US says trade talks with China ‘going well’

Good morning and welcome again to FirstFT Asia. In at this time’s e-newsletter:

• The most recent on US-China commerce talks

• Pakistan’s navy spending spree

• What Nintendo teaches us in regards to the trendy world

We begin in London, the place the US and China have been holding high-stakes talks to finish the commerce battle between the world’s largest economies. Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know.

The most recent: Washington stated the talks had been “going effectively” because the delegations arrived at Lancaster Home, a UK authorities constructing within the centre of town, on Tuesday morning native time. “We’ve been [talking] all day yesterday and we count on to go all day at this time,” US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick informed reporters. The negotiations are an effort to make sure that two contentious points — Chinese language exports of uncommon earths to the US and American know-how export controls on China — don’t derail the broader commerce talks. Read the full story.

Huawei founder weighs in: Ren Zhengfei, the founding father of the Chinese language tech large, has performed down its chipmaking capabilities amid the US-China discussions about export controls. In a uncommon interview yesterday with China’s state-run Individuals’s Every day, Ren stated Huawei’s Ascend chip, the principle rival to Nvidia’s merchandise in China, “nonetheless lags behind the US by one technology”. He added that the “US has exaggerated Huawei’s capabilities — we’re not that strong yet”.

• Chinese language tech exports: Overseas consumers of Chinese language drone components are paying sharply higher prices as Beijing tightens exports of essential parts.

• EU-China commerce: Brussels has imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese plywood imports, just some days after Beijing tried to ease commerce tensions between the 2.

Right here’s what else we’re maintaining tabs on at this time:

• Financial information: The US studies Might inflation information. Malaysia publishes month-to-month job figures and the economic manufacturing index.

• Financial coverage: European Central Financial institution president Christine Lagarde is in Beijing, the place she is going to ship a presentation on the Individuals’s Financial institution of China.

5 extra prime tales

1. Money-strapped Pakistan has introduced plans to lift defence spending by 17 per cent within the fiscal yr ending June 2026 whereas reducing total authorities spending by seven per cent to Rs17.57tn ($62bn). The military spending spree comes after final month’s clashes with India.

2. Donald Trump has defended his resolution to deploy troops to Los Angeles, saying town “can be on fireplace” if he had not intervened to cope with the protests triggered by his immigration crackdown. The president’s feedback got here after US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled by lawmakers over the decision to dispatch marines to Los Angeles.

• ‘Harmful precedent’: A rising variety of navy veterans and serving officers have spoken out in opposition to Trump’s resolution to deploy troops to Los Angeles.

• Go deeper: Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s hardline immigration coverage, has a blueprint for implementing the president’s signature pledge.

3. Toyota and Germany’s Daimler Truck have finalised a roughly $6.4bn merger of their heavy items car companies in Japan in response to rising competitors from Chinese language rivals racing forward on electrification and autonomous driving know-how. The deal creates a Japanese commercial vehicle powerhouse that has higher scale to spend money on hydrogen vehicles and buses.

4. US oil manufacturing will fall subsequent yr for the primary time for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, in accordance with a authorities forecast that may cast new doubt on Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda. The report underscores the stresses dealing with the oil sector as rising provide from the Opec+ cartel and nervousness in regards to the impression of Trump’s commerce wars on the worldwide economic system push down crude costs.

5. The pinnacle of the Panama Canal’s operator has warned {that a} $23bn international ports deal between CK Hutchison and MSC, that features two services within the Central American nation, might put the waterway’s neutrality mandate in danger, including that the focus of possession could disadvantage some shipping companies.

Sizzling Cash podcast

In 2020, the Monetary Instances uncovered a €2bn fraud at Wirecard, a high-flying German fintech. Many thought that was the top of the story. However for FT reporter Sam Jones, it was only the start. Sizzling Cash, the award-winning podcast collection from the Monetary Instances and Pushkin Industries, returns for a third season.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

Chart of the day 

From recapitalising rural banks to propping up the inventory market, Central Huijin, an arm of China’s sovereign wealth fund, has supported the nation’s monetary system since its launch twenty years in the past. However over the previous yr, the scale of its interventions has thrust it into the highlight.

Take a break from the information

Gochujang, a fermented chilli paste, has been a staple of Korean meals for the reason that sixteenth century. Lately gross sales of the spicy condiment have rocketed outdoors Korea, inspiring a brand new wave of revolutionary fusion dishes. Learn more from HTSI’s guide to gochujang.