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Finbarr Bermingham

@fbermingham.bsky.social

8.2K followers 710 following 5.7K posts

Senior Correspondent for Europe at the South China Morning Post. Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics. All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: Could the EU dust off its trade bazooka to take on China? Europe weighs its options

A serious discussion is underway in the commission about using the anti-coercion instrument against China - my report.

Could the EU dust off its trade bazooka to take on China?

Alarm bells have failed so the bloc is considering a weapon that it originally planned to fire at the US.

www.scmp.com

2 7 20

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1h

Unilever, a Dutch company with sales of more than $5 billion in China, has launched an investigation into possible irregularities in its finances.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1h

"Online reports indicate that Dutch oil company Shell, which owns more than 1,000 gas stations and two large production facilities in Huizhou and Fujian in China, as well as a liquefied natural gas terminal, is under scrutiny by China's Ministry of State Security

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1h

Chinese online rumours that Unilever and Shell are under investigation following the Dutch seizure of Nexperia

Seems to be blogger-propagated (would also note that neither Unilever or Shell are actually Dutch companies anymore...)

http://c.m.163.com/n...

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2h

Executives made their case to Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares during a meeting in Hangzhou Wednesday, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2h

Spanish executives are asking their Pedro Sanchez's government to back European Union plans that would force Chinese companies to hand over key technological secrets when operating inside the bloc.

Spanish Executives Push Sanchez to Back New Curbs on China Tech

Spanish executives are asking their government to back European Union plans that would force Chinese companies to hand over key technological secrets when operating inside the bloc.

www.bloomberg.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 5h

Spanish foreign minister Albares met Wang Yi in Hangzhou today - likely laying ground work for King Felipe VI visit to China later this year

"Spain welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Spain"

www.fmprc.gov.cn/wjbzhd/20251...

www.fmprc.gov.cn

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 6h

Macron's diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne is in China today and tomorrow for talks

Macron planned to go to China this year, not sure if plans changed given the turmoil at home. Then, Macron usually prefers the global stage to domestic politics...

Diplomatic adviser to French president to visit China for bilateral strategic dialogue-Xinhua

Diplomatic adviser to French president to visit China for bilateral strategic dialogue-

english.news.cn

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 7h

Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized 60,000 maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.

China seizes 60,000 maps over 'mislabelled' Taiwan

The maps also omitted "important islands", the source of competing claims between Beijing and its neighbours.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Finbarr Bermingham

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

New - Europe’s 3-body problem: collapsing global order sparks hunt for new trajectory

I got to write about one of my favourite Chinese sci-fi novels. Europe, realising it can’t fix systemic chaos, is instead trying to shift its own orbit.

Europe’s 3-body problem: collapsing global order sparks hunt for new trajectory

Some are sceptical the EU’s talk of ‘economic security’ can translate into action, but there are early signs that may be changing.

www.scmp.com

3 20 57

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 11h

Thanks @EddyWax for the shout out - frustration in the European Commission over Kallas' characterisation of my reporting

"Within the Commission, frustration is also growing over Kallas’ treatment of journalist Finbarr Bermingham, a correspondent for the South China Morning Post"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 11h

"We do not expect 2026 total net sales to be below 2025... On the other hand, we expect China customer demand, and therefore our China total net sales in 2026 to decline significantly" ASML's CEO Christophe Fouquet said in a statement.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 11h

ASML sees significant China demand drop,

ASML on Wednesday warned that it expected a significant fall in demand from China next year

ASML sees significant China demand drop, Q3 bookings above estimates

ASML , the world's biggest supplier of computer chip-making equipment, on Wednesday warned that it expected a significant fall in demand from China next year despite its third quarter bookings beating market forecasts.

www.reuters.com

2 3 8

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Story on this:

EU to insist on Chinese tech transfer, as it looks to ‘flex its muscles’ on rare earth curbs

www.scmp.com/news/china/d...

EU urged to ‘flex its muscles’ on Chinese tech transfer and rare earths

Bloc’s trade chief says he has received ‘a lot of concerned calls’ from industry about Beijing’s latest controls.

www.scmp.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Story on this:

EU to insist on Chinese tech transfer, as it looks to ‘flex its muscles’ on rare earth curbs

www.scmp.com/news/china/d...

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Says talks with China ongoing

"I have now been informed that the Chinese government has imposed a company-specific export control measure on all Nexperia sites in China. Discussions with the Chinese authorities are ongoing at various levels."

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

In a letter to parliament Dutch economy minister Karremans says decision is about mismanagement

"I wish to emphasize that I took this decision without instruction or consultation from any foreign government."

www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken...

Inzet Wet beschikbaarheid goederen | Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

www.tweedekamer.nl

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

On entity list:

"While Nexperia has made sufficient preparations to ensure business continuity – and as the BIS rule provides for a 60-day grace period – we are confident that a solution will be found."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Nexperia:

"Nexperia is actively engaging with Chinese authorities to obtain an exemption from these restrictions and has deployed all available resources to that end. Nexperia is in close dialogue with all relevant national and local government authorities to mitigate the impact of this measure"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Nexperia now out with a statement:

"On 4 Oct, MOFCOM issued an export control notice prohibiting Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting specific finished components and sub-assemblies manufactured in China."

www.nexperia.com/about/news-e...

Update on company developments

www.nexperia.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Head-spinning day, but was glad to start it at 6.45am on Newstalk FM with @JoeBLynam, talking rare earths, Nexperia and the fast-changing world we live in.

Trump's tariffs on China

Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Some more on this here from this afternoon's press conference

bsky.app/profile/fber...

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Press conference - Rasmussen says the EU "should be inspired by what the US & China" on trade

"We need to find ways to have a more robust attitude towards China. Think there's still some kind of misunderstanding in Europe that if people just played according to the rule book, we will be the winner"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"But clearly, this is not something with which we can live in the future, because it's really hampering the economic operations of companies, in our case, across the political community."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

He was also asked why the EU is still talking instead of acting:

"This will be discussed on G7 level, because it has very negative impact on the economies in all our countries.

And then, of course, we would consider what would be the most appropriate response to these measures...

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"Companies filling out these applications are telling us very often they are asked Qs which even national authorities in EU member states don't need.

V often there is an insistence on v detailed photo documentation of production line process, as well as info of the entire supply chain."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic complained about Chinese asking for lots of sensitive info from EU firms for REE licenses

"I made it abundantly clear that we consider the level of the detail required by the Chinese authority as very excessive."