Wall Street trying to assess the potential economic impact of the tariffs that are going away and the tariffs that are uh maybe staying and on the way. Senior economics reporter Steve Leeman joins us uh with the latest. What are you hearing, Steve.>> Well, it was an interesting weekend talking to lawyers and trade experts and economists. But with the end of emergency tariffs, but the beginning of a series of new ones, economists expect pretty much somewhat less inflation and a reduced hit to growth this yea ...

India and the U.S. have an interim trade deal that paves the way for lower tariffs. But challenges remain. ...

By Promit Mukherjee OTTAWA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canada's international merchandise trade deficit narrowed in December as exports grew faster than imports, and its share of exports to ‌the United Sates dropped to its lowest level on record barring the COVID-19 ‌months, data showed on Thursday. Statistics Canada said the country posted a C$1.31 billion ($957 million) deficit in December led ​by metals and non-metallic mineral exports. This was in contrast to a revised C$2.59 billion deficit in November. ...

Group 1 - A trade deal between India and the U.S. is at "a very advanced stage" according to India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri [1][2] - The relationship between India and the U.S. is described as "very strong," with India supporting a multilateral trading system, as evidenced by its recent free trade agreement with the EU [2][3] - The open-to-trade stance of India is seen as beneficial for the U.S. as trade talks continue, presenting economic opportunities for both nations and others [3] Group 2 - There are concerns in New Delhi regarding how U.S. President Donald Trump might respond to India's new trade deal with the EU, which involves gradual tariff reductions on imports [4] - Despite the trade deal with the EU, the U.S. has maintained punitive tariffs on imports from both India and the EU, with India facing a 50% levy due to its oil purchases from Russia [5] - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the EU for proceeding with the trade agreement with India, highlighting the U.S.'s significant sacrifices compared to Europe [6]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the strategic cooperation between Everbright Bank and Inner Mongolia International Trade Group, focusing on supporting the region's "five major tasks" and enhancing the construction of a northern open bridgehead [1][3] - Inner Mongolia International Trade Group has established five core business segments: import and export trade, port construction, comprehensive logistics, investment and financing services, and foreign economic and trade cooperation, aiming to build a significant support platform for the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor [3] - Everbright Bank emphasizes its comprehensive service system leveraging the group's "full financial license + industrial synergy" advantages, offering a range of financial products including project construction credit, merger financing, and international trade financing [3] Group 2 - Both parties recognize the vast cooperation potential in areas such as the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, port quality improvement, and cross-border trade facilitation, agreeing to establish a regular communication mechanism to accelerate cooperation [3] - The visit is seen as a solid foundation for deepening strategic cooperation and advancing the collaborative service strategy between government, banks, and enterprises into a new phase [3]

Core Viewpoint - The signing of the strategic cooperation framework agreement between Kunming University and the Mohan-Deng Economic Cooperation Zone aims to enhance regional development and support the construction of the Mohan International Port City, aligning with national strategies and the "Four Good" construction of the China-Laos Railway [1] Group 1: Strategic Cooperation - The cooperation will focus on think tank cultivation, talent development, platform construction, and research collaboration, establishing a long-term and comprehensive partnership [2] - A think tank cultivation plan will provide precise decision-making consultation and technical support on key issues such as cross-border economy and livelihood development [2] - A talent development plan will establish training bases and promote practical training for international talents, contributing to the cultivation of practical talents [2] Group 2: Report Release - The "China-Laos Railway Development Report (2025)" was released concurrently, aiming to provide systematic intellectual support for high-quality development and regional cooperation [2] - The report systematically reviews the institutional innovation achievements since the operation of the China-Laos Railway and constructs a scientific development index for the railway [3] - The China-Laos Railway Development Index focuses on six areas: railway construction, trade openness, port economy, digital economy, rural revitalization, and tourism industry, serving as the first systematic evaluation index for the railway [3] Group 3: Recommendations and Impact - The report highlights the significant improvement in cross-border logistics and supply chain integration, promoting coordinated development in trade investment, digital economy, green development, and cultural exchange [3] - It suggests comprehensive policies to optimize trade investment structure, promote cultural and tourism integration, enhance cultural exchanges, and drive technological empowerment for future development [3]

A senior US State Department official will visit India this week as a team of American negotiators heads to the country to continue talks on a trade agreement https://t.co/OrwWH3mjMT ...

Core Insights - The United States has secured new framework trade agreements aimed at reducing high tariff rates and providing duty exemptions for four Central and South American nations [1][2] - A significant reduction in tariffs from 39% to 15% on imports from Switzerland and Liechtenstein is part of the agreements [2][5] - The U.S. is also finalizing trade agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala to enhance trade and secure supply chains in the Western Hemisphere [2][3] Summary by Categories Trade Agreements - The U.S. has formalized a trade-related agreement with South Korea, building on a framework pact established in July [3] - Recent agreements include a truce in the trade war with China and pacts with several Southeast Asian countries [3] Tariff Reductions - The U.S. plans to cap tariffs on imports from Switzerland and Liechtenstein at 15%, which will also apply to future duties on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors [5][6] - The previous 39% tariff on Swiss imports was implemented on August 7, 2023, under the Trump administration [6] Investment and Market Access - Switzerland and Liechtenstein will eliminate duties on all U.S. industrial goods, seafood, and some agricultural products, while applying tariff rate quotas on certain agricultural imports [7] - The two countries are expected to invest $200.3 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, with Switzerland contributing $200 billion [7] - Switzerland will also enhance market access for U.S. cars, medical devices, and certain meat and dairy products by adjusting regulatory restrictions [8]

Core Points - The U.S. will impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports due to a controversial advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan [1][4][7] - The advertisement was accused of misrepresenting Reagan's views on tariffs, prompting Trump to terminate trade negotiations with Canada [2][7] - The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is considering legal action against Canada for the use of the advertisement [7][10] Group 1 - The additional 10% tariff is a response to what Trump described as a "fraudulent advertisement" aired during the World Series [1][4] - Trump claims that the advertisement misrepresents Reagan's stance on tariffs, asserting that Reagan supported tariffs for national security and economic reasons [4][10] - The advertisement was allowed to run despite being flagged as misleading, which Trump labeled as a "hostile act" by Canada [4][7] Group 2 - The announcement of the tariff increase follows Trump's earlier statement about terminating trade talks with Canada due to the advertisement [7][8] - Trump has characterized the U.S. as having been exploited by trade imbalances and has defended the use of tariffs as a corrective measure [10][11] - The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has publicly condemned the advertisement and is exploring legal options [7][10]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **China's Economic Conditions**: The report highlights the current economic conditions in China, focusing on various sectors including real estate, trade, and fiscal policies. Core Insights and Arguments - **Property Sales Decline**: Property sales in 30 major cities dropped significantly to -25% YoY in the first 18 days of October from a growth of 7% YoY in September, indicating a substantial slowdown due to a high base effect from previous policy stimulus [2][17] - **Weakening Auto Sales**: Auto retail sales fell to -8% YoY in the first 12 days of October, down from 6% YoY in September, reflecting a decline in consumer demand [2][13] - **Port Activity**: Port cargo throughput growth moderated to 2% YoY in early October from 7% YoY in September, suggesting a slowdown in trade activities [2][18] - **Container Freight Index**: The China Container Freight Index (CCFI) decreased by -4% WoW, averaging a -31% YoY decline, indicating challenges in shipping and logistics [2][16] - **CPI and PPI Trends**: September's Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a slight improvement to -0.3% YoY from -0.4% YoY, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) narrowed its decline to -2.3% YoY from -2.9% YoY, reflecting mixed inflationary pressures [3][27] - **Total Social Financing (TSF)**: TSF growth edged down to 8.7% YoY, with new RMB loans recorded at RMB 1.29 trillion, which was softer than expected and about RMB 300 billion below the previous year [4][20] - **Trade Growth**: China's export growth accelerated to 8.3% YoY in September, up from 4.4% YoY, with imports also surprising positively at 7.4% YoY, marking the strongest growth since April 2024 [6][30] Additional Important Insights - **Fiscal Conditions**: General fiscal revenue growth improved to 2.6% YoY in September, with tax revenue increasing significantly, while local land sales revenue showed a narrowing decline [7][24] - **US-China Trade Relations**: There are signs of de-escalation in US-China trade tensions, with discussions for a new round of trade talks anticipated, which could impact future tariffs and trade policies [8] - **Upcoming Economic Data**: Expectations for upcoming economic data include a narrower YoY decline in property sales and continued deep declines in property investment, alongside a moderated GDP growth forecast of 4.7% YoY for Q3 [9] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current economic landscape in China and its implications for various sectors.