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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy

China

Starbucks opens first cafés in Xinjiang region

The prompted criticism from activists and US lawmakers over the coffee giant’s decision to expand into an area widely scrutinized for human rights violations.
A Starbucks booth at a supply chain conference in Beijing, China
A Starbucks booth at an expo in China. Florence Lo/Reuters

Deepseek and Huawei partner to develop AI software

The move underlines how China’s leading tech companies are working to reduce their reliance on US chipmakers and challenge American AI dominance.
DeepSeek AI sign.
Florence Lo/Reuters

OpenAI accuses top Chinese lab of distilling models

OpenAI alleged that Chinese competitor Moonshot used wide-scale distillation amidst rising AI-race tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Moonshot logo
Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Brussels trains ‘trade bazooka’ at Beijing

Beijing and Berlin “exchanged opinions” on trade relations Tuesday, The South China Morning Post reported.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Yves Herman/Reuters

Dugongs won’t move the needle for US businesses in China

The US-China trade deal is good for politics, not-so-good for business.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Shein underwhelms in first post-IPO earnings

Geopolitical and economic headwinds have dented the Chinese fast-fashion giant’s already-battered business model.
A woman leaves a pop-up store of Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein in Paris, France
Johanna Geron/Reuters

The US-China tectonic plates have shifted

In rolling out the red carpet for China’s Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump underscored how rapidly the balance of power in the relationship has shifted.

Trump and Xi conclude Washington visit that was short on substance

The pair made minor concessions on trade, Beijing pledged more student visas, and Xi said two pandas would soon arrive at a zoo in Atlanta.

Xi calls for ‘healthy’ competition between China and US

During his historic White House visit, China’s leader Xi Jinping said the countries shared the “responsibility to develop and manage AI for good.”

US allies fret their position could be weakened in China talks

Analysts say one of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s priorities will be persuading Trump to halt $14 billion in proposed armed sales to Taiwan.

Washington and Beijing extend trade truce despite simmering tensions

Expectations are low for the meeting, the third in less than a year, given their lingering disputes over trade and deep competition over AI.

Xi’s visit met with Republican criticism

Some Republicans are concerned about the red-carpet optics.

Xi to project strength in US amid economic woes at home

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to bargain from a position of strength in his meeting with US President Donald Trump this week, despite growing economic tensions at home.

Chinese CEOs unlikely to attend Trump-Xi summit

Earlier reports suggested Xi could be accompanied by BYD and CATL executives among others.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping due for Trump talks

Huge differences remain between the superpowers on AI regulation, trade policy, and Taiwan’s security.

Democrats worry Trump may make auto industry concessions to Xi

The president has floated the possibility of allowing Chinese carmakers to build vehicles in the US.

Xi expected to press Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan

Taipei is growing increasingly concerned over a frozen $14 billion arms sales deal that Trump has described as “a very good negotiating chip.”

Xi purges top generals for ‘disloyalty’

China said Monday that it removed two top generals over allegations of disloyalty and corruption, the latest in a long series of expulsions under leader Xi Jinping.