Finance & Economics
ARTICLES
Russia is strangling China-Europe railway freight and Chinese automotive imports
On October 15, 2024, Russia issued the Directive No. 1374, which expanded the list of banned transit goods banned from transit through Russia, focusing on dual-use items—products like electronics, machinery, and certain textiles (e.g., camouflage clothing) that could have military applications. This is Russia’s efforts to control the flow of goods amid Western sanctions and…
USA-India hails significant progress in Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
Here’s a focused summary of the latest developments between the U.S. and India during U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s four-day visit to India (April 21–24, 2025), emphasizing trade, energy, defense, and strategic ties, based on the most recent and reliable information available. The response integrates relevant details from web sources and X posts, with X…
USTR Section 301 Action’s New Maritime Fee Structure against China
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) introduced a new maritime fee structure in April 2025 to counter China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors while promoting U.S. shipbuilding. The initiative stems from a Section 301 investigation, prompted by five U.S. labor unions in March 2024, which concluded that China’s state subsidies and policies unfairly…
[ Trade War SITREP: 13-16 April 2025 ] CHINA SIGNS 40 AGREEMENTS W VIETNAM; Trump to help car industry; decoupling continues…
KEYSTONE DEVELOPMENT US probes into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors Federal Register filings reveal probes into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors as part of a bid to impose tariffs on both sectors on grounds that extensive reliance on foreign production of medicine and chips is a national security threat. The filings announce 21-day public comment periods…
USA remove tariffs on a series of computing and semi-conductor related products
U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a bulletin late on 11 April 2025 EDT that a series of product categories will be excluded from the 2 April 2025 reciprocal tariff list. The list of affected products are: These codes primarily cover electronics, semiconductors, and related components, reflecting products critical to technology and manufacturing sectors. DPA…
China seeks united front with like minded partners to fight USA in the Trade War
China reach out to other countries/blocs in attempt to form a united front against USA. These includes, Australia, European Union, ASEAN and India. However Australia and India is quick to turn down China’s call for cooperation. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rebuffed China’s offer for a joint resistance as “the only way” to stop the…
Trump raising China tariff to 125%; 75 countries that called Trump to negotiate, get 90 days tariff reprieve at 10%
Trump immediately counter attacked on China’s increase of retaliatory tariff to 84% with an immediate increase of tariff on China to 125%. While at the same time, Trump, upon achieving the goal of getting countries onto the negotiating table, the 75 countries that called USA to negotiate on the tariffs will now receive a 90…
China increase retaliatory tariff to 84% from 34%
On April 9, 2025, the U.S. implements the additional 50% tariff as promised, raising the total tariff rate on Chinese imports to 104% (20% from February, 34% from April 2, plus 50% on April 9). China in response had also raised another 50% tariff, mirroring US tariff action. DPA believe that we are now heading…
China totally playing into Trump’s hands.
China issued retaliatory tariffs against Trump’s “Liberation Day Reciprocal Tariff” – as a result, Trump had announced that they will impose additional 50% tariff on China, effective April 9th 2025 if China do not retract their tariff. China totally playing into Trump’s hands. I just want to say early: the aim is to embargo China…
China invasion of Taiwan: RISK IS NOW INCREASED TO 50%! – DPA Projections
DEVELOPMENT (March 2025) USA now sees Deterring China take over of Taiwan as a Military Priority. DPA Projection (7 April 2025): DPA assess that we will soon be seeing increased military deployments to US bases in the Asia Pacific in the near future. However, this will likely only happen after USA resolves the immediate problems…
Mysterious China Vessel cuts Taiwan’s undersea cable; lurking suspiciously for a month off Taiwan…
In a disturbing development from Taiwan, the Taiwanese Coast Guard is investigating a potential case of sabotage involving undersea internet cables. These cables, which are crucial for Taiwan’s internet connectivity, were reportedly damaged by an alleged Chinese vessel. However, the investigation has hit a roadblock as authorities have been unable to board the suspected ship…
Moldova Turns to Romania and Ukraine for Energy as Russia Halts Gas Supplies
Moldova is shifting to electricity imports from Romania and Ukraine after Russia’s state-owned energy giant, Gazprom, ceased gas supplies on Jan. 1. The halt comes amid the expiration of a key transit agreement with Ukraine and geopolitical tensions, leaving Moldova to address its energy needs through alternative sources. The Reasons Behind the Gas Cut-Off Gazprom’s…
Austria’s Bold Stance on Russian Gas: A New Chapter in Energy Politics
The Austrian utility company OMV announced that it would no longer pay for gas supplied by Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled gas giant. This decision came in light of a €230 million arbitration award granted to OMV by the International Chamber of Commerce due to irregular gas supplies from Gazprom. Background of the Dispute The tensions…
Debt and Monetary Dynamics of Developed vs Developing Nations: Lessons of Singapore and Reflections on Economic Strategies for Kenya and other Developing Nations
It’s fascinating to learn that Singapore’s debt primarily finances long-term infrastructure projects and boosts liquidity in the bond market, rather than covering budget deficits like many other countries, both developed and developing. I came across a video that discusses Singapore’s so-called high foreign debt. Interestingly, this debt stems from foreign deposits in Singapore’s robust and…
POLAND WILL NO LONGER ARM UKRAINE, after Ukraine complains to WTO over grain ban in Poland
In a series of recent developments, tensions have flared between Ukraine and several European Union member states, leading to significant economic and political repercussions. On September 15th, the European Commission announced the termination of the import ban on grain from Ukraine. This decision marked the culmination of a previous agreement made in May by the…
Russia’s Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria over non-payment in rubles
Russia Gazprom had cut off gas supplies on Wednesday (27 April 2022) to Poland and Bulgaria over their failure to make payments in Russian rubles, and had warned that siphoning of any gas supplies meant for other European customers will be responded with a reduction of the similar amount in gas supply to those customers…
Crisis in Sri Lanka: state of emergency imposed by government
The inability for the Sri Lanka government handle their acute shortage in foreign currency is spiraling out of control, as the government desperately imposed a state of emergency to deal with the protests on the streets. According to AFP (https://news.yahoo.com/sri-lanka-runs-diesel-faces-071054451.html), diesel was no longer on sale on 31 March 2022 across Sri Lanka – the…
Belarus to vote on constitutional changes to host nuclear weapons and effectively make Lukashenka a dictator – Russia pushed to the brink
Lukashenka, 67, has proposed amending the constitution, the third time he has done so since coming to power in 1994, that would allow him to rule to 2035, offer him a new lever of power, and abolish a section of the document defining Belarus as a “nuclear free zone,” possibly paving the way for the…
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