Keyto MY launches advanced fluid facility in Batu Kawan, boosting Malaysia’s high-tech manufacturing

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  • Expected to earn US$ 14.5 million in revenue over the course of three times.
  • Committed to fostering native talent, supporting a green high-tech ecosystem

Keyto MY launches advanced fluid facility in Batu Kawan, boosting Malaysia’s high-tech manufacturing

Keyto MY Sdn. Bhd., a company of Shenzhen Keyto Fluid Technology Co. Ltd., has inaugurated its state-of-the-art smooth systems manufacturing plant in Batu Kawan, Penang. With Keyto MY’s new service set to expand the nation’s commercial capabilities and expand its high-tech manufacturing business, this important purchase underscores Malaysia’s growing importance as a global hub.

The plant is projected to generate sales revenue of US$ 14.5 million ( RM65 million ) over the next three years, reflecting its robust growth potential.

The state offers a vibrant commercial habitat that naturally attracts buyers, according to Chow Kon Yeow, deputy minister of Penang. He continued,” Keyto MY marks the company’s primary overseas manufacturing facility, located in Southeast Asia, and also its first appearance there.”

The new production service, spanning over 3, 540 square metres, may focus on producing liquid control systems and precision components necessary for applications in medical devices, life science instruments, and environmental monitoring systems. The plant will be crucial in strengthening Malaysia’s place on the worldwide market for superior solvent power answers by addressing the growing need in these sectors. Its projected sales revenue of US$ 14.5 million ( RM65 million ) over the next three years highlights the strong market potential for high-precision fluid technology.

Zhang Cheng, president of Shenzhen Keyto Fluid Technology Co. Ltd., emphasised the strategic value of the Batu Kawan ability to Keyto’s international development. ” This new plant marks a significant milestone in our global growth”, Zhang said, adding,” Malaysia’s strategic location, coupled with its skilled workforce and business-friendly environment, provides us with the ideal platform to deliver advanced fluid technology solutions to customers worldwide”.

The second step of the service will focus on manufacturing a range of smooth management options, including high-performance pumps, valves, and smooth systems. With Malaysia’s growing strength in high-tech manufacturing, Keyto MY is well-positioned to become a critical player in the region’s supply chain for fluid technology, meeting rising demand for advanced systems across multiple industries.

As a subsidiary of Shenzhen Keyto Fluid Technology Co. Ltd., a company with a strong international presence, Keyto MY brings extensive expertise, industry knowledge, and a global perspective to drive both local and international business success. Innovative technologies will be used at the plant to maximize production efficiency, maintain stringent quality control, and promote sustainable manufacturing practices.

Keyto MY’s presence in Penang has a long-term impact beyond just economic expansion. ” Our investment is not just in physical infrastructure, it’s about empowering Malaysia’s next generation of engineers and professionals”, Zhang said, highlighting the company’s commitment to nurturing local talent, fostering innovation, and contributing to the development of a sustainable high-tech ecosystem.

According to Invest Penang, the state’s strategic advantages – its well-established industrial base, skilled workforce, and proximity to key global markets make it an ideal location for high-tech industries. The company noted that Malaysia’s investment is in line with its ongoing efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen its position within the world’s high-tech manufacturing landscape.

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IMF warns Asia retaliatory tariffs could undermine growth

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CEBU, Philippines: The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) warned on Tuesday ( Nov 19 ) that “tit-for-tat” tariffs could undermine Asia’s economic prospects, raise costs and disrupt supply chains even as it expects the region to remain a key engine of growth for the global economy. At a conference onContinue Reading

Portcast secures US$ 6.5 mil series A funding led by Susquehanna Asia VC

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  • Hearst Ventures, Signal Ventures, and existing owners participated in the round
  • Funding will promote product innovation, help growth into APAc area &amp, Europe

The Portcast team

Portcast, the Singapore-based provider of real-time transportation visibility and predictive analytics, has announced that it has raised US$ 6.5 million ( RM29 million ) in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Susquehanna Asia VC, with participation from Hearst Ventures, Signal Ventures, and existing buyers, including Wavemaker Partners, TMV, and Innoport.

In a statement, the business said the new money would promote product development, especially in harnessing conceptual AI to enhance chance management, transport planning, and invoice auditing capabilities. Additionally, it intends to strengthen integrations with technologies partners while expanding its reach in important markets in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. According to Portcast, the company is well-positioned to fulfill its goal of improving the resilience of international trade through actionable data.

In addition, the business continued to invest in artificial intelligence ( AI ) technology to protect its clients ‘ profitability in the face of increasingly fragile global supply chains and increased disruption.

Portcast provides strategic administration with justifiable justifications and recommends alternative strategies to help shipping companies and logistics companies increase their productivity, operating costs, and carbon emissions in the transportation industry. The agency’s data system integrates data from carriers, terminals, location and risk data, and custom documents to give accurate visibility through a single, easy-to-integrate API and website. The business uses machine learning and advanced large-language models to provide meaningful insights to improve supply chain operational and financial transparency.

Portcast secures US$ 6.5 mil series A funding led by Susquehanna Asia VCNidhi Gupta ( pic ), founder and CEO of Portcast, said:” Supply chain disruptions have become the norm, driving up costs for shippers and logistics service providers globally. The concern now is to push actions from visibility data through integrated recommendations, which is no longer sufficient to screen shipments. In order to reduce freight costs and enhance user experience, we are committed to creating a product that not even discovers risks in transportation but, more importantly, immediately suggests measures to reduce these costs.

The support from both existing and new traders is a bible to the customer fulfillment we’ve achieved and the trust in our strategy in today’s tough economic environment. Looking back, we are eager to expand in the Asia-Pacific area and Europe, strengthening partnerships to take our answers to even more firms”, she added.

In addition, Susquehanna Asia VC’s Richard Hsu stated that Portcast has used both amazing and open data to provide reliable and explicable transportation visibility. However, what sets them apart is their ability to transform that information into useful, practical insights for their clients, setting a new standard in shipping decision-making. With its unique data-driven approach, Portcast has the potential to address additional challenges in global trade. Not only are we excited about what Portcast has already accomplished.

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Trump tariffs as ploy for making a big deal with China – Asia Times

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As Donald Trump once suddenly assumes the role of industry, China’s leader Xi Jinping is casting himself as the manager of world trade, globalization and financial assistance.

At the height of the “new period of turbulence and change” that “is causing a significant challenge,” Xi said in Peru on Friday ( November 15 ), when national leaders were gathering for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) forum summit.

Notably, Xi did n’t point the finger straight at Trump. China and the new US administration are working together to keep communication, foster cooperation, and resolve conflicts for the mutual benefit of the two countries in a diplomatic conversation a day later.

And that’s, simply, specifically what one might expect of the head of a large, unstable market staring down the barrel of 60 % taxes to take down the political temperature.

What if Trump upsets and turns out to be Xi’s open and accepting rival, with the 60 % tax hazard acting as a blip in order to elicit a significant fresh bilateral trade agreement?

Trump’s challenges to restart colossal trade wars are numerous, and there are many reasons to take them seriously. In the runup to his election win on November 5, Trump talked earlier and often about making “retribution” the driving power of his presidency, which begins on January 20, 2025. The business of Xi has every reason to worry that Trump’s revenge tour will make its debut there.

But, the other side of the argument is worth exploring. Chances are high that Trump’s taxes are only “part of a bigger American plan” and “part of a deal-making method that is going on in Trump’s thinking”, says Neil Thomas, an scientist at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. The aim, Thomas argues, is a “grand deal” business bargain between the two biggest markets.

” So”, Thomas says,” they are there for their own sake, ostensibly to advance the’ America First ‘ plan, or they are going to be treated as leverage over China to extract some kind of broader, either monetary or proper, great deal”.

People have made this argument, of lessons, including some in Trump’s inward loop. But there are factors to wish Trump 2.0 may promote the government’s interpersonal impulses over conflict.

One is that it’s difficult to imagine a contemporary president who is more interested in what people think of them than Trump. He almost seems like the type of person who wants to be remembered for the trade war that America lost during his first word, from 2017 to 2021, and for impeachments, indictments, and other things.

After all, if the objective was to change China’s financial big-picture path, claw millions of jobs back from Asia’s biggest sector and revive US manufacturing, then Trump’s win-list to date is very small.

Trump is unquestionably the least-idéal US leader in recent memory. He also is reveling&nbsp, in having won a credible coalition of working-class white, black and Latino voters in the 2024 election, beyond anything serious pollsters saw coming. If Trump wants to be remembered as the “working man’s president”, he’ll have to put real meat on the bones of such a legacy.

Economists understand how and why Trump’s first-term tariffs did n’t stop China’s growing share of global commerce. They know that China did n’t “pay” Trump’s tariffs, American companies and households did.

Trump’s ability to convince the populace that his protectionist trade policies are ineffective will be limited.

Trump may make the case that he makes a different choice, giving posterity a reason to remember him as a dealmaker with Xi, China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, to make a case for it.

Two strong and proud hawks can prevail in a war and prevail in history. Take Charles&nbsp, de Gaulle, the French president who in less than two years, from 1959 to 1961, made peace with Algeria. Few people believed that during the previous six years of bloodshed. Or what of Richard Nixon, China and Indochina?

Economist Richard Wolff at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, observes that the “very real dangers, ecological as well as geopolitical, that the world now faces encourage finding some kind of negotiated agreement on a multipolar world“.

After World War I, Wolff explains,” such goals inspired the League of Nations. After World War II, they inspired the United Nations. The realism of those objectives was then challenged. That injustice cannot be endured once more. Without World War III, might we still be able to accomplish those objectives today.

There are other avenues for cooperation, Wolff says. Why not, he asks, make a comparable deal between the US and China, bringing in the Group of Seven, the BRICS–Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa– and the Global South? ” With genuine global participation”, he notes, “might such a deal finally end empires”?

Trump is not well known as a man of history or a fan of the Bretton Woods institutions, which still constitute the world’s foundation. However, some of his advisors, who are former members of geopolitical alliances, are urging Trump to bring about economic harmony.

Trump voters would be far more rewarded by a trade deal that results in significant increases in Chinese investment in US manufacturing jobs than outdated tariffs that were removed from the 1970s and 1980s.

” As it turns out, there are reasons for both China and the US to want a grand bargain”, says Louis-Vincent Gave, an analyst at Gavekal Research. ” For Chinese policymakers, their greatest challenge is not a lack of competitiveness, nor an unproductive workforce, nor a lack of natural resources. A general lack of confidence among businesspeople and the wealthy is China’s single biggest issue right now. Domestic animal spirits would undoubtedly increase if the US-China relationship improved.

Trump’s trade war, like Biden’s various high-end semiconductor restrictions, would aim to stymie Xi’s strategy to transform China into the leading technology powerhouse – and promises to further strain relations between the” Group of Two” economies.

China’s prolonged property slump, rising local government debt, weak consumption, aging population and high youth unemployment makes the specter of crossing swords with Washington again decidedly unappealing.

Could this increase Xi’s willingness to trade? At this point, there is no clear pattern in terms of how everything is organized. Many think Trump will, in fact, go full tariffs at first, only to change course later on when the results are n’t what he and his likely trade czar, Robert Lighthizer, had hoped and envisioned. &nbsp,

For starters, China is less dependent on US markets now than it was when Trump was in office, and thus less likely to be pushed around by Trump 2.0.

” Here’s what’s different this time around: the global economic landscape has shifted dramatically in the past eight years”, says Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center.

” Germany’s GDP growth was 2.7 % in 2017. Today the country is teetering on the brink of a recession and mired in&nbsp, political dysfunction. China was growing at 7 % in 2017. But its GDP growth will be somewhere south of 5 % this year”, Lipsky said.

One might assume that all of this gives Trump “more leverage over both allies and adversaries in negotiations,” Lipsky continues. ” But it’s not quite so straightforward”.

For one thing, both US allies and adversaries have had access to his methods and observations of how he operates. Some people believe that because of this, his trade war threats wo n’t materialize into trade war action. The globe has seen, too, which levers they can pull in return to avert the worst outcomes.

Another reason Trump’s tariff talk may be more bluster than reality: inflation.

According to Lipsky,” the main question for policymakers was how the United States could consistently achieve 2 % inflation after years of below-target readings coming out of the global financial crisis.” Today, higher-than-wanted inflation is front and center in US and global politics, in fact, it was one of the reasons&nbsp, Trump was elected”.

The chances that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting rates, as Wall Street fully anticipates, will drop dramatically if Trump’s trade levies increase inflation. Jerome Powell, the head of the US Federal Reserve, and Donald Trump might encounter a second collision.

In 2019, for example, pressure from Trump—including threats to fire Powell in 2018—pressured the Fed to cut rates at a time when the US economy was already firing on all cylinders.

” As much as Trump believes in tariffs”, Lipsky adds, “he also is highly sensitive to market signals. Look back to 2018 and see how the markets responded negatively to his criticism of Powell at the time, which forced him to back away.

Trump has every reason to give the grand bargain trade route priority if this dance ever breaks out.

There are many causes for doubt about whether this will work, including how Trump intends to enlist China hawks in his next cabinet.

They include Marco&nbsp, Rubio as US secretary of state, Lighthizer, Trump’s former and likely future trade representative, Mike Waltz as national security adviser, Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense.

A common denominator, aside from being tough on China, is providing strong support for Taiwan. According to Georgetown University professor Evan Medeiros, Trump might support Beijing’s efforts to reach a deal with the pro-Taiwan independence wing. But the issue could also scuttle any hope of a Washington-Beijing detente.

There’s a Door No 3, too, says Daniel Sneider, lecturer at Stanford University. As some analysts suggest, he points out,” Trump instead may opt for a grand bargain with Xi Jinping, one that could even include abandoning Taiwan”.

Trump, after all, has made several statements about the island economy wrecking America’s semiconductor industry, raising doubts Washington would come to Taipei’s defense in the case of a Chinese attack.

At least one thing is clear, says Ali Wyne, US-China expert at the International Crisis Group. Advisors who ( 1 ) view strategic competition with China as a global conflict, ( 2 ) urge the US to narrowly target deterring China in Asia, and ( 3 ) aim to stop bilateral economic disentanglement will likely engage in lobbying.

The most focused White House would struggle to balance these divergent objectives. And focus and discipline are n’t exactly Trump’s proven strengths.

However, Trump and Xi may choose to go that route for various reasons. Top Trump advisor Elon Musk, after all, has a giant Tesla” Gigafactory” in Shanghai that would benefit from a tamping down of trade tensions.

What might Trump and Xi ask for from the other, according to Gave’s list.

Trump’s wishlist includes a stronger yuan and a weaker US dollar, a push from Beijing to allow China to establish factories in the US, a purchase of Boeing aircraft, John Deere tractors, soybeans, and wheat to help reduce the nation’s record-setting US trade deficit, and a promise from China to keep North Korea in check.

According to Gave, Xi’s wish list includes assurances that any agreement will be successful, that the US will not collapse in the wake of China’s new tariffs, fewer semiconductor restrictions, the US Navy to stop parking aircraft carriers close to China’s territorial waters, and Washington to stop rattling the cage on Taiwan.

Is there enough to make a workable deal out there? Gave asks. Trump sees himself as a master negotiator who is master of” the art of the deal.” The market’s clear message is that any such bargain is priced at close to zero.

Yet when it comes to markets, Gave concludes,” One often&nbsp, makes the most money after a situation goes from being downright terrible to merely mediocre”.

Hence, Gave adds, if markets sense” that the US-China relationship is moving from the territory of ‘ new Cold War‘ to ‘ possible grand bargain,’ the rerating of assets— starting with Asian currencies and Chinese equities but moving on to emerging market debt in general, commodities, and cyclicals everywhere — could be epic”.

Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek

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CBRE hires Hugh Macdonald as Apac head of capital advisers | FinanceAsia

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CBRE, a US real estate and investment firm, has appointed veteran investment banker Hugh Macdonald as head of capital advisers for Asia Pacific.

Starting his role in Sydney on November 18, Macdonald will relocate to Singapore in the first quarter of 2025, according to a company media release. 

Macdonald (pictured) is joining CBRE from Deutsche Bank, where he was most recently head of investment banking coverage and advisory for Australia and New Zealand. He was at the German bank for over 16 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

He has previoulsy worked at Citi, Morgan Stanley and Bankers Trust, and has experience in real estate, gaming, leisure, and lodging sectors across M&A, financing, and capital markets.  

Macdonald has originated and executed many large transactions across Apac and will report to Leo van den Thillart, global head of investment banking, and Greg Hyland, head of capital markets, Apac.

Commenting in a media release, Hyland said: “Our capital advisors business has experienced exceptional growth in Apac, raising over $3.5 billion of capital in the past 18 months. With Hugh’s established relationships, we are confident in expanding our investment banking services across the region, providing top-tier capital markets, M&A, and strategic solutions to our clients.”

Macdonald added: “I’m eager to collaborate with my new colleagues to enhance the value we provide to our clients, meeting their diverse capital requirements and driving business growth throughout the Apac region.”

For more FinanceAsia people moves click here. 


¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Bangkok City Council plans ‘Little India’

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PUBLISHED: 17 Nov 2024 at 07: 09

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is greeted by visitors at the ‘Amazing Thailand Diwali Festival Bangkok 2024’ in the Klong Ong Ang area last month. She presided over the festival in the Little India community, which stretched from Phahurat Road and Klong Ong Ang to the Saphan Lek area in Phra Nakhon district. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL
At last month’s Klong Ong Ang celebration, guests greeted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra as they arrived at the” Amazing Thailand Diwali Festival Bangkok 2024.” The Small India group, which stretched from Phahurat Road and Klong Ong Ang to the Saphan Lek neighborhood of Phra Nakhon, was where she presided over the event. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

To draw in visitors from all over the world, Bangkok City Council intends to promote the Pahurat district of the Phra Nakhon district as a” Little India” place.

Following a conference with Nagesh Singh, the American ambassador to Thailand, and numerous organizations, Council Chairman Surajit Phongsingwitthaya and Council Chairman Surajit Phongsingwitthaya discussed how to promote American identity and culture in the area.

He predicted that this will result in a memorandum of understanding between Mumbai and Bangkok as lady places.

” We are willing to support the effort to establish Pahurat as a fresh, popular tourist destination, especially in India,” the statement reads. This task may include improvements to the environment, restaurants, structures, and cooperation in organising several celebrations that reflect traditional American culture”, he said.

According to him, City Hall wants to organize Indian festivals, establish American markets, and improve footpaths and road signs to indicate the local identity, creating a unique traveling experience in Asia.

“]The ] Little India project will not only increase tourists but also help promote the economy, stimulate employment, generate income through art, culture, music and local traditions. This is sweet energy that will create income for local people”, said Mr Surajit.

The Sri Guru Singh Sabha, a six-storey Hindu temple located in the heart of the Pahurat society, is one of the many cultural and historical highlights of the region.

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What’s behind some Southeast Asia countries’ push to join BRICS and will Trump’s win be a catalyst?

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WHO WOOULD JOIN THE BRICS NOW? &nbsp,

According to the analysts who CNA spoke with, they see some other South Asian countries that might be able to impose their stamps on the ring, such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.

Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are the three Southeast Asian nations that are BRICS finalists. According to Dr. Ian Storey, referring to the NDB, all three nations have close relationships with both Russia and China and get financial help from the BRICS bank. &nbsp,

Myanmar has formally reaffirmed its participation in the BRICS, citing the union as a means of reducing the influence of international sanctions and expanding its economic reliance on China, according to Mr. Jamil.

He warned that it might be difficult for the nation, which has been besieged by a civil conflict since 2021, to join the alliance.

” Myanmar’s domestic political position and strained global position may present challenges to its admission”, said Mr Jamil.

Agreeing, Dr Chong posited that Myanmar is a “very poor prospect” to meet BRICS. &nbsp,

” If they join, it’s because they want some kind of de facto geo-economic or political empire. Because this is the country’s closest point to defending itself against a American action in relation to the country’s ongoing civil war, I use the word “alliance” sparingly. &nbsp,

Should China and Russia join the BRICS, he said,” I would assume that the calculation ( in Myanmar’s capital ) is that the country’s current regime will unwaveringly support it.” &nbsp,

Dr. Chong thinks Laos and Cambodia might ultimately join the BRICS as a result of their support for powerhouse China. &nbsp,

I believe it to be in line with China, their alliance or sponsor. I do n’t believe Laos or Cambodia can serve as true BRICS leaders. Because they primarily enjoy the financial largesse of China, they may begin with observer status. &nbsp,

China has supported them with numerous system projects. Therefore, they do earn China some degree of support”, said Dr Chong. &nbsp,

UNLIKELY FOR SINGAPORE, PHILIPPINES &amp, BRUNEI TO JOIN

Experts believe there are slim chances of them joining the BRICS among the remaining Southeast Asian nations, including Singapore, Brunei, and the Phillipines.

These nations ‘ economic, foreign, and partnership with American power contribute to this. &nbsp,

Singapore values its position as a global economic hub and adheres to a strict policy of independence in international relations, according to Mr. Jamil, who added that it is “unlikely” to visit a group that would give the impression that it is more in line with China or Russia. &nbsp,

He claimed that joining the BRICS would trample its corporate flexibility and possibly aggravate already-existing relationships.

Note that Singapore had formerly formally imposed financial sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. &nbsp,

By joining the BRICS, it is unlikely that the Philippines ‘ powerful economic and security ties with Washington will compromise those relationships.

According to Dr. Chong of RSIS,” Americans view the Philippines as an excellent ally, on the same level as South Korea and Japan, and the US is good to invest some of their high-tech funds with the Philippines.”

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Australia foreign student cap causes anxiety at home and abroad

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Anannyaa Gupta Anannyaa GuptaAnannyaa Gupta

The “dream” of Anannyaa Gupta’s life was to finish her experiments in Australia.

” Their education program is one of the best in the world”, the 21-year-old, from the American town of Hyderabad, explains.

After earning her bachelor’s degree at Melbourne’s Monash University in July, she applied for the connoisseur degree to work as a social worker, a position that Australia is desperate to fill in the face of labor shortages.

” I really want to study around, provide my skills and lead to society”, she says.

However, Ms. Gupta is one of the current and future international students who has been sucked into a panic as a result of the administration’s plan to reduce undergraduate enrollment abroad.

The new cap- which would significantly reduce new attendance- is needed to make the A$ 47.8bn ( £24.6bn,$ 32bn ) education sector more sustainable, the government says.

It is the most contentious of new changes that have also made applicants for student visas subject to stricter English language requirements and increased attention of those pursuing further education. Application fees for non-refundable visas have likewise doubled.

However, the market and its backers say they were n’t properly consulted, and that the modifications could devastate the economy, cause job losses and destruction Australia’s status, all while punishing both domestic and international students.

” ]It ] sends out the signal that Australia is not a welcoming place”, says Matthew Brown, deputy chief executive of the Group of Eight ( Go8 ), a body which represents Australia’s top ranked universities.

Education is Australia’s third biggest export, trailing just mine materials. International students, who pay almost half as much as American students on regular, prop up some institutions, subsidising research, scholarships, and home study fees. At the University of Sydney, for instance, they account for over 40 % of profit.

Prior to a national election in the fall of 2017, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration is under pressure to lower record levels of relocation. This will help improve the value of housing and lessen a cost-of-living crisis. And global students- who totalled 793, 335 last trimester- have become a goal.

The government has proposed to cap new foreign enrolments at 270,000 for 2025, which it says is a return to pre-pandemic levels. An accurate comparison with previous years is not possible because publicly available data is inadequate, according to an education expert.

According to education secretary Jason Clare, each higher education institution will have its own unique cap, with the most expensive cuts going to be made by providers of vocational education and training. Of the institutions affected, those in money cities will see the largest decreases.

Instead of crowded, crowded big cities, the government says the policy may direct students to local towns and colleges that need them.

Additionally, it asserts that the changes are intended to shield potential students from “unethical” providers, alleging that some accept applicants without satisfactory academic credentials or language proficiency and enroll students who prefer to work rather than study.

These reforms are intended to improve and make foreign education more equitable and put it on a more lasting footing going forward, according to Clare.

Getty Images Jason Clare in parliamentGetty Images

Abul Rizvi, a former state official who shaped Australia’s experienced migration policy, says the “underfunded” industry has “long been chasing fee income from international students and sacrificing learning integrity in the process”.

According to Dr. Brown, “every college is having a discussion about whether they’re too dependent on foreign student income” and how to address this.

However, the sector’s reaction to the caps announcement was generally angry.

The Go8 has called the proposed legislation “draconian”, while some accused the state of “wilfully weakening” the market and of using global students as” cannon feed in a poll-driven fight over movement”.

The government has not specified how long the caps will remain in effect, but Dr. Brown claims that according to their calculations, the Go8 will lose A$ 1 billion in members in just the first year. The broader economy would suffer a A$ 5.3bn hit, resulting in the loss of 20, 000 jobs, according to their research.

The Australian Treasury Department has described those projections as “doubtful,” but it has n’t released its own modeling of the changes ‘ impact on the economy.

Dr. Brown also warned that the caps could force some universities to revoke offers made to foreign students, stifle important research programs, and increase tuition costs for some Australian students.

Getty Images People stand outside a University of Sydney buildingGetty Images

However a handful of smaller universities, for whom the caps are beneficial, welcomed the news.

La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor Theo Farrell said they supported” transparent and proportionate measures” to manage international student growth in Australia.

He said,” We recognize that a lot of people in the political and community support net migration rates.”

But Dr Brown argues there is also a hit to Australia’s reputation which is harder to quantify, pointing to Canada as a warning. Although there was a cap on foreign students introduced this year, industry bodies claim that enrollment has fallen significantly below that figure because anxious students would prefer to apply for courses of study with greater certainty.

It is not the minister’s responsibility to unilaterally decide on caps based on some formula that serves a political goal, but we need an international education system that has managed growth built in.

The government should consider introducing a minimum university entrance exam score, according to Mr. Rizvi, rather than going ahead with the proposed caps in Australia.

He wrote on X,” We’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” not to dissuade poor students but to discourage high-achieving students who have options.

Meanwhile in parliament, the Greens have said the policy amounts to “racist dog-whistling”, and one of the government’s MPs has broken ranks to attack it too.

” A hard cap would be bad for Australia’s human capital and the talent pipeline, bad for soft power and bad for academic excellence and research”, Julian Hill told The Australian newspaper.

But despite the criticisms, the bill legislating the limits- set to be debated in parliament this week- is expected to pass, with the opposition’s support.

Clare acknowledged that some service providers may have to make difficult budget decisions, but she argued that any claim that the policy” somehow is tearing down international education is absolutely and fundamentally false.”

The changes are causing students a lot of anxiety and confusion, but with less than two months until they are supposed to go into effect.

The news is spreading like a lead balloon in China and India, Australia’s two biggest international markets.

Students in India, who most often come from middle-class families and spend years planning and preparing for their education abroad, will be very burdened by this. Their dreams will be quashed”, Amritsar-based immigration consultant Rupinder Singh told the BBC.

Alessandro Russo/Monash University Vedant Gadhavi and his girlfriend Ayushi pose for a photo outside an Indian restaurant in MelbourneAlessandro Russo/Monash University

Vedant Gadhavi, a student at Monash University, claims that some of his Gujarati friends who were planning to study abroad for their master’s degrees were spooked.

They appear to have had their plans altered a little as a result of the constant change.

Jenny, a senior high school student in Anhui province in China, claims that attending an Australian university with a high standard of education is “easier” than enrolling in a fiercely competitive Chinese university.

” It’s all up in the air now”, she tells the BBC.

She adds that going to a lower-ranked university in a regional location is not an option for her or her peers:” We]just ] wo n’t go to Australia at all”.

Rishika Agrawal, president of the Australian National University’s International Students ‘ Department, says the proposed laws have stoked other uneasy feelings.

” Undoubtedly there are other students who believe that the government is showing more hostility toward immigrants in Australia.”

And, she adds, with the contributions to society made by international students often overlooked, while their post-graduate employment options dry up, there’s growing resentment.

They return to their home countries after putting in a lot of money toward their education, which they do not actually get paid for.

” They definitely do feel like cash cows.”

As the debate continues in parliament, there’s been some relief for Anannya. She soon received the official master’s enrolment certificate and new study visa she feared would never arrive after speaking with the BBC and only weeks away from the start of her course.

However, many more students are still awaiting and worrying.

” If I were in their shoes, I’d feel very helpless, very disappointed. According to Ritsika, it is already robbing Australia of its past credibility.

Fan Wang in Singapore and Zoya Mateen in Delhi both provided additional reporting.

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China calculates impact of losing most favored nation status – Asia Times

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If the United States revokes its previous status as the most favored nation ( MFN), permanent normal trade relations ( PNTR ), China is expected to experience a 3.4 % deflationary pressure. &nbsp,

Since Donald Trump’s win in the Republican presidential election on November 5 and his pledge to raise taxes on all imported Chinese goods to 60 %, Beijing’s worries about losing its Nafta status have grown. &nbsp,

The Restoring Trade Fairness Act, which calls for the end of China’s PNTR, was introduced on November 14th, adding to the already-graved controversy.

According to Moolenaar, the US Congress voted to grant China PNTR status in 2000 in the hopes that it would deregulate and follow good trading techniques, but” this gamble failed.”

” Our country has been deposed by our country, our manufacturing base has eroded, and our most important adversary has lost work,” says PNTR. He claimed that the CCP has also abused our markets and violated the hopes for liberty and fair rivals that were present when the totalitarian regime was granted the PNTR more than 20 years ago.

The Neither Permanent nor Standard Trade Relations Act was introduced by Democratic Senators Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley on September 26. Trump announced Rubio as the next US secretary of state on November 13. Rubio is likely to get Senate verification and started his phrase after Trump’s January 20, 2025, opening.

One of the most disastrous selections our nation has ever made was to provide Communist China the same business benefits that we do to our greatest allies,” Rubio said in a media release from September. ” Our government’s trade deficit with China more than quadrupled, and we exported millions of American jobs. Ending ordinary trade relations with China is a no-brainer”.

Three scenarios&nbsp,

In October, Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, a state-owned brokerage company, commissioned Infinite-Sum Modeling, a Shenzhen-based discussing company, to do research on conceivable US tax hikes against Chinese products.

” If the US revokes China’s MFN status, it will impose an average of more than 60 % tariffs on Chinese goods”, calculating from the facts that the US imposes” an average 42 % tariff for non MFNs, and there is an additional 20 % Section 301 tariff against Chinese products”, Zhao Wei, chief economist of Shenwan Hongyaun, writes in a research report.

He claims that 48 % of US imports of Chinese goods have stopped being subject to the low MFN tariff after a trade war started in 2018. He quotes a report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, which states that the average tariff on Chinese goods was 19.3 % in June 2023, up from about 2.3 % in 2018. &nbsp,

If a new business war breaks out between China and the US, Shenwan Hongyuan created financial projections for three cases:

  • 1. The US imposes a 60 % tax on Chinese goods,
  • 2. The US imposes a 60 % tariff on Chinese goods, and a 10 % tariff on all other imported goods,
  • 3. The US imposes a 60 % tariff on Chinese goods, and a 10 % tariff on all other imported goods, while China retaliates with a 60 % tariff against American goods.
Impact of Sino-US trade war
Credit: Asia Times

The US would be able to reduce its trade deficit under all three cases, but it would also experience from slower home use and economic expansion. &nbsp,

Zhao explains that the US would prefer scenario 2 or 3, where its GDP may decline significantly over that of China. &nbsp,

In an article published on November 15, a Jiangsu-based critic who uses the pseudonym” Beibei” claims that if China’s Import position is voided by the US, Sino-US business relations and global supply chains will suffer significantly. &nbsp,

” If this actually happens, tax barriers will substantially increase, resulting in a plummeting of the deal between China and the US, Beibei says”. Orders will shrink and costs will rise for several Chinese exporters. Some small-and-medium-sized businesses may also face risks of debt.”

The journalist claims that by concentrating more on local businesses and some Belt and Road nations, China will be able to overcome these obstacles. She claims that Chinese companies could also benefit from this opportunity to move from labor-intensive to knowledge-based industries and increase the value of their goods. &nbsp,

She adds that rising costs and potential supply chain disruptions may harm US businesses. She claims that prices will rise for US suppliers and customers who rely on high-quality, low-cost Chinese products.

Since Trump won the election, the Chinese foreign government has so far refused to comment on potential US tax excursions and called the subject” speculative. ” &nbsp,

Foreign envoy to the US, Xie Feng, stated in a Hong Kong conference on November 15 that cooperation between China and the US has never been a zero-sum sport. &nbsp,

He claimed that 70 000 US businesses can generate US$$ 50 billion in China with the bilateral trade of more than US$ 660 billion annually. He added that Chinese goods may lower American customers ‘ costs of living.

The Asia Times has Yong Jian as a source. He is a Chinese blogger who specializes in Chinese technologies, economy and politics. &nbsp,

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