China’s state media praised U.S. firms like Apple and Tesla for their collaboration with Chinese partners as trade tensions resurface. This comes after Donald Trump announced plans for a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, aiming to address the flow of chemicals linked to the opioid crisis in the U.S.
China’s state media have commended certain U.S. firms for their “strong collaboration” – a narrative that arises amidst concerns of a trade war and echoes the tone adopted by Chinese newspapers during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
Trump, who assumes office on 20 January, announced on Monday his intention to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese goods to press Beijing into doing more to curb the flow of Chinese-manufactured chemicals fueling the opioid crisis in the United States. He has also previously threatened tariffs exceeding 60% on Chinese goods during his campaign.
During Trump’s first term, corporate executives and foreign investors scrutinised Chinese state media for indications of which U.S. firms might receive favour or face penalties as trade tensions intensified.
On Wednesday evening, the state-owned Global Times commended Apple (AAPL.O), Tesla (TSLA.O), Starbucks (SBUX.O), and HP (HPE.N) for their strong collaboration with Chinese partners. “U.S. politicians need to pay attention to and respect the evident willingness of American businesses for economic and trade cooperation by tailoring suitable policy environments for enterprises,” it stated.
The China Daily likewise highlighted that Morgan Stanley (MS.N) obtained regulatory approval in March to expand its operations in China, presenting this as evidence of foreign financial firms’ eagerness to invest in the country. During Trump’s initial term, the U.S.-Sino trade war saw China threaten to block U.S. companies from importing, exporting, and investing in the country via the introduction of an “Unreliable Entity List.”
At the time, Global Times reported that the list could target U.S. firms such as Apple, Cisco Systems (CSCO.O), and Qualcomm (QCOM.O). However, Beijing ultimately refrained from implementing this threat, with the list so far including only U.S. companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan.
“Neither side was good about communicating policy directly, so businesses were left to interpret the signals from traditional and social media,” remarked a Beijing-based American executive. The executive, who was also in China during Trump’s first term, is not authorised to speak publicly and declined to be named.
Bo Zhengyuan, a Shanghai-based partner at consultancy Plenum, anticipated that Beijing would be unlikely to quickly deploy measures such as the Unreliable Entity List following any formal tariff announcement under Trump’s administration, given the fragile state of China’s economy. However, he noted that Beijing could retaliate later if U.S. policymakers were perceived as undermining China’s commercial interests.
“There was collateral damage last time, and there will be collateral damage this time. But I believe the Chinese government, given the current foreign investment climate, is aware that such tactics could provoke backlash,” he added.
During Trump’s first term, Chinese authorities rarely issued direct statements about the trade war. So far this week, officials in mainland China have avoided commenting directly on the proposed 10% tariff, although a Chinese embassy representative in Washington remarked that no one stands to gain from a trade war.
Only 47% of U.S. companies expressed optimism about their five-year business prospects in China, according to a September survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
China has successfully launched a new satellite, Tianping-3A 02, into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.
Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in Chinese military activity as Beijing concluded two days of war games around the island, intensifying tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
China is prepared to collaborate with Russia to advance multi-polarization and promote greater democracy in international relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated after discussions with Russian officials in Moscow.
Kazakhstan’s foreign minister met with the EU’s special representative for Central Asia to discuss investment, trade, and regional cooperation. Both sides emphasized digitalization, climate policy, and infrastructure projects, reaffirming their commitment to deeper economic ties.
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Digital Development met with a delegation from Karamay, China, to discuss collaboration in cloud computing, data processing, and digital governance. Both sides shared experiences and invited each other to major IT events in 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will meet in Samarkand on April 4 for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit, aimed at deepening ties. Talks will focus on trade, investment, green energy, and security — marking a new era of cooperation.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
The United States is relapsing into an old identity. In 2025, President Donald Trump revived the strategy that once defined the American economy — tariffs. For more than a century, from 1789 to 1913, tariffs powered U.S. government revenues and protected domestic industry.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will meet in Samarkand on April 4 for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit, aimed at deepening ties. Talks will focus on trade, investment, green energy, and security — marking a new era of cooperation.
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