Yellen seeks to calm a fraught but close-knit US-China trade relationship

By David Lawder and Joe Cash WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) – As U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tries to steady an increasingly tense relationship with China, the world’s two largest economies remain tightly linked, but are showing some signs of future weakness. Yellen starts meetings on Friday with senior Chinese officials pledging to seek “healthy competition” with…

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USTR flags energy concerns going into Mexico talks; urges steel monitoring

By Daina Beth Solomon and Cassandra Garrison MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The U.S. sees some progress on an energy dispute with Mexico, although “deep-seated” concerns persist, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Thursday shortly before talks in Mexico with top Mexican and Canadian trade officials. The U.S. and Canada demanded dispute settlement talks over energy…

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Uber, Facebook linked to PwC Australia tax schemes based on leaked government plans

By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) – PwC Australia advised Uber and Facebook how to restructure in face of an Australian law clamping down on tax avoidance, but both companies said on Friday they were surprised to find out PwC’s advice may have been based on leaked government plans. The “big four” firm is under pressure…

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Free speech cannot be used to legitimise terror, India says

NEW DELHI/LONDON (Reuters) – Freedom of expression cannot be used for “legitimising violence”, India said on Thursday in response to media reports citing comments by Canada’s prime minister on Ottawa’s handling of supporters of a separate state for the Sikh community. India summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi to register its protest after Indian…

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Goldman’s China banks downgrade based on ‘pessimistic assumptions’ -state media

BEIJING (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs’ downgrade of some major Chinese lenders to “Sell” ratings is based on “pessimistic assumptions,” state-backed Securities Times said in an editorial on Friday, as worries over the banking sector deepen amid a rocky economy. “It is not advisable to be bearish on the fundamentals of Chinese banks based on pessimistic…

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VW ready to deal with China metal curbs; chipmakers play down fallout

By Ben Blanchard and Jan Schwartz TAIPEI (Reuters) -Volkswagen is monitoring metals markets after China imposed export restrictions on two minor metals used in semiconductors and electric vehicles, it said on Thursday, while some chipmakers played down fears of shortages. Fears are growing that more curbs on strategic exports including rare earths could be coming…

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