News from Around the World

China’s Potential New Trade Weapon: Corporate Social Credits

BEIJING—After five years, China is putting the finishing touches on a sweeping new system to punish and reward companies for their corporate behavior. But foreigners worry that, amid the continuing U.S.-China trade dispute, Beijing will use its new corporate “social credit” system as a weapon against international businesses.

China’s exports to the US are falling sharply as Trump escalates the trade war

China’s exports unexpectedly fell in August as shipments to the United States slowed sharply, pointing to further weakness in the world’s second-largest economy and underlining a pressing need for more stimulus as the Sino-U.S. trade war escalates.

China’s Economy Slows Sharply, in Challenge for Xi Jinping

DONGGUAN, China — China’s consumers and businesses are losing confidence. Car sales have plunged. The housing market is stumbling. Some factories are letting workers off for the big Lunar New Year holiday two months early.

China, U.S. to Hold Trade Talks in October as Mistrust Remains

China and the U.S. announced that face-to-face negotiations aimed at ending their tariff war will be held in Washington in the coming weeks, amid skepticism on both sides that any substantive progress can be made.

China ‘rebalances’ overseas lending on debt burden concerns

China is “rebalancing” its overseas lending practices in the face of mounting concerns over the debt burdens of developing countries, the head of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank told the Financial Times on Tuesday. 

Infrastructure investment in Asia’s largest developing countries fell in 2017 and 2018, amid a deleveraging campaign in China and deepening concern over the fiscal impact of Chinese-backed mega projects on their host countries. 

China says it’s still preparing for US trade talks — but won’t give details after new Trump threats

China said Monday its negotiators are still preparing to travel to the U.S. for trade talks this week despite President Donald Trump threatening Beijing with increased tariffs.

China Retaliates Against the U.S. With Its Own Higher Tariffs

BEIJING — China moved to retaliate against the United States, announcing plans on Monday to raise tariffs on a wide range of American goods.

China presses Trump to remove more tariffs in ‘phase one’ trade deal

China is pushing U.S. President Donald Trump to remove more tariffs imposed in September as part of a “phase one” U.S.-China trade deal, people familiar with the negotiations said on Monday.

The deal, which may be signed later this month by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a yet-to-be determined location, is widely expected to include a U.S. pledge to scrap tariffs scheduled for Dec. 15 on about $156 billion worth of Chinese imports, including cell phones, laptop computers and toys.

China Prepares Policy to Increase Access for Foreign Companies

China plans to replace an industrial policy savaged by the Trump administration as protectionist with a new program promising greater access for foreign companies, according to people briefed on the matter, in a move to resolve trade tensions with the U.S.

China Posts Weakest Growth in Nearly a Decade, Scrambles to Soothe Investors

BEIJING—China’s economic expansion slowed to its weakest pace since the financial crisis, as top financial regulators launched an extraordinary coordinated effort to calm jittery investors.