Global Trade

Thousands of U.S. companies await Trump-era tariff refunds, but CBP's slow system and legal hurdles could delay payments for months, costing taxpayers billions in interest.

China denounces U.S. 301 trade investigations on overcapacity and forced labor, condemns arms sales to Taiwan, and urges Washington to resolve disputes through dialogue and uphold global trade rules.

Brazil recorded a $4.2 billion trade surplus in February 2026, driven by strong oil and commodity exports and rising shipments to China and the EU despite declining trade with the United States.

The U.S. Trade Representative opens a Section 301 probe into 16 economies for structural manufacturing overcapacity, signaling potential new tariffs this summer.

China's foreign trade reached RMB 7.73 trillion in the first two months of 2026, up 18.3% year on year, driven by strong exports, expanding trade with ASEAN and the EU, and rising shipments of electromechanical products.

Oil prices jumped over 20% and briefly topped $100 a barrel after Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, shaking global markets and lifting energy stocks.

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.

Oil prices jumped sharply as escalating Middle East tensions raised fears of supply disruptions, with U.S. crude posting its biggest one-day gain since 2020 and gasoline prices rising nationwide.

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.

The global Polyvinyl Chloride market shows diverging trends, with stronger export prices in the United States and Northwest Europe, stable demand in Southeast Asia, and a softer market in India amid oversupply and policy uncertainty.

Iran's halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has pushed oil prices sharply higher and disrupted exports of methanol, urea, and petrochemicals, raising supply risks and cost pressure across global and Asian markets.

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.

U.S. International Trade Court orders the Trump administration to refund over $130 billion in invalidated global tariffs. Major companies including Costco, FedEx, and Pandora are seeking reimbursement.

Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting methanol, fertilizers, and petrochemical flows, driving price volatility and reshaping global chemical supply chains.

After the Supreme Court invalidated IEEPA-based tariffs, the US replaced reciprocal and fentanyl duties with a temporary 10% Section 122 surcharge on all imports, reshaping global trade deals.

China's methanol market jumps ahead of holiday as geopolitical tensions in Israel and Iran threaten supply, while crude oil gains support from potential Middle East disruptions.

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.

The U.S. Department of Commerce sets preliminary countervailing duties up to 143.3% on solar imports from India, Indonesia and Laos, intensifying trade tensions in the global photovoltaic market.

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.

The Trump administration is weighing new Section 232 national security tariff probes targeting six industries, separate from the recently announced 15% global tariff plan.

The U.S. will terminate IEEPA tariffs on all countries, including China, halting 10% fentanyl and reciprocal duties effective February 24, 2026, as announced by Customs and Border Protection.

Transport & Logistics Indonesia 2026 runs May 20–22 at JIExpo Kemayoran, spotlighting AI-driven automation, smart warehousing, and next-gen logistics solutions powering Indonesia's digital economy.

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.

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Feb 5, balancing easing inflation against a strong euro, geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty that are complicating the euro zone's policy outlook.

The United States has convened its first Critical Minerals Ministerial, unveiling new cooperation with Japan, Mexico and the EU as Washington accelerates efforts to restructure global mineral supply chains.

A new U.S.–India trade deal effective February 3 slashes tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to 18%, altering price competitiveness in the U.S. market and reshaping trade dynamics among China, the U.S. and India.

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.

MSC is boosting Bangladesh's trade connectivity by operating Dhaka's Pangaon Inland Container Terminal and slashing barge rates by about 50%, aiming to shift cargo from roads to lower-cost inland waterways.

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.