Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng held a video meeting on Thursday with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. During the call, the Chinese and US sides “engaged in candid, in-depth, and constructive discussions” on “further properly addressing economic and trade issues of mutual concern and expanding practical cooperation”, a brief report stated. China expressed “serious concern” on the call over the “economic...
The US does not get to dictate the terms of coming trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday, following reports Washington wants an “entry fee” before agreeing to open negotiations. The United States and Canada are set to hold talks on revising a North American free trade agreement, a pact US President Donald Trump signed and praised during his first term but now dismisses as “irrelevant”. Quoting multiple Canadian sources, Canada’s public broadcaster CBC reported on...
The US and Japan have an ambition to transform the Philippines into a critical minerals powerhouse and cut their reliance on China as part of a broader economic partnership, but analysts warn that a lack of commitment by Manila to introduce comprehensive reforms and tackle corruption could hamper the goal. A report by the US-based think tank Centre for a New American Security (CNAS) said cooperation between the three countries was central to leveraging the Philippines’ vast potential as a source...