News from Around the World

The Enduring Benefits of Trade

With large multilateral trade deals under the World Trade Organization having ground to a halt over the past decade, countries have turned to regional or preferential free trade agreements among smaller numbers of participants to inch liberalisation ahead.

The leader in this process has been the EU, concluding multifaceted deals with developed and developing countries since 2005. Its latest success was a series of agreements with Singapore signed last month.

Tariff Fight Costs China Spot as Top U.S. Trading Partner

WASHINGTON—Escalating tariff disputes between Washington and Beijing cost China its position as the U.S.’s top trading partner in the first half of the year, as exports and imports between the two largest economies fell sharply.

Tariff Dispute Complicates U.S. Ties With Mexico

President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexico was averted by an immigration deal late Friday, but scrambles anew the already-delicate relationship between two neighbors struggling to resolve the trade and border issues that are top priorities for the White House.

Tame Inflation Keeps Fed on Track

WASHINGTON—A closely watched price index suggested Monday that, for now, inflation poses little threat to the economy.

The personal-consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1% in September from August, the Commerce Department said Monday. That marked the fourth straight month in which the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge fell short of the 0.165% monthly pace needed to meet its 2% annual target.

Strong Dollar Hits China’s Foreign-Exchange Reserves

China’s foreign-exchange reserves saw its biggest monthly drop in October in nearly two years, hit by a strong U.S. dollar that hurt the value of other holdings and likely prompted government intervention to shore up the yuan.

October’s decrease of $33.93 billion was the largest since December 2016 when Beijing was battling capital flight and burned through $1 trillion to defend the yuan.

Stocks tank as another recession warning surfaces

U.S. stocks tumbled at open Wednesday after the inverted yield curve, one of the most reliable indicators of a recession, sparked a new wave of investor fears, erasing the short-lived bump from Tuesday’s trade easing.

Sri Lanka stocks, rupee fall; budget, IMF talks outcome awaited

COLOMBO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - ** Sri Lankan shares and the rupee closed weaker on Monday, with investors awaiting cues from next week’s budget and the outcome of talks between government authorities and the IMF, market source said. **

Spain’s Socialists win the election, but need to find allies

BACK LAST May when he filed the censure motion that brought him into office, Pedro Sánchez brushed off demands for an immediate election.

Solutions to the Big Data Challenge at the UN World Data Forum

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Big data offers promises to better support and facilitate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. And Robert Kirkpatrick, the director of United Nations Global Pulse, believes big data is what governments will need to achieve the SDGs.

Solar power sales help women avoid food insecurity in Yemen

WASHINGTON — Solar panels are providing women in Yemen access to energy and a way to escape famine conditions that continue to threaten the country.