German stakeholders are striving to prevent a crisis in the auto industry
sacadmin
AS the predicament in Germany’s auto giant Volkswagen (VW) unfolds, several jobs are on the line. Stakeholders from various sectors are collaborating to prevent a crisis in the automotive industry, particularly concerning VW.
Earlier this week, German Economics Minister Robert Habeck convened a “car summit” to discuss the headwinds facing the country’s auto industry with representatives of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, workers’ union IG Metall and leading carmakers such as VW, BMW and MercedesBenz. The summit aimed to find common ground to navigate the industry challenges.
The summit failed to yield an immediate solution, but Habeck was quoted by local media as saying that the government would devise concrete measures to tackle the current crisis. Some analysts said this puts the German auto industry at a “make or break” moment. — Xinhua
The government is responsible for providing financial support and connecting to foreign markets to ensure a stable market presence. Accordingly, the relevant ministries must collaborate with entrepreneurs to offer the necessary technology, human resources, technical knowledge, education, and dissemination.Currently, the Ministry of Industry, in collaboration with various agencies, is organizing technical training sessions and discussion forums. They are working to develop MSME businesses and provide support in technology and human resources. Since the government is focusing on MSME development, now is a good time for entrepreneurs to train their workers to become skilled labourers and technically proficient employees.Myanmar is a developing country striving to advance both agriculture and industry simultaneously. Therefore, it implements policies aligned with the country’s context and needs. In efforts to promote the growth of MSME businesses, addressing the shortage of skilled labour and producing competent workers is also a crucial task. Hence, the government offers various technical training programmes to enhance the skills of its workforce, ensuring the development of qualified personnel suitable for the workplace.Now is the best time to operate MSME businesses in Myanmar due to strong financial and technological support from the government and the creation of favourable conditions. Therefore, businesspeople should avoid hesitation in managing their industries and actively, confidently follow the government’s leadership to both develop the nation’s industrial sector and increase their benefits.As a nation, to ensure that MSME businesses are well-informed and able to sustain themselves in the long term, Myanmar has opened higher education schools specializing in industry, agriculture, and livestock for those who have successfully completed KG+9 (grade nine). Teaching young students agricultural and industrial technologies from an early age is an appropriate strategy for a developing country like Myanmar, striving for progress. In implementing suitable policies for the country, Myanmar looks to the practices of foreign nations as models. However, simply copying other countries’ approaches exactly will not be effective; policies must be adapted to fit the nation’s interests and circumstances.Starting from the 2023-2024 academic year, since students who have completed KG+9 can now pursue vocational education, basic education schools teaching vocational subjects such as agriculture, livestock, and industrial technology have been established. In the 2025-2026 academic year, up to 89 basic education and higher vocational schools in industry, agriculture, and livestock have been opened across 88 districts. Moreover, recognizing the current era as a technological age, eight Polytechnic Universities have also been established to provide integrated education combining practical science subjects such as computer and technology studies.Now is the best time to operate MSME businesses in Myanmar due to strong financial and technological support from the government and the creation of favourable conditions. Therefore, businesspeople should avoid hesitation in managing their industries and actively, confidently follow the government’s leadership to both develop the nation’s industrial sector and increase their benefits.GNLM
In efforts to rapidly develop the nation’s economy, agriculture and livestock breeding – being the primary livelihood for the majority of the ethnic people in the country and serving as a vital artery of the national economy – play a crucial role. Therefore, promoting and expanding industries based on these sectors proves to be the most effective approach.Myanmar’s geographical conditions provide strong potential for the successful development of diverse crops, fruits, and livestock industries. It is therefore crucial to utilize this advantage effectively and efficiently. Since agricultural and livestock activities are primarily based in rural areas, focusing on these sectors will help raise rural incomes and, consequently, reduce poverty levels. The successful development of agriculture and livestock will play a significant role in advancing poverty alleviation efforts across the country.Therefore, to ensure the food security of the entire population, efforts must be made to achieve year-on-year progress in the cultivation of paddy, oilseed crops, various pulses, and meat and fish production. It is necessary to continue striving to meet the targeted goals for the ten main designated crops. Only then can the nation guarantee food security for its citizens, increase surplus crop production, and export these surplus products to foreign markets to generate national revenue.As the government works to transform the country into an Agricultural Powerhouse, it has focused on promoting the cultivation of regionally suitable, profitable crops with strong potential in international markets. To foster robust and sustainable crop production, the government has facilitated access to modern and advanced agricultural techniques. Furthermore, to ensure affordable availability of essential agricultural inputs for farming and livestock, support has been provided not only through imports but also by encouraging domestic production and distribution of these resources.According to the 2024 preliminary census, about 70 per cent of Myanmar’s population lives in rural areas, and over half of that rural population is involved in agriculture, livestock, or forestry in some capacity. To develop agro-based industries rooted in agriculture, it is important to encourage domestic investors and financially capable entrepreneurs to actively invest in and engage with these sectors. At the same time, priority should be given to ensuring access to essential inputs, financial support, and human resource development. With the establishment of basic education schools that offer courses in agriculture, livestock, and industrial technology, students from these institutions are expected to become a dependable and skilled workforce for the country’s agricultural and livestock industries in the future.Therefore, to ensure the food security of the entire population, efforts must be made to achieve year-on-year progress in the cultivation of paddy, oilseed crops, various pulses, and meat and fish production. It is necessary to continue striving to meet the targeted goals for the ten main designated crops. Only then can the nation guarantee food security for its citizens, increase surplus crop production, and export these surplus products to foreign markets to generate national revenue.
By Nikita SharmaDonald Trump said that negotiations with India are still going on and that things will be clearer by the “end of this week”. Hours after announcing that India will pay 25 per cent tariffs along with a penalty, United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that talks with India are still going on.Donald Trump reiterated that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is his “friend”, India is a country that has “one of the highest tariffs” in the world.(X/Narendra Modi)While addressing a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked what is the additional penalty he has levied on India for “supporting” Russia and whether other countries are also facing the same threat. To this, Trump said that the US is still negotiating with India before expressing his displeasure over India being a member of the BRICS.Trump said that BRICS, which is a group of eleven emerging economies around the world, is an “attack” on the dollar, which is something he said he is not going to let anybody too. “Well, we are negotiating right now and it's also BRICS. BRICS, which is basically a group of countries that are anti the United States and India is a member of that if you can believe it...It is an attack on the dollar and we are not going to let anybody attack the dollar. So it's partially BRICS and it's partially trade,” said Trump.Apart from India, BRICS includes Brasil, Russia, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.Trump reiterated that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is his “friend”, India is a country that has “one of the highest tariffs” in the world and added that the US had a “tremendous” trade deficit with India. “We had a tremendous deficit. As you know Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don't buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now, they are willing to cut it very substantially. But we will see what happens. We are talking to India now. We will see what happens. It doesn't matter too much whether we have a deal or we charge them a certain tariff. But you will know at the end of this week,” he said.Is Trump open to tariff negotiations with India?The US President was also asked whether he is open to negotiating with India on the tariffs, to which he said that the talks are still going on.“We are talking to them now. We will see what happens. India was the highest or just about the highest-tariff nation in the world...We will see. We are negotiating with India right now,” he said.India on US’ 25% tariffsAfter Trump’s big tariff announcement, the Indian government said that they have taken a note of and are studying its “implications”.“India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.Ref : Hindustan times
Written By: Om GuptaNew Delhi:India has significantly outpaced China in iPhone shipments, particularly to the U.S., where there is a growing demand for devices produced in India. A recent report reveals that India has surpassed China in iPhone exports to America, with shipments witnessing an impressive year-on-year growth of 76 per cent. This development can be attributed to a 30 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed on Chinese products by the U.S. President Donald Trump, which has opened the doors for a surge in iPhone exports from India to the American market. According to a CNBC report, India exported around 3 million iPhones (or 30 lakh units) to the U.S. in April, while shipments from China were only 9,00,000 units. This remarkable 76 per cent increase in iPhone shipments from India marks a significant shift in the landscape. It's important to note that Apple has executed a strategy over the years to facilitate this transition.In light of the supply chain disruptions prompted by the Covid pandemic in 2020, Apple made the decision to establish manufacturing operations outside of China. It set up facilities in India, positioning the country as the second-largest hub for iPhone production after China. Additionally, the 30 per cent tariff on iPhones from China in the U.S., implemented since April 2, contrasts with a more favorable 10 per cent duty on imports from India and other countries.Looking ahead, Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that iPhones manufactured in India will be available in the U.S. market starting from the June quarter. Despite the promising growth, research firms warn that the current surge may be short-lived. The demand for iPhones in the U.S. overs around 20 million units each quarter, a target that India may not reach until 2026. While Apple is working to expand its manufacturing capacity in India, there are constraints to how much production can ramp up.Ref : India TV
United States President Donald Trump has announced that he has struck a “massive” trade deal with Japan following months of fraught negotiations. Under the agreement announced on Tuesday, the US will impose a 15 percent tariff on Japanese exports and Japan will invest $550bn in the US, Trump said.“We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits.”Japan will also open up to US exports of cars, rice and certain agricultural products, Trump said, adding that the deal would create “hundreds of thousands of jobs”.“There has never been anything like it,” he wrote.Speaking at a reception with members of the US Congress later on Tuesday, Trump said the sides had also agreed to form a joint venture to exploit liquified natural gas in Alaska.“It’s a great deal for everybody. I always say it has to be great for everybody,” he said.“It’s a great deal – a lot different from the deals in the past, I can tell you that.”Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose ruling coalition is reeling from the loss of its upper house majority over the weekend, on Wednesday told reporters that he would “carefully examine” the details of the agreement, but he believed it was in the national interest.Confirming local media reports, Ishiba said US tariffs on Japanese automobiles would be lowered from 25 percent tariff to 15 percent. Trump’s auto tariffs, as well as his 50 percent duties on aluminium and steel, had been a major sticking point in the months-long negotiations between Washington and Tokyo.Japan, which until now has been subject to Trump’s 10 percent baseline tariff, was facing a 25 percent duty on most exports if Washington and Tokyo did not reach a deal by an August 1 deadline.“Reciprocal tariffs set at 15% (down from the 25% earlier this month) is relatively good news for Japan, but questions remain if Japan has created any carveouts for Section 232 tariffs in key sectors like steel and semiconductors,” William Chou, deputy director of the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, said in a post on LinkedIn.e.US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent hailed the deal as a “historic agreement”.“I am happy to reaffirm our commitment to deepening this longstanding alliance and building the next chapter of US-Japan cooperation as we enter a new Golden Age under President Trump,” Bessent said on X.Japanese auto stocks soared following Trump’s announcement, with Mazda rising more than 17 percent and Toyota, Nissan and Honda up by between 8.5 and 12 percent on Wednesday morning.Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225, which tracks the broader stock market, rose nearly 3 percent.While details were sparse, Trump’s announcement is potentially the most significant of his trade deals to be unveiled so far, following preliminary agreements with the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, and a 90-day trade truce with China.Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, is the US’s fifth-largest trading partner.The US imported $148.2bn worth of Japanese goods in 2024, while Japan bought $79.7bn worth of US products, according to the US Census Bureau.“It’s a sign of the times that markets would cheer 15 percent tariffs,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at US-based Annex Wealth Management.“A year ago, that level of tariffs would be shocking. Today, we breathe a sigh of relief.”Ref: Al Jazeera
Scott Bessent says China is large buyer ‘of sanctioned Iranian oil, sanctioned Russian oil. So we could start discussing that’.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that the Trump administration was in no rush to cut a trade deal with China, but that talks were “in a good place” as both countries engage in discussions ahead of the expiration of a pause in tariffs next month.In an interview with CNBC, Bessent also said he intended to include in his discussions China’s purchases of Russian and Iranian oil.“I think trade is in a good place,” Bessent said, adding that the administration was more concerned with the quality of trade agreements rather than their timing.“And I think now we can start talking about other things,” he added.As the trade war hit a fever pitch in April and May, the world’s two largest economies hiked tariffs on each other’s goods to triple-digit levels in a quick-fire, tit-for-tat escalation.But after talks in Geneva and London led by Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, Washington and Beijing temporarily lowered tariff levels until mid-August while discussions continued.A telephone call between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in early June further estabilised ties. And US State Secretary Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had their first face-to-face meeting this month.Still, Bessent’s latest comments signal that the focus of talks is shifting from tariffs to geopolitics and Beijing’s ties with Moscow and Tehran.“The Chinese unfortunately, are very large purchasers of sanctioned Iranian oil, sanctioned Russian oil. So we could start discussing that,” he said.The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a news briefing on Thursday, the embassy’s spokesperson Liu Pengyu said that recent interactions between the US and Chinese leadership paved the way for future high-level exchanges and dialogue.“We should make use of the consultation mechanism to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China and US economic and trade relations, with upholding an equal attitude, respecting each other’s concern, striving for win-win outcome,” Liu said.China’s exports to the US declined 24 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025.As the main buyer of Russian and Iranian oil and energy products, China has faced heightened criticism from the West, with Beijing accused of using these deals to help Moscow and Tehran cushion the impact from international sanctions.China’s import of Russian energy has been a lifeline for Russia as it fights sanctions and embargoes as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.Xin Qiang, an international studies professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, said that Beijing was unlikely to let the US “insert” issues other than tariffs into the talks.“Beijing will likely insist that trade talks must focus on trade and must not be ‘hijacked’ by other issues,” Xin said.“I think Beijing may also suggest Washington to raise its concerns over China’s purchase of oil from Russia and Iran through other channels,” he added.On Monday Bessent threatened that “any country who buys sanctioned Russian oil is going to be subject to up to 100 per cent secondary tariffs.” He also urged Europe to take similar measures.Last week, Trump gave Russia a 50-day ultimatum to strike a peace deal with Ukraine or face massive economic sanctions. Ref : South China Morning Posthttps://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319062/us-treasury-chief-says-china-talks-could-cover-iran-russia-oil-buys?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage
