications in industry, and the demand for its use is growing. KANG DONG-JIN, ANALYST AT HYUNDAI SECURITIES IN SEOUL:"It's not that China would suddenly stop export graphite, but it would be more intensely regulated and reviewed. It is still unclear how far China would take this graphite export curb, which would determine the supply chains. "With this new graphite export curb, South Korean firms - or South Korea in general, which heavily rely on China for graphite imports, would need to seek alternatives, such as mines from the United States or Australia, but it would likely increase cost burden for many."

Persons: Aly, IVAN LAM, CHRISTOPHER RICHTER, you've, KANG DONG, JIN, Brenda Goh, Daniel Leussink, Heekyong Yang, Miyoung Kim, Nivedita Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Russia, Ukraine, TOKYO, SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Australia, Tokyo, Seoul

☆ China, world's top graphite producer, to curb exports of key battery material
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: Trucks travel past containers at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, China January 13, 2022. It also refines more than 90% of the world’s graphite into material used in virtually all EV battery anodes. China is enacting the curbs at the same time that foreign governments are increasing their pressure on its companies over their industrial practices. Under the new restrictions announced on Friday, China will require exporters of two types graphite to apply for permits, including high-purity, high-hardness and high intensity synthetic graphite material, and natural flake graphite and its products. Top buyers of graphite from China include Japan, India and South Korea, according to Chinese customs data.

Persons: Aly Organizations: REUTERS, . Geological Survey, EV, European, Nvidia Locations: BEIJING, China, Port, Shanghai, U.S, United States, Europe, Japan, India, South Korea

Tokyo CNN —China has formally arrested a Japanese man who was detained in March, according to officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The arrest of the Japanese national, who was reportedly an employee of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm, could further rattle foreign businesses in China, which have reported feeling more unsettled this year amid a crackdown on international consulting firms on national security grounds. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the man was an employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma and was detained in March by Chinese security authorities in Beijing on suspicion of violating the country’s criminal law and anti-espionage law. In May, state security authorities said they had raided several offices of Capvision, an advisory network. The issue has been cited as headache for foreign businesses, some of which were already having trouble convincing workers to relocate to China.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s MOFA, Mao Ning, “, ”, Weeks, Bain, — CNN’s Michelle Toh, Sophie Jeong, Mengchen Zhang Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, NHK, drugmaker, Pharma, CNN, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of State Security, Mintz Group, American Chamber of Commerce, China’s Commerce Ministry, State Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, Tokyo, Beijing, MOFA, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Tim Cook's latest visit to China is a sign that the iPhone is at risk of becoming the 2nd-best option for many people
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Apple CEO made his second known trip to China this year as iPhone sales struggle. The visit is a sign that Apple desperately needs to keep China on its side. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Tim Cook visited China in March this year, he was there to heap praise on the country for its history of innovation. Several months on, the Apple CEO is back on the charm offensive.

Persons: Tim Cook, —, Cook, Wang Wentao, it's, Elon Musk, Luxshare Organizations: Apple, Service, Bloomberg, Research, Huawei, Apple's Locations: China, Beijing, Chengdu

☆ China’s graphite curbs send green warning shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global demand for graphite, seen at 770,000 tonnes this year, is expected to treble by 2033, according to estimates by Fastmarkets graphite analyst Georgi Georgiev. China currently accounts for 64% of the global production of natural graphite and more than half of the artificial equivalent. More importantly, the People’s Republic refines more than 90% of the graphite into high-purity material used in EV batteries. This echoes the approach China used earlier this year to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two metals used in chips and fibre optic cables, triggering a fall in international shipments. Mining graphite in Europe, which wants to lead in EV adoption, is simply more expensive, says Aiden Lavelle, CEO of miner European Green Metals.

Persons: Georgi Georgiev, Aiden Lavelle, Carmakers, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s, EV, Shanghai Putailai, Energy Technology, Metals, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Republic, Shanghai, Finland, Sweden, Beijing, Western, Europe, U.S

☆ China's commerce minister meets with Apple's Tim Cook in Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - China's commerce minister Wang Wentao met with Apple's Chief Executive Tim Cook in Beijing on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Chinese commerce ministry. They discussed Apple's development in China and also the Sino-US trade relationship, the statement said. China will firmly promote high-level opening up and continue to expand market access, the ministry statement quoted Wang as saying, adding that China welcomes multinational companies including Apple to achieve win-win development. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tim Cook, Loren Elliott, Wang Wentao, Wang, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Apple, Developers, REUTERS, Rights, Apple's, Beijing, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Cupertino , California, U.S, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, China

BEIJING (AP) — China vigorously protested Wednesday the U.S. Commerce Department’s latest update of export controls to prevent exports to China of advanced computer chips and the equipment to make them. The updates also introduce new requirements that make it harder for China to manufacture advanced chips in other countries. The list of manufacturing equipment that falls under the export controls also was expanded, among other changes. In an August meeting, Raimondo and her Chinese counterparts agreed to exchange information about the export controls. The two leaders met last year following the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, shortly after the export controls were announced.

Persons: “, Gina Raimondo, ”, Raimondo, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: BEIJING, U.S . Commerce, China’s Commerce Ministry, Chinese Commerce Ministry, . Commerce, Economic Cooperation Locations: China, Washington, U.S, Beijing, Macao, Asia, San Francisco, Bali , Indonesia

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