All posts tagged: U.S.China

Panama ports deal in jeopardy as U.S.-China proxy battle over strategic canal intensifies

Panama ports deal in jeopardy as U.S.-China proxy battle over strategic canal intensifies

Published by Sam Flores

This aerial view shows the Taiwanese cargo ship Yang Ming sailing out of the Panama Canal on the Pacific side in Panama City on October 6, 2025. Martin Bernetti | Afp | Getty Images Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has threatened legal action against Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk after Panamanian authorities tapped the group to temporarily take over operations of two strategic ports at either end of the Panama Canal. In a statement on Thursday, CK Hutchison warned A.P. Moller-Maersk that “any steps” the Danish group or its subsidiary takes to operate the ports without its agreement will likely “result in legal recourse.” That’s according to CNBC’s translation of the Chinese statement. The simmering dispute has become a geopolitical flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, with Panama caught in the crossfires. After U.S. President Donald Trump alleged last year that China was “running the Panama Canal,” CK Hutchison negotiated a $23 billion deal with a BlackRock-led consortium to sell its non-Chinese port subsidiaries. Beijing swiftly intervened, describing the sale as  “kowtowing” to American pressure and stalling …

U.S.-China power struggle thrusts Panama Canal back into the spotlight

U.S.-China power struggle thrusts Panama Canal back into the spotlight

Published by Sam Flores

This aerial view shows the Taiwanese cargo ship Yang Ming sailing out of the Panama Canal on the Pacific side in Panama City on October 6, 2025. Martin Bernetti | Afp | Getty Images A simmering dispute over two container ports at either end of the Panama Canal risks becoming a geopolitical flashpoint between the world’s two largest economies: the U.S. and China. It follows a contentious decision from Panama’s top court voiding a license of a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison for operating two key terminals on the waterway, through which some 40% of all U.S. container traffic transits every year. The ruling was seen as a major victory for the U.S., given that the White House has made blocking China’s influence over the global trade artery one of its top priorities. China has sought to raise the stakes in recent days. In its strongest rebuke yet, Beijing warned on Wednesday that the Central American country “will inevitably pay a heavy price both politically and economically,” unless it changes course. The Hong Kong and …

Venezuela, Iran, Greenland part of Trump’s U.S.-China playbook

Venezuela, Iran, Greenland part of Trump’s U.S.-China playbook

Published by Sam Flores

In this photo illustration portraits of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are displayed on computer screen as US flag is seen. Dilara Irem Sancar | Anadolu | Getty Images In 10 days, Donald Trump captured the Venezuelan president, spooked European leaders with talk of annexing Greenland, and imposed 25% tariffs on anyone trading with Iran. The common thread may be America’s determination to challenge China and its dominance of critical minerals. By deposing Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and taking over the country’s oil industry, the U.S. can curb Chinese access to crucial resources and mining investments. By annexing Greenland, it could keep rivals out of emerging trade routes and, potentially, mining of minerals. By tariffing anyone trading with Iran, as protests threaten the survival of its regime, the U.S. can penalize both the Middle Eastern country and China for buying oil from it. “The connection here is the U.S.-China rivalry, and to a lesser extent U.S.-Russia strategic frictions,” Dan Alamariu, chief geopolitical strategist at Alpine Macro, told CNBC over email. “The U.S. …

Trump’s tariff gambit over Iran risks derailing U.S.–China trade deal

Trump’s tariff gambit over Iran risks derailing U.S.–China trade deal

Published by Sam Flores

TOPSHOT – US President Donald Trump (L) and China’s President Xi Jinping arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. Andrew Caballero-reynolds | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran has raised the risk of derailing Washington’s fragile trade deal with Beijing — Tehran’s largest trading partner. Trump said Monday night stateside that the U.S. will start charging a 25% tariff on imports from countries that do business with Iran. The order is “effective immediately,” he said in a Truth Social post. The world’s top two economies had secured an interim trade deal in late October that saw a roll back of punitive U.S. tariffs on China, while Beijing paused its sweeping rare earth export controls. In response to Trump’s tariff threat China said it “firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,” while warning that it would take “all necessary measures” to defend its interests, according to a post on …