
US-China trade talks begin in London, Egypt's new capital project: SCMP daily highlights
Catch up on some of SCMP's biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider
subscribing
Top economic officials from China and the United States have kick-started a crucial round of trade talks in London, as the world watches closely to see if the two sides can agree to roll back their 'chokehold' controls over critical minerals and advanced technologies.
China has initiated the world's first large-scale application of non-binary AI chips, integrating its proprietary hybrid computing technology into critical sectors including aviation and industrial systems.
Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in China's Jiangsu province. Photo: Reuters
In a reflection of Beijing's ability to quickly leverage its dominance over the critical-mineral supply chain, the value of rare earth elements exported by China last month plunged by nearly half compared with a year prior.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
US vows reprieve on some tech export restrictions as talks with China begin in London
Top economic officials from Washington and Beijing have launched a high-stakes round of trade talks in London, with a senior White House official signalling soon after the start that the US will ease some tech export restrictions on China, adding that he expected the Chinese government to ramp up rare earth mineral exports to American markets. Advertisement The Chinese and American delegations – led by China's vice-premier, He Lifeng, alongside US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer – met Monday afternoon, local time, according to Xinhua. In an interview with American outlet CNBC, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council at the White House, on Monday said that the US expectation was that 'immediately after the handshake, any export controls from the US will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume, and then we can go back to negotiating smaller matters.' Any agreement on rolling back their controls over critical minerals and advanced technologies would mark a turning point in the tense economic and tech competition between the world's two global powers. In recent years, Washington has tightly restricted China's access to cutting-edge US technology in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and manufacturing, citing concerns over the potential use of these innovations in bolstering China's military capabilities. Advertisement When asked about the concerns over China using US technology for military advancement, Hassett added: 'It depends, like the very, very high end Nvidia stuff is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about possible export controls on other semiconductors, which are also very important to them'.


South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Blink and you're in. Macau launching iris scan immigration for Hongkongers this week
Hongkongers travelling to Macau can speed up immigration clearance using an eye scan starting this week. Authorities in the gaming hub said on Monday eligibility for its iris recognition immigration clearance had been extended to Hong Kong permanent residents who had registered for its automated passenger clearance service. Eligible Hongkongers can begin using the service from noon on Wednesday. Eighty-one iris recognition channels have been installed at six Macau border checkpoints: the Border Gate, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, airport, Taipa Ferry Terminal, Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal. Of these, 71 are equipped with second-generation recognition devices, featuring enhanced face-tracking functions, larger screens and improved voice guidance. Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above can register their iris biometrics when using channels equipped with the registration function for the first time. The process takes about 25 seconds.


South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
US tariffs hit China's exports in May, but June seen as ‘a better month'
China's export growth slowed last month, weighed down by fewer US orders being made before the two countries came to a 90-day tariff truce. Advertisement And while June's prospects look poised to improve, China's manufacturing and trade sectors remain under strain, according to economists, who also point to lingering uncertainties over American tariffs. China's May exports were up by 4.8 per cent, year on year, to US$316.1 billion, customs data showed on Monday. The figure followed April's 8.1 per cent growth and fell short of the estimate of a 6.28 per cent increase in a market survey by Chinese financial data provider Wind. Exports to the United States plunged by 34.52 per cent, sharper than the 21 per cent drop seen in April, owing to the trade war between the two countries. Advertisement