World Business Report

Join Roger Hearing ahead of this weekend's meeting in Switzerland of Chinese and American diplomats for trade talks this weekend. The stakes are high, as the outcome could reset the future of economic relations between the world’s two largest economies. Also, we hear how Chinese Auto makers, who struggle to sell vehicles in North America because of the import tariffs, are expanding rapidly in many markets around the world.And the government of Mexico is suing Google Maps over its decision to use the name "Gulf of America" instead of the longstanding "Gulf of Mexico".

The US President Donald Trump has proposed cutting tariffs on goods from China to 80%, ahead of trade talks between the two countries in Switzerland. The world’s two biggest economies have been in a trade war since January.The boss of the company behind Zara and other fast fashion brands has been calling on the EU to crack down on Chinese e-commerce firms Shein and Temu. We hear from Óscar García Maceiras, the Chief Executive of Zara's parent company Inditex. Plus Will Bain looks at cricket’s Indian Premier League – one of the richest sporting events in the world – which has suspended matches for a week in the wake of growing tension between India and Pakistan.

The US has agreed to reduce import taxes on a number of British goods - should we expect other deals on the way?Also, who is Pope Leo XIV? And how is he going to deal with the Vatican's finances?The Spanish parliament is debating reducing the current workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours for over 12 million people, we hear why the Spanish business association thinks it's a bad idea.And not all of us have $200bn to give away, but Bill Gates does and he says he will. We find out why.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

President Trump has announced that his administration has reached a trade deal with the United Kingdom. Speaking in the White House, President Trump said the agreement would provide access to the British market for American beef and agricultural and industrial products.The presidents of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, have held what they described as productive talks at the Kremlin. China is Russia's biggest trading partner. It buys large amounts of oil and gas, helping to compensate for the loss of Western markets that followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.And Andrew Peach hears that Western Sahara, a disputed territory in North Africa, is experiencing a major economic change. Why? Well, it traces back to President Trump’s 2020 decision to recognise Morocco’s claim over the region, and now, with Trump back in power, highways, airports, and wind farms are rising from the desert in a multi-billion dollar development push.

The Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said America's central bank would leave its key interest rate unchanged because of tariff 'uncertainty'. We hear from Gary Schlossberg, a global strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute and a former researcher at US Treasury and Federal Reserve.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

In this World Business Report special, Will Bain looks at how US tariffs have affected the Chinese economy, with the two countries set to hold their first talks since the start of the trade war. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, will meet China's Vice Premier, He Lifeng, in Switzerland on Saturday. The US introduced a one- hundred and forty-five percent tariff on Chinese imports last month, while China placed retaliatory one hundred and twenty five percent import taxes on American goods. Will hears from Chinese exporters and trade experts.

The Canadian Premier Mark Carney is in Washington trying to strike a deal with the US President. Carney says Donald Trump is "willing to negotiate" a new trade deal and drop the tariffs following "wide-ranging discussions" at the White House.The presenter Rahul Tandon will look at the other trade deal between the UK and India. Countries have agreed for export whisky, cars and other products to India, and cut taxes on India's clothing and footwear exports.Also, we look at the German economy after Friedrich Merz eventually elected German chancellor.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Will Bain hears from Germany where Friedrich Merz has become Chancellor - after unexpectedly suffering a setback in the first round of voting in Parliament. His party ,the Christian Democrats, have agreed a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats, promising a responsible and stable administration that'll boost Germany's stagnant economy. The UK and India have announced a free trade deal after years of negotiations, which the British prime minister Kier Starmer called a historic day for both countries. Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is set to sit down with President Trump to discuss easing some of their trade tensions. OpenAI, the parent of artificial intelligence service ChatGPT, has announced a new governance plan after a bitter power struggle over the business and criticisms from the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

US President Donald Trump has said he will hit movies made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he ramps up trade disputes with nations around the world.The European Union has announced a five-hundred-and-sixty-million-dollar fund to attract foreign scientists. Will it work?Also, Rahul Tandon will find out why China is growing their interest in snooker.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on all films made outside the United States - claiming Hollywood was being 'devastated' by a trend of American filmmakers and studios working abroad. He accused other countries of luring film crews with tax breaks, calling it a threat to national security. Will Bain hears from a filmmaker who worked on Star Wars. And in West Africa, A ban on foreign gold traders in Ghana’s local gold markets, has come into effect and the government of Ghana says that this is part of efforts to boost national revenue and streamline the country's mining sector. Also, as a working parent, you'll be able to confirm that childcare whilst you're out at work can be expensive - prohibitively so in some cases. In the US it seems to be one of the rare topics where politicians of all colours agree something urgently needs to be done.

Shares of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, tumbled by as much as 8% on Friday morning after it announced that it has delayed the launch by a year – to May 26, 2026. With the company being valued at around 40 billion US dollars, that is a lot of money being shaved off. The U.S. President Donald Trump repeated that he will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, saying that "We are going to be taking away Harvard's tax-exempt status. It's what they deserve!" Harvard, which is already suing the Trump administration, said that this is unlawful. And Skype Will Shut Down on Monday, May 5, As Microsoft Shifts to Teams. Davina Gupta will hear from one of the creators of the Skype ringtone.

US job figures were healthier than expected in April with an increase in employment of 177,000 while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%. David Harper looks at what it means for the economy. Also, Americans have got used to buying cheap imports from places like China, without paying import duty. That's now changing as tax is being collected on low-value packages.Australians are heading to the polls this weekend, our reporter has been finding out how the international economic situation has become a key factor in the election.And, fancy a 'Golden Visa' for Kazakhstan? If you've got a couple hundred thousand dollars, you could...You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

As trade wars continue, we explore how businesses of all sizes are surviving. Will tariffs dominate Apple and Amazon's earnings? And how are small businesses staying afloat?The US and Ukraine signed a minerals deal which President Zelensky says is an "equal partnership". Andrew Peach speaks to the US’ former Deputy Director for Batteries and Critical Materials.Plus, the World Health Organisation says cuts in US foreign aid could lead to the worst ever disruption in global health funding.And we're hearing stories from Colombia, where support for small businesses could help to keep the peace.

The US and Ukraine have signed a deal that will give Washington access to some of the war-torn country's natural resources. We're unpicking some of the detail behind a deal to exploit mineral resources in Ukraine.A state backed blog in China suggests that the US might have floated the idea of talks on trade tariffs.And we're hearing stories from Colombia, where support for small businesses could help to keep the peace.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

While President Trump has praised his tariffs again, the US economy has shrunk for the first time in three years. Meanwhile, China's factories take a big blow amid the ongoing trade war. Rahul Tandon speaks to small businesses owners feeling the pinch. Plus, with elections looming in Australia this weekend, we take a closer look at the soaring cost of housing—and what it could mean for voters.

The US economy contracts during President Trump's first three months in office. GDP fell by 0.3%... Mr Trump blames former President Biden. Meanwhile China blames US tariffs for falls in its manufacturing figures... but there are more positive numbers in Europe. Also, Andrew Peach hears from the UN Assistant Secretary General about Afghanistan's economy under Taliban rule. And we'll hear why a fall in demand for diamonds is very damaging for Botswana.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

On the programme we are looking at Donald Trump's first 100 days in power, during which he has talked a lot about tariffs, and there have been many changes to trade policies. Rahul Tandon looks at the key important economic events of the initial 100 days and the way they have upended global trade. Also, Mark Carney is celebrating his election victory in Canada, although Canadian broadcaster CBC projects his party will fall just short of the 172 parliamentary seats needed for a majority.

Roger Hearing looks at the economic impact of the first 100 days of the second Trump Presidency, as the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the changing of policy around tariffs creates "strategic uncertainty" . We also hear from Mexicans deported from the US under the president's push on immigration. Meanwhile Mark Carney's Liberal Party wins the Canadian election. But what can Mr Carney do to deal with the tariff threat? We'll hear from one of Canada's leading industrialists. Plus the European court of Justice rules that Malta's 'Golden visa' scheme is illegal.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Canadians are voting in a general election which has been dominated by Donald Trump's trade war and threats to annex the country. The leaders of the two main parties rejected a renewed assertion by Mr Trump on election day that Canada should become the fifty-first US state.Devina Gupta hears from the BBC’s economics editor Faisal Islam, who is in Ottawa, and Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. And the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has urged people not to speculate over the cause of a massive power cut that's affected millions of people across Spain and Portugal.

Roger Hearing hears how a massive power cut has hit Spain and Portugal, along with parts of France. Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica said it was working with energy companies to restore power. Also - the impact of US tariffs begins to bite as there's a big downturn in goods arriving from China. The steepest rise in global spending on defence since the end of the Cold War - we'll find out who's buying what. Plus Kenya lifts a ban on licencing new commercial banks - and what are the economic issues as Canadians go to the polls? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.