Author: HeraldStar

By Syeda Duaa Zehra Naqvi Donald Trump’s recent call for the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on Chinese and Indian imports has reopened questions about the costs of transatlantic alignment. Presented as a way to pressure Russia, the proposal is seen in European capitals less as a strategy than as a trap. If taken up, it would destabilise trade flows, raise inflation, and erode Europe’s competitiveness, while leaving the United States largely insulated. More importantly, it would endanger one of the central pillars of global stability: the economic partnership between China and the EU. China…

As US President Donald Trump’s new $100,000 visa fee sets off panic and confusion, China has announced a new visa category to lure young science and technology talent. Beijing is adding a ‘K visa’ to its ordinary visa categories, available to eligible young science and technology professionals. China’s Premier Li Qiang has signed a decree to promulgate the decision to amend the regulation on the administration of foreigners’ entries and exits. According to a report by news agency Xinhua, the new rules will take effect on October 1. Compared to the existing 12 ordinary visa types, K visas will offer…

By Syeda Duaa Zehra Naqvi Donald Trump’s latest call for the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on Chinese and Indian imports has revived familiar tensions over trade, sovereignty, and the strategic direction of Europe’s economy. While the proposal is framed in geopolitical terms—designed to pressure Russia by targeting its major partners—the collateral damage would be felt most acutely in Europe’s automobile industry. At stake is not only the health of one of Europe’s most iconic sectors but also the broader trajectory of China–EU cooperation in a rapidly evolving industry. Interdependence in the Auto Industry China…

By Hadia Khan In the world of international diplomacy, sanctions are often portrayed as the civilized alternative to war. They are the instruments of pressure that states deploy when diplomacy fails but the use of force seems too extreme. Supporters of sanctions argue that they help contain aggressors, protect civilians, and deter human rights violations without the devastating consequences of armed conflict. But as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk recently reminded the world, sanctions are not neutral tools. They can either serve the cause of justice or become instruments of collective punishment that devastate ordinary lives.…

By Urooj Babar The latest round of U.S.–China economic and trade talks in Madrid has largely concluded, and the outcome is already clear from the tone of the press briefings. What emerges is not merely another episode in a long series of tactical skirmishes, but a sharper definition of the contours of interaction between the two sides. The era when tariffs alone dominated the agenda appears to be giving way to a broader, more structured set of negotiations that include investment flows, technology governance, and cooperative arrangements on sensitive issues. The Madrid session focused centrally on three interlinked themes: addressing…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD At the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, local currency settlements were highlighted as an area of growing interest. Amidst currency volatility and geopolitical uncertainties, many view multi-currency settlement arrangements not only as a means to cut costs but also as tools to better manage risk in cross-border trade. These discussions are not just theoretical. Observers noted that both established and emerging markets are experimenting with settlement mechanisms in local or regional currencies, reflecting practical considerations in trade and finance. These practices are already visible in specific projects and financial…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The ongoing 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which opened on September 10 in Beijing, showcased China’s commitment to inclusive, open, and forward-looking service trade. Centered on the theme “Embrace Intelligent Technologies, Empower Trade in Services,” the fair featured 85 countries and international organizations setting up pavilions. Among them, 25 countries and organizations participated in the thematic exhibition. Nearly 2,000 companies attended on-site, including around 500 Fortune 500 and industry-leading enterprises such as Walmart, AstraZeneca, and KPMG, representing 26 of the top 30 countries and regions in service trade. Expanding Market Access…

Islamabad, Pakistan – On behalf of the youth of Pakistan, and in my personal capacity, I express my strongest condemnation of the unlawful and heinous bombing in Doha by Israeli forces, deliberately targeting a residential area and putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk. At this moment of grief, our hearts and prayers are with the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the esteemed Qatari Royal Family, and the brave people of Qatar. Pakistan’s youth share in their sorrow and stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the face of this…

By Urooj Babar The latest U.S. jobs data, released on September 5, 2025, paints a disquieting picture: employment gains have stalled, unemployment has edged upward, and markets are recalibrating expectations of Federal Reserve policy. What does this shift mean not just for America, but for economies around the world? A Labour Market Losing Momentum In August, the U.S. economy added a mere 22,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, a far cry from the nearly 75,000 that analysts had predicted. Worse still, revisions show that June, previously reported as gaining 14,000 jobs, actually lost 13,000 — the first monthly contraction since late 2020.…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD On September 2, spot gold briefly broke through the historic threshold of $3,500 an ounce, before settling just under that level at $3,494. This rally not only eclipsed the previous peak set in April but also cemented gold’s position as one of the best-performing assets of 2025. With a year-to-date gain of nearly 35 percent, the yellow metal has surged at a pace rarely seen in recent years, reflecting deep shifts in the global economy and investor psychology. The question now confronting markets is whether this meteoric rise marks the beginning of a longer-term structural…