Day: May 2, 2025

The U.S. economy shrank 0.3% in Q1 2025, marking its first contraction in over two years as President Trump’s aggressive trade policies begin to bite. A record surge in pre-tariff imports and a drop in federal spending dragged growth into the red. While consumer spending and business investment showed resilience, economists warn of rising risks ahead. Will Trump’s high-tariff vision pay off — or deepen economic uncertainty?Subscribe for full analysis on global markets, policy shifts, and economic trends.00:00 Introduction 00:23 US Economy Contracts 06:19 Bank of Japan Slashes Growth Forecasts 08:26 US and Ukraine Sign Resource Deal

As China’s economy falters, scams such as recruitment for non-existent jobs, false advertising and loan traps are on the rise. The latest, making waves on social media, are so-called companies where unemployed young people can spend a small daily fee to pretend they are working. Story by France 2 and Charlotte Lam.#China #economy #unemployment

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is proving once again the quality of Made in China. There was a massive explosion at an Iranian Port, a Belt and Road Initiative project.

As the U.S.-China trade war continues to escalate, I’m sitting down with China analyst Gordon Chang.“Jamie Dimon said this: ‘Why don’t you just pick up the phone?’ Well, the reason is we’ve had that attitude for five decades … and look where it’s gotten us. So, if the Chinese want to do something about our tariffs, it’s up to them to pick up the phone,” says Chang.What is the current state of play when it comes to Trump’s tariff strategy? Is it working in America’s favor?“The only way China wins this trade war is if it gets Trump to preemptively surrender,” says Chang. “This is an existential struggle. It’s more than just a trade war. It’s more than just a tariff war. And we better win it.”And how is Xi Jinping’s leadership being challenged inside China?“General He, I think, was sacked not by Xi Jinping, but by the adversaries of Xi Jinping in the Chinese military … we have seen all these unexplained and unusual disappearances of military officers, especially since the middle of 2023,” says Chang. “I think this is the most dangerous moment in history.”

Did you know that hundreds of millions of Chinese are sitting on a ticking time bomb? China’s largest cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and others—are sinking. And the speed is alarming. People aren’t just seeing it with their own eyes; they’re living this nightmare. Decades of excessive groundwater use are to blame. Even worse, while the cities sink, sea levels are rising. If this continues, China’s major cities could one day end up underwater.

The U.S.-China trade war has entered dangerous new territory. As secret talks collapse, Xi Jinping isn’t backing down—he’s reviving Mao’s brutal Protracted War strategy. Beijing is playing a double game: quietly lowering tariffs on critical imports it can’t live without, while unleashing fierce propaganda and preparing for a long, grinding conflict. But cracks are showing. China’s economy is faltering. Private businesses are suffocating under Party control. And the people? They’re mocking the government’s tough talk—and questioning how much more they can endure. This isn’t just a trade dispute. It’s a fight for control, survival, and the soul of a nation.

On Friday’s “Wake Up America,” foreign policy analyst Gordon Chang said the stubbornness of Xi Jinping and the U.S.’s stronger position, will lead to a tough road for China in trade negotiations.

In this video I discuss the removal by Donald Trump of the De MinimIs Duty Exemption for low value shipments from China into the USA. Prior to 2nd May all parcels with a value of less than $800 were duty free however those parcels will now have to pay a tariff of $25 or 30%, whichever is the higher amount, and this will increase to $50 on 1st June. This announcement is a disaster for a large number of large Chinese businesses that have successfully use the internet to grow their presence in the US market. In 2024 the value of this tax free trade was over $70 Billion for China and this trade is going to be decimated by this new tariff.

Consumption Collapse in Shanghai and Beijing: What’s Really Happening?This narration examines the declining consumption trends in Shanghai and Beijing, China’s wealthiest cities, based on their first-quarter 2025 economic data. Despite the National Bureau of Statistics reporting a 4.6% national retail sales growth, local data reveals a 3.3% and 1.1% decline in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively, with March showing sharper drops. The analysis highlights discrepancies in national data, inflated by lowered baselines and original price calculations despite trade-in discounts. A shift in consumption patterns, driven by pre-Lunar New Year promotions and reduced job opportunities, has weakened March spending. While gold consumption surges in Beijing, other categories like automobiles and catering decline. Subsidies for electronics and appliances show limited impact, reflecting deflationary consumer behavior. The divergence between national and local data raises questions about the reliability of reported national consumption growth, amid economic challenges like unemployment and trade tensions.0:00 Intro0:07 Unmasking the Consumption Crisis in China’s Megacities1:16 Local Data Tells a Different Story2:05 A Tale of Two Cities’ Spending Slump3:12 The Lunar New Year Shift4:04 Why the Spending Shift Happened5:12 A National Data Disconnect6:21 Dissecting Beijing’s Consumption Trends7:45 Subsidies Fail to Spark Spending8:59 Shanghai’s Unique Spending Habits9:30 The Illusion of a National Consumption Boom11:27 Subsidies as a Short-Term Fix12:04 Even Local Data Hides the Truth

‘The Big Money Show’ panel discusses President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy after Apple moved most iPhone production out of China. #foxbusiness #bigmoneyshow

O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary discusses negotiations with China as the country reportedly considers trade talks with the U.S., the fate of TikTok and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2028 plans.

Under the impact of Trump’s tariff policies, China’s export shipping volume has taken a significant hit, dropping by 50%. According to the latest data from the shipping intelligence platform LineRetica, cargo shipments from China to the U.S. fell by half in just one month, with trans-Pacific routes nearly coming to a halt. In response to this dramatic decline, shipping companies have been forced to suspend services.