US President Donald Trump during a meeting with Lee Jae Myung, South Korea's president, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday stateside warned of steeper tariffs on China if exports of rare-earth magnets were curbed, threatening a precarious trade truce between the world's two largest economies."They have to give us magnets, if they don't give us magnets, then we have to charge them 200% tariffs or something, ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry or specific companies covered. Core Insights - The impact of China's rare-earth export ban is significant, affecting key Asian automakers like Suzuki and Ford, with production halts reported [1][5] - The sentiment around BYD has improved, with investors noting a bottoming out in sentiment, while concerns remain for Geely and Great Wall Motor [1][12] - The Indian defense sector is poised for growth, with expectations to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by FY30, indicating a potential doubling of defense spending [1][11] - The EU building materials sector is showing signs of improvement, driven by positive factors such as increased defense spending and a potential recovery in residential construction [1][13] Detailed Highlights - **Japan Auto**: Suzuki halted production of its Swift model due to the rare-earth export ban but resumed operations shortly after, indicating that the situation may not be as severe as initially thought [1][5] - **China Auto Feedback**: Pricing competition has moderated, and BYD's sales volume has responded positively without significant price cuts, improving investor sentiment [1][10][12] - **Indian Defense**: The Ministry of Defense's commentary suggests that conditions are aligning for a significant increase in defense spending, attracting investor interest in various defense companies [1][11] - **EU Building Materials**: The sector is experiencing a strong move, with cement shares leading the way, supported by positive results from companies and a firming sentiment for construction recovery [1][13] Sector Key Newsflow - US auto suppliers are urging immediate action to address China's rare earth restrictions [1][13] - Suzuki's production of the Swift is set to return to normal from June 16 [1][13] - Chinese officials have summoned EV executives to discuss self-regulation in the ongoing price war [1][13] - BYD plans to nearly triple its dealer network in South Africa, reflecting its growth strategy [1][13] - China's NEV retail sales increased by 30% year-on-year in May, indicating strong market demand [1][13]

14 May 2025 | 10:39PM HKT Tariff turnover; reverting to our pre-Liberation Day base case Kinger Lau, CFA +852-2978-1224 | kinger.lau@gs.com Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. China Musings 1. After the two-day trade talks in Switzerland over the past weekend, on May 12, the US and China announced a 90-day pause in retaliatory tariffs imposed in April. The effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods will be lowered from 107% to 39% starting May 14, whereas the import levy from the US to China will be cut to 30% from ...