Threatened by possible shortages of lithium for electric car batteries, automakers are racing to lock in supplies of the mineral in a politically and environmentally fraught competition.

BEIJING — China’s auto sales plunged 81.7% in February from a year ago after much of the economy was shut down to fight a virus outbreak, an industry group reported March 12.

BEIJING — Global stock markets rebounded March 10 from record-setting declines after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would ask Congress for a tax cut and other measures to ease the pain of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.

BEIJING — Global stock markets and oil prices plunged March 9 after a fight among major crude-producing nations jolted investors who already were on edge about the surging costs of a virus outbreak.

BEIJING — China on Jan. 14 welcomed a U.S. decision ahead of the signing of a trade deal with Beijing to drop it from a list of governments accused of manipulating the value of their currencies to gain an unfair advantage in trade.

BEIJING — China’s economic growth sank to a new multidecade low in the latest quarter as a trade war with the U.S. deepened a slump that is weighing on the global economy.

BEIJING — China demanded Washington lift newly imposed sanctions on Chinese tech companies but said Oct. 8 envoys will go ahead with a U.S. trip for trade talks despite the latest spike in tensions.

BEIJING — China will lift punitive tariffs imposed on U.S. soybeans and pork in a trade war with Washington, a state news agency said Sept. 13, adding to conciliatory gestures by the two sides ahead of negotiations.

BEIJING — China appealed to Washington on Aug. 22 to “meet each other halfway” and settle a trade war instead of going ahead with planned tariff hikes that Beijing warned will trigger retaliation.

BEIJING — China’s economic growth sank to its lowest level in at least 26 years in the quarter ending in June, adding to pressure on Chinese leaders as they fight a tariff war with Washington.