Trump says Coca-Cola agrees to use real cane sugar in US beverages
Kennedy has been critical of the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet and has said that updated dietary guidelines released this summer will advise Americans to eat "whole food."The White House and Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to a request for comment.- Ends
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Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
US eases restrictions on China: Will this hurt India's semiconductor ambitions?
The recent US decision to ease export restrictions on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software to China represents a significant shift in the global semiconductor landscape. While this development may appear to benefit Chinese chip manufacturers, the implications for India's semiconductor ambitions are far more complex and potentially transformative. In May 2025, the Trump administration initially imposed stringent controls on EDA software exports to China, requiring licences for the sale of critical chip design tools from companies like Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens. However, just weeks later, the US government reversed course, lifting these export restrictions as part of a broader bilateral agreement. This reversal, negotiated during talks in London in June 2025, saw the US agree to lift export restrictions on chip design software in exchange for China's commitment to approve exports of rare earth elements to the US. For India, this development arrives at a crucial juncture in its semiconductor journey. The country has been aggressively pursuing semiconductor self-reliance through its India Semiconductor Mission, which offers up to 50 per cent fiscal support for approved semiconductor fabrication projects. The government's Design-linked Incentive (DLI) scheme provides matching investment support to accelerate the development of India's semiconductor design ecosystem. With Prime Minister Modi recently launching three semiconductor plants valued at over $15 billion, India is clearly positioning itself as a major player in global semiconductor manufacturing. On one hand, it removes a temporary competitive advantage that Indian semiconductor companies might have enjoyed while Chinese firms faced technology access limitations. Chinese companies can now resume full access to cutting-edge EDA tools, potentially accelerating their chip design capabilities and market competitiveness. This could intensify competition in global semiconductor markets where Indian companies are seeking to establish themselves. However, the broader implications may actually favour India's long-term semiconductor strategy. The rapid reversal of export restrictions demonstrates the volatile nature of technology trade policies and the risks of over-dependence on any single market or technology provider. This uncertainty is likely to drive multinational semiconductor companies to diversify their operations and supply chains more aggressively, creating opportunities for India as a stable, democratic alternative. Indian semiconductor entities are already showing promising signs of growth in this environment. The country's semiconductor market, valued at $35.18 billion in 2023, is expected to grow at a remarkable 27.2 per cent CAGR through 2030. Tata Electronics has signed strategic partnerships with Tokyo Electron for equipment and services, focusing on workforce training and R&D enhancement. These developments demonstrate India's commitment to building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem that extends beyond mere manufacturing to include design capabilities. The EDA restrictions episode also highlights the critical importance of developing indigenous capabilities. While the immediate restrictions have been lifted, the fact that they were imposed at all underscores the vulnerability of any country dependent on foreign technology tools. India's semiconductor ambitions must include developing domestic EDA tools and capabilities to ensure long-term strategic autonomy. The country should view this as an opportunity to accelerate investments in indigenous semiconductor design software and tools. The geopolitical dynamics surrounding semiconductor technology also present India with unique advantages. As tensions between the US and China continue to shape global technology trade, India's position as a trusted partner for democratic nations becomes increasingly valuable. The country's participation in initiatives like the Quad's semiconductor partnership and its growing ties with Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan position it well to benefit from the ongoing realignment in global semiconductor supply chains. For Indian semiconductor companies, the current environment offers several strategic opportunities. First, the uncertainty around US-China technology trade is likely to drive demand for supply chain diversification, potentially benefiting Indian firms. Second, multinational corporations seeking to reduce their dependence on Chinese suppliers may be more willing to invest in Indian capabilities and partnerships. Third, the focus on supply chain resilience may lead to premium pricing for trusted alternatives, potentially improving margins for Indian companies. The Indian government's response to these developments will be crucial. Beyond the existing financial incentives, India needs to invest heavily in semiconductor education, research infrastructure, and indigenous technology development. The country should also consider establishing its own EDA development programmes, possibly through public-private partnerships or in collaboration with allied nations. The recent policy volatility should serve as a catalyst for India to accelerate its domestic semiconductor capabilities. Looking ahead, the semiconductor industry's future will likely be characterised by continued geopolitical tensions and policy volatility. The rapid reversal of EDA restrictions suggests that technology trade policies may become increasingly transactional and subject to broader diplomatic negotiations. For India, this environment of uncertainty creates opportunities to position itself as a stable, reliable partner for global semiconductor companies seeking to diversify their operations. The challenge for India is to leverage this opportunity while building sufficient indigenous capabilities to avoid dependence on any single country or technology provider. Success will require sustained government support, strategic international partnerships, and a commitment to developing comprehensive domestic semiconductor capabilities across the entire value chain. The recent EDA restrictions episode may ultimately prove to be a catalyst for India's semiconductor ambitions, highlighting both the opportunities and risks in the current global technology landscape. With the right policies and investments, India can emerge as a major beneficiary of the ongoing restructuring of global semiconductor supply chains, transforming from a chip importer to a trusted global semiconductor partner. The writer, a defence and cyber security analyst, is former country head of General Dynamics
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Why US crackdown on transshipment could have consequences for India
A key element in the flurry of reciprocal tariff letters the United States has sent to countries deeply integrated with its economy, be it Canada and South Korea — or those with close economic ties to China, such as Thailand and Malaysia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region — is the threat of steeper tariffs on transhipped goods. Washington DC views this as a backdoor route for Chinese products to enter its market. Transhipment in trade parlance refers to the practice of importing products from one country and exporting them to another, usually without significant processing or value addition. Indian experts suggest that, in India's case, the US could invoke stringent 'rules of origin' provisions under the trade agreement to discourage the entry of Chinese goods into the US via India. But India's reliance on Chinese products across industry could pose a significant problem while dealing with the US. The Trump administration's crackdown on rerouted goods, which previously allowed countries like Vietnam to serve as conduits for Chinese exports into the US, could extend to India as US Vice President JD Vance during his visit to India in April, issued a veiled warning to New Delhi, stating that the US seeks partners committed to working with America to build things —'not those who merely allow themselves to become conduits for transhipping goods from elsewhere'. This assumes significance for India as its dependence on China has increased sharply, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. To be sure, Chinese exports have surged globally — including to the US — following the pandemic, as production in China remained relatively stable while the rest of the world faced disruption. Official trade data indicates a simultaneous rise in imports from China and exports to America. Data from the Commerce and Industry Ministry showed that India's exports to the US in April rose 27.31 per cent to $8.41 billion, up from $6.61 billion in April last year. At the same time, imports from China increased by a comparable margin — up 27.03 per cent to $9.90 billion, compared to $7.79 billion a year earlier. A similar pattern emerged in March, as concerns grew over the possibility of steeper Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods relative to Indian ones. India's exports to the US jumped 35 per cent to $10.14 billion, while imports from China rose 25.02 per cent to $9.67 billion. During FY25 as a whole, India's exports to the US rose 11.59 per cent to $86.51 billion, while imports from China increased 11.52 per cent to over $113 billion. However, in June the imports from China surged 2.48 per cent but exports to the US jumped 23.53 per cent. This comes amid an increased number of anti-dumping duties that India has begun imposing on high value items such as steel and other industrial goods from China. Decoupling from China has been a slow and painful process even for the US. For India — which aims to expand its manufacturing base to create jobs for its large population — the challenge is even greater. Despite opting out of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, India's imports from China have continued to surge, surpassing $113 billion in FY25. While poor logistics and a lack of industrial expertise are often cited as reasons why India's manufacturing sector has struggled, the imbalance in the Chinese economy also played a role. The lower cost of Chinese goods has disrupted several Indian industries. In the renewable energy sector, where domestic solar cell manufacturers have struggled to compete with Chinese imports. Chen Gang, Assistant Director and Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore, notes in his report China's Consumption Dilemma in the Age of Trump that 'China's economy has been notoriously imbalanced, characterised by low domestic consumption and an overreliance on export and investment.' China's 'state capitalism has an innate tendency to focus on the 'supply side' instead of the 'demand side',' Gang wrote in his report for the Hinrich Foundation. He adds that this approach has led to 'enormous industrial capacity subsidised by the state but detached from real market demand.' Policies such as 'dual circulation', aimed at promoting self-sufficiency, have inadvertently 'exacerbated industrial overcapacity rather than alleviated it'. That surplus capacity, in turn, has driven Chinese producers to aggressively seek external markets—potentially distorting global trade and fuelling competitive pressures abroad. 'Since the end of its draconian pandemic restrictions, China's economy has struggled to rebound amid weak demand, excess savings, debt crises, and falling property prices and investment,' the report said. 'Economists are urging Beijing to shift focus to boosting consumer demand and away from a debt-fuelled, investment-led model that funnels resources into export-oriented manufacturing at the expense of households.' Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
Economic Times
27 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover to cut hundreds of managerial roles in UK
Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Thursday confirmed plans to cut hundreds of managerial roles as part of a "limited" voluntary redundancy programme, which it says is aimed at better aligning its leadership workforce with the luxury car brand's business strategy. The UK-based car manufacturer, which has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump's tariff wars, welcomed the recent trade deal that eases some pressure on its automotive exports to the American market. However, the latest figures released last week had revealed a drop in sales in the April to June quarter which had witnessed a temporary pause in shipments to the US amid high tariffs of 25 per cent on cars. "JLR regularly offers eligible employees voluntary redundancy (VR) programmes," a JLR spokesperson said. "Through this limited UK VR programme for managers, JLR is aligning its leadership workforce for the business's current and future needs. We are grateful to the government for delivering at speed the new UK-US trade deal, which gives us the confidence to invest GBP 3.5 bn per annum to realise our strategy which is delivering," the spokesperson said. The number of jobs set to be hit is estimated at around 500 amid high American tariffs which were cut to 10 per cent under the US-UK trade agreement, a rate only covering cars made in the UK. The trade deal terms also cap total annual car exports to the US at 100,000 models, with the higher rate applying to any vehicles crossing that mark. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had chosen the UK headquarters of JLR in the West Midlands region to deliver a key speech back in May to reassure staff amid the US trade wars. As news of the job cuts emerged, Downing Street said JLR was "responding to challenging global conditions". It comes as JLR ceased production of most Jaguar models ahead of a complete relaunch expected next year. In November 2024, the carmaker unveiled a bold rebrand featuring a pink concept car and replacing its big cat logo with a capital J. Meanwhile, the company revealed on Thursday that it is collaborating with smart electric vehicle (EV) charging software platform to support efforts to make charging more "sustainable and affordable". JLR said it is running a pilot scheme in the UK to test the integration of software using 10 electric Jaguar I‑PACE models. "Together, we are designing and deploying a smart charging solution that will meet our luxury clients' expectations. It will support the transition to electrification through the efficient use of energy, with a view to reducing pressure on the grid and lowering costs for users," said Swarna Ramanathan, JLR Chief Strategy Officer. It forms part of a wider 'Reimagine' strategy which aims to transform the business to become carbon net zero across supply chain, products, and operations by 2039. Electrification is central to this strategy which will see all brands have a pure electric model and Jaguar entirely electric before the end of the decade.
