Morning brief: A US-China warning; Haier mulls IPO; Australia trumps US as NZ exporter

A day of significant global developments is underway, as the United States issues a stern warning to China over its recent sanctions, a historic appointment is set to be made in Japan, and a South Korean internet pioneer is cleared in a high-profile stock manipulation case.

Here’s your one-stop stand to catch up on all the headlines you may have missed.

US warns China not to penalize companies for investing in America

The Trump administration has warned China not to retaliate against foreign companies that are helping the US to develop its critical industries.

The warning comes after Beijing last week sanctioned the US units of a South Korean shipping giant over its plans to invest in the American maritime sector. 

“China’s recent retaliatory actions against private companies across the globe is part of a broader pattern of economic coercion to influence American politics and control global supply chains,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

The escalating dispute is the latest in a long-running series of maritime tensions between the two superpowers.

Australia has overtaken the US as New Zealand’s second-biggest export market

Australia has surpassed the United States to become New Zealand’s second-biggest export market, a significant shift in trade flows that have been buffeted by White House tariff policies.

Exports to Australia reached a record $5.5 billion in the 12 months through September, just ahead of the 9.48 billion New Zealand dollars in sales to the US, according to Statistics New Zealand.

While China remains by far New Zealand’s largest market, the shift in the No. 2 spot highlights the real-world impact of the global and domestic uncertainty that has been created by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

Japan is reportedly set to have its first-ever female finance minister

Japan’s incoming leader, Sanae Takaichi, is reportedly set to tap Satsuki Katayama as the country’s first-ever female finance minister.

The appointment of the 66-year-old former Finance Ministry bureaucrat would be another major milestone for a country that has often been criticized for its slow progress on gender equality, and it would follow Takaichi’s own historic rise to become the leader of the ruling party.

Takaichi, who is poised to become the nation’s first female prime minister in a parliamentary vote later on Tuesday, now has sufficient numbers to secure the premiership after signing a coalition deal with an opposition party on Monday.

Billionaire founder of South Korea’s Kakao has been cleared in stock manipulation case

A South Korean court has dismissed the stock manipulation case against Kakao Corp. founder Brian Kim, clearing the billionaire of charges that had marred his reputation as an internet pioneer.

Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison term, accusing Kim of rigging the stock price of the K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment during a high-stakes acquisition battle.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the Seoul Southern District Court said prosecutors did not provide sufficient evidence and acquitted Kim of all charges. The verdict sent Kakao’s shares soaring as much as 7 percent in Seoul.

China’s Haier reportedly considering $500M Hong Kong IPO

The Chinese home appliance giant Haier Smart Home Co. is considering an initial public offering of its internet-of-things unit, Cosmoplat, according to people familiar with the matter.

Haier is reportedly working with bankers on a potential share sale that could take place in Hong Kong next year and could raise about $500 million.

The move comes as IPO proceeds in Hong Kong have surpassed $24 billion in 2025, a four-year high, and is a clear sign that Haier is looking to capitalize on the booming market and unlock the value of its fast-growing IoT division.

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