Latest news with #US-imported
West Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
American West to leverage US executive order with critical minerals cocktail in Utah
American West Metals is dialling up the heat on its critical minerals ambitions, with a new exploration blitz aimed at unlocking copper, molybdenum, gallium and indium at its 100 per cent-owned West Desert Project in Utah. In the wake of United States President Donald Trump's March executive order directing all government agencies to fast-track domestic mineral production, the company has wasted no time moving to drill-ready status - armed with permits and a portfolio of metals that read like a Pentagon wish list. Top of that list is indium, a rare but essential metal used in smart devices, defence tech and solar panels, which the US currently imports in full. American West's West Desert project already has the country's largest undeveloped indium resource and sits within Utah, ranked the world's number one mining jurisdiction by the Fraser Institute. The project's existing JORC resource includes 33.7 million tonnes grading 3.83 per cent zinc, 0.15 per cent copper and 9.08 grams per tonne (g/t) silver for 1.29Mt of zinc, 49,053t of copper and nearly 10M ounces of silver. Silver recently came very close to achieving $US35 (A$54) an ounce for the first time in years. A further JORC-compliant resource for indium contains 23.8M ounces, yet only 35 per cent of historical drill samples have been assayed for the metal - giving American West plenty of room to grow the figure. But it's the company's recent focus on molybdenum and gallium that's likely to catch attention. Molybdenum is vital to strengthen high-performance alloys, widely used in missiles, fighter aircraft and advanced manufacturing, and recent West Desert intercepts have raised eyebrows. New drilling results include 417.55 metres at 0.02 per cent Mo, 194.14m at 0.05 per cent Mo, including 19.66m at a high-grade 0.2 per cent, and a 10.5m hit at a serious grade of 1.03 per cent Mo, with an internal hit of 1.67m at a blistering 4.05 per cent Mo. American West says a maiden molybdenum resource model is now underway. Gallium - another US-imported critical metal - was intersected across a staggering 628m, with hits including 10.4m at 40.9g/t and 4.12m at 65.95g/t. Notably, less than 10 per cent of the project has been assayed for gallium to date, highlighting the upside potential. While the critical metals narrative builds, the company is also advancing a new high-grade copper zone — including hits such as 17.22m at 1.04 per cent copper, 0.58g/t gold and 12.46g/t indium and 3.05m at 2.58 per cent copper, 0.91g/t gold, 10.7g/t silver and 36.31g/t indium, sitting just outside the current resource envelope. Even the iron ore at West Desert may not go to waste. The project's zinc-copper-silver-indium mineralisation is hosted in magnetite skarn, which has already shown potential to yield an iron ore concentrate grading up to a very significant 68 per cent iron as a byproduct. This is well above the international iron ore benchmark of 62 per cent. Outside the known deposit, drilling continues to hit high-grade sniffs. One hole delivered 0.92m at 20.42 per cent zinc, 0.76 per cent copper, 1.04g/t gold, 33.13g/t silver and 54.47g/t indium in a previously untested zone. Another historic hole encountered 3m at 3.5 per cent copper, 7.65 per cent zinc and 28g/t silver from nearly 900m depth beneath the circa-1900 Utah mine. The company says it is weighing up a potential spin-out or earn-in deal for West Desert, which would allow it to maintain its focus on its flagship Storm Copper Project in Canada. A 10-year mine plan for the project has already been tabled, and a PEA has modelled a net present value of US$149 million (A$230M), annual EBITDA of US$46.8M and a US$47.4M capex. With drilling imminent, federal support rising and wars raging, American West's push for a critical metals stronghold on US soil could be coming at just the right time. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
Business Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
S-Reits rebound from early April sell-off
[SINGAPORE] Real estate investment trusts in Singapore (S-Reits) have rebounded strongly over the past two weeks, in line with the broader recovery in the Singapore market following the sell-off in early April. As at Thursday's (Apr 24) close, the iEdge S-Reit index has climbed 5.9 per cent since Apr 11, with all 30 constituents ending flat or higher. S-Reits with international exposure, as well as those holding hospitality assets, ranked among the top performers. Over the past two weeks, the top 10 performers in the iEdge S-Reit index mostly saw net institutional inflows, with these counters receiving a combined S$23.3 million in net institutional inflows from Apr 14 to 24. However, institutional and retail investors were net sellers of the broader S-Reits sector over the same period. From Apr 14 to 24, institutional investors net sold S$36.6 million in S-Reits, bringing their total net outflows for the sector to S$465.1 million for the year-to-date. Meanwhile, retail investors net sold S$64.4 million over the same period, reversing net buying activity earlier this month. For the year-to-date, retail investors remain net buyers of the S-Reits sector, with total net inflows of S$261.9 million. CapitaLand China Trust (CLCT) ranked among the top three iEdge S-Reit index constituents over the past two weeks, with its units rising over 11 per cent from Apr 14 to 24. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up CLCT's first-quarter business update on Apr 24 showed that it maintained high occupancy for its retail portfolio of 97.7 per cent, with positive rental reversions of 0.5 per cent. The Reit's business parks also had stable occupancy of 83.7 per cent, while logistics parks saw 95.7 per cent occupancy. The CEO of CLCT's manager noted in a recent SGX kopi-C interview that CLCT's malls mainly serve China's middle-income consumers, and the tenants have little dependence on US-imported products. He added that although US tariffs have introduced volatility to capital markets, the direct impact on CLCT's operations remains minimal. Elsewhere, Mapletree Logistics Trust's (MLT) full-year results, released on Apr 23, showed stable operating performance with 96.2 per cent occupancy as at end-March, and positive rental reversion of 5.1 per cent for Q4. The Reit recorded positive rental reversions in all markets except China. MLT's manager noted that the diversified portfolio mitigated headwinds from higher borrowing costs and China weakness. MLT's manager added that the changing trade policy landscape is unprecedented and evolving, and tenants are expected to take a cautious approach to leasing and expansion in the short term. However, the majority of MLT's tenants are serving local domestic consumption, accounting for around 85 per cent of portfolio revenue as at its Q4. MLT's units rebounded 7.4 per cent from Apr 14 to 24, ranking it among the top 10 index performers. Similarly, Suntec Reit units also gained 7.4 per cent over the same period. The Reit, which also announced its Q1 business update on Apr 24, reported improved distributable income (DI) for the period ended March, rising 4.3 per cent on year to S$45.9 million. Distribution per unit was also 3.4 per cent higher year on year for Q1. The manager noted that DI was improved due to lower financing costs as well as better operating performance, with all properties – except for 55 Currie Street, Adelaide – registering stronger operating performance. Some 13 S-Reits have already released their financial results or business updates for the financial period ended March. Another 12 S-Reits are expected to release their latest filings this week, including STI constituents CapitaLand Ascendas Reit , Mapletree Industrial Trus t, and Frasers Centrepoint Trus t. SGX RESEARCH The writer is a research analyst at SGX. For more research and information on Singapore's Reit sector, visit for the S-Reits & Property Trusts Chartbook.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China's construction industry to face downside risks in 2025, amid Trump's tariffs
The construction industry in China is expected to face downside risks in 2025 due to the ongoing trade war between China and the US. Following the imposition of tariffs by US President Donald Trump's administration on all Chinese imports, demand for Chinese products is expected to decline in the coming period. Given that the US is China's largest trading partner, the US tariffs would therefore indirectly cause knock-on effects for the Chinese economy as a whole and also adversely affect the beleaguered construction industry, which is already. – President Donald Trump had taken numerous steps against China during his first term, some of which continued under the Joe Biden administration. In January 2020, the US and China signed the first phase of a trade deal, with China committing to buying an additional $200bn in US goods over two years to reduce the trade deficit. In 2022, the Biden administration retained most of the Trump-era tariffs but extended restrictions on semiconductor sales to China. Furthermore, his administration increased tariffs on Chinese solar cells, electric vehicles, and medical equipment in 2024. – Donald Trump levied an additional 10% tariff on all goods China exports to the US. – In response to the US tariffs on Chinese products, China's Ministry of Finance implemented 15% retaliatory tariffs, including tariffs on US liquefied natural gas, coal, crude oil, and agricultural machinery. – Trump doubled the tariff rate to 20% on all Chinese imports. – China implemented another round of retaliatory tariffs on the US agricultural products, including wheat, corn, soybeans, chicken, and pork. – President Trump announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US. – Trump signed an executive order to impose 25% tariffs on imports of automobiles and automobile parts. – Labelled 'Liberation Day' by Donald Trump, the President implemented some of the toughest tariff policies since the 1930s. His administration introduced reciprocal tariffs, imposing duties equal to half the estimated total tariff and non-tariff barriers that China placed on the US, all as part of an effort to address current trade imbalances. Accordingly, Trump increased tariffs by another 34% on Chinese products - bringing the total to 54%. – China imposed a retaliatory tariff of 34% on all US-imported goods. – Trump increased tariffs by another 84% on Chinese products, bringing the total to 104%. China further raised retaliatory tariffs to 84% on all US-imported goods. – President Trump intensified the ongoing trade war with China by imposing 125% tariffs on Chinese goods. New tariffs reached 145%. – As the US-China trade war intensified, China retaliated by raising its tariffs on US goods to 125%. The Trump administration announced a temporary exemption for laptops, smartphones, and other consumer electronics from its reciprocal tariffs. - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce asked to the US to 'completely cancel' its reciprocal tariffs on all products. The US published a fact sheet indicating that total tariffs on certain goods from China reach up to 245%. Despite the trade war between China and the US, they remain major trading partners. According to TradeMap (International Trade Centre), China exported goods worth $524.9bn to the US in 2024, reflecting 2.9% of China's total GDP. However, China imported only $165.2bn worth of US goods last year, accounting for just 0.9% of China's GDP. Owing to the increased tariffs, Chinese exports to the US rose by 12% in March 2025, as businesses resorted to frontloading to avoid the impact of the higher duties. According to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the total value of exports to the US, measured in US dollar terms, grew by 9.1% year-on-year (YOY) in March 2025, following YOY growth of 2.9% during January-February 2025. In contrast, the total value of imports from the US declined by 9.5% YOY in March 2025, after a modest YOY growth of 1.4% during January-February 2025. The Chinese economy is expected to be hit severely due to the tariff war. The impact of a 145% tariff rate, if permanently imposed, could drive Chinese exports to the US close to zero. The tariff hikes are also expected to place significant pressure on the Chinese labour market. Already grappling with a property market slump, weak domestic spending, and high youth unemployment, the Chinese economy faces heightened risks. Goldman Sachs Group, the American multinational investment bank and financial services company, reduced its growth forecasts for China on 10 April 2025. The country's GDP is now expected to grow by 4% in real terms in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026, down from earlier forecasts of 4.5% and 4%, respectively. Furthermore, Fitch, the global credit ratings agency, downgraded China's long-term foreign currency credit rating on 3 April 2025, to 'A' from 'A+', citing weak public finances and rising debt levels. To mitigate the impact of tariffs, China is likely to focus on domestic stimulus, strengthening trade ties within Asia, and maintaining a strong yuan to shift inflationary pressure onto the US. Additional policy support is also expected to be introduced. Goldman Sachs now forecasts that Chinese authorities will cut the policy rate by 60 basis points in 2025, up from previous expectations of 40 basis points. To ease pressure from the ongoing US-China trade war, on 10 April 2025, Chinese electronics component manufacturers announced plans to offer discounts of up to 5% to Indian companies as part of new sourcing contract negotiations. On 11 April 2025, China extended an invitation to strengthen ties with the European Union (EU) to defend globalisation and push back against what it called US "bullying" tariffs. That same day, China signed two agricultural trade protocols with Spain to deepen economic ties. Additionally, China aims to expand trade with countries hardest hit by Trump's tariffs. On 15 April 2025, China and Vietnam signed multiple cooperation agreements to strengthen trade ties, including efforts to enhance supply chains. The proposed tariff schedule introduced by the Trump administration has heightened uncertainty for China's construction industry, contributing to stagnation in labour markets and weakening aggregate demand. High tariffs on all steel and aluminium products are expected to affect the sector significantly. As steel and aluminium are critical construction materials, the rising cost of these inputs is likely to impact construction output in the short to medium term. Elevated material prices are expected to be passed on to consumers, inflating construction costs and reducing the affordability of new builds. In addition to existing weaknesses in industrial construction activity, the intensifying US-China trade war is expected to dampen investor confidence, potentially leading to reduced investment in the construction industry in the near term. Within the construction industry, the industrial construction sector is expected to bear the brunt of the tariff war, as companies grow wary of investing in China and consider alternative destinations with more favourable trade conditions with the US. The residential construction sector, already under strain, is also likely to suffer. Lower employment and declining consumer confidence may further exacerbate the sector's weakness. Navigate the shifting tariff landscape with real-time data and market-leading analysis. Request a free demo for GlobalData's Strategic Intelligence here. "China's construction industry to face downside risks in 2025, amid Trump's tariffs" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Zawya
23-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: SADC economies face uncertainty as Trump tariffs bite
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is assessing the impact of United States President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, amid concerns that the region's fragile economies are heading for uncertain times. President Trump imposed a new baseline tariff of 10 percent on imported goods from SADC member states with effect from April 5, while 'reciprocal' tariffs came into force on April 9. The regional economies will be affected by the tariffs to varying degrees, with countries such as Lesotho hit hardest after Washington imposed a 50 percent 'reciprocal' tariff, while Madagascar was slapped with a 47 percent tariff. Lesotho's major exports to the US, which are textiles and clothing, were not included on the list of exempted products. The tiny mountain kingdom exported $237.3 million worth of goods to the US in 2024, while Madagascar's exports were valued at $733.2 million. SADC countries, except for Seychelles and Zimbabwe, enjoyed duty-free access to the US market under Washington's African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) until President Trump's tariffs came into effect. 'The current term of Agoa was due to expire by the end of September 2025,' SADC said in a statement as it announced plans for a high-level summit in June to discuss the impact of the new tariff regime.'In response to these developments, SADC is carrying out a detailed assessment of the impact of the global geopolitical developments on the different sectors of the region.' After the probe, SADC ministers will meet sometime in June to discuss the findings and chart a way forward.'In addition, the SADC secretariat will be carrying out a detailed assessment of the impact of the US measures on trade with the region for review by ministers in forthcoming meetings of the Committee of Trade and the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Integration in June 2025, which will recommend to the Council of Ministers meeting in August 2025 for decision to be taken as a collective response by SADC member states,' the regional body said.'SADC reiterates its commitment to further the objectives of the SADC Treaty through continued adherence to multilateral trade rules and fair competition administered by the World Trade Organisation and remains open to engagement with stakeholders on these matters.' Frosty relations South Africa, the region's biggest economy, has had a frosty relationship with the Trump administration. Trump accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of mistreating South Africa's white minority. The US has also cut funding to South Africa after criticising Pretoria's foreign policy as anti-American. South Africa's annual exports to the US average $3.6 billion and consist mainly of automobiles and agricultural products. There are already doubts that SADC will emerge with a common position on the tariffs, given the countries' different foreign policy thrusts. Zimbabwe, which chairs the 16-member regional grouping, was the first country to scrap tariffs on US-imported products after President Trump started imposing unilateral tariffs. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the gesture was meant to promote better trade relations with the US. Zimbabwe's former Finance minister Tendai Biti argued that the move was a betrayal of regional solidarity and that President Mnangagwa should have led a collective and research-driven response to the US tariffs regime.'The response to US-imposed tariffs or any other external threat to the region cannot be unilateral, opportunistic and ill thought,' Mr Biti said.'Zimbabwe, particularly in its capacity as SADC chair, had a duty of leading a regional response anchored on values, research and pan-African interest.'The region has solidly stood with the regime in Harare for years and the same owes a duty of care to the region.'The region has serious geopolitical threats, including the war in the DRC and the threat of global war. Unilateralism is myopic, selfish and suicidal. It is a huge betrayal.' Nqaba Matshazi, a prominent Zimbabwean newspaper columnist, said President Mnangagwa's response to the tariffs was too hasty and could have serious implications for regional trade relations.'The SADC trade protocol states that member states shall, to their best endeavour, co-ordinate their trade policies and negotiating positions in respect of relations with third countries,' Mr Matshazi said.'At this stage, you would expect that SADC would develop a common position in response to President Trump's tariffs, which would be beneficial for the whole region and not single countries.'Trade policies in one country have an effect on another country, and that is why SADC and other regional blocs came up with such protocols.' The Trump administration immediately said the removal of tariffs by countries such as Zimbabwe was meaningless because it viewed those offers as 'zero tariff cheating' and 'misdirection'. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Some Canadian stores are labeling US imports with a T for 'tariffs' — and buyers are snapping up alternatives
Some Canadian retailers are now labelling products imported from the United States. Some stores were already labeling locally-made products since Trump's tariffs were announced. Empty shelves show consumers are responding with strong preferences for Canadian products. Some Canadian retailers aren't playing nice about US imports anymore. They've escalated from simply labeling products made in Canada to singling out American-made products with a warning label "T" for "tariffs." Loblaw Companies Ltd., which operates about 2,400 stores across Canada, announced on March 10 that it planned to roll out the 'T' label on US-imported goods that may have been subject to a tariff-related price increase. As the warning labels have been slowly rolled out over the last month, shoppers have noticed and are buying accordingly. An April 17 Leger poll found that 76% of Canadians have increased their purchases of locally made and sourced goods in recent weeks, representing the highest number of respondents looking to buy Canadian goods since the market research firm began tracking the behavior in mid-February. Business Insider previously reported that Canadians have seen a surge in patriotism since President Donald Trump, in mid-March, made comments about making the 158-year-old nation the 51st US state — and that patriotism is reflected in the grocery aisle. "All the grocery stores now have Canadian and American labelled produce — and the Canadian produce is always gone," Vancouver-based shopper Isabella Zavarise told BI. It's not just a preference for Canadian-made goods; it's an active avoidance of US imports, Zavarise said. And the preference isn't about saving money — quite the opposite: "Everyone I know is shopping local despite how expensive it is," she added. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that small grocery stores, in particular, are seeing price increases related to the tariffs being exchanged between the US and Canada, and the country's consumer price index rose 2.3% year over year in March, following an increase of 2.6% in February. Prices of American imports have skyrocketed — 100ml of Tropicana orange juice is listed for $13.99 at Metro stores, another Canadian chain — but even locally-made goods have seen increases, the outlet reported. The US and its Northern neighbor have been locked in an escalating trade dispute over Trump's aggressive trade strategy, which, as of March 13, levied tariffs of 25% on many Canadian consumer goods and 10% on energy product imports from Canada. Canada announced 25% counter-tariffs on US goods in response. Representatives for Loblaw and Metro did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider
