World / Asia-Pacific US to renew ties with ASEAN countries

The United States government is renewing its focus on Southeast Asia, but it is not a part of the efforts to contain China, former US ambassador to China said at the first Meeting of the ASEAN-US Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in Manila on Monday.

Former ambassador James Stapleton Roy, US representative to the meeting which started on Monday, said in his opening statement that the reason...

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Ainsley Shea
China seeks export recovery

China is now losing an increasing number of export orders to other emerging countries because of rising costs at home. That's driving the government to consider supportive measures including tax rebates and reduced transportation fees, a commerce official said on Saturday during an investment and trade expo held in Changsha, Hunan province.

"Rising costs of labor and land as well as...

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Ainsley Shea
Solar Power Market Braces For US-China Trade Case Decision

The U.S. solar-power industry has been nervously awaiting a federal decision on whether to impose antidumping tariffs on Chinese solar-panel makers.

The Department of Commerce is scheduled to issue a decision Thursday on the tariffs as part of an investigation into accusations that Chinese solar-panel makers receive unfair government subsidies and sell their products in the U.S. at...

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Ainsley Shea
Sen. McCain: US slow to seek trade pacts in Asia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. John McCain called for the Obama administration to ramp up its free trade agenda in Asia and suspend U.S. economic sanctions on Myanmar, although retain an arms embargo.

Describing the administration's record on trade as "shameful," McCain said Monday the U.S. has been "sitting on the sidelines" while China has moved swiftly to secure free trade...

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Ainsley Shea
U.S. trade deficit widens as imports set a record

A rise in consumer goods lifted imports to a record level, outpacing a solid gain in U.S. exports.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that the trade gap widened to $51.8 billion in March, from $45.4 billion in February. Imports rose 5.2% to a record $238.6 billion, reflecting more foreign oil, autos, cell phones and clothes.

Exports increased nearly 3% to $186.8 billion. Sales...

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Ainsley Shea