
AI-generated summary
Washington and Beijing have spent nearly a decade trading tariffs, export controls and blacklists, with each round threatening rupture. Yet they keep recovering from the brink.
Washington and Beijing have spent nearly a decade trading tariffs, export controls and blacklists, with each round threatening rupture. Yet they keep recovering from the brink.
As the two presidents met at the White House this week, that pattern was repeating. Simply put, decoupling is proving ruinously expensive on both sides: two-way goods and services trade fell 25.1 per cent last year to an estimated US$494.6 billion, with American goods exports to China down 26 per cent.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US-China trade tensions will continue with periodic escalations and de-escalations
Likely · Within months

McDonald's Taiwan currently maintains more than 200 restaurants open 24 hours a day, strengthening its Anytime and Anywhere strategy through drive-thru and delivery services; Mos Burger has only 8 stores remaining open 24 hours due to manpower shortages and changes in business districts; Ichiran Ramen has adjusted its business hours according to the situation of its branches, and some stores have canceled full-time operations.

Taiwan's supermarkets have a serious shortage of manpower for night shifts. Even the boss has to leave work and pick up the shift in person. Students would rather take on free work than work the night shift. Business operators say that late-night operations are expensive and lack manpower. Some stores would rather close their doors. Experts suggest that in the future, selective 24-hour operations should be implemented based on the needs of business districts.

Supermarket chains have canceled their 24-hour operations due to difficulty recruiting people for the night shift. Meilianshe has not provided 24-hour services since its establishment, and most of its stores remain open from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The three merchants are still evaluating whether to adjust their business hours after acquiring OKmart. The Quanlian Welfare Center will remain open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., but will open 9 "Hourly Specialty Stores" to provide 24-hour delivery. Some stores in Wanjiafu mass merchandisers and Lejiakang supermarkets still maintain 24-hour operation. It remains to be seen whether this will be shortened in the future.

The Hong Kong Shopping and Food Festival Moonlight Night Fun Mid-Autumn Market Carnival officially kicked off in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong on the 25th. The event gathered more than 40 stalls, with the theme of visiting the market, admiring the moon, and enjoying the festive atmosphere. It aims to revitalize local consumption, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and provide citizens with a good place for holiday leisure. It will last until September 27.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama disclosed that US President Donald Trump expressed concern about the yen's weakness during a recent Japan-US summit, marking an unusual public account of confidential currency talks between the two nations.

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays are approaching, which has given rise to a craze for taking 3 days off and 13 days off. The consumer market is showing a trend of cultural empowerment and experience upgrading, and the cultural creation of moon cakes and immersive moon-viewing tourism have become hot spots. Experts suggest that various localities should avoid homogeneous competition and deeply cultivate cultural foundations to achieve long-term industrial development.