China's top diplomat was in Cambodia on Monday on the start of a visit both countries hope will boost relations at a time of increased tensions with the United States (US).Foreign Minister Wang Yi - who will also visit Malaysia, Lao and Thailand on a regional charm offensive - signed a trade deal that will allow Cambodia to export 340 mostly agricultural products without tariffs.Beijing has all but replaced Washington as Phnom Penh's most important international partner, with the la

Negotiators from the United States (US) and China will discuss today the "phase one" trade deal signed earlier this year – before the coronavirus slammed the world economy and relations between the two economic powers took a turn for the worse.Washington and Beijing's January deal represented a partial truce in their months-long trade war, and obligated Beijing to import an additional US$200 billion in American products over two years, ranging from cars to machinery to oil and

In December 2019, Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen dismissed a threat from the European Union (EU) to halt special trade privileges over human rights issues. “I don’t care, if (they) want to do whatever, do it,” Hun Sen said in a speech at a university graduation ceremony in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

China wants to reach an initial trade deal with the United States (US), President Xi Jinping said Friday, but is "not afraid" to fight back when necessary and will enact economic reforms at its own pace. It is rare for Xi to speak so directly about the trade war and his comments come two days after US President Donald Trump complained that Beijing had not made sufficient concessions so far, making him reluctant to conclude a bargain.The world's two biggest economies ha

A partial United States (US)-China deal may only offer a temporary tariff reprieve because it lacks specifics and leaves the thorny issues for later, analysts said, allowing both economic powers to claim success.Friday's initial agreement – which included increasing US farm product purchases, and also covers intellectual property, financial services and currencies – finally breaks an 18-month trade spat.Engulfed in an impeachment inquiry, US President Donald Trump heralded the deal as a

The United States (US) prepared to hit China with new tariffs even as President Donald Trump said he’ll meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at next month’s Group of 20 (G-20) summit, an encounter that could prove pivotal in a deepening clash over trade.The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office Monday released a list of about US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods including children’s clothing, toys, mobile phones and laptops that Trump has threatened to hit with a 25 percent tariff.If

President Donald Trump declared China’s leaders “broke the deal” he was negotiating with them on trade, ratcheting up his rhetoric ahead of fresh negotiations that were already clouded by imminent tariff increases and China’s threats of retaliation.“They broke the deal!” Trump said at a campaign rally Wednesday night in Panama City Beach, Florida, leading him to raise tariffs. The president noted that top Chinese trade negotiator Liu He was traveling to Washington for further talks.

Indonesia and Australia on Monday signed a long-awaited trade deal after months of diplomatic tension over Canberra's contentious plan to move its embassy to Jerusalem.Indonesian trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita and his Australian counterpart Simon Birmingham wrapped up the multi-billion-dollar agreement in Jakarta, some nine years after negotiations first started.The pact will include improved access for Australian cattle and sheep farmers to Indonesia's 260 million people, while