The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 8th November 2024
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
Trump's tariffs would reorder trade flows, raise costs, draw retaliation
Iowa farmer Bob Hemesath is worried that U.S. agriculture will pay dearly if Donald Trump wins Tuesday's presidential election and makes good on a vow to swiftly impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and at least a 10% levy on all other imports.
Trump unlikely to impose full tariff plan - S&P Global
U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to impose a universal 10% tariff on imports and 60% on Chinese goods is likely only a starting point for negotiations, ratings agency S&P Global said in a note on Thursday.
Exclusive: Unilever, Procter & Gamble face risk from Trump's threatened Mexico tariffs
Procter & Gamble (PG.N) and Unilever (ULVR.L) are among big packaged goods companies that would be exposed if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump goes ahead with a threat to impose tariffs on Mexico, data seen exclusively by Reuters shows.
Southeast Asia prepares for factories fleeing Trump tariffs on China
Companies have been moving factories from China to Southeast Asia, anticipating Donald Trump would slap high tariffs on Beijing if he regained the White House, a move set to accelerate with his election win, industrial park developers in the region say.
Steven Madden to cut sourcing from China on tariff worries under Trump
Steven Madden (SHOO.O) executives said on Thursday the company was working quickly to shift product sourcing out of China to other countries after Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory.
Why Trump tariffs pose a bigger threat to China’s economy this time
A threat by Donald Trump, who has been elected as the next U.S. president, to impose 60% tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese goods poses major growth risks for the world's second-largest economy.
What Trump's 2024 election win means for Asian companies
Donald Trump has been elected U.S. president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House.
Canada west coast ports shutdown enters second day
The British Columbia ports labour dispute continued on Tuesday, impacting exports at Canada's biggest port in Vancouver with no sign of negotiating progress.
Labor dispute stops Canadian canola oil, forestry exports from West Coast
Canada's exports of canola oil and forest products from West Coast ports have halted due to a labor dispute, producers said on Thursday.
Amazon's plan to tackle Temu, Shein? Sell more toothpaste
Amazon's (AMZN.O) push to offer more everyday essentials like toothpaste is hurting its average selling prices, but it is also a guard against rivals such as Temu and Shein that offer rock bottom prices on goods they ship from China.
Walmart, other US retailers import fewer Christmas goods ahead of tepid holiday season
Santa Claus is not delivering as many Christmas trees, toys and decorations to the United States this year as in recent years, import data shows, with retailers including Walmart (WMT.N) bringing in less holiday product ahead of what is expected to be a so-so holiday season.
Walmart to offer independent drivers new holiday bonuses in battle with Amazon
Walmart (WMT.N) will pay independent delivery drivers new financial incentives to pick up online orders at its U.S. stores and deliver them to shoppers during the holiday season, the retailer told Reuters.
In changing climate, retailers turning to weather strategies
Big-name retailers such as Walmart (WMT.N) are increasingly using analytics to blunt the impact of one of the most unpredictable performance variables of shopping: weather.
Trump's tariff threat puts US farm exports to China at risk
Chinese imports of U.S. farm goods, which have slowed since the trade war during Donald Trump's first presidential term, could be hit again if tariff hostilities resume when he returns to office in January, experts say.
US solar tariffs can't keep up with Chinese firms
For twelve years, the United States has waged a tariff war against a rising tide of Chinese solar imports. And for twelve years, Chinese manufacturers have found ways to sidestep the tariffs.
China steelmakers gird for indirect Trump tariffs hit
China's steel industry, already struggling with overcapacity and weak domestic demand, faces an indirect hit if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pursues 60% tariffs on Chinese goods such as manufactured items made from the alloy.
Trump's tariff threats push Taiwan to help firms move production from China
Taiwan will help companies relocate production from China given the likely large impact from tariffs that incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to impose on the country, Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said on Thursday.
Automakers brace for new tariffs, EV changes under Trump presidency
Automakers are bracing for President-elect Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on vehicles from Mexico and potentially from other countries and to reverse many existing pro-electric vehicle policies, industry associations and executives said.
China's messy EV dispute with Europe keeps trade tensions in check
Fears of a widening tariff war between China and other major exporting nations are keeping diplomacy between the world's second-largest economy and the European Union alive, even as trade talks over electric vehicles stall.
China to file lawsuit with WTO against EU's final EV ruling, commerce ministry says
China's commerce ministry said on Monday that it has decided to file a lawsuit with the WTO against the EU's final countervailing measures on China-made electric vehicles.
Uncertainty prevails as top exporter Vietnam braces for volatility with Trump
Vietnam faces trade volatility with a new Trump presidency, officials and supply chain experts told Reuters, as the country could benefit from increased U.S.-China trade tensions but may also become "collateral damage" of U.S. protectionist measures.
Trump's tariff plan could cost Americans $78 billion in annual spending, NRF study shows
U.S. shoppers could lose up to $78 billion in annual spending power annually if presidential candidate Donald Trump's new tariffs proposal on imports are implemented, a study from the National Retail Federation (NRF) showed on Monday.
Chinese solar firms go where US tariffs don't reach
Some of the biggest Chinese-owned solar factories in Vietnam are cutting production and laying off workers, spurred on by the expansion of U.S. trade tariffs targeting it and three other Southeast Asian countries.
China's car sales jump in October as automakers rush to meet annual goals
China's passenger vehicle sales jumped 11.2% in October year-on-year, the second straight monthly rise and the fastest growth since January, led by domestic champion BYD (002594.SZ) as automakers raced to meet annual sales targets.
After SpaceX's requests, Taiwanese suppliers move manufacturing abroad, sources say
Elon Musk's SpaceX asked Taiwanese suppliers to transfer manufacturing off the island, leading to some relocating portions of their supply chain, according to sources employed by and close to the equipment makers and corporate documents.
US suppliers, importers prepare for promised Trump tariffs
Some U.S. businesses are activating plans to protect their businesses from President-elect Donald Trump's promise to slap new and potentially hefty tariffs on a wide swath of goods from countries including China and Mexico - the top U.S. trading partners.
China's exports soar past forecast as factories front-run Trump tariff threat
China's exports grew at the fastest pace in over two years in October as factories rushed inventory to major markets in anticipation of further tariffs from the U.S. and the European Union, as the threat of a two-front trade war loomed large.
German exports and industrial output fall more than expected
German exports and industrial output fell more than expected in September, showing the weakness of two of the pillars of the German economic model at the start of the fourth quarter.
Yemen's Houthis will keep blockade on Israeli vessels after asset sale reports
Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they would maintain their maritime blockade against Israeli vessels in response to "intelligence information" regarding Israeli shipping companies selling their assets to other companies.
Make new friends and boost hiring: How China's chip industry plans to deal with Trump
China's semiconductor industry is readying itself for four more combative years under Donald Trump as U.S. president by ramping up purchases of foreign chipmaking equipment and looking out for opportunities to hire overseas talent and forge new alliances.
EU must spend 39 billion euros a year for net zero transport targets, campaign group says
Europe needs to spend 39 billion euros ($42.46 billion) a year to reach its net zero targets in the transport sector by 2050, campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) said on Monday, issuing five key recommendations for the European Union.
US green power demand expected to grow regardless of election outcome
Demand for green power in the United States will grow regardless of who is the country's next president, major players in the wind energy sector Vestas (VWS.CO) and Orsted (ORSTED.CO) said on Tuesday.
TSMC to suspend production of advanced AI chips for China from Monday, FT reports
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) (2330.TW) has notified Chinese chip design companies that it is suspending production of their most advanced AI chips from Monday, the Financial Times reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
SMIC sees prolonged chip glut, signals cautious expansion outlook
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (0981.HK) , China's largest chipmaker, warned on Friday that overcapacity in mature node chips will persist through 2025 and that it was turning cautious on building new capacity.
US fines GlobalFoundries for shipping chips to sanctioned Chinese firm
The U.S. said on Friday it imposed a $500,000 penalty on New York-based GlobalFoundries (GFS.O), the world's third-largest contract chipmaker, for shipping chips without authorization to an affiliate of blacklisted Chinese chipmaker SMIC.
Expeditors International beats Q3 estimates on early freight moves
Logistics company Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD.N) reported third-quarter results above estimates on Tuesday, driven by increasing tonnage and volumes as some shippers moved freight early due to concerns over port disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
MercadoLibre misses third-quarter profit expectations on logistics, credit costs
Latin American e-commerce giant MercadoLibre (MELI.O) on Wednesday posted a near 11% increase in its third-quarter net profit, missing market estimates as logistics and credit costs offfset revenue growth.
Denmark's DFDS ends deal to buy transport network from Turkey's Ekol
Danish shipping and logistics firm DFDS (DFDS.CO) said on Friday it had terminated a share purchase agreement with Ekol Logistics and that a deal struck in April to buy the Turkish group's international transport network would no longer take place.
DHL posts weakened free cash flow for Q3, denting shares
DHL (DHLn.DE) reported third-quarter free cash flow well below market expectations on Tuesday, in another hit to its shares that have lost nearly a fifth of their value this year.
PostNL cuts 2024 forecasts, announces CEO exit
PostNL (PTNL.AS) cut its full-year targets on Monday, citing persistently volatile economic conditions, and said CEO Herna Verhagen would step down after the Dutch postal operator's annual general meeting in April next year.
Vietnam records $2 bln trade surplus in October, lowest since May
Vietnam reported an October trade surplus of $2 billion, narrowing from the previous month as imports grew at a faster rate than exports, government data showed on Wednesday.
Euro zone manufacturing slump shows signs of stabilising in October, PMIs show
Euro zone manufacturing showed some signs of stabilisation in October as while activity contracted for a 28th month it did so at a shallower pace, according to a survey which showed an ongoing decline in demand had also eased.
India's factory growth accelerates in October, PMI shows
India's manufacturing growth gained momentum in October after decelerating for three months as demand improved significantly, helping in job creation and leading to a better business outlook, according to a business survey released on Monday.
US manufacturing drops to 15-month low in October
U.S. manufacturing activity slumped to a 15-month low in October and factories faced higher prices for inputs.
India's retail car sales jump 32% in Oct, inventory levels remain high
Indian dealers' car sales increased 32.4% in October, helped by festive demand, especially for sports utility vehicles (SUV), as well as new model launches and offers, but inventory levels remained high, a dealers' association said on Wednesday.
German industrial orders rise more than expected in September
German industrial orders rose more than expected in September thanks to large-scale orders such as aircraft, ships, trains and military vehicles, according to data released on Wednesday.
US wholesale inventories revised lower in September
U.S. wholesale inventories fell more than initially thought in September amid a sharp decline in motor vehicle stocks.
Canada posts higher-than-expected trade deficit in September on lower prices
Canada posted a higher than expected trade deficit of C$1.26 billion ($908 million) in September mainly on account of lower prices which pulled down the value of exports but overall volumes of outbound shipments rose, data showed on Tuesday.
Airbus delivers 62 more planes, chasing challenging full-year target
Airbus (AIR.PA) delivered 62 jets in October to bring this year's total to 559, the company said on Thursday, as it chases an increasingly challenging year-end target.
FAA to strengthen oversight as Boeing set to resume 737 MAX production
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday it will boost its oversight of Boeing (BA.N) as the planemaker prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a 53-day strike that ended earlier this week.
UK's Rolls-Royce confident on profit growth despite supply chain woes
Britain's Rolls-Royce (RR.L) stuck to guidance for annual profit growth of at least 30% this year as its airline customers flew more and demand for power for data systems and defence equipment continued to grow.
Solar manufacturer Suniva resumes production of American-made cells
U.S. solar company Suniva has started producing cells at its Georgia factory and is shipping them to customers, executives told Reuters, calling it a milestone in the effort to build a robust domestic solar supply chain.
Exclusive: Washington seals $475 million loan for battery recycler Li-Cycle ahead of Trump's arrival
The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday finalized a $475 million loan for Li-Cycle Holdings (LICY.N), giving the metals recycler a financial lifeline to build a New York battery processing facility seen as key to outgoing President Joe Biden's vision for a domestic electric vehicle supply chain.
Demand weakness helps cushion tin from supply problems
Tin demand last year was weaker than expected and is on course for only a modest recovery in 2024, according to the International Tin Association (ITA).
China's cabinet approves measures to boost trade growth
China's cabinet on Friday approved measures to boost growth in the country's foreign trade, state media reported, after October exports grew at the fastest pace in over two years and the country unveiled fiscal stimulus to revive growth.
Trump-led oil & gas export boom may go bust in Europe trade spat
Oil and gas producers in the United States expect to find it easier to ramp up production and exploration under the incoming second administration of Donald Trump. Finding local and lucrative markets for their wares may be the bigger challenge.
Hapag-Lloyd orders 24 new container ships from two Chinese firms
Global shipping company Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.DE) has ordered 24 new container ships from two Chinese shipyards with a combined investment volume of about $4 billion, it said on Wednesday.
China consumer is epitome of delayed gratification
Chinese policymakers have been talking about rebalancing the economy from investment and exports towards consumption for more than two decades.
Toyota posts first quarterly profit drop in two years, hit by production woes
Toyota Motor (7203.T) posted on Wednesday its first quarterly profit drop in two years as its weaker sales and production issues in two crucial markets - Japan and the U.S. - stalled the Japanese automaker's recent record run.
VW workers at Osnabrueck plant hold fresh warning strike
Workers at Volkswagen's Osnabrueck plant, considered a possible target for closure under the German automaker's restructuring plans, are holding fresh warning strikes on Wednesday as part of regional protests over pay, the IG Metall union said.
Mitsubishi Corp, Nissan to establish JV on autonomous driving, EV batteries, Yomiuri says
Japan's Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T) and Nissan (7201.T) have decided to establish a joint venture to provide services related to autonomous driving and using electric vehicle batteries as storage batteries, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Monday.
Stellantis to halt production at Mirafiori for another month from end-Nov, report says
Carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) will once again halt car production in December at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, for at least another month, daily MF reported on Friday, citing two sources.
Stellantis to lay off 1,100 workers at Ohio Jeep plant
Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said on Wednesday it is laying off about 1,100 employees at a Jeep Gladiator plant in Toledo, Ohio, as it works to improve efficiency and reduce inventory across its North American operations.
Nissan to axe 9,000 jobs, cut production on weak China, US sales
Nissan Motor (7201.T) will cut 9,000 jobs and 20% of its global manufacturing capacity, the automaker said on Thursday, as it scrambles to reduce costs by $2.6 billion in the current fiscal year amid a sales slump in China and the U.S.
Audi plans thousands of job cuts outside production, report says
German automaker Audi is looking to shrink its workforce in the medium term by cutting jobs outside of production, with thousands of positions at risk, the Manager Magazin reported on Thursday.
Texas' port Freeport briefly suspends inbound vessels traffic due to tropical weather
Inbound vessel traffic to the port of Freeport was briefly suspended due to offshore conditions amid a tropical weather system, according to a notice from a shipping agency.
India raids offices of sellers using Amazon, Flipkart platforms, sources say
India's financial crime agency has raided offices of some sellers operating on Amazon (AMZN.O) and Walmart-owned (WMT.N) Flipkart in an investigation into alleged violations of foreign investment rules, three government sources said on Thursday.
India recalls Flipkart antitrust probe report after Xiaomi complaint
India's antitrust body has recalled its investigation report into competition law breaches by e-commerce giant Walmart's (WMT.N) Flipkart, a document shows, the second such move after a report on Apple (AAPL.O) was revoked in August.
LG Energy Solution signs 5-year battery supply deal with Rivian
South Korea's LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) on Friday said its subsidiary LG Energy Solution Arizona has signed a battery supply agreement with U.S.-based automotive manufacturer Rivian (RIVN.O).
TSMC, GlobalFoundries poised to get final Chips Act awards, sources say
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, (2330.TW) GlobalFoundries (GFS.O) and at least one other chipmaker are poised to receive their final Chips and Science Act awards from the Biden administration, two people briefed on the matter said.
France selects three industrial projects for Le Havre port
The French government has selected winning proposals for a hydrogen import terminal, a renewable fuels facility and a lithium production factory to be built at the state-run port of Le Havre as part of an effort to attract industrial investment, the finance ministry said on Thursday.
Suez Canal Economic Zone set for rapid expansion - chairman
Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) has invested $3 billion on infrastructure over the past few years and has plans to invest a similar amount over the next few years as it works to attract investors, its chairman said in an interview.