BEIJING: The US has flouted trade rules with an inquiry into intellectual property and China will defend its interests, Vice Premier Liu He told US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a telephone call on Saturday, according to Chinese state media.
The call between Mnuchin and Liu, a confidante of President Xi Jinping, was the highest-level contact between the two governments since US President Donald Trump announced plans for tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods on Thursday.
The deepening rift has sent a chill through financial markets and the corporate world as investors predicted dire consequences for the global economy should trade barriers start going up.
Several US chief executives attending a high-profile forum in Beijing on Saturday, including BlackRock Inc’s Larry Fink and Apple Inc’s Tim Cook, urged restraint.
In his call with Mnuchin, Liu, a Harvard-trained economist, said China still hoped both sides would remain “rational” and work together to keep trade relations stable, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
US officials said an eight-month probe under the 1974 US Trade Act has found that China engages in unfair trade practices by forcing American investors to turn over key technologies to Chinese firms.
However, the investigation report “violates international trade rules and is beneficial to neither Chinese interests, US interests nor global interests,” Xinhua cited Liu as saying.
In a statement on its website, the office of the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said it had filed a request — at the direction of Trump — for consultations with China at the World Trade Organization to address “discriminatory technology licensing agreements.”
China’s commerce ministry expressed regret at the filing on Saturday, and said China had taken strong measures to protect the legal rights and interests of both domestic and foreign owners of intellectual property.
During a visit to Washington in early March, Liu had requested Washington set up a new economic dialogue mechanism, identify a point person on China issues, and deliver a list of demands.
The Trump administration responded by telling China to immediately shave $100 billion off its record $375 billion trade surplus with the US.
Beijing told Washington that US export restrictions on some high-tech products are to blame.
“China has already prepared, and has the strength, to defend its national interests,” Liu said on Saturday.
Firing off a warning shot, China on Friday declared plans to levy additional duties on up to $3 billion of US imports in response to US tariffs on steel and aluminum, imposed after a separate US probe.
Zhang Zhaoxiang, senior vice president of China Minmetals Corp, said that while the state-owned mining group’s steel exports to the US are tiny, the impact could come indirectly.
“China’s direct exports to the US are not big. But there will
be some impact due to our exports via the US or indirect exports,” Zhang told reporters on the sidelines of the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday.
China’s state-run Global Times said Beijing was only just beginning to look at means to retaliate.
“We believe it is only part of China’s countermeasures, and soybeans and other US farm products will be targeted,” the widely read tabloid said in a Saturday editorial.
Wei Jianguo, vice chairman of thew Beijing-based think tank China Center for International Economic Exchanges, told China Daily that Beijing could impose tariffs on more US products, and is considering a second and even third list of targets.
Possible items include aircraft and chips, Wei, a former vice commerce minister, told the news-paper, adding that tourism could be a possible target.
The commerce ministry’s response had so far been “relatively weak,” respected former Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei said at the forum.
US farm groups have long feared that China, which imports more than third of all US soybeans, could slow purchases of agricultural products, heaping more pain on the struggling US farm sector.
US agricultural exports to China stood at $19.6 billion last year, with soybean shipments accounting for $12.4 billion.
Chinese penalties on US soybeans will especially hurt Iowa, a state that backed Trump in the 2016 presidential elections.
Boeing jets have also been often cited as a potential target by China.
China and the US had benefitted by globalization, Blackrock’s Larry Fink said at the forum.
“I believe that a dialogue — and maybe some adjustments in trade and trade policy — can be in order. It does not need to be done publicly; it can be done privately,” he said.
Apple’s Tim Cook called for “calm heads” amid the dispute.
The sparring has cast a spotlight on hardware makers such as Apple, which assemble most of their products in China for export to other countries.
Electrical goods and tech are the largest US import item from China.
Some economists said higher US tariffs will lead to higher costs and ultimately hurt US consumers, while restrictions on Chinese investments could take away jobs in America.
“I don’t think local governments in the US and President Trump hope to see US workers losing their jobs,” Sun Yongcai, general manager at Chinese railway firm CRRS Corp, which has two US plants, said at the forum.
— Reuters
Workers at a steel mill in Cangzhou, China. US President Donald Trump’s plans for steel and aluminum tariffs are at the heart of a deepening rift between the two trading giants.
China steps up rhetoric to defend trade, hit back at Donald Trump
China steps up rhetoric to defend trade, hit back at Donald Trump
UAE’s ADNOC L&S acquires 80% stake in Navig8 for $1.04bn
- Value-accretive transaction expected to boost earnings per share by at least 20% in 2025 compared to 2024
- Transaction adds modern fleet of 32 tankers to ADNOC L&S’ fleet and expands its service portfolio
RIYADH: UAE’s ADNOC Logistics and Services has boosted its global position by acquiring an 80 percent stake in Navig8 TopCo. Holdings Inc. for $1.04 billion, strengthening its status as a prominent player in energy maritime transportation.
The transaction includes a contractual commitment to acquire the remaining 20 percent by mid-2027, positioning ADNOC L&S for expanded global operations and increased shareholder value.
Navig8, a prominent international shipping pool operator and commercial management company, brings a modern-owned fleet of 32 tankers and an established presence in 15 cities across five continents.
The firm has investments in technical management services, is a marine fuels provider operating in over 1,000 ports globally, and has additional ventures within the marine sector.
“The completion of this landmark acquisition is a significant milestone in our transformational growth strategy,” said Abdulkareem Al-Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S.
“By integrating Navig8’s extensive fleet and global presence, we can enhance our service offerings, generating substantial value for customers and shareholders. This strategic move unlocks new opportunities for commercial growth and expansion into new markets, reinforcing our position as a leading global energy maritime logistics company,” Al-Masabi added.
The acquisition aligns with ADNOC L&S’ growth strategy, complementing its integration with Zakher Marine International in 2022 and reinforcing its ambition to expand its global reach and service portfolio.
ZMI, an Abu Dhabi-based owner and operator of offshore support vessels, brought with it the world’s largest fleet of self-propelled jack-up barges.
ZMI’s acquisition expanded ADNOC L&S’s fleet to over 300 vessels, reinforcing its position as the region’s largest integrated logistics provider and enabling the company to offer its customers a broader range of services.
ADNOC L&S, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., will benefit from Navig8’s acquisition through expanded services, including commercial pooling, bunkering, technical management, and environmental, social, and governance-focused industrial and digital solutions.
The acquisition is structured to ensure economic ownership of Navig8 starting from Jan. 1, 2024.
The remaining 20 percent will be acquired in 2027 for deferred consideration ranging from $335 million to $450 million, depending on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization performance during the interim.
Nicolas Busch, CEO of Navig8, expressed enthusiasm for the deal, saying: “We are excited to join forces with ADNOC L&S and the wider ADNOC Group. This achievement highlights the exceptional efforts of the Navig8 team over the past two decades, setting the stage for this next phase.”
The acquisition is expected to deliver immediate financial benefits, with ADNOC L&S projecting a 20 percent increase in earnings per share by this year compared to the previous year.
The company’s share price saw a 5.23 percent increase as of Jan. 8, 2:00 p.m. UAE time.
It anticipates annual synergies of at least $20 million by 2026, underscoring the value-accretive nature of the transaction.
Saudi public funds boost domestic money market holdings to $11bn
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s public funds ramped up their domestic money market investments to SR41.38 billion ($11.03 billion) in the third quarter of 2024, marking an 82.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to official data.
Figures from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, showed that the total value of assets held by these organizations rose to SR160.1 billion during the three months to the end of September, marking a 36.7 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The number of operating funds grew by 9.54 percent during this period, reaching a total of 310, while the number of subscribers rose by 50.65 percent, reaching 1.57 million.
Domestic holdings saw the highest growth rate at 41.8 percent, comprising 84 percent of the total portfolio, or SR134.43 billion.
Other assets included 25.83 percent in shares, totaling SR41.24 billion, and 7.24 percent in sukuk and bonds, amounting to SR11.58 billion.
Real estate investments, valued at SR27.6 billion and accounting for 17.24 percent of the portfolio, are also considered domestic, according to SAMA.
Foreign allocations totaled SR25.66 billion, reflecting a 16 percent annual increase, and were spread across foreign shares, bonds, money market instruments, and other assets.
As Saudi Arabia’s economy continues to expand under the Vision 2030 initiative, the banking sector has seen a notable increase in loan growth, outpacing the rise in deposits.
This trend reflects the growing demand for credit, driven by the Kingdom’s ongoing infrastructure projects, real estate developments, and rising consumer spending.
In this context, Saudi investment funds are increasing their allocations to money market instruments, such as short-term government securities, which provide liquid, low-risk options for capital. This helps banks manage short-term liquidity needs while limiting exposure to significant market risks.
This investment trend not only supports the broader stability of the banking sector but also aligns with the Kingdom’s economic growth, ensuring that financial institutions can meet the rising demand for credit while safeguarding their liquidity positions.
The funds include both open-ended and closed-ended types, which are open to public investment and overseen by regulatory bodies like the Capital Market Authority.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund operates separately, focusing on long-term, strategic investments aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, and is not included in SAMA’s data.
According to SAMA, approximately 92 percent of active funds are open-ended, with assets totaling SR128.71 billion, while the remaining 8 percent are closed-ended, holding assets of SR31.38 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s M&A approvals surge 17.4% to reach record high
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia saw a 17.4 percent surge in mergers and acquisitions approvals in 2024, reflecting the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen its competitive business environment.
The General Authority for Competition approved 202 economic concentration requests — the highest number in its history — with 10 additional applications still under review, according to its annual report.
Economic concentration approvals are required for mergers and acquisitions to ensure they do not create monopolies or disrupt market competition.
The surge in approvals aligns with GAC’s goal of implementing competition-enhancing policies, combating illegal monopolistic practices, and improving market performance to boost consumer and business confidence, attract investment, and promote sustainable development.
Saudi Arabia’s surging mergers and acquisitions market comes against a global backdrop of decline in the industry, with a GlobalData report released in December showing worldwide deal volume dropped 8.7 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2024 — with the Middle East and Africa region seeing a relatively modest 5 percent decline.
Acquisition deals dominated approvals in the Kingdom at 81 percent, followed by joint ventures at 15 percent, and mergers at just 2 percent, the report showed.
The manufacturing sector led in activity, accounting for 67 of the approved requests, followed by the information and communications sector with 39, and wholesale and retail trade, along with motor vehicle and motorcycle repairs, with 22.
Foreign companies also showed significant interest in the manufacturing sector, which claimed 28 percent of their concentration requests, followed by information and communications at 17 percent, and wholesale and retail trade at 15 percent.
GAC noted a growing diversity in market activity, with requests received in emerging sectors like off-road tires, nicotine replacement therapy manufacturing, and industrial protective coatings.
The Kingdom led the Middle East in mergers and acquisitions in the chemicals sector during the first quarter of 2024, closing deals worth $500 million.
Additionally, the authority approved four new car agency registrations during the year and analyzed 53 percent of concentration requests based on horizontal relationships between entities operating within the same sector. Vertical and cluster relationships accounted for 16 percent and 31 percent of reviews, respectively.
The surge in approvals aligns with Vision 2030, which aims to create a business-friendly environment that attracts foreign investment and supports sectoral growth.
As Saudi Arabia strengthens its regulatory and economic frameworks, the surge in merger approvals reflects its ambition to establish itself as a regional hub for business and investment.
Oman’s real estate market surges 28% to $8bn by November 2024
- Sale contracts in the sector rose 3.1% annually to 1.1 billion rials
- Number of deals edged up 1.9% to 61,552
RIYADH: Oman’s real estate market maintained its upward trajectory in 2024, with transaction values soaring 28.1 percent year on year to 3.13 billion Omani rials ($8.13 billion) by November, official figures showed.
According to data from the National Center for Statistics and Information, sale contracts in the sector rose 3.1 percent annually to 1.1 billion rials during the period, while the number of deals edged up 1.9 percent to 61,552, the Oman News Agency reported.
The robust performance underscores broader optimism in Oman’s property market, with market intelligence firm Mordor Intelligence forecasting the residential real estate sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 9.19 percent, increasing from $4.38 billion in 2024 to $6.80 billion by 2029.
The Omani government has introduced several initiatives to boost the growth of its real estate sector, including relaxing property ownership laws for foreigners and offering tax incentives to real estate developers.
Oman’s population reached 5.27 million this month, with expatriates accounting for over 43 percent, or 2.28 million people. The significant expatriate presence has been vital in driving demand for residential and commercial properties, particularly in urban centers.
Oman’s Vision 2040, the country’s strategic development plan, further underscores the importance of sustainability and innovation in the real estate sector.
Data from NCSI said that the value of mortgage contracts surged by 44.8 percent year on year in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching 2.1 billion rials.
The number of mortgage contracts declined by 12.2 percent during the January-to-November period, dropping to 18,846 from 21,461 in the same period of the previous year.
Swap contracts also experienced significant growth, with 1,223 deals valued at 12.4 million rials by the end of November, an 18.1 percent increase from the previous year.
The total number of issued properties reached 210,483 by the end of November, reflecting a slight 3.4 percent decline compared to the same period in 2023.
Properties issued to Gulf Cooperation Council citizens saw a 6.8 percent annual rise, totalling 1,325 in the first eleven months of 2024.
Saudi Arabia issues 36k investment licenses since Vision 2030 launch
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has now issued more than 36,000 investment licenses, a five-fold rise compared to the overall active permits before the launch of Vision 2030.
According to the government-backed Invest Saudi platform, the Kingdom witnessed an 118 percent growth in entrepreneurial license issuance in 2024 compared to the previous year, while permits in the wholesale and retail trade sector increased by 123 percent during the same period.
The Kingdom launched the Invest Saudi initiative to attract foreign direct investment by offering incentives, streamlining regulatory processes, and facilitating partnerships.
As part of this, the Kingdom updated its investment law in August to ensure enhanced protections for international investors, including adherence to the rule of law, fair treatment, and property rights, while ensuring robust safeguards for intellectual property and facilitating smooth fund transfers.
“Saudi Arabia is growing steadily in achieving remarkable milestones and attracting investments, exceeding the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 with exceptional results in license issuance and the growth of promising sectors,” said Invest Saudi on X.
It added that the most licensed sectors since the launch of Vision 2030 are manufacturing, construction, professional and scientific, as well as wholesale and retail trade, and information and communication technology.
Invest Saudi further said that the Kingdom has surpassed its regional headquarters target outlined in the Vision 2030 program, as more than 500 international firms have established their Middle Eastern base in the country.
The Kingdom’s regional headquarters program provides benefits for international firms, including a 30-year exemption from corporate income tax and withholding tax on headquarters activities for companies, as well as discounts and support services.
Some of the major companies that have launched their regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia include US-based multinational investment banks Morgan Stanley and Citi Group, as well as BlackRock Inc., Northern Trust, Bechtel, and PepsiCo.
Invest Saudi is supporting the Kingdom’s National Investment Strategy, which is aiming to increase FDI by more than 20x from SR17 billion ($4.5 billion) in 2019 to SR388 billion in 2030.
It is also targeting increasing investment from 22 percent of GDP in 2019 to 30 percent by the end of the decade.
