A key Republican Congressman is pushing back against demands from some leading Democratic members of Congress for the Biden administration to pursue executive action on outbound investment screening regulation, and instead is arguing that the administration should work with Congress on this issue.

China's Customs agency announced that it would allow imports of Uzbek French beans, starting in October. With Uzbekistan's exports to China growing, it is expected that more agricultural products will be allowed to be exported to China.

Last week, Chinese tech company ZTE moved forward on a deal with a Thai company that is intended to lead to production and innovation in the 5G sector in Thailand.

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has introduced legislation that would "establish a China Grand Strategy Commission tasked with developing a comprehensive whole-of-government approach for how the United States should address the economic, security, and diplomatic challenges posed by China."

At an event last Friday, a White House official offered some comments on the CHIPS Act and the outbound investment screening mechanism that has been in the news recently, both of which aim at maintaining U.S. technological advantages over China. The goal is to maintain an "absolute advantage&

Last week, the House of Representatives passed an antitrust bill that includes a provision requiring notification of foreign subsidies by companies who are merging.

Negotiations on a free trade agreement between China and Sri Lanka are underway after a five-year standstill, according to officials on both sides.