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In response to the U.S. governments upcoming port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels, set to take effect in mid-October, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized on Friday that such measures could be detrimental.

According to Global times, he stated that imposing fees and additional tariffs on cargo handling equipment would not only elevate global shipping costs but also disrupt supply chains and exacerbate inflation in the United States, ultimately harming American consumers and businesses without reviving the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Lin encouraged the United States to follow known facts and international rules, calling for an urgent halt to these activities. He also stated that China would take the appropriate precautions to preserve its lawful rights and interests in light of the situation.

The Trump administration is set to impose new port fees on Chinese ships in a bid to strengthen the US shipbuilding industry and counter China's market dominance.

Effective in 180 days, these regulations will charge Chinese ship owners based on cargo weight, container count, or vehicle capacity, BBC reported.

Bulk carriers will incur a fee of $50 per ton, increasing by $30 annually for three years. Container ships will face charges of $120 per container, while Chinese-built vessels will pay $18 per ton. Non-US built car carriers will be charged $150 per car, with a maximum of six charges per ship annually.

A second phase of the regulations will launch in three years, favoring US-built LNG ships and introducing stricter rules over a 22-year period, according to BBC.

Analysts warn that these measures, combined with recent tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, are already disrupting international trade, causing congestion in European ports and increasing costs for US consumers.

The reinstatement of US tariffs could have severe repercussions for export-oriented least-developed countries (LDCs) whose economies are particularly sensitive to external economic shocks due to their concentration of trade on a small number of products as well as their limited resources to deal with setbacks, according to the WTO Secretariat's latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report released on 16 April.

Under the current situation with the pause on US' "reciprocal" tariffs, LDCs may benefit from trade diversion as their export structure is similar to China's, especially in textiles and electronics, the report said. 

The volume of world merchandise trade is expected to decline by 0.2% in 2025 under current conditions, nearly three percentage points lower than what would have been expected under a "low tariff" baseline scenario, according to the report.  This is premised on the tariff situation as of 14 April. Trade could shrink even further, to -1.5% in 2025, if the situation deteriorates.

Services trade, though not directly subject to tariffs, is also expected to be adversely affected, with the global volume of commercial services trade now forecast to grow by 4.0%, slower than expected.

Director-General  of WTO Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: "I am deeply concerned by the uncertainty surrounding trade policy, including the US-China stand-off. The recent de-escalation of tariff tensions has temporarily relieved some of the pressure on global trade.”

However, the enduring uncertainty threatens to act as a brake on global growth, with severe negative consequences for the world, the most vulnerable economies in particular, she said,  in the face of this crisis, WTO members have the unprecedented opportunity to inject dynamism into the organization, foster a level-playing field, streamline decision-making, and adapt our agreements to better meet today's global realities."

At the start of the year, the WTO Secretariat expected to see continued expansion of world trade in 2025 and 2026, with merchandise trade growing in line with world GDP and commercial services trade increasing at a faster pace. However, the large number of new tariffs introduced since January prompted WTO economists to reassess the trade situation, resulting in a substantial downgrade to their forecast for merchandise trade and a smaller reduction in their outlook for services trade.

Regional goods trade forecasts

The latest forecast marks a reversal from 2024, when the volume of world merchandise trade grew 2.9%, while GDP expanded by 2.8%, making 2024 the first year since 2017 (excluding the rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic) where merchandise trade grew faster than output.

In 2025, the impact of recent tariff measures on merchandise trade is expected to differ sharply across regions.

Under the current policy landscape, North America is expected to see a 12.6% decline in exports and 9.6% drop in imports in 2025. The region's performance would subtract 1.7 percentage points from world merchandise trade growth in 2025, turning the overall figure negative. Asia is projected to post modest growth in both exports and imports this year (1.6% for both), along with Europe (1.0% export growth, 1.9% import growth). Both regions' contributions to world trade growth would remain positive under current policies, albeit smaller than in the baseline low tariff scenario. The collective contribution to world trade growth of other regions would also remain positive, in part due to their importance as producers of energy products, demand for which tends to be stable over the global business cycle.

The disruption in US-China trade is expected to trigger significant trade diversion, raising concerns among third markets about increased competition from China. Chinese merchandise exports are projected to rise by 4% to 9% across all regions outside North America, as trade is redirected. At the same time, US imports from China are expected to fall sharply in sectors such as textiles, apparel, and electrical equipment, creating new export opportunities for other suppliers able to fill the gap.

Most services growth in 2025 will originate from Europe, where exports are expected to grow by 5.0% under current policies. European growth will continue at 4.4% in 2026. Asian economies' services exports are projected to increase by 4.4% in 2025 and by 5.1% in 2026. Growth in services exports of North America will slow to 1.6% in 2025 but then accelerate to 2.3% in 2026, the report said. 

For the Middle East, services exports are expected to grow by 1.7% in 2025 and 1.0% in 2026. In the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), growth of 1.1% in 2025 and of 3.5% in 2026 is anticipated. The outlook for 2025 is subdued for Africa and for South and Central America and the Caribbean, both of which are expected to record declines in 2025.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Vietnam to stand against "unilateral bullying" in order to maintain a global free trade system, refraining from directly naming the United States. This appeal is part of Xi's diplomatic trip to Southeast Asia, which includes visits to Malaysia and Cambodia, Xinhua reported.

The timing of the trip is significant, as tensions rise from an escalating trade dispute between the US and China. Vietnam faces potential US tariffs of up to 46%, although a 90-day suspension was recently granted by the Trump administration.

As stated by Xinhua, Trump has criticized Xi's engagements with Vietnamese officials, suggesting it is a strategy to undermine American interests.

The trade war between the two countries has heated up, highlighted by the Trump administration's placement of 145% tariffs on a wide variety of Chinese imports, to which Beijing responded with its own 125% duties on American goods entering China.

Donald Trump claims that Chinese-made cellphones and other devices would not be spared from tariffs, stating that they are just going into a separate "bucket" of levies. 

As stated by BBC, European stock markets rose on Monday morning following Friday's official declaration that some of these products would be exempt from levies of up to 145%. 

China has urged Donald Trump to "completely cancel" his tariffs regime and "return to the right path of mutual respect". 

However, US sources stated on Sunday that products would be subject to a "semiconductor tariff", with Trump set to announce further information later, BBC reported.

In response to the United States' claim that it will limit visas for Chinese officials who create and implement rules that limit international access to Xizang, Chinese International Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated Monday that Xizang issues are internal Chinese affairs.

The US, by imposing unwarranted visa restrictions on Chinese officials over Xizang-related issues, has seriously violated international law and fundamental principles of international relations, Lin said according to the Global Times.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Law on Foreign Relations" and the "Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law," China has decided to take reciprocal visa restriction measures against US personnel who have exhibited egregious behavior regarding Xizang-related issues, Lin said.

China’s exports jumped 12.4 per cent in March from a year earlier as companies rushed to beat increases in US tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The customs administration said that imports declined 4.3 percent, according to ABC News.

It claimed exports from the world's second largest economy increased by 5.8 percent in the first three months of the year compared to the previous year, while imports sank 7 per cent.

China's trade surplus with the United States was $27.6 billion in March, as exports increased by 4.5 percent. It has a $76.6 billion trade surplus with the United States in the first quarter of this year.

China is facing 145 per cent tariffs on most exports to the United States as of the most recent revisions in Trump’s trade policies, ABC reported.

However, the biggest increases in exports were to China’s Southeast Asian neighbors, which saw exports from China jump nearly 17 per cent in March from a year earlier. Exports to Africa increased by more than 11 percent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi on Monday to pay a state visit to Vietnam.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong arrived at Noi Bai International Airport to greet General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, as well as a high-level Chinese delegation.

Two hundred members of the Drum Art Troupe welcomed the high-ranking Chinese delegation with special drum performances. There were also welcoming dances performed by 54 young women in traditional Vietnamese clothes, Xinhua reported.

This is Xi's fourth State visit to Vietnam as General Secretary and President of China; more importantly, it is the second visit by a Chinese leader to Vietnam in the same term.
The visit occurs in the backdrop of 2025 being a significant year, commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (January 18, 1950 - January 18, 2025).

This visit contributes to strengthening and deepening the framework of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, while the Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future has strategic significance, elevating the two countries' relationship to new heights.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and trains suspended as gales hit Beijing and northern China on Saturday.

By 11:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday, 838 flights had been cancelled at the capital's two major airports, according to the news agency Reuters.

Beijing declared its first orange-level wind warning in a decade as a Mongolian cold vortex triggered extreme gusts (levels 11-13), toppling 300 trees, damaging vehicles, and disrupting airport express subways and high-speed rail, Reuters reported.

The strong winds are from a cold vortex system over Mongolia and are expected to last through the weekend.

President Donald Trump's administration has exempted smartphones and computers from his reciprocal tariffs, including a 125% tariff on Chinese goods.

Late on Friday, US Customs and Border Patrol issued a notification stating that the commodities would be exempt from Trump's 10% worldwide tariff on most countries, as well as the considerably bigger Chinese import tax, according to BBC.

The move comes after US IT businesses expressed fears that the cost of products, which are often built in China, will soar. Other electronic gadgets and components, such as semiconductors, solar cells, and memory cards, are excluded as well.

China has filed a lawsuit against the US with the WTO after the US issued an executive order on Thursday (US time), announcing a further increase in the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" imposed on Chinese products exported to the US, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Friday.

The spokesperson said that the US taxation measures are typical unilateral bullying and coercion practices, which seriously violate WTO rules and seriously undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, according to the Global Times.

China will raise the additional tariffs on products imported from the United States to 125 percent, effective from Saturday, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council in Beijing announced Friday.

The news comes after the United States raised its "reciprocal tariffs" on Chinese imports, according to Xinhua.

The commission stated that the United States' imposition of unjustly high tariffs on China violates international economic and trade regulations, contradicts basic economic laws and common sense, and is nothing more than bilateral intimidation and coercion.

Even if the United States imposed even greater tariffs, the panel believes it would no longer make economic sense and would eventually be seen as a joke in world economic history, Xinhua reported.

However, if the United States continues to significantly undermine China's interests, China will take strong countermeasures and battle until the end, according to the commission.

China has moved to “moderately reduce” the release of Hollywood films in the Chinese market in the latest front of the growing United States- China trade war.

China's National Film Administration clearly tied their decision on Thursday to US tariffs on Chinese exports, which US President Donald Trump hiked to a sky-high 145%, Reuters reported.

The decision was certainly not surprising to analysts, who had projected that China would target Hollywood as a retaliation to rising US tariffs. 

As stated by Reuters, China accepts ten films from Hollywood each year, and the Chinese market was long regarded as a significant source of cash for the US film industry.

President Trump, who has already been criticised by numerous Hollywood celebrities for his actions, told reporters on Thursday that he was unconcerned by China's intention to attack the film industry.

With the arrival of the summer-autumn flight season in 2025, China Southern Airlines will optimize its flight layout starting from April 10, further enhancing the capacity of the China-Nepal route and promoting economic, cultural, and tourism cooperation between the two countries to new heights.

According to the latest flight schedule, China Southern will resume its night flight from Kathmandu to Guangzhou from April to October. The planned departure time from Kathmandu is 23:30, with one flight per day, Southern Airlines reported.

At the same time, the daytime flight schedule will be adjusted, with the overall departure time pushed back by 50 minutes, resulting in the planned departure time from Kathmandu being adjusted to 12:50. This optimization will enhance flight connections and allow passengers to arrange their schedules more comfortably. It is worth noting that the operating frequency of China Southern's daytime flights has also been adjusted at different times as per Southern Airlines.

From April 10 to May, daytime flights will operate four times a week (on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday). From June to August, daytime flights will be reduced to two times a week (on Sunday and Thursday). From September to October, daytime flights will resume daily. The number of seats planned by China Southern Airlines for this season has significantly increased. Approximately 45,000 seats will be offered from Kathmandu to Guangzhou, and over 46,000 seats from Guangzhou to Kathmandu. Compared to the same period last year, this represents an increase of more than 6,000 seats, a growth of 16.5% on the Kathmandu-to-Guangzhou route, and over 13,000 seats, a growth of 39.9% on the Guangzhou-to-Kathmandu route. This adjustment not only provides passengers with more travel options but also further facilitates economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Nepal, according to Southern Airlines.

This increase in transport capacity coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal and the "China-Nepal Tourism Year."

Australia has firmly rejected a proposal from Beijing to collaborate on countering US tariffs, instead reaffirming its commitment to diversifying trade partnerships and reducing dependence on China, its largest trading partner.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday dismissed the Chinese ambassador’s call for countries to “join hands” on global trade, insisting Canberra would not take sides in broader geopolitical contests, Reuters reported.

The diplomatic exchange comes following a substantial escalation in the US-China trade battle.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he would hike tariffs on Chinese goods from 104% to 125%, while temporarily lowering taxes on dozens of other countries.

The move presents both opportunity and risk for Australia, which sends nearly a third of its exports to China, but less than 5% to the United States, according to Reuters.

Trump also imposed a flat 10% tariff on Australian imports—one of the lowest among his reciprocal tariffs—despite Australia being a key US security ally in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia's central bank has cautioned that ongoing global trade tensions, particularly between big economies such as the United States and China, might dissuade company investment and reduce household spending, adding uncertainty to the country's economic outlook.

U.S. President Donald Trump's stunning decision to pause the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries sent battered global stock markets surging on Thursday even as he ratcheted up a trade war with the world's No. 2 economy China, Reuters reported.

Trump's turnabout on Wednesday, which came less than 24 hours after steep new tariffs kicked in on most trading partners, followed the most intense episode of financial market volatility since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upheaval erased trillions of dollars from stock markets and led to an unsettling surge in U.S. government bond yields that appeared to catch Trump's attention.

"I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, you know," Trump told reporters after the announcement, referring to jitters sportpeople sometimes get.

U.S. stock indexes shot higher on the news, with the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab index closing 9.5% higher. Bond yields came off earlier highs and the dollar rebounded against safe-haven currencies, according to Reuters.

The relief spread through Asian markets as they opened on Thursday with Japan's Nikkei index (.N225), opens new tab surging 8% while European futures also pointed to a sharp rebound. Even Chinese stocks rose, propped up by hopes of state support, although its yuan currency fell to the lowest level since the global financial crisis.