Export Performance - June exports increased by 5.8% year-on-year, up 1.0 percentage points from May, but down 3.7 percentage points compared to Q4 2024[3] - Exports to the US saw a significant narrowing of the decline to -16.1%, an improvement of 18.4 percentage points since mid-May[4] - Exports to ASEAN and Hong Kong rose by 2.0 and 5.3 percentage points to 16.8% and 16.7% respectively[4] Import Trends - June imports grew by 1.1% year-on-year, a substantial improvement of 4.5 percentage points from May, marking a return to positive growth after three months[5] - The decline in crude oil imports narrowed to -14.3%, a reduction of 7.9 percentage points, influenced by rising oil prices due to geopolitical tensions[5] - Capital goods, chemicals, and intermediate goods for domestic demand showed improvement in imports, while processing trade and consumer goods imports declined[5] Economic Outlook - The second quarter's export performance is expected to positively impact economic growth, driven by the temporary easing of US-China tariffs and resilient export supply chains[6] - However, potential risks include increased uncertainty in global trade policies and a possible decline in exports to the US and ASEAN after July[6] - The central bank may consider monetary easing to stabilize the real estate market and support domestic demand if exports decline significantly post-August[6]

Group 1 - Current Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is facing pressure from President Trump, who is considering nominating a successor to weaken Powell's influence before his term ends in May 2024 [1] - Two Republican candidates named "Kevin" are competing for the next Federal Reserve Chair position, with Kevin Hassett emerging as a strong contender against Kevin Warsh [1][3] - Hassett has shifted his stance and is now open to accepting the Federal Reserve Chair position, having met with Trump multiple times in June [3] Group 2 - Hassett has become a vocal critic of Powell, accusing him of making decisions based on partisan bias rather than economic data [3] - Warsh, who has been a candidate for the position for years, is also actively seeking meetings to discuss the role, indicating his continued interest [3][4] - Warsh is attempting to pivot from his previous support for hawkish monetary policy to a more collaborative approach with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin [4] Group 3 - Warsh's connections in the financial elite and his media presence may give him an edge over Hassett, who has been more aligned with Trump's inner circle [5] - Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is in a unique position to influence the selection of the next Federal Reserve Chair, as Trump has expressed interest in having him take on both roles [5]