United States

China

Switzerland

Economics

Politics

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet in Switzerland on May 10-11 for trade talks, Bloomberg reported on May 6.

China, U.S.: Trade Talks To Commence in Switzerland

U.S.-China Relations

China appointed its envoy to the World Trade Organization, Li Chenggang, as its point person for trade negotiations with the White House, and China wants U.S. President Donald Trump to appoint a U.S. counterpart negotiator, Bloomberg reported on April 16. 

China, U.S.: China Appoints Negotiator, Asks U.S. To Do Same, But Both Obstinate on Trade Talks

Chinese authorities have ordered Chinese airlines to pause the delivery of jets ordered from U.S. aircraft maker Boeing, and they have likewise requested that Chinese carriers stop purchases of U.S. aircraft equipment and parts, according to sources cited in an April 15 Bloomberg report.

China, U.S.: Beijing Targets U.S. Aircraft Industry as Tariffs Plateau

Environment, Science & Technology

In a rule issued late on April 11, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection exempted 20 product categories from new 125% tariffs on China, including smartphones, modems, routers, flash drives, displays, semiconductors and other consumer electronics, although the goods are still subject to the 20% tariff on China over fentanyl trade. 

U.S.: Consumer Electronics Exempted From 125% China Tariffs, But More Tariffs Coming Soon

Taiwan

Cyber

In a confidential meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in December 2024, Chinese officials indicated that Beijing carried out cyber intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure in retaliation for increasing U.S. support for Taiwan, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 10.

China, U.S.: China Reportedly Acknowledged Responsibility for Cyber Intrusions

China's Ministry of Finance announced on April 11 that, in response to the United States raising its reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods to 125% on April 9, China was raising its tariff on U.S. imports to 125%, effective April 12. 

China, U.S.: China Raises Tariff to 125%, Will Lean More on Non-Tariff Tools

As of April 10, China has yet to reveal large-scale retaliatory trade measures following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to raise reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports to 125% on April 9. 

China, U.S.: China Delays Tariff Retaliation, Targets Tourism and Hollywood

In an April 9 post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he was authorizing a 90-day pause on some of his highest tariffs on an unspecified list of countries, with those countries only being subject to a 10% U.S. tariff. In the same post, he announced that he was raising tariffs against China to 125%, effective immediately, after Chinese officials announced earlier in the day that Beijing was raising tariffs on the United States by 50% to match a similar tariff hike by the United States that entered effect April 9. 

U.S.: Trump Announces 90-Day Pause on Higher Tariffs for Most Countries, 125% Tariff on China

Snapshots

Containers are seen at China's Lianyungang port in eastern Jiangsu province on May 1, 2025. 

Global Trade

Although the U.S.-China trade deal will bring short-term economic relief, negotiations over a broader agreement will remain fraught, particularly since the rapid reduction of U.S. tariffs will embolden China to implement strong retaliation when talks falter.

Despite Tariff Reprieve, a Broader U.S.-China Deal Will Remain Elusive

Assessments

Europe

A digital illustration of the Chinese and EU flags.

Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Budding EU-China Rapprochement Amid U.S. Tariffs Will Have Its Limits

South Africa

Israel

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Ukraine

A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

U.S.-Iran Relations

Cranes unload shipping containers from a ship at a port in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province, on April 2, 2025. 

The timing and scope of Beijing's retaliatory measures signal a significant escalation of its trade war with Washington, which may nonetheless increase the long-term chance of a trade deal.

China Abandons Restraint With Latest Trade Salvo Against the U.S.

Media

Canada

Mexico

Iran

Australia

Philippines

Russia

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Second-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Energy

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

Intensifying trade wars, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, continued volatility in the Middle East and consequential elections in key countries will shape the quarter.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Global Elections

Columns

On Geopolitics

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office on March 7, 2025, after announcing that tariffs could be imposed on Canadian dairy and lumber products within days. 

The expanding scope of Trump's trade wars, coupled with the whiplash of tariffs being enacted and then suspended, begs the question: what is driving this strategy and what, if anything, will constrain it?

Trump's Emerging Trade Doctrine

A digital map illustration of Russia.

The White House believes that restoring ties with Moscow will help it negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine and, more importantly, undermine Russia-China relations in the long run. But numerous potential pitfalls mean this approach is unlikely to pay off.

The Rationale and Risks of Trump's Push to Reengage With Russia

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

The flags of the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are seen on display.

Malaysia's chairmanship will be pivotal in navigating security risks as well as those from U.S. trade restrictions, potential Chinese economic coercion, and supply chain realignments that threaten ASEAN's cohesion and strategic autonomy.

Previewing Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship

A map of the United States from 1897. While a revisionist America could lead to a more stable world order, it would be much more likely to lead to greater uncertainty, volatility, and conflict.

While a revisionist America could lead to a more stable world order, it would be much more likely to lead to greater uncertainty, volatility, and conflict.

What a Revisionist U.S. Foreign Policy Could Mean for the World

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and other senior leaders applaud at the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC, on March 10, 2024, in Beijing, China. 

The annual legislative conference will reveal more details on how China plans to support its sluggish economy and protect it from Western restrictions, though major stimulus measures remain unlikely.

China's 'Two Sessions' Meeting Will Shed Light on Economic Support, Trade Resilience Plans

Portugal

Over the next several months, RANE will explore the shifting patterns of global trade, and how these impact -- and are impacted by -- the changing global order. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: Introduction

U.S.-China Relations

SITUATION REPORTS

China, U.S.: Trade Talks To Commence in Switzerland

China, U.S.: China Appoints Negotiator, Asks U.S. To Do Same, But Both Obstinate on Trade Talks

China, U.S.: Beijing Targets U.S. Aircraft Industry as Tariffs Plateau

U.S.: Consumer Electronics Exempted From 125% China Tariffs, But More Tariffs Coming Soon

China, U.S.: China Reportedly Acknowledged Responsibility for Cyber Intrusions

China, U.S.: China Raises Tariff to 125%, Will Lean More on Non-Tariff Tools

China, U.S.: China Delays Tariff Retaliation, Targets Tourism and Hollywood

U.S.: Trump Announces 90-Day Pause on Higher Tariffs for Most Countries, 125% Tariff on China

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