Latest news with #tradepolicies
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
China and Vietnam plan first joint army drill amid U.S. tariffs
China and Vietnam plan to hold their first joint army training exercise this month, a sign of deepening military ties as the two countries grapple with U.S. tariff policies. The exercise aims to strengthen practical cooperation between the two militaries, the Chinese defense ministry said in a Sunday statement. It will take place in southern China's Guangxi region, which borders Vietnam. China and Vietnam have carried out joint naval patrols in previous years, but the coming exercise would be the first such exchange between their armies. Vietnam, an export powerhouse that last year had the world's third-biggest trade surplus with the U.S., is seeking to persuade Washington to lower tariffs on Vietnamese goods. The Southeast Asian nation was caught off guard by U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement earlier in July that they had agreed to a 20% tariff, it was reported. Vietnam is also striving to balance relations with its largest trading partner, China, which has warned nations against cutting deals at Beijing's expense. After Trump announced the pact with Vietnam in July, China's commerce ministry said it was "assessing' the situation. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts with Vietnam to oppose "unilateral bullying' during his visit to the country in April.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
China, Vietnam Plan First Joint Army Drill Amid US Tariffs
China and Vietnam plan to hold their first joint army training exercise this month, a sign of deepening military ties as the two countries grapple with US tariff policies. The exercise aims to strengthen practical cooperation between the two militaries, the Chinese defense ministry said in a Sunday statement. It will take place in southern China's Guangxi region, which borders Vietnam.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Less selection, higher prices: How tariffs are shaping the holiday shopping season
NEW YORK — With summer in full swing in the United States, retail executives are sweating a different season. It's less than 22 weeks before Christmas , a time when businesses that make and sell consumer goods usually nail down their holiday orders and prices. But President Donald Trump's vacillating trade policies have complicated those end-of-year plans. Balsam Hill, which sells artificial trees and other decorations online, expects to publish fewer and thinner holiday catalogs because the featured products keep changing with the tariff rates the president sets, postpones and revises .
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi Chamber launches an initiative to empower entrepreneurs and small-enterprises in Al Ain
Al Ain, UAE - As part of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry's efforts to deepen engagement with entrepreneurs' small enterprises, identify their needs, and shape more responsive trade policies that support their growth, the Chamber's Al Ain branch launched an initiative targeting enterprises in the retail, tourism, and agricultural sectors. This initiative reflects the Chamber's commitment to strengthening its active presence across the emirate. The initiative is designed to foster direct engagement with enterprise owners, offering a closer look at the opportunities and challenges they encounter in their day-to-day operations. This hands-on approach will help generate actionable insights for a more targeted, data-driven decisions, ultimately enhancing the impact of support provided to strengthen and scale small enterprises. The first phase involved field visits to a range of businesses across Al Ain region. The initiative was met with positive feedback from business owners, who welcomed the Chamber's initiative and commended the effort as a meaningful step towards understanding and addressing their real-world needs. His Excellency Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, the Second Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, affirmed that the initiative reflects the Chamber's continued commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and enabling them to grow their businesses and contribute meaningfully to the local economy. He underscored that direct field engagement is a powerful way to gain first-hand insights, strengthen trust with business owners, and shape more practical, inclusive, and responsive trade policies. H.E. said: "At the Abu Dhabi Chamber, we see entrepreneurs and small enterprises as essential pillar of a resilient and future-ready economy. These field visits are more than a listening exercise — they are a platform for real partnership. By engaging directly with business owners, we are transforming challenges into concrete opportunities for growth, expansion, and long-term impact." 'The Chamber's Al Ain branch plays a vital developmental role within the broader Abu Dhabi Chamber ecosystem. This initiative reflects the Chamber's commitment to activating its regional branches as drivers of inclusive economic development — aligned with Abu Dhabi's strategic priorities and its drive to cement the emirate's standing as a leading regional hub for business and investment,' he added. The visit covered a range of local enterprises across the Al Ain region, showcasing diverse models of small businesses operating in key sectors such as retail, tourism, and agriculture. During the tour, the Chamber identified nine key opportunities to enhance the local business environment in Al Ain. The visits included a range of prominent enterprises, such as Hili Mall—home to over 100 diverse retail outlets; Ayla Grand Hotel, which provides hospitality services and integrated tourist facilities. The tour also featured Bawadi Mall, which houses around 270 retail outlets offering a wide range of activities, and Al Ain Mall, owned by the Meer Group, with over 300 multi-category shops. Additional visits included. Al Amaan Travel and Holidays, an affiliate of Bin Ham Group a key player in the tourism sector; and Deep Café, a business that actively collaborates with over 30 local partners, reflecting a strong model of community-based commercial integration. The visits also included Could Be Flower & Café, a unique concept that blends a contemporary café experience with a fresh flower boutique, and Al Narjes Nursery, a vibrant hub that brings together a range of community-driven and productive enterprises. These include SILO Bakery and Coffee, POFA Café, Al Narjes Productive Families, Al Narjes Vegetables, Chai Jamr, and Al Narjes Handicrafts, each contributing to the local economy through creativity, collaboration, and grassroots entrepreneurship. Through this initiative, the Abu Dhabi Chamber seeks to contribute to building a resilient and inclusive business environment and empowering entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions for growth and competitiveness, thus enhancing the emirate's position as a vital business and investment hub.
CBC
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian singer Matthew Good says 'big political correction' needed before he'll tour U.S. again
Social Sharing Canadian rocker Matthew Good has cut upcoming U.S. shows from his summer tour, saying he can't support government policies and political divisions south of the border and that he's unlikely to perform in the country again until political tides turn. Good, 54, announced the cancellations in a Facebook post on Friday morning, saying he's willing to "risk my future US career, to stand up against things today." Since coming to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has made repeated comments about making Canada the "51st state," launched a trade war against Canada and dozens of other nations, implemented policies affecting the rights of transgender people and ordered mass deportations of undocumented migrants. Good was due to play in Cleveland on Tuesday, Pittsburgh on Wednesday and Buffalo on Thursday, before returning to Canada to perform in Gravenhurst, Ont., on Friday. "I'm a very proud Canadian," the Burnaby, B.C.-born singer and songwriter told Radio West guest host Brady Strachan of CBC Kelowna on Friday, hours after posting the announcement. "I think, really, the divisionism that I'm seeing in the United States is something that has really gotten to me." He said he understands that people are entitled to different political views, but that "right now, that nation doesn't reflect the commonality that this one has." "I think there are several things going on down there that ... I don't feel that I can economically support," said Good, who rose to fame in the 1990s with the Matthew Good Band and hits like Apparition and Hello Time Bomb. He has performed as a solo artist since the band broke up in 2002. Upset by trade war, tax attack Among the sticking points for Good was Trump's tariff threats and the attack on Canada's now-scuttled digital services tax (DST), which was due to go into effect last month. "[Canada is] backing down from that, to appease Mr. Trump's government. This was approximately two billion dollars in revenue that has been accumulating, and we're walking away from that," Good wrote in his Facebook post. The DST was set to affect large companies that offer digital services — like online advertising or shopping — and earn more than $20 million in revenue from Canadian sources. The three per cent levy had been in place since last year, but the first payments were due June 30. Since it was retroactive to 2022, U.S. companies were looking at a $2-billion US tax bill. Prime Minister Mark Carney turfed the tax in a bid to continue trade talks and bring an end to the months-long tariff war that Trump initiated. But the U.S. president continued to throw the talks into turmoil. His latest volley, on Thursday, was to threaten 35 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods on Aug. 1 — and even higher levies if Canada retaliates. Trump threatens 35% tariff on all Canadian goods 4 days ago Duration 3:54 Other musicians skip U.S. over anti-trans policies Good isn't the first Canadian artist to back away from performing in the U.S. this year. Toronto musician Bells Larsen told followers in April he would not tour U.S. cities due to safety concerns and visa policies that discriminate against transgender people. "I received an email on Tuesday [April 8] from the American Federation of Musicians stating that I am no longer able to apply for a visa because U.S. Immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds with one's assigned sex at birth," Larsen posted on Instagram. "To put it super plainly, because I'm trans (and have an M on my passport), I can't tour in the States." Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office stating the U.S. government will only recognize two genders, male and female, and that they cannot be changed. He directed the State Department to identify U.S. passport holders by their assigned sex at birth, denying transgender and non-binary people the ability to select their gender marker. Foreign travellers have also been warned they could be denied visas if their gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. Halifax musician T. Thomason cancelled his May performance at a music festival in Maine, saying he doesn't feel safe crossing the border "as a Canadian trans guy," despite having a valid visa issued prior to Trump's inauguration in January. Good says he also has concerns about his ability to travel to the U.S. after sharing his political stances. He told Strachan that it's entirely possible he and his band could run into trouble crossing the border should customs agents search his phone, see his social media comments and deny him entry — something the Canadian government even warned travellers about earlier this year. "That's one of the highest forms of censorship," he said. "It's tyrannical. There's not really another word to use." WATCH | Why some transgender people are leery of crossing Canada-U.S. border: B.C. transgender activist says border crossing risky amid U.S. crackdown 3 months ago Duration 5:55 Fans support Good's principled stance Good said he's not afraid of any backlash, but that most of the reaction had been supportive, which was largely evident in the comments below his Facebook post. "Buffalo, NY resident/US citizen here, who has a deep disdain for what is going here politically as well, and I totally understand and support your decision. Hope to see you back here in 3-ish years," read a comment from Mallory Czum. "I have nothing but respect for you as an artist, but even more as a man of principle. I am an American, but I hate what this administration is doing to our relationships with our closest friends," wrote Jeff Gallagher, a fan in Portland, Ore. Commenter Martin Prokopinski, however, criticized Good for taking a political stance. "Absolutely the wrong thing to do. Your fans are your fans — not your political messages. Lame," Prokopinski wrote. But Good says it would take a "pretty big political correction" for him to go back to performing in the U.S. "I'm not sure whether it's a change in the presidency or, you know, see what happens with the mid-terms," he told CBC Radio. "There's a lot of things that are going on down there right now that simply have to change." WATCH | How much has Canadian travel to the U.S. declined: Canadians are avoiding the U.S. Will its economy suffer? 10 days ago Duration 25:46 Andrew Chang explains how much Canadian travel to the U.S. has declined — and who might feel it most. Then, why despite cooling inflation and a falling interest rate, more Canadians are missing payments on their loans and mortgages.
