Investors were also keeping tabs on China after President Xi Jinping and other top leaders last week discussed plans to boost consumption in the world's number two economy.

Beijing has acknowledged that global economic vicissitudes have strained its economy, long dependent on exports

Our country has made remarkable strides in digital payments recently – adopting debit cards, QR codes, credit cards, mobile wallets and e-commerce – embracing it all. There is immense potential for digital payments as we move towards a Digital Bangladesh.

Stockpiling is the reflex response by firms to the imposition of tariffs, but with the rapidly-changing position of the Trump administration, companies are finding that it isn’t so straightforward this time around.

Across the country, car models rolling off assembly lines like this have gone from concept to release in record time -- known in the industry as "China Speed", the envy of foreign competitors.

Many participants in the Spring Meetings had a sense that Trump's admin was still conflicted in its demands from trading partners

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda and his founder family have proposed acquiring Toyota Industries in a possible 6 trillion yen ($42 billion) deal.

Stockpiling is not a solution, however, said analysts.

President Xi Jinping said China must “overcome” the challenges of developing core AI technologies including high-end chips, state media reported yesterday, as Beijing seeks to become a world leader in the rapidly developing industry.

The United States and European Union need to “de-escalate” and “negotiate a deal” to help boost lackluster growth on the continent, the International Monetary Fund’s Europe director said Friday.

Developing countries should strike swift trade deals with the United States at the “earliest possible” opportunity, the president of the World Bank told AFP Friday, after a busy week with global financial leaders in Washington.

The International Monetary Fund announced Friday it had reached agreement on a loan program review with Sri Lanka which will make around $344 million available to support the country’s economic reforms.

In a chair's statement, the IMF's steering committee also reaffirmed prior foreign exchange commitments and voiced support for a realignment of quotas, or shareholding, that better reflects countries' positions in the global economy.

Respondents cited "changes in government spending priorities and the extent of US international engagement" as driving uncertainty.

The Bank has been advising developing countries to focus attention on cutting trade barriers and boosting regional flows of goods

"China and the US are NOT having any consultation or negotiation on #tariffs," China shot back in a foreign ministry statement posted by the Chinese Embassy in the US.

Local operator Saif Powertec Ltd is currently operating the port's New Mooring Container Terminal

But in Vietnam's northern industrial Bac Ninh province, Chinese businesses that AFP interviewed -- most of whom are linked to the export supply chain -- said investors were hesitating and anxiety was widespread.

Sales of the sleek machines fell 45 percent to just over 36,000 units in the first quarter of 2025 in EU

The United States was Vietnam's biggest export market in the first three months of the year.