A subsidiary of a Hong Kong conglomerate entangled in U.S.-China tensions appealed on Friday for legal protection for businesses in Panama after the company's contract over its Panama Canal port assets has been faced with lawsuits in the Central American country, the Associated Press reported. Respect for the rule of law is essential to assure businesses that Panama is a safe place to invest in, Panama Ports Company, under Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a statement.

Ever since President Trump began raising tariffs on goods from China during his first term, Chinese companies have raced to set up warehouses and factories in Southeast Asia, Mexico and elsewhere to bypass U.S. tariffs with indirect shipments to the American market via other countries, the New York Times reported. But on Thursday, Mr. Trump took aim at all indirect American imports, which he blames for part of the $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit. The president imposed 40 percent tariffs on so-called transshipments, which will take effect in a week.

The Bank of Japan left policy settings unchanged Thursday but raised its price outlook, fueling expectations for an interest-rate increase as a trade agreement with the U.S. helped clear some uncertainties, the Wall Street Journal reported. The central bank held its policy rate steady at 0.5%, where it has remained since its last hike in January. It also raised its price projections and maintained its view that inflation will stay near its 2% target in the coming years.

The United States has reached trade agreements with Thailand and Cambodia, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday night, after President Trump had threatened to end talks with the two nations if they did not agree to a cease-fire to halt their military conflict, the New York Times reported. Mr. Lutnick did not provide details of the new tariff rate. In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, he said: “And you know what we did today? We made trade deals with Cambodia and Thailand.” He did not elaborate.

Finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that 204 insolvency cases in the real estate and construction sector were resolved under the bankruptcy law until March 2025, yielding an average recovery of 44.7% against the lenders' admitted claims, the Economic Times of India reported. The realisation was, however, as much as 111.6% of the fair value and 172.15% of the liquidation value of the rescued firms, Sitharaman said in a statement in the Rajya Sabha.

Chinese leaders signaled they would refrain from rolling out more major stimulus for now, as authorities pivot to addressing excess capacity in the economy, the Wall Street Journal reported. Instead of announcing more policy support to bolster growth, the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo, China’s top policymaking body, pledged Wednesday to better execute policies that are already in place, according to a readout by state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Three cabinet-level South Korean officials met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for trade talks, Seoul said on Wednesday, as top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs, Reuters reported. South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol joined Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, who have been in Washington since last week, for two hours of talks with Lutnick, a ministry spokesperson said in Seoul. The finance ministry spokesperson did not offer details of the discussions. U.S.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to raise tariffs on Indian imports as high as 25% if the allied nations cannot complete a long-sought trade agreement, CNN reported. “They are going to pay 25%,” Trump said. When asked by a reporter if India would pay tariffs of 20% to 25%, Trump said, “Yeah, I think so. India has been – they’re my friends.” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC Monday that an elusive India trade agreement would require more discussion between the two countries.