Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association prefer FTA, low tariffs on automobiles

The move is aimed at maintaining the chinks in the well-oiled, tried and tested global automobile supply chain. U.S. demands for changes in NAFTA could significantly impact automakers and autospare makers. On Friday, an association of Japanese automakers stated, it hoped Japan’s export partners would stick to existing free trade relationships and keep tariffs on…

EU should revisit FTA with the U.S: head of Germany’s engineering trade body

11% of Germany’s total exports are destined for the U.S. On Monday, Carl Martin Welcker, the head of Germany’s engineering trade body stated a fresh attempt should be made at hammering out a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced a 10% tariff…

Republican senators want Lockheed Martin to sell F-35 fighter jets to Taiwan

The potential sale could, to a large extent promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region while helping Lockheed Mart meet its 2018 sales target. In efforts aimed an ensuring that Taiwan “remain[s] a democracy” in the face of a Chinese aggression, two senior U.S. Republican senators have asked the Trump administration to allow…

Trump’s tax law takes a $13.8 billion bite from Microsoft Corp’s 4th quarter revenues

The growth in Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing service is one of the reasons why the tech giant’s shares have risen by nearly 50% in the last 12 months. Despite Microsoft Corp’s quarterly revenues beating Wall Street’s forecast, recent changes in U.S. tax law took a one-time bite of $13.8 billion from its earnings. Boosted by…

Donald Trump blocks China’s attempt to acquire chipmaker Lattice Semiconductor Corp

The Chinese state had a hidden role in the acquisition of Lattice Semiconductor Corp whose chips have military applications. In a clear signal from Washington to Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump has blocked a Chinese-backed private equity firm’s acquisition bid for a U.S. chipmaker, thus telling Beijing in very lucid terms that the United States…

Noises from the White House adds to the global cacophony, pulls down equities across the world

The inability to provide a stable economic, and deliver cohesive governance will have long term consequences for the current U.S. administration. Stock prices across the globe went south for a second day following an exodus of U.S. executives from Donald Trump’s business councils thus dealing a fresh blow to hopes of promised tax reforms. For…

Donald Trump prods China to act on North Korea, authorises probe of its intellectual Property practices

Finally a President who can stand up to China’s suspicious trade policies. In a significant development with long term inpact, U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized an inquiry into China’s alleged theft of intellectual property, in what has been described as a first step towards mitigating the trade imbalance between the two nations. With China…