Core Insights - France's trade deficit reached €43 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of €4.4 billion compared to the second half of 2024 [1] - Imports grew by 1.9% year-on-year, while exports only increased by 0.7%, leading to an expanded trade deficit [1] - In Q2 alone, the trade deficit was €22.9 billion, up €2.8 billion from Q1, primarily due to declines in exports of electricity, aerospace products, and ships, alongside a record high in pharmaceutical imports [1] Trade Dynamics - The increase in trade deficit signals a warning for France, especially in light of a new trade agreement between the EU and the US [1] - The French Minister for Foreign Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, emphasized the need for France and Europe to enhance competitiveness and accelerate efforts to avoid falling behind [1] - US tariff measures are expected to have multiple adverse effects, including rising prices for American consumers and potential global economic slowdown [1] Economic Implications - The new EU-US trade agreement poses a dual threat to France and Europe, with reduced exports to the US and the risk of a global economic slowdown [1]

Economic Overview - In the first half of 2025, China's GDP reached 66.05 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.3%[8] - The GDP growth rate for Q2 2025 was 5.2%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from Q1[8] Industrial Performance - The industrial added value grew by 6.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, maintaining a similar pace to Q1[11] - Manufacturing investment increased by 7.5%, although this represented a decline of 2.0 percentage points from Q1[21] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment totaled 24.87 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 2.8%, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous year[20] - Real estate investment fell by 11.2% year-on-year, worsening from a decline of 9.9% in Q1[20] Trade Dynamics - Total import and export volume reached 21.79 trillion yuan, with exports growing by 7.2% and imports declining by 2.7%[30] - The trade surplus remained high due to a "rush to export" effect amid tariff uncertainties[30] Price Indexes - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 0.1% year-on-year, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) fell by 2.8%[33] - The PPI decline was attributed to weak demand, falling costs, and overcapacity in several industries[33] Employment and Fiscal Policy - The urban survey unemployment rate averaged 5.2% in the first half of 2025, showing stability compared to the previous year[40] - National public budget revenue was 11.56 trillion yuan, a decrease of 0.3% year-on-year, while expenditure grew by 3.4% to 14.1 trillion yuan[46] Monetary Policy - The central bank maintained a moderately loose monetary policy, with a 0.5 percentage point reduction in the reserve requirement ratio[53] - New loans in the first half of 2025 totaled 12.92 trillion yuan, with a focus on manufacturing and infrastructure sectors[58]

Core Viewpoint - The trade war initiated by the United States is described as an outdated and misguided economic policy that harms trade partners while weakening domestic purchasing power, leading to a "lose-lose" situation and increasing uncertainty in the global economy [1] Group 1: Impact on Trade Partners - The new tariffs imposed by the U.S. will significantly impact bilateral trade between Ecuador and the U.S., with Ecuadorian shrimp products losing their competitive advantage in the U.S. market due to the new 15% tariff [1] - The trade war not only affects exporting countries but also has repercussions for importing countries, resulting in a dual loss scenario [1] Group 2: Effects on U.S. Economy - The trade war is expected to weaken the international competitiveness of the U.S. and systematically undermine the global economic influence built over the past century [1] - Increased tariffs will lead U.S. consumers to pay more for the same goods, thereby reducing their purchasing power [1] Group 3: Global Economic Uncertainty - The overall decline in U.S. consumer capacity will compel exporters to redirect their products to other countries, which may lead to an increase in global supply and a subsequent drop in prices, impacting the global supply chain [1] - The trade war is characterized as having no winners, only numerous victims across the global economy [1]

Core Viewpoint - The economic provinces are emphasized as key players in stabilizing and driving national economic growth, contributing significantly to the overall GDP and demonstrating robust growth rates compared to the national average [1][2][3]. Group 1: Economic Performance - In the first half of 2025, six major economic provinces (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong) achieved GDPs exceeding 3 trillion yuan, collectively contributing over 29.4 trillion yuan, accounting for 44.6% of the national total [1][2]. - Guangdong's GDP reached 68,725.4 billion yuan, representing over 10% of the national total, while Jiangsu's GDP was 66,967.8 billion yuan, narrowing the gap with Guangdong [2]. - The GDP growth rates for Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, and Sichuan were all above the national average of 5.3%, with respective growth rates of 5.8%, 5.7%, 5.7%, 5.6%, and 5.6% [2]. Group 2: Trade and Innovation - Guangdong led in foreign trade, achieving a total import and export value of 4.55 trillion yuan, accounting for 20.9% of the national total, with a contribution rate of 28% to national trade growth [4]. - Zhejiang's industrial output value increased by 7.6%, with high-tech manufacturing and digital economy sectors growing by 12.7% and 12.0%, respectively [4]. - Jiangsu's industrial output value grew by 7.4%, with high-tech manufacturing increasing by 11.8%, indicating a shift towards higher quality economic growth [5]. Group 3: Policy and Future Directions - Economic provinces are implementing tailored strategies to boost domestic demand, with Sichuan focusing on consumer spending and Henan promoting consumption through new policies [7]. - Jiangsu aims to enhance new productive forces and improve market conditions, while Zhejiang plans to upgrade traditional industries and develop emerging sectors [7][8]. - The emphasis is on technological advancement and industrial transformation to maintain the provinces' leading roles in the national economy [8].

Economic Performance - Hong Kong's economy shows resilience in the first half of 2025, supported by strong export performance and improved local demand [1][2] - The GDP in Q2 2025 increased by 3.1% year-on-year, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of growth [1] - Private consumption expenditure rebounded with a 1.9% increase year-on-year after four consecutive quarters of decline [1] Retail Sector - Retail sales value in June 2025 was estimated at HKD 30.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 0.7% [2] - Seasonally adjusted retail sales value in Q2 2025 rose by 0.3% compared to Q1 2025, while retail sales volume increased by 2.7% [2] - The retail sector is stabilizing, supported by rising employment income and a positive stock market [2] Trade and Exports - Total merchandise exports grew by 11.5% year-on-year, accelerating from 8.4% in Q1 2025 [1][3] - Merchandise imports also increased by 12.7%, higher than the 7.2% growth in Q1 2025 [1] Financial Market - The Hong Kong stock market saw significant activity with 42 IPOs raising over HKD 107 billion in the first half of 2025, a 22% increase compared to the previous year [3] - The Hang Seng Index rose by 20% in the first half of 2025, marking the largest half-year increase in history [3] Government Initiatives - The Hong Kong government is implementing measures to boost consumption, attract investment, and diversify markets to support economic growth [2][4] - New initiatives include the "New Industrial Acceleration Program" and "New Industrialization Subsidy Program" to support strategic industries [3][4] - The government is also consulting on legislation for digital asset trading and custody services to promote the digital asset market [4]

Group 1 - The tax imposed is not directly on countries like the EU, Japan, or China, but rather on American consumers, which could negatively impact political support if framed as a direct tax increase on consumers [1] - The purpose of the tax is to address fiscal shortfalls and the expanding U.S. debt gap, while being presented as a means to support American manufacturing and strengthen the country [3] - The imposition of tariffs is expected to lead to increased consumer prices and inflation in the U.S., as consumers will face higher costs for goods [3] Group 2 - Japan has negotiated a 15% tariff rate, which is seen as a favorable outcome compared to the initially threatened 25%-27.5% rate, and this has led to a lack of significant pushback from Japan [3] - South Korea is also expected to negotiate down to a 15% tariff rate, similar to Japan [4] - The U.S.-China temporary tariff situation includes a base rate of 10% with additional rates for specific goods, leading to comprehensive rates that can reach up to 245% for electric vehicles [4][5] Group 3 - Certain technology products, such as semiconductors, are exempt from tariffs, indicating a strategic approach to protect key industries [5] - The overall tariff burden on China is higher than that on the EU and Japan, which may not adversely affect the latter's exports to the U.S. and could even provide them with competitive advantages [5][6] - There is speculation that China may devalue its currency to counteract the impact of U.S. tariffs, although an argument is made that the yuan should appreciate to increase costs for U.S. consumers and contribute to inflation [7]

今年以来，面对复杂严峻的外部环境，长三角地区的上海、南京、杭州、宁波、合肥五大直属海关，分 别会同地方政府建立了进出境特殊物品联合监管机制，有效简化特殊物品进出境审批流程；探索高风险 特殊物品跨区域联合监管，便利企业跨关区开展药品研发生产活动；将供应链安全评估模式推广至长三 角全域，上半年共为长三角10万余票供应链货物减少布控查验量，惠及集成电路、生物医药、人工智能 等先导产业。 新华社上海7月22日电（记者吴宇、陈杰）记者从上海海关了解到，今年上半年，长三角地区实现进出 口8.16万亿元，同比增长5.4%，占同期全国进出口总值的37.4%，比重较去年提升0.9个百分点，展现出 长三角外贸强大的韧性和活力。 为促进区域物流链循环畅通，上海海关牵头将海运领域的"联动接卸"模式推广至江苏南通通海港和启东 吕四港，实现"水水直联、多港互动、内河承接、洋山装卸"，不断拓宽长三角企业的出海通道。目 前，"联动接卸"模式已覆盖长三角14个港口，上海口岸的枢纽和辐射功能得到进一步拓展。 此外，今年以来，上海海关牵头制定了《长三角海关跨关区通关业务联系配合办法》，建立300余人的 联络员队伍，畅通申报地与查验地海关、口岸与属 ...

Economic Growth - In the first half of 2025, China's GDP reached 660,536 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.3%[1] - In June, the industrial added value above designated size grew by 6.8% year-on-year, accelerating by 1.0 percentage points from May[1] - The total retail sales of consumer goods in June amounted to 42,287 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 4.8%, down 1.6 percentage points from May[1] Investment and Consumption - From January to June, fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) was 248,654 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 2.8%, down 0.9 percentage points from January to May[1] - In June, the month-on-month growth of fixed asset investment was only 0.5%, a significant drop of 2.4 percentage points from May[12] - The decline in consumption was particularly pronounced in the catering sector, where growth plummeted from 5.9% in May to 0.9% in June[15] Trade and Employment - In June, the total import and export volume reached 38,527 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.2%, including exports of 23,394 billion yuan, up 7.2%[1] - The urban surveyed unemployment rate in June remained stable at 5.0%, consistent with the previous month and the same month last year[16] - The export growth rate in June was 5.8%, significantly higher than the expected 3.2%[40]

Group 1 - The report from the Kasikorn Research Center indicates that if the US imposes a 36% tariff on Thai products, it will lead to a significant shrinkage in Thailand's export value in the second half of the year [1][2] - The new tariff rate announced by President Trump is set to take effect on August 1, and if no agreement is reached before this date, the tariff will be implemented [1] - The 36% tariff is expected to reduce Thailand's competitiveness in the US market, particularly for products such as transformers, printers, air conditioners, and shrimp products [1] Group 2 - The Kasikorn Research Center believes that higher tariffs compared to most countries will exert deeper pressure on Thai exports, negatively impacting foreign direct investment and leading to a further decline in private investment [2] - Thailand's economy faces multiple risk factors, including potentially lower-than-expected tourist arrivals, which contribute to downward pressure on economic growth [2] - The economic growth rate for Thailand in 2025 is likely to fall below 1.4% due to these combined factors [2]

Economic Performance Overview - In May, the national economy showed resilience and stability, laying a solid foundation for achieving annual economic goals due to more proactive macro policies [1] - Key indicators in May demonstrated month-on-month increases, with industrial added value growing by 5.8% year-on-year and 0.61% month-on-month [1] - The service sector also accelerated, with the service production index increasing by 6.2% year-on-year and the business activity index at 50.2, indicating expansion [1] Consumer Spending Insights - Retail sales in May reached 41,326 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.4%, marking a new high for 2024 [1] - The growth in consumption was driven by favorable policies and promotional activities, including the "6.18" online shopping festival and holiday effects from the "May Day" and "Duanwu" festivals [1] - Domestic tourism during the "May Day" holiday saw a 6.4% increase in visitor numbers, while restaurant revenue grew by 5.9% year-on-year [1] Export and Trade Performance - In May, China's total goods import and export amounted to 38,098 billion yuan, with exports at 22,767 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 6.3% [2] - Despite the impact of increased tariffs from the U.S., overall export growth remained positive, with a 7.2% increase from January to May [2] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment from January to May grew by 3.7%, lower than the 4.0% growth observed in the first four months [2] - Investment in the primary industry rose by 8.4%, while the secondary industry saw an increase of 11.4%, and the tertiary industry experienced a decline of 0.4% [2] Real Estate Market Dynamics - The real estate market showed signs of weakness, with second-hand housing prices in first-tier cities declining by 0.7% month-on-month and new housing prices also decreasing [3] - Real estate investment, sales, and construction area further declined year-on-year in May, indicating a need for policy intervention to stabilize the market [3] Policy Recommendations - There is a necessity for targeted macro policies to enhance investment momentum and stimulate private investment, particularly in the real estate sector [3] - The government is encouraged to innovate service offerings to boost consumption, especially in tourism, dining, retail, and transportation as summer approaches [3]