Business
Trump’s 100% tariffs on China: For India, the message is clear – No deal with US is ever final, says GTRI – The Times of India
India should be careful in its negotiations with the US and should focus on its self-reliance rather than depending on Washington, Global Trade Research Institute (GTRI) said in a report. In a report titled “Trump’s tariff offensive hits a rare earth wall,” the think tank analysed the impact of Trump’s recently imposed tariffs on China and how India should proceed.
The US President Donald Trump on Friday announced an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports, raising total US duties to around 130%, which will be in effect from November 1. The action is one of the most major escalations in US-China trade tensions since the 2018 tariff war. Washington’s move responds to China’s stringent restrictions on rare-earth exports, which are vital for the US defence, clean-energy, and technology sectors.‘The message is clear’: Lessons for IndiaThe report said that India should advance its negotiations with the US cautiously and on “equal terms,” warning that “no deal with the US is ever final.”It suggested ensuring reciprocity and safeguarding strategic autonomy. The GTRI report also said that instead of depending on “shifting US promises,” New Delhi should prioritise self-reliance in critical technologies and minerals, shielding its economy from future trade shocks. The country should also use its neutral stance to strengthen ties with both Western and BRICS nations.ImpactPrices of electric vehicles, wind turbines and semiconductor parts are expected to rise as China and the US get embroiled in a new series of trade tensions.The report further noted that if Washington seeks support from its allies, costs could rise further, as they can’t quickly match China’s dominance in rare-earth minerals.Analysing the impact, think tank GTRI said, “The impact will be felt quickly. Prices of EVs, wind turbines, and semiconductor parts are expected to rise, while the US will try to “friend-shore” its mineral supply chains to Australia, Vietnam, and Canada. China, meanwhile, is likely to redirect supplies toward its non-Western partners to strengthen alternative industrial networks.”Washington may feel the heat tooWashington is still heavily reliant on Beijing for its electronic, textile, footwear, white goods and solar panels, some areas where China could strike back.Once the new tariffs take effect, prices might surge making it difficult for the Trump administration to handle the inflation and production costs. Hence, the US President’s “tough-on-China” approach could backfire, potentially raising costs for American consumers and weakening his wider economic agenda.‘China appears better prepared’Given the importance of rare earths to US industries, Washington may soon have little choice but to negotiate a new deal with Beijing. “Unlike the US, which often acts before weighing economic consequences, China appears more deliberate and better prepared,” the GTRI said.
Business
Govt keeps petrol, diesel prices unchanged for coming fortnight – SUCH TV
The government on Thursday kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre and Rs257.08 per litre respectively, for the coming fortnight, starting from January 16.
This decision was notified in a press release issued by the Petroleum Division.
Earlier, it was expected that the prices of all petroleum products would go down by up to Rs4.50 per litre (over 1pc each) today in view of variation in the international market.
Petrol is primarily used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers, and directly impacts the budgets of the middle and lower-middle classes.
Meanwhile, most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary, as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains, and agricultural engines such as trucks, buses, tractors, tube wells, and threshers, and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.
The government is currently charging about Rs100 per litre on petrol and about Rs97 per litre on diesel.
Business
Serial rail fare evader faces jail over 112 unpaid tickets
One of Britain’s most prolific rail fare dodgers could face jail after admitting dozens of travel offences.
Charles Brohiri, 29, pleaded guilty to travelling without buying a ticket a total of 112 times over a two-year period, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
He could be ordered to pay more than £18,000 in unpaid fares and legal costs, the court was told.
He will be sentenced next month.
District Judge Nina Tempia warned Brohiri “could face a custodial sentence because of the number of offences he has committed”.
He pleaded guilty to 76 offences on Thursday.
It came after he was convicted in his absence of 36 charges at a previous hearing.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Tempia dismissed a bid by Brohiri’s lawyers to have the 36 convictions overturned.
They had argued the prosecutions were unlawful because they had not been brought by a qualified legal professional.
But Judge Tempia rejected the argument, saying there had been “no abuse of this court’s process”.
Business
JSW Likely To Launch Jetour T2 SUV In India This Year: Reports
JSW Jetour T2 Launch: JSW Motors Limited, the passenger vehicle arm of the JSW Group, is reportedly preparing to enter the Indian car market this year. It has partnered with Jetour, a China-based automotive brand owned by Chery Automobile, and the Jetour T2 SUV could be the company’s first product, according to the reports.
Media reports suggest that the launch will happen independently and not under the JSW MG Motor India joint venture. The SUV will wear a JSW badge and name, instead of the Jetour branding. The upcoming SUV will be assembled at JSW’s upcoming greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
According to the reports, the company plans to have the vehicle on sale by the third quarter of this year. With this move, JSW aims to establish itself as a standalone carmaker in India.
Expected Powertrain
The SUV is likely to arrive with a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid setup. Internationally, this hybrid powertrain is offered with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. It is still unclear which version will be introduced in India.
Design
In terms of design, the T2 is a large and rugged-looking SUV. It has a boxy and upright stance, similar to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender. Despite its tough appearance, it uses a monocoque chassis instead of a ladder-frame construction.
Size
The SUV measures around 4.7 metres in length and nearly 2 metres in width. This makes it larger than the Tata Safari, even though it is a five-seater. A longer 7-seat version is also sold in some markets.
Price
Pricing details for India are yet to be announced. For reference, the front-wheel-drive five-seat T2 i-DM is priced at AED 1,44,000 (around Rs 35 lakh) in the UAE.
Jetour
Jetour is a brand owned by Chinese automaker Chery. Launched in 2018, it focuses mainly on SUVs and is present in markets across China, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
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