China joins massive Asian trade deal, a symbolic step to set standards without the U.S.

posted in: Far East, News

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement was signed yesterday, promising to set trading standards for 10 Southeast Asian countries plus China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan. The deal is a strategic, but mostly symbolic win for China. … Read More

Japan struggles to avoid Trump’s tariff threat as deadline looms

posted in: Far East, News

Higher tariffs on Japanese cars, the country’s biggest export to the US, are still being negotiated. US President Donald Trump has been adamant about reducing its trade deficit with other nations, while two-thirds of Japan’s trade surplus with the US … Read More

US reaffirms sanctions campaign on North Korea, keeps up pressure on Japan on trade

US Vice President Mike Pence (left) with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Japan on 13 Nov, 2018.PHOTO: EPA-EFE TOKYO – US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday (Nov 13) reaffirmed the need … Read More