Yingfan Chen

The challenge is not simply how to regulate Chinese platforms, but how to preserve an open and fair market as cross-border commercial networks become increasingly integrated. Credit: Depositphotos Subscribe for ads-free reading The European Union’s decision to end its customs duty exemption for low-value imports is already having a measurable impact on cross-border e-commerce. Since July 1, 2026, goods in consignments valued at up to 150 euro have been subject to a temporary 3 euro customs duty.

Leader-level diplomacy gives the impression that the U.S. “trade war” has ended. That’s far from the truth. Credit: ID 165702509 | China © Eric Broder Van Dyke | Dreamstime.com Subscribe for ads-free reading Recent China-U.S. trade negotiations raised hopes that economic ties may be stabilizing after years of escalating tensions.

A potential meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is taking shape at a moment of mounting systemic stress in global politics. On March 25, the White House confirmed that Trump would visit Beijing on May 14-15 for his first trip to China in eight years, after postponing an earlier plan due to the Iran conflict. The delay reflects how rapidly shifting geopolitical conditions are reshaping the context of great power diplomacy.