Category: International Trade and World Market

China Touts Hainan, Its Duty-Free Island, Amid $1 Trillion Trade Surplus

Policies meant to lure importers to Hainan, a resort island off China’s coast, signal an opening up, Beijing says. One expert calls it a “bait and switch.”
How Venezuela’s Oil Could Shake Up the World Supply

The country could, eventually, attract investment and re-emerge as a force in the oil markets, but many analysts are concerned about an oversupply.
Chevron’s Risky Bet to Stay in Venezuela May Now Give It an Advantage

The second-largest U.S. oil company, which kept pumping oil in the country after others left, could find it relatively easy to expand its operations if the political conditions there improve.
New Car Sales Are Rising Thanks to Purchases by the Well-Off

A larger proportion of new cars are being bought by affluent Americans as prices and interest rates for auto loans climb, analysts said.
Why Haven’t Trump’s Tariffs Had a Bigger Impact?

Steep import taxes have raised prices and affected U.S. businesses, but not quite as much as expected. A new report offers some reasons.
How Japanese Scallops Became a Pawn in Diplomatic Tensions With China

Beijing is using a ban on the humble mollusk to punish Japan over its apparent willingness to defend Taiwan.
Will the A.I. Boom Continue to Drive Up Stocks in 2026?

The boom in artificial intelligence was the biggest driver of gains in the stock market. That could pose a risk in 2026.
Inside China’s Six-Decade Campaign to Dominate Rare Earths

From Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping, generations of Communist Party bosses and military leaders invested in a strategic but heavily polluting industry.
Cheap Solar Is Transforming Lives and Economies Across Africa

Chinese panels are now so affordable that businesses and families are snapping them up, slashing their bills and challenging utilities.
Meet a U.S. Start-Up Trying to Break China’s Rare-Earth Monopoly

Companies like Phoenix Tailings, which recently began producing metal in New Hampshire, are using new processing methods to compete with Chinese suppliers.
The Photos That Defined Business and the Economy in 2025

Our photojournalists and others have captured images of how major changes from Washington and elsewhere rippled across the world.
How Many Toys Will Parents Buy for Their Kids This Christmas?

Ynon Kreiz, the chief executive of Mattel, believes consumers squeezed by tariffs and inflation will cut back on other things before they skimp on Barbies and Hot Wheels.