The value of apparel imports from China to the U.S. fell in May to its lowest monthly level in 22 years, according to latest trade data, highlighting the impact of steep U.S. tariffs, Reuters reported. China has for years been the biggest exporter of clothes to the U.S., but its share of the U.S. apparel market has fallen as trade relations between the world's two biggest economies soured. U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted tariffs up to as much as 145% in April, driving more U.S. retailers to reduce purchases from Chinese factories in favor of Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and elsewhere.

Malaysia’s central bank has finally joined its rate-cutting peers, lowering its benchmark interest rate for the first time in five years to support the economy, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bank Negara Malaysia on Wednesday reduced its overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%–its first cut since July 2020. While Malaysia’s economy remains on solid footing, the central bank said it decided to cut rates due to the economic threat posed by external uncertainties.

New Zealand's central bank held the benchmark interest rate at 3.25% on Wednesday, noting near-term inflation risks, but said it expected to loosen monetary policy if price pressures continued to ease as forecast, Reuters reported. The decision was in line with a Reuters poll in which 19 of 27 economists surveyed projected the Reserve Bank of New Zealand would hold the cash rate for the first time since it started a cutting cycle in August 2024.

China's industry ministry said on Wednesday that it would accept complaints from auto suppliers if major Chinese automakers fail to honor their commitment to timely payments, aiming to address suppliers' concerns over loopholes in payment regulations, Reuters reported.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has issued an order holding Byju’s founder, Byju Raveendran, in civil contempt for failing to comply with earlier court orders related to limited expedited discovery, The Economic Times reported. “This court has personal jurisdiction over Raveendran,” it said in an order on Monday. The court has further directed Raveendran to comply with the discovery orders. “Raveendran shall remit to the clerk of court the sum of $10,000 for each day he remains in contempt of the orders,” it said.

Thai Airways International could exercise an existing option to buy more planes from U.S. planemaker Boeing as part of Thailand's tariff negotiations with the United States, CEO Chai Eamsiri told a Reuters NEXT Asia summit on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The flag carrier in February last year said it had ordered 45 Boeing 787-9 wide-body jets with options for a further 35. Thailand has submitted a new trade proposal to the U.S. in a bid to avoid steep tariff hikes on its own products.

Australia is “urgently seeking” more detail on President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to the U.S., Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, Bloomberg reported. “These are obviously very concerning developments,” Chalmers told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio in an interview on Wednesday. “Our pharmaceutical industry is much more exposed to the US market. And that’s why we’re seeking – urgently seeking – some more detail on what’s been announced.” The U.S.

GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a joint venture between Stellantis and China's Guangzhou Automobile Group said on Tuesday it has been declared bankrupt, Reuters reported. The joint venture posted images of a ruling issued by a court in China's Hunan province declaring the bankruptcy, alongside its announcement, in a social media post. Read more.

Australia's central bank on Tuesday left its cash rate steady at 3.85%, a shock for markets that had confidently wagered on a cut, saying the majority of the board wanted to wait for more information to confirm inflation was slowing, Reuters reported. Traders were quick to send the Australian dollar racing up 0.8% to $0.6543, while three-year bond futures extended earlier losses and fell 10 ticks to 96.60. The swift moves in markets imply around an 88% chance the cash rate would be cut to 3.60% at its Aug. 12 meeting, and now favours rates bottoming at 3.10% rather than 2.85%.

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan in the first half of 2025 rose to the highest level in 11 years, with those hurt by a labor shortage showing a notable increase, a survey by a credit research company showed Tuesday, Japan Today reported. The failures involving debts of at least 10 million yen were up 1.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, rising for the fourth consecutive year and reaching their highest level since 2014, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.