Japan’s stock market was set abuzz following reports that Toyota Motor Corporation is considering acquiring Toyota Industries Corporation in a landmark deal worth over ¥6 trillion, sparking a frenzy among investors and raising critical questions about future corporate governance within the Toyota Group. On April 28, 2025, Bloomberg reported that shares of Toyota Industries surged as much as 23% in a single day — the highest on record — following speculation that Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor, is preparing to buy out the entire Toyota Industries business. Toyota Motor shares also rallied, gaining 5.2% during the session.

Beijing, April 25, 2025 — China may be sending a positive signal amid ongoing trade tensions, as Bloomberg reports that Beijing is considering suspending import tariffs — as high as 125% — on certain key U.S. goods. The items under review include medical equipment, semiconductors, and industrial chemicals such as ethane, reflecting growing economic pressure from the prolonged trade war.

Washington, D.C. — April 25, 2025 — U.S. retail sales surged by 1.4% in March 2025, exceeding market expectations of 1.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The strong showing highlights continued resilience in consumer spending despite ongoing economic uncertainties and external pressures such as new tariff policies.

Geneva, April 24, 2025 — The World Trade Organization (WTO) has slashed its 2025 global trade growth forecast, citing escalating tariff tensions between the United States and China. The organization now expects global merchandise trade to contract by 0.2%, a sharp downgrade from its previous forecast of +2.7%, due primarily to the U.S. administration’s aggressive trade policies.

April 22, 2025 — The ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions are now hitting American tech giants, with Meta Platforms Inc. at risk of losing up to $23 billion in advertising revenue in 2025. The potential shortfall stems from Chinese e-commerce players like Temu and Shein scaling back their advertising budgets amid heightened tariff pressure from the Biden administration's trade policy.

Seoul, April 21, 2025 — South Korea has started to feel the impact of the first month of the renewed global trade war. New data from the Korea Customs Service shows that the country’s exports in the first 20 days of April fell by 5.2% year-over-year, with the United States leading the downturn, declining 14.3%, following President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff measures announced on April 2.

China's central bank has decided to keep its key loan prime rates (LPR) unchanged in a bid to maintain stability in the Chinese yuan, as trade tensions with the United States continue to intensify.

April 17, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated a softer stance on tariffs against China, telling reporters on Wednesday that he is “not eager to raise tariffs further” and may even consider lowering them if rising costs begin to harm American consumers and domestic demand.

April 16, 2025 — U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has expressed concern over the growing impact of rising import tariffs on inflation and the country’s economic outlook, warning that the central bank may face increasing difficulty in balancing price stability with economic support.