China

China and the United States struck a wide-ranging preliminary trade agreement covering tariffs, agriculture, rare earths and a 200-aircraft Boeing deal, following high-level talks in Seoul and Beijing.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on May 19 for his 25th state visit to China, days after Trump's departure, as all four other UN Security Council leaders visited within six months.

From soybeans to semiconductors, Boeing to LNG — here's a factual breakdown of what the U.S.-China summit actually produced and what it means for global trade.

The U.S. and China reached a preliminary deal to reduce tariffs on non-sensitive goods and establish bilateral trade and investment councils, with agriculture and civil aviation identified as priority sectors.

U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a landmark state visit to China on May 15, reaching major agreements with President Xi Jinping and setting a new framework for bilateral relations.

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held a summit in Beijing on May 14, pledging a new "constructive strategic stable" framework to guide U.S.-China relations for the next three years.

A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting Middle East energy exports and raising risks for China's chemical trade, threatening supply chains, imports of key feedstocks, and exports heavily reliant on Gulf markets.

As China and the EU mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, officials highlight growing trade, investment, and infrastructure cooperation, underscoring the mutually beneficial partnership between the two major global economies.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global shipping after Iran restricted passage. Yet Chinese-linked vessels continue to transit the route, highlighting the strait's critical role in China–Gulf energy and trade flows.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans his first visit to China as Germany looks to strengthen trade cooperation, offset United States tariff risks, and stabilize supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.

Latest December 2025 data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China details assets, liabilities, costs and profits across China's textile, paper and rubber & plastics industries.

China's sulfur prices climbed over 7% after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stalled, tightening Middle East supply, raising import costs, and amplifying geopolitical risk premiums.

China's renewable energy capacity reached 2.34 terawatts by end-2025, with wind and solar surpassing thermal power, marking a major milestone in the global clean energy transition.

China's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) sector is shifting from bulk exports to ecosystem leadership, backed by 45% of global FDA filings and $130 billion in innovative API licensing deals.

On Feb. 25, 2026 (ET), German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China with a 30-member business delegation, as bilateral trade hit €251.8 billion in 2025, surpassing Germany-U.S. trade.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Feb. 25 (ET) that President Donald Trump may raise the new 10% global tariff to 15% or higher for some countries, while keeping China tariffs unchanged ahead of planned talks.

China's polyethylene capacity will exceed 45 million tonnes in 2026 as new supply surges, margins diverge across feedstocks, and demand recovery lags behind rapid industry expansion.

China's Ministry of Commerce places 20 Japanese entities on export control and 20 on a watch list over dual-use items, citing national security and military-related concerns.

Amid global energy market volatility, China's coal chemical industry is boosting capacity, improving profitability and advancing green, low-carbon, high-end development to strengthen energy and supply chain security.

From late 2025, China's chemical prices soared over 50% in some products. Experts debate if 2026 marks a true industry boom or a short-term rebound amid cyclical adjustments.

China's chemical market in 2025 saw widespread price declines and margin pressure as capacity expansion neared its end, with fertilizers outperforming while most sectors hit multi-year lows.

China's CPI increased 0.2% year-on-year in January 2026, as lower food prices offset gains in non-food sectors, with pork down 13.7% and transportation costs falling 3.4%.

China's producer price index fell 1.4% year-on-year in January 2026, with the decline narrowing and month-on-month gains accelerating, signaling improving momentum in industrial pricing.

A French strategic report says the EU should consider a 30% blanket tariff on Chinese goods or a 20–30% euro devaluation to counter rising low-cost imports and intensifying industrial competition.

As global recovery remains fragile, China is signaling a clear shift toward becoming a world market, leveraging vast domestic demand, deepening reforms and expanded opening-up to drive shared global growth.

On February 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone, stressing dialogue, stable ties and cooperation, while underscoring China's position on Taiwan.

China's manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3% in January, reflecting seasonal slowdowns and weak demand, while large firms and high-tech manufacturing continued to support overall stability.

China and the UK signed multiple trade and services cooperation agreements during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China, expanding collaboration in goods trade, services, and bilateral economic mechanisms.

China and the United States have signaled openness to a new round of trade talks ahead of a possible April leaders' meeting, as officials stress dialogue, dispute management, and stable bilateral economic ties.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins his first China visit in eight years, leading a delegation of top executives to deepen cooperation in finance, healthcare, green energy and trade amid economic pressures.