TARIFFS – GOVERNMENT POLICY – CHINA

China puts six-month limit on ease of rare-earth export licenses

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Original article by Lingling Wei, Brian Schwartz
The Australian – Page: Online : 12-Jun-25

Sources have indicated that the Chinese government has agreed to start approving rare-earth license applications for US companies immediately, as part of a proposed trade deal between the two nations. However, China is said to be planning to initially restrict rare earths export licences to just six months, which would give the nation leverage if renewed trade tensions emerge. These export licences are also said to primarily cover rare earths elements that are used in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, wind turbines, consumer electronics and military equipment. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has indicated that tariffs will stay at the levels that were agreed to during the recent negotiations in Geneva.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Rate cuts still on the way after tariff pause

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Original article by Cecile Lefort
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 14-May-25

IFM Investors’ chief economist Alex Joiner has described the 90-day tariff pause agreed to by the US and China as a "small step forward". However, he cautions that the significant tariffs that remain in place during the temporary truce in the trade war will still be a major challenge for US households, businesses and the broader economy. Meanwhile, financial markets expect the US Federal Reserve to reduce official interest rates by 25 basis points in September; the Reserve Bank of Australia is in turn tipped to cut the cash rate three times before the end of 2025, by 85 basis points in total.

CORPORATES
IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, UMOW LAI & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Tariff fight heats up as China strikes back

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Jessica Sier, Matthew Cranston, Michael Read, Alex Gluyas, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 5-Feb-25

The Chinese government will impose a tariff of 15 per cent on US coal and LNG imports from 10 February. Crude oil, farm equipment and some vehicles will in turn be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. Beijing announced the move shortly after President Donald Trump’s new tariff regime on all goods imported from China took effect on Tuesday. Economists have warned that the tariffs dispute between the US and China will impact on the Australian economy, particularly if it escalates into a broader trade war. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has imposed export controls on critical minerals such as tungsten, tellurium and molybdenum, citing the need to "safeguard national security interests".

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

PM urges China to settle

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Original article by Dennis Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 23-Sep-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged the US and China to take action to resolve their trade dispute as quickly as possible. Following a meeting with President Donald Trump, Morrison stated that he had a "clear sense" that Trump is also keen for a resolution to the trade war. He added that any deal must be sustainable and address issues such as breaches of intellectual property and forced technology transfer. Morrison has downplayed recent comments by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who suggested that the G20 leaders’ summit in November will be the last opportunity for the US and China to resolve the trade war.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Funds brace for more volatility

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Original article by William McInnes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 27 : 27-Aug-19

Federation Asset Management chairman Greg Bundy says financial markets will keep falling, as he does not expect the US-China trade war to be resolved for some time. Matt Sherwood of Perpetual agrees that there is unlikely to be a quick resolution to the trade dispute. Bearish sentiment slashed the value of Australian stocks by around $26bn on 26 August, while the yield on 10-year Australian government bonds fell to 0.88 per cent. Shares in gold producers also rallied as investors sought out ‘safe-haven’ assets.

CORPORATES
FEDERATION ASSET MANAGEMENT, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

China plea to end trade war

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 : 27-Aug-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed indications that the US and China are open to resolving their trade dispute, but cautions that there have been similar overtures before. Morrison adds that the US has some "legitimate" grievances, and notes that the trade war has had an impact on both the Australian and global economies. President Donald Trump says the Chinese government has asked US trade officials to resume negotiations, adding that the US will begin "talking very ­seriously" with China.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7), RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX, HANG SENG INDEX, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX

PM calls for US-China calm

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Jun-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will use his first foreign policy speech since the 18 May election to urge the US and China to resolve their trade dispute, stressing that they must act in the global interest rather than their own interests. Morrison’s speech on 26 June will also warn that the trade tensions are causing "collateral damage" in the Asia-Pacific region, and that Australia is prepared to act in its own economic and security interests if the dispute worsens.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

US-China war may cost $652bn

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Original article by James Dean
The Australian – Page: 26 : 7-Jun-19

International Monetary Fund MD Christine Lagarde says a worsening of the trade dispute between the US and China will cause "self-inflicted wounds". The IMF has estimated that the global economy will take a $US455 billion ($652 billion) hit in 2020 if the trade war escalates further. Lagarde notes that protectionist measures make traded consumer goods more expensive and cause disproportionate harm to low-income households.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Billions in gains on offer from US-China skirmish

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 20 : 8-Mar-19

A PwC report has concluded that Australia’s manufacturing, education and resources sectors are amongst those that could benefit from the US-China trade war. The report suggests that the domestic economy could potentially be bolstered by up to $2bn a year if the trade tensions continue. PwC economist Jeremy Thorpe says local businesses should be looking at how they can capitalise on any trade opportunities that may arise as a result of the tensions between the US and China.

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

Sharemarket in $30bn surge after thaw in US-China trade war

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 4-Dec-18

Materials and energy stocks posted the strongest gains on 3 December, with the Australian sharemarket rebounding from a big fall in the previous trading session. Investors responded positively to trade discussions between the US and China at the G20 meeting, as well as claims by President Donald Trump that China has agreed to remove tariffs on US cars. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar peaked at a four-month high of $US0.7384 in local trading.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, OZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZL, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX, HANG SENG INDEX, NIKKEI 225 INDEX, KOSPI INDEX, FTSE 100 INDEX