Core Viewpoint - The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran could lead to significant disruptions in global oil supply, causing oil prices to surge and impacting economies worldwide [2][4][5]. Geopolitical Impact - The attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has heightened tensions in the Middle East, with global attention on Iran's possible retaliation against U.S. military bases [2]. - Iran's parliament has suggested closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for one-third of the world's oil shipments, which could severely disrupt the global oil supply chain [2]. Economic Consequences - If the Strait is closed, oil prices could rise to $130 per barrel, significantly impacting countries like China, which imports 553 million tons of crude oil annually, costing approximately 2.3 trillion yuan (about $325.2 billion) [5][6]. - The potential increase in oil prices would lead to higher domestic prices in the U.S., putting pressure on the economy and possibly affecting government policies [5]. Affected Countries - Israel is expected to be minimally affected due to its reliance on non-maritime oil supplies and strong economic resilience [4]. - China, Japan, South Korea, and India are among the countries that would face significant economic losses and supply chain disruptions if the Strait is closed [8]. - Middle Eastern oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE would oppose the closure, as it would hinder their ability to profit from oil sales despite potential price increases [8][10]. Strategic Considerations - Iran's decision to close the Strait may backfire, as it heavily relies on oil exports for revenue, and such a move could lead to military intervention by the U.S. to reopen the Strait [10][12]. - The analysis suggests that the closure of the Strait would be detrimental to nearly all countries involved, both oil producers and consumers, with China being particularly vulnerable due to its dependence on maritime oil transport [10][12].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of China's tariff retaliation against the U.S. on domestic inflation, particularly focusing on the effects on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) [2][12]. Group 1: Import Structure from the U.S. - In 2024, China's total imports from the U.S. are projected to be $163.6 billion, accounting for 6.3% of total imports, a slight decrease from 6.4% in the previous year [4][13]. - The import structure consists of approximately 34% capital goods, 34% industrial supplies, and 31% consumer goods, with significant changes observed since 2018, particularly a decrease in automobile imports and an increase in food imports [4][13]. - An analysis of specific HS4 categories reveals two types of imports: those that are low in volume but highly dependent on the U.S. (e.g., high-protein sorghum) and those that are high in volume but have low dependency on the U.S. (e.g., crude oil) [4][13]. Group 2: Impact on CPI - Using the structural decomposition method, it is estimated that the 34% tariff could increase the CPI by approximately 0.09 percentage points if fully passed through [5][6][19]. - The cost transmission method suggests that the tariff could lead to a 2.2% increase in the import price index, which would translate to a CPI increase of about 0.19 percentage points [7][8][22]. - Historical experience indicates that similar tariffs in 2018 resulted in an average CPI increase of 0.11 percentage points, leading to an estimated increase of 0.28 percentage points for the current tariff scenario [10][25]. Group 3: Methodology for CPI Impact Assessment - The assessment of CPI impact involved three methods: structural decomposition, cost transmission, and historical experience, each yielding different estimates for the potential increase in CPI due to the tariffs [5][22][25]. - The structural decomposition method involved selecting significant import categories and matching them to CPI components, while the cost transmission method relied on historical correlations between import price indices and CPI [17][22]. - The historical experience method extrapolated from past tariff impacts, adjusting for the differences in the composition of goods affected by the tariffs [10][25].