China Expands Travel Access As US Threatens Student Visas
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
China has expanded the list of nations whose citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to the country, while in U.S., the government is seeking to crack down on the number of foreign students on American campuses.
On Sunday, the Chinese government announced via state-run outlet Xinhua that it had begun trialing a policy which "unilaterally grants visa-free entry" to citizens from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
The government originally announced its intention to ease travel restrictions for the five nations in mid-May.
Why It Matters
The expansion of visa-free travel to China comes as the country spars with the U.S. over the ability of its citizens to study at American colleges. President Donald Trump's administration has said that pausing applications and revoking visas for Chinese students will "put America first, not China," but Beijing has urged the government to reconsider the plan.
What To Know
The government said that individuals from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will now be able to enter China for up to 30 days for "business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit." In its announcement on Tuesday, Beijing described the move as "part of China's broader efforts to expand visa-free access in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up," and as signifying the deepening ties between China and Latin America.
International travelers walk through an immigration checkpoint at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on May 30, 2025, in China.
International travelers walk through an immigration checkpoint at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on May 30, 2025, in China.
VCG via AP
The five nations have also participated in the Belt and Road Initiative, a project conceived in 2013 that has seen China invest in infrastructure in over 150 nations. As well as enhancing economic ties, the strategy is widely considered an effort by Beijing to increase China's geopolitical sway and raise demand for its currency, the yuan.
According to business intelligence platform China Briefing, there are now 43 countries whose citizens enjoy unilateral visa-free travel to China, alongside 26 mutual visa exemption agreements applying to holders of ordinary passports. Several other nations, including Russia and Azerbaijan, are permitted visa-free travel for tour groups of no less than five people.
In addition, 54 countries including the U.S. and U.K are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit, provided passport holders can show proof of their intention to travel to a third country.
The latest announcement follows the news that the Trump administration had instructed embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas, part of a wider effort to curtail both legal and illegal immigration into the U.S.
In addition to halting international student visas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week the government's plan to "aggressively revoke" visas for students from China.
What People Are Saying
The Chinese government in its Tuesday announcement, said: "Economic ties between China and Latin America have also deepened significantly. Bilateral trade has doubled over the past decade, surpassing 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Chinese exports, including electric vehicles, are increasingly popular in the region, while Latin American goods such as Chilean cherries and Argentine beef have become Chinese household staples.
"China has been steadily adjusting and optimizing its visa policies to boost cross-border mobility," it added. "Since late 2023, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures."
The U.S. State Department, in an announcement last week, said: "Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields."
What Happens Next?
The policy on visa-free access is set to remain in effect until May of next year.
As well as pausing student visas, the State Department said it plans on revising visa criteria "to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
29 minutes ago
- CNBC
Trump's 50% steel tariffs hit the world but UK spared full blow
U.S. tariffs entered the spotlight once again in Europe on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump's 50% levy on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. came into effect. Announced last week and signed by Trump on Tuesday, the order doubles tariffs from 25% to 50% on all metals imports to the U.S., with the president stating that the move will protect the U.S. steel industry amid a flood of cheaper foreign steel imports and weaker global demand. Canada and Mexico are the biggest exporters of steel to the U.S., with other major sources including Brazil and South Korea. European steel exporters to the U.S., including those in Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands, will be hard hit by the new 50% levy. The U.K. was granted a temporary reprieve, with a 25% tariff remaining in place while details of Britain's recently signed trade deal with the U.S. are worked out. Trump stated while signing the steel tariffs order on Tuesday that the U.K. warranted "different treatment" to its European peers due to the "Economic Prosperity Deal" inked on May 8. The 25% tariff is expected to be removed as part of the trade deal, although Trump warned that it could even increase the levy on the U.K. to 50% "on or after July 9" if the White House "determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD." The U.S. accounts for 7% of the U.K.'s total steel exports, with the trade worth £370 million ($500 million), in 2024, according to UK Steel. The trade body's Director-General Gareth Stace on Tuesday said that the U.K.'s exemption from the 50% duty was "a welcome pause," but urged London and Washington to turn their trade deal into reality to remove the tariffs completely. "Continued 25% tariffs will benefit shipments already on the water that we were concerned would fall under a tax hike," he said in a statement. "However, uncertainty remains over timings and final tariff rates, and now U.S. customers will be dubious over whether they should even risk making U.K. orders," he added, warning that the levies come at "an already crushing time for our steel industry, with global oversupply and weak demand." The European Union is meanwhile fuming about the 50% steel tariff, saying such a move "undermines" its ongoing trade deal negotiations with the U.S. An EU spokesperson said that the bloc was "prepared to impose countermeasures" although it has not provided further details on what form these could take. "If no mutually acceptable solution is reached, both existing and additional EU measures will automatically take effect on 14 July — or earlier, if circumstances require," the spokesperson said. Analysts say Trump's tariffs will force U.S. steel prices upwards, leading to higher prices for both industry, such as automakers, and consumers buying canned food and drink. But while the inflationary impact on U.S. domestic prices is widely expected to be severe, the effect in Europe will be more mixed, with some buyers and manufacturers able to benefit from lower prices as more steel is redirected to the region, analysts told CNBC this week.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Want to Buy a New iPhone? Now's Not the Time, and Here's Why
If you're ready to upgrade your iPhone, you may want to hang tight. Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 lineup back in September, which means the company is due to launch the next generation of its handset, likely in the fall. That means if you can wait a couple of months to buy your next iPhone, you can either score the latest device or get a discount on previous models. Newer iPhones tend to include camera and processor upgrades, as well as new features to make them more enticing. For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro models introduced Dynamic Island, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max debuted the Action button, and the iPhone 16 series added the Camera Control button and Apple Intelligence across the full lineup, rather than on just the Pro models. According to leaks and reports, the iPhone 17 lineup, which Apple technically has yet to confirm, could have a fresh camera setup and new color options and, perhaps most notably, could include a slimmer version of the iPhone, to compete with similar offerings like Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge. The next version of iOS could also get a makeover, in what Bloomberg has described as Apple's biggest software shakeup in years. You can check out our iPhone 17 rumor roundup for more on what might be coming in the fall. Overall, iPhone upgrades over the last several years have been relatively modest. And it's likely, based on rumors, that the iPhone 17 lineup will generally follow that mold. But even with more moderate changes, now's not a good time to buy a new iPhone, if you can help it. We're just about four months away from the anticipated launch of Apple's next smartphone. So if you hold on a little longer, you can snag that flashy new device when it drops, likely in September, based on previous iPhone launches. If you buy a new iPhone 16 now, you'll probably pay full price for something that in just a few months' time will technically be outdated (the harsh reality of the annual phone release cycle). And even if you get a good deal through your carrier now, if you stick it out just a bit longer, you could potentially get an even more lucrative deal once the iPhone 17 drops and carriers ramp up their promotions. If anything, waiting to see what the iPhone 17 has in store could at least help you confirm whether going with the newest device or an older one like the iPhone 16 or 15 is worth it. After all, if the differences are minimal, you might as well save a couple hundred dollars by choosing a previous model. And chances are -- if the iPhone 17 is anything like the last several iPhones -- no one will even be able to tell. One big unknown is whether tariffs will affect the price of the iPhone 17, which could sway your purchasing decisions. While smartphones and computers were given an exemption from President Donald Trump's more extensive tariffs, he recently said Apple will still have to pay a 25% tariff on iPhones made outside the US. This would almost certainly lead to a price hike. But even without tariffs, the iPhone is due for a markup, according to CNET's Patrick Holland. "The iPhone hasn't had a price hike in five years and is due for one," he writes. "Historically, that's the longest stretch of time the company has gone without an increase." (You can check out more of his thoughts here.) So, is it still worth waiting for the iPhone 17? It depends. If you were already planning on purchasing a new iPhone and can't wait much longer, I can understand panic-buying now. But bear in mind you'll still likely pay full price for an iPhone 16 model that will be worth less the moment the iPhone 17 drops. So, you might be coughing up more for an iPhone 17, but at least you'll get more bang for your buck. There's not necessarily a "best" time to buy a new iPhone, since prices are pretty consistent throughout the year, but the fall is an enticing option. That's when Apple introduces its latest slate of iPhones, and when carriers are eager to attract new customers and lure in business with abundant trade-in deals and promotions. And again, even if you don't want the latest and greatest iPhone, you can at least snag an older version at a discount right after the iPhone 17 drops. In general, we recommend upgrading to a new phone if your existing one is more than two generations old. You can typically wring more life out of your device, but if you want to stay on top of the latest features like Apple Intelligence, leveling up is the way to go. And with just a few more months left before the anticipated drop of the iPhone 17, you might as well see what fresh capabilities Apple's got up its sleeve.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How Much Will the iPhone 17 Cost? Tariff Math Pushes It Over $4,000
For a brief moment, it looked like a federal trade court would halt President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs, leaving everyone to wonder what that could mean for price hikes. But by the end of the following day another court had stepped in so we're back to wondering when and if reciprocal tariffs and Trump's proposed 25% Apple tariff will kick in. So you'll forgive us if we don't sound very certain about how all of this could affect the price of the new iPhone. We can't even guarantee that it will be called iPhone 17, considering Apple may rebrand its operating system this fall so that the current iOS18 is replaced by iOS 26. Apple spent much of the early part of this year dodging tariffs, stockpiling phones before tariffs took effect and making an exemption list for many of its products. But its luck appeared to run out after Apple CEO Tim Cook announced during a May 1 earnings call that US iPhone production would mostly be sourced from India. A few weeks later, Trump threatened Apple with a 25% tariff on all iPhones made outside the US. Is that tariff on top of the paused reciprocal tariffs? While it may be unrealistic for Apple to pass along the total cost of the tariff to consumers (who's going to buy a $4,000 iPhone?), it also seems unlikely that the tech giant could absorb the costs of a 170% tariff hike (that's 25% Apple tariff + 145% reciprocal tariff on China, where Apple has produced most of its iPhones). Plus, there are plenty of factors that can affect the price of an iPhone, including production costs and the overall health of the US economy. My colleague Patrick Holland has been reviewing phones for CNET since 2016 and tracking prices over the years. He says the new iPhone is due for a price hike regardless of what happens with tariffs. Apple did not respond to a request for comment for an earlier version of this story. We won't know the exact price for the next iPhone until its release, which is expected to be in September. But we've pored over all the leaks, rumors and predictions about prices and we found ways to help you save if a new iPhone is in your future. Read more: Want to Buy a New iPhone? Now's Not the Time and Here's Why Amid Trump's ongoing tariff bender, higher reciprocal tariffs are currently on pause. However, Trump took to social media on May 28, threatening Apple with a 25% tariff on all iPhones made outside the US, although the timeline is unclear. There's currently a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and a 30% tariff on goods from China, where Apple still manufactures most of its products. Those rates may also start to rise in July when the initial tariff pause expires, which could lead to higher prices on everything -- including the rumored iPhone 17. The tech giant has moved some US iPhone production from China to India, which currently has a lower tariff rate. However, Trump called out Apple CEO Tim Cook to instead move iPhone production to the US. Most experts consider this an unrealistic demand, especially in the short term, because of higher labor and production costs in the US. Estimates have suggested that a US-made iPhone would cost as much as $3,500. That leaves prices for the next iPhone in limbo. Trump's administration called the exemption list "temporary" in early April, saying that exemptions would end in "a month or two." Around the same time, Trump said that semiconductors, which power tech products, will eventually be placed in a different "tariff bucket." However, no details have been shared about the timeline or expected tariff percentages. With all the reprieves appearing to be temporary, tariffs could still potentially affect prices by the time the rumored iPhone 17 is expected to be released. If the original reciprocal tariff pause expires, for instance, taxes on imports from India would rise from 10% to 26% starting in July. If the 90-day pause for China expires, tariffs on that country would jump from 30% to 145% in August. It's unclear if Apple's 25% tariff would be in addition to or instead of individual countries' import duties. Experts point out that a tariff rate hike doesn't necessarily mean an iPhone's price would increase at the same rate but most expect at least some impact. And where the phone is assembled is only part of the tariff equation. Apple sources components for the iPhone from dozens of other countries, which could also potentially affect the price. Based on where tariffs stand now, here's how much you could potentially pay for the next iPhone based on current iPhone 16 prices. These are our estimates and not official pricing from Apple: If the 25% Apple tariff takes effect, here's the potential price increase for a new iPhone, based on the current iPhone 16 prices. Again, Apple is unlikely to raise prices at a 1-to-1 rate with tariff hikes but this table incorporates reciprocal and potential Apple specific tariffs to calculate potential prices: Trump immediately criticized retailers like Amazon and Walmart when they suggested that tariffs could result in higher prices so it stands to reason that Apple won't directly blame tariffs for potential price hikes that could provoke a Trump tirade. Rather, Apple could attribute the price increase to improved features and design costs. Regardless of tariffs, Apple has plans to raise iPhone prices this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. Experts say Apple may be overdue for a price increase anyway. It's been five years since the basic iPhone model increased in price and each iteration of the iPhone generally improves on features from the previous version. Holland notes that the base iPhone model hasn't gone up in price since 2020. His research points to the standard iPhone model's price increasing approximately every five years, between $50 and $130. Based on this evidence and the iPhone 16's current price of $829, we could expect the new iPhone to cost somewhere between $879 and $959. Early rumors had the iPhone 17 Air topping the iPhone Pro in price. However, a March Bloomberg report suggested the phone could cost about $900, similar to the current iPhone 16 Plus's price tag. Those estimates are based on the current costs and may not include the potential impact tariffs could have on an ultrathin iPhone's price. Uncertainty in the US economy -- in part because of the aforementioned tariff turmoil -- has left many wary about what's to come. While the recent agreement with China to pause tariffs helped the stock market to mostly recover from the dive it took after Trump's Liberation Day, that reprieve offers only temporary relief. Concerns about the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have left the Federal Reserve in wait-and-see mode for lowering interest rates. Higher interest rates can cause companies like Apple to pull back on spending and investment. Combined with higher tariffs, that pullback could potentially lead to global supply chain disruptions. Fewer iPhones available in the market could lead to higher prices. If inflation resurges, rising costs could force Apple to increase the next iPhone's price. One tiny bright side, in theory, is that a weakening economy could force Apple to hold off on raising prices so it can stay competitive. But that may not offer much consolation if you're worried about spending money because of a potential recession. One way to save on Apple products is to buy last year's model instead of the newest release. However, if the new iPhone is dramatically more expensive when it's released, demand could increase for the older models and that could lead to price hikes on older models, too. The flip side of this is that if the new iPhone's prices rise and you have an older iPhone, your old iPhone would also likely increase in value, Holland said. Trading or selling a used iPhone can help offset the cost if you do decide to buy the new iPhone. Even if Apple decides to hold the next iPhone's price steady, there are other ways for the tech giant to recoup increased costs. Apple could potentially offset the impact of tariffs by raising the price on its services -- including its music, news and data plans -- according to supply chain expert Joe Hudicka. "We'll see those markups in the subscription services first because they'll appear smaller," he said. "Consumers will still pay, just not all at once." So seriously, how much is a new iPhone going to cost? The truth is, we can't say with any certainty what the final numbers will be. Our assessments are based on ever-changing tariff policies, past pricing trends, rumors and leaks that are sometimes based on insider knowledge. But until Apple releases the rumored iPhone 17, we can only offer our best estimates for how much the final price tag will be.
