SHANGHAI, China — Surrounded by the pomp of a White House ceremony, a trade delegation from China and US President Donald Trump’s top negotiators signed a 94-page “phase one” trade deal yesterday. Divided into eight chapters, covering areas from technology transfers to intellectual property, the deal, as expected, includes a commitment from China to purchase $200 […]
Japan's Fast Retailing Partners With Two Robotic Startups
TOKYO, Japan — Japanese fashion group Fast Retailing Co Ltd, owner of clothing chain Uniqlo, on Wednesday said it has partnered two robotics startups to help improve efficiency in warehousing and distribution. Asia’s biggest fashion retailer by sales, and the world’s second-biggest after Zara owner Inditex, last year said it would invest 100 billion yen […]
A Centuries-Old Culture of Embracing Change
BIELLA, Italy — Situated just north of Turin, in the town of Biella, the headquarters of Vitale Barberis Canonico have nestled in the foothills of the Italian alps since 1663. Run by the same family for thirteen successive generations, the company has sat at the forefront of the town’s rich textile manufacturing history for centuries. […]
Trade Rifts Are Backdrop for China TV's Shaming of Global Brands
BEIJING, China — Global corporations that have spent the year dancing around sensitive issues in China may find themselves in the spotlight again: it’s time for another “3.15 Gala” episode. That’s the annual name-and-shame programme on state-run China Central Television that uses hidden cameras to highlight what the network calls companies’ unfair practices against consumers. The […]