NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI China: Lukashenko officially declared winner in Belarusian presidential elections

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This file photo shows Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (C) casting his ballot at a polling station in Minsk, Belarus, Jan. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Belarusian Central Election Commission on Monday officially declared Alexander Lukashenko’s victory in the latest presidential elections with 86.82 percent of the votes.

    For other candidates, Sergei Syrankov received 3.21 percent, followed by Oleg Gaidukevich (2.02 percent), Anna Kanopatskaya (1.86 percent) and Alexander Khizhnyak (1.74 percent). Around 3.60 percent of voters voted against all candidates.

    The presidential elections were held in Belarus on Jan. 26. The turnout was 85.69 percent.

    Under Belarusian law, a presidential candidate who secures more than 50 percent of the vote is declared the winner.

    Lukashenko was first elected president of Belarus in 1994. He was later re-elected in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2020.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Belgium’s new gov’t sworn in

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Bart De Wever (C) is sworn in as Belgium’s prime minister at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 3, 2025. [Belga News Agency via Xinhua]

    Belgium’s new government was sworn in on Monday, ending months of political deadlock. Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, which won the federal election last June, has taken office as prime minister — the first time a Flemish nationalist has led the federal government.

    In his general policy statement before the Chamber of Representatives, De Wever outlined key priorities for the remainder of the legislative term, including pension reforms, increased social benefits, and tax adjustments favoring supplementary income.

    Belgium’s fiscal deficit is projected to reach 28 billion euros (28.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, or 4.6 percent of GDP — well above the 3-percent threshold set by the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact. In response, the European Commission has launched an excessive deficit procedure, requiring the government to submit a corrective plan by April 30. The five-party “Arizona” coalition has agreed to focus on pension reform, reductions in social welfare spending, and the introduction of a capital gains tax.

    Economists warn that Belgium’s current social spending is unsustainable. Bruno Colmant, a member of the Belgian Royal Academy, cautioned that the country is entering “a phase of rapid population aging” and that urgent reforms are needed to address structural imbalances.

    At the same time, economic growth is expected to slow. The National Bank of Belgium forecasts growth of 1.2 percent in 2024, dropping to 1 percent in 2025. The country’s heavy reliance on energy imports — currently at 74 percent — leaves it vulnerable to global price fluctuations.

    Meanwhile, the industrial sector has been in recession for over 18 months. A 7.2 percent rise in business bankruptcies in 2024 has intensified concerns over job losses and economic stability.

    Security and immigration remain major challenges. De Wever has pledged stricter policies to combat organized crime and illegal immigration, making them key priorities for his administration.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says US to pause tariffs on Canada for one month

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference on an aircraft collision at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the tariffs on Canada announced on Saturday “will be paused for a 30 day period” to see whether or not a final economic deal with Canada can be structured.

    “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl,” Trump said in a post on social media platform Truth Social.

    In a post on X earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he “just had a good call with President Trump,” noting that “proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

    “Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan – reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” Trudeau said.

    “In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million,” Trudeau continued.

    Trump said in his post that he is “very pleased with this initial outcome,” and the tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for 30 days to allow further negotiations.

    Trump signed executive orders on Saturday to impose a 25 percent additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10-percent tariff hike on imports from China, which has drawn widespread opposition and immediate retaliations.

    The tariff order on Canada is 25 percent on all imports and 10 percent on energy products. Canada immediately hit back with 25 percent tariffs on 155 billion Canadian dollars (107 billion U.S. dollars) worth of American goods.

    Earlier on Monday, Trump said that he had “very friendly conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and the two sides agreed to “immediately pause” the anticipated tariffs for one month and continue negotiations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 6.1-magnitude quake jolts off Indonesia’s North Maluku, no tsunami alert issued

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A 6.1-magnitude earthquake rocked off Indonesia’s North Maluku province early Tuesday without prompting large waves, the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said.

    The agency had first issued the quake’s magnitude at 6.2 before revising it.

    The earthquake struck at 04:35 a.m. Jakarta time Tuesday (2135 GMT Monday), with its epicenter situated 86 km northeast of Doi Island in North Halmahera regency at a depth of 105 km under the seabed.

    No tsunami alert was issued as the tremors were not expected to trigger giant waves.

    Having situated on a vulnerable hit zone called the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia, an archipelagic nation, has frequently been stricken by earthquakes. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Eurozone inflation rises to 2.5% in January: Eurostat

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Eurozone’s annual inflation rate climbed to 2.5 percent in January, up from 2.4 percent in December 2024, according to a flash estimate released by Eurostat on Monday.

    Services are expected to record the highest annual inflation rate of 3.9 percent, down from 4 percent in the previous month. Inflation for food, alcohol, and tobacco stood at 2.3 percent, lower than 2.6 percent in December.

    Energy prices registered a sharp rise in annual inflation, increasing from 0.1 percent in December to 1.8 percent in January, while non-energy industrial goods inflation remained stable at 0.5 percent.

    Among eurozone members, Croatia recorded the highest inflation rates at 5 percent, followed by Belgium at 4.4 percent and Slovakia at 4.1 percent.

    The main EU economies registered the following inflation rates in January: Germany at 2.8 percent, France at 1.8 percent, Italy at 1.7 percent, and Spain at 2.9 percent.

    “Inflation rose from 2.4 percent to 2.5 percent in January, marking the fourth consecutive increase for the Eurozone,” said Bert Colijn, ING’s chief economist of the Netherlands.

    While inflation is expected to moderate over the year, Colijn cautioned that risks remain, including rising energy costs and the potential for a tariff dispute between the United States and the European Union.

    Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a 25-basis-point interest rate cut in response to sluggish economic data in the eurozone. The decision was based on “an updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation, and the strength of monetary policy transmission,” the ECB said in a press release.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says US agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico for one month

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had “very friendly conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and the two sides agreed to “immediately pause” the anticipated tariffs for one month and continue negotiations.

    “I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country,” Trump said in a post on social media platform Truth Social.

    “We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico,” Trump continued.

    “I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries,” said the U.S. president.

    Trump signed executive orders on Saturday to impose a 25-percent additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10-percent tariff hike on imports from China, which has drawn widespread opposition and immediate retaliations.

    “The tariffs could increase how much U.S. consumers and businesses pay for goods coming from Canada, Mexico and China — including electronics, toys, shoes, fresh produce, lumber and cars. Tariffs are paid by companies importing goods into the U.S., similar to a tax,” according to a report by NBC News.

    The new tariffs mean that U.S. companies would have to either reduce profits or implement cuts to protect their margins, the report said, adding that the implications could be “wide-reaching” across the U.S. economy.

    Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Sheinbaum on Saturday instructed the Secretariat of Economy to implement tariff and non-tariff measures to defend Mexico’s interests in response to the levies imposed by the Trump administration.

    “We categorically reject the White House’s slander against the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of intervention in our territory,” the Mexican president said on the social platform X.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhou-19 astronauts share details of work and life in space

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This undated video grab shows Shenzhou-19 astronauts sending their Spring Festival greetings from China’s Tiangong space station. (Xinhua)
    As China’s Shenzhou-19 mission reaches its halfway, the three astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station, orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth, have shared their experiences during the Spring Festival, offering a glimpse into their unique lives in space.
    SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS AND SPACEWALKS
    The crew commander Cai Xuzhe, who returned to the space station after about two years, described the feeling as “warm and familiar” in a video released on China’s CCTV on Thursday.
    This is Cai’s second time working and living in China’s space station, but his first time celebrating the Spring Festival there. In 2022, he spent six months in space during the Shenzhou-14 mission.
    The Shenzhou-19 astronauts entered the space station on Oct. 30, 2024. According to Cai, over the past three months, the crew has completed a series of tasks, including the handover with the Shenzhou-18 crew, routine maintenance of the space station, and two spacewalks.
    These extravehicular activities (EVAs), commonly known as spacewalks, are essential for repairs, experiments, and testing equipment outside the station.
    Cai emphasized the importance of their training, including system-wide emergency pressure drills and medical rescue exercises.
    “These exercises have significantly improved our ability to handle unexpected situations, allowing us to work more efficiently and safely,” he said.
    Supported by ground teams, the astronauts have also advanced scientific experiments, such as cutting-edge research on human brain organoids and new material exposure tests in the harsh environment of space.
    “We are steadily progressing with our scientific missions, focusing on space life science, microgravity physics, space material science, and aerospace medicine,” Cai noted.
    Song Lingdong, who participated in two spacewalks, shared his awe-inspiring experience.
    “Before my first EVA, I imagined what it would be like, but nothing prepared me for the moment I opened the hatch and saw Earth. It was breathtaking,” he recalled. “Climbing on the module walls, I felt as if I was walking on clouds.”
    “I was mesmerized by the beauty of space, but at the same time, I felt the weight of our mission,” he added.
    Their first nine-hour spacewalk proved China’s new-generation spacesuits to be both safe and effective, according to Song.
    Addressing public curiosity, Song explained how astronauts stay energized during long EVAs. “We eat high-calorie meals beforehand and drink functional beverages during the task. We highly concentrate on the tasks and don’t feel hungry,” he said.
    FAMILY, SPACE, GYM AND PRIDE
    Life aboard the space station is not all work. During the Spring Festival, the crew took time to rest, call their families, and capture stunning photos of Earth and space.
    “We sent New Year greetings from space and recorded videos to cherish these moments,” said Song, who plans to document his experiences for his children.
    Wang Haoze, China’s first female space engineer working in the space station, expressed pride in China’s space achievements, marveling at the sophisticated systems of their “space home.”
    Despite the busy schedule, the astronauts find joy in simple activities. “We float freely like ‘sky flyers,’ lift heavy objects effortlessly, interact with our AI assistant, and even grow vegetables and raise fruit flies,” Wang said.
    Wang enjoys writing space diaries. Her favorite pastime, however, is gazing at Earth through the porthole, admiring Earth’s landscapes, from vast oceans to majestic mountains.
    “Seeing our homeland from space fills me with excitement, pride, and longing,” said Wang.
    To combat the effects of weightlessness, the crew followed a strict exercise regimen using specialized equipment like the space treadmill, stationary bike and resistance devices.
    “These exercises keep our bones, muscles and hearts healthy. And with balanced meals, we feel strong and energized,” Wang explained.
    The crew also finds time to bond over meals, share humor, and maintain their spirits.
    As they celebrated three months in orbit during the Spring Festival, Wang sent a heartfelt message: “May our nation thrive, and may we achieve new heights together, from space to Earth.”
    This is the third Spring Festival since the full completion of the Chinese space station. Nine crew members from Shenzhou-15, Shenzhou-17 and Shenzhou-19 have welcomed the New Year and the Spring Festival in space.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees growing private pension funds sales agencies

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China saw a growing number of qualified fund sales agencies to cater to the wealth management demands of clients participating in the country’s private pension scheme.
    There were 52 funds sales institutions for private pension as of the end of 2024, up from 37 in 2022, said the Asset Management Association of China.
    Among them, 19 are commercial banks, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Agricultural Bank of China. The rest are 25 securities companies and eight independent sales institutions.
    To enhance the old-age security system, China piloted a private pension scheme in certain cities in 2022 and expanded the program nationwide in December 2024.
    The scheme allows participants to contribute up to 12,000 yuan (about 1,674 U.S. dollars) annually to their private pension accounts and offers them tax incentives. The account could be used to buy specific wealth management products such as funds.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chang’e-7 mission to land on lunar south pole

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This far infrared photo taken by Tiandu-2 satellite camera on April 8, 2024 shows the Moon (L) and the Earth. [China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua]
    China’s Chang’e-7 lunar probe, scheduled for launch in 2026, will target the moon’s south pole to search for water ice and test cutting-edge technologies critical for sustainable human activities on the moon, China Media Group reported Monday.
    The mission using an innovative hopper spacecraft equipped with a water molecule analyzer aims to confirm the presence and distribution of water ice in permanently shadowed craters, said the report.
    The Chang’e-3 and Chang’e-5 missions successfully landed on the moon’s near side, while Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-6 achieved historic touchdowns on the far side. Therefore, Chang’e-7’s planned landing at the lunar south pole will test the capability of China’s lunar probe to reach any region of the moon, Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-7 mission, said in the interview.
    If lunar water ice is successfully located, it could significantly reduce the cost and time required to transport water from Earth, facilitating the establishment of a human base for long-term activities on the moon and enabling further exploration of Mars or deep space, Tang said.
    According to Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, the Chang’e-7 probe – comprising an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a mobile hopper – will face extreme challenges, including temperatures below minus 100 degrees Celsius and complex terrain.
    The hopper, a first-of-its-kind lunar explorer, will “jump” from sunlit areas to shadowed craters to conduct detailed analyses. The lander will deploy China’s inaugural deep-space “landmark image navigation” system to ensure precision, while the hopper utilizes active shock-absorption technology to safely land on slopes, said the report.
    The probe can autonomously analyze its landing terrain, with more than half of its operations performed independently without requiring ground intervention. The solar panels installed vertically on the probe are being optimized to capture low-angle sunlight near the lunar pole, Tang said, adding that the mission has entered its final assembly and testing phase.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Passage of Chinese fleet through Basilan Strait consistent with int’l law, practice: Spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The normal passage of the Chinese naval fleet through the Basilan Strait is fully in accordance with international law and practice, said Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.
    The command deployed naval and air forces for training exercises to the high seas through the Basilan Strait on Monday, said Tian, adding that the operations were conducted in a safe, standardized, and professional manner.
    The Philippine side has falsely hyped and smeared the normal passage of the Chinese naval fleet, seriously undermining the legitimate navigation rights of China and other countries, Tian said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Festivity held at Beijing Ancient Observatory to mark Beginning of Spring

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Festivity held at Beijing Ancient Observatory to mark Beginning of Spring

    Updated: February 4, 2025 09:05 Xinhua
    A Chinese calligraphy enthusiast writes blessing words for visitors during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. Featuring folk performances and display of time-honored brands and intangible cultural heritages, the festivity was held here to mark Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, the first of the 24 solar terms on the Chinese lunar calendar. Lichun falls on Feb. 3 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors pose for photos during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors have fun at a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A spring-greeting ritual is held during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Children distribute lucky bags during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A lion dance is staged during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Performers dance during a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors have fun at a cultural festival marking Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, at the Beijing Ancient Observatory in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global celebrations of Chinese New Year

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Global celebrations of Chinese New Year

    Updated: February 4, 2025 09:28 Xinhua
    A woman presents Hanfu attire in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 2, 2025. A Hanfu-themed gathering in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, was held here on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Guests take part in a closing bell ceremony held by Nasdaq and the Chinese Consulate General in New York in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in New York, the United States, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Students from the art troupe of the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China perform during the Chinese New Year Showcase in Chicago, the United States, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tunisian Chinese learners practice Chinese calligraphy during a cultural event held at a bookstore in celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, in Tunis, Tunisia, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A person in Monkey King costume plays Mahjong during a Chinese New Year celebration at Camden Market in London, Britain, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Performers pose for photos during a Chinese New Year celebration at Camden Market in London, Britain, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a performance during a celebration of the Chinese New Year in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A decoration of a snake is seen on the show window of a bookstore in Turin, Italy, Jan. 31, 2025. Exhibition boards and posters about the Chinese New Year are displayed on the streets of Turin as part of the festival celebration. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Dragon dancers perform in a celebration of the Chinese New Year at Denpasar in Bali Province, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A woman interacts with a lion dancer during an event celebrating the Chinese New Year in Wellington, New Zealand, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Local residents learn to make decorative Chinese knots during an event celebrating the Chinese New Year at the Auckland Art Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist poses for a photo with a mascot during a celebration of the Chinese New Year in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A lion dance is staged during a celebration of the Chinese New Year in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of a Yingge team perform the traditional Chaoyang Yingge dance during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt, Germany, on Jan. 31, 2025. The Yingge team from Shantou, south China’s Guangdong province, offered a rich cultural feast in Frankfurt to friends from all over the world through their Chaoyang Yingge dance, a unique art form combining drama, dance, and martial arts. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Various activities held in London to celebrate Chinese Year of Snake

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Various activities held in London to celebrate Chinese Year of Snake

    Updated: February 4, 2025 09:43 Xinhua
    Children gather to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. Various activities were held in London to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Lion dancers perform at Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A boy holds a toy themed on the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Lion dancers perform at Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A girl participates in activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Lion dancers perform at Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A girl participates in activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People gather to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Lion dancers perform at Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney

    In a hectic 24 hours of trade diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has paused his threatened 25% tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico, while keeping 10% tariffs on imports from China.

    Australian companies with operations in Canada or Mexico such as Rio Tinto, whose Canadian operations export billions of dollars of aluminium to the US, have won a temporary reprieve. But the risk of weaker economic growth in China will weigh heavily on companies that export to our largest trading partner.

    And Trump has hinted all US imports of aluminium and copper, including from Australia, may be his next target.

    The Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Tuesday that although Australia is not immune when there are escalating trade tensions, “we are pretty well-placed to navigate them.”

    However, even if Australia manages to stay out of Trump’s sights, Australians cannot expect to come out of a trade war unscathed. Due to the complexity of global supply chains, it is difficult to predict exactly how Australia would be affected, but here are a few key factors that would likely come into play.

    Our largest trading partner

    About 40% of Australia’s exports go to China, making it the biggest destination by far, according to data for 2023 from UN Comtrade. Most of this is Australian iron ore and other minerals that are used in China’s construction and manufacturing sectors.

    If Trump’s tariffs further slow the
    already sluggish Chinese economy, this will reduce demand for the goods it buys from Australia.

    If China’s demand for iron ore falls significantly, this will not only hurt the Australian mining sector, but it could trigger a fall in the Australian dollar, making the things Australians buy from abroad more expensive.

    But the size of the impact of the latest tariffs on China remains to be seen. China has already absorbed the tariffs from the first Trump administration, and the latest increase is much smaller than the 60% tariff he previously proposed.

    Trade diversion

    The one positive effect for Australia of US tariffs on other countries is that, because they raise the price of other countries’ exports to the US, they may make some Australian exports more competitive. This is something economists call trade diversion. For example, the tariffs on Canadian aluminium would have shifted US demand toward aluminium produced in Australia.

    The tariffs on China will divert relatively little trade to Australia because there is not much overlap between the products China and Australia export to the US.

    But China’s retaliatory tariffs could make a significant impact. China responded to the US tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term with tariffs on American wheat and other agricultural products. A similar move this time could create an opening for Australian farmers to fill the gap.

    But it is not all good news. The US exports diverted away from the Chinese market will also compete with Australian products in other countries. So, while Australian wheat may become more competitive in China, US wheat may displace Australia’s in the Philippines.

    A weaker Aussie dollar?

    Tariffs also tend to cause the currency of the country imposing them to rise because they reduce demand for goods denominated in foreign currencies.

    The flip side is a weaker Australian dollar, which dropped to a five-year low after the tariffs were flagged. The currency has now fallen nearly 10% since November.

    Again, this raises the cost of imports to Australia, which could lift inflation.

    Network disruption

    If the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are confirmed in 30 days’ time, the greatest impact will be in the supply chain disruption they will cause.

    Analyses of the tariffs Trump imposed on China in 2018 found most of the cost was borne by US businesses that use imported inputs. But because North American production networks are so highly integrated, and have been for decades, the effect of tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be much more disruptive to all North American producers.

    As economic networks expert Ben Golub explains, the concern is not just that auto prices will rise, but that if key parts of the production network fail, such as if small but important intermediate suppliers go out of business, the effects of the tariffs could cascade into major disruptions.

    Eventually, businesses will develop alternative supply chains, but the short-run pain could be considerable.

    For Australians, this could mean higher prices and supply disruptions, not just for the products we buy from the US, but for anything that depends on a North American supplier at any stage in the production process.

    We are still feeling the effects of the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID, including the jump in inflation in 2021 and 2022 and the subsequent high interest rates and global backlash against incumbent political parties. That includes Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office.

    Similar disruptions may be in store if this skirmish becomes a major global trade war. Even if Trump’s promised tariffs never actually materialise, we may still see the same effects on a smaller scale because the trade policy uncertainty from just the threat of a trade war has similar effects on business activity as actual tariffs.

    Whatever transpires, even if Australia can escape direct involvement in a trade war, it cannot escape the shockwaves that reverberate through the global economy. The question is whether it will be a ripple or a tsunami.

    Scott French does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos – https://theconversation.com/australia-wont-escape-the-fallout-of-the-trump-trade-chaos-248883

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins NewsNation: President Trump Showcases the Art of the Deal with Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation to discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China to combat the deadly fentanyl and border crisis our nation is facing. Within days of the announcement, President Trump’s America First foreign policy was vindicated once again as leaders from Mexico and Canada came to the negotiating table and promised to take care of their side of the border and do their part to alleviate the crises they’ve allowed to unfold at the detriment of American citizens. 

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview. 
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include: 
    On President Trump getting Mexico, Canada to step up to plate and take care of their side of border:
    “This is the art of the deal. This is who Donald Trump is. I just want to emphasize that this is a drug war and not a trade war. Every day we lose about 200 Americans from fentanyl poisoning. We lose more Americans every year from fentanyl poisoning than we did during the entire Vietnam War. So to President Trump, this is very serious. It’s good to see Mexico and Canada both step up to the plate and say, we’re going to be responsible for our side of the border.” 
    “I want to emphasize one more thing is that a lot of these fentanyl precursors are now being made in laboratories in Canada, so Mr. Trudeau needs to be smashing those laboratories up as well. So a great day for President Trump. A huge victory for America.” 
    On President Trump’s successful record using tariffs to put America First:
    “We saw less than 2% inflation when President Trump implemented these tariffs as well. We saw his trade agreements work as well. What would help Americans is to lower the interest rates and lower the price of gasoline. That’s going to lead to lower prices of groceries. That’s how we take relief on the inflation. I want Americans to realize that we have a trillion-dollar trade deficit overall, a trillion dollars, almost a trillion dollars…”
    “When Joe Biden’s policies kicked in, his trade deficits with Mexico grew from, I think, 80 billion to 130 with Canada, they went from 20 to 60 billion as well. And we saw that the trade these tariffs worked so well on China that Joe Biden kept them. And even his own Secretary of Treasury, Janet Yellen said that we need to keep them to protect jobs. So number one, this is about national security. Number two, this is also going to bring jobs back to America as well, which is a good thing. So I think there’s some real good logic behind what President Trump is doing.”
    On President Trump ensuring American farmers are taken care of:
    “I have confidence in President Trump. 90% of rural Americans voted for President Trump. Every time I see him, he asks me how my farmers are doing. And when we had this discussion a couple weeks ago, he reminded me that during the situation described, he took part of that tariff money on China and gave $28 billion to farmers, so he’s going to do everything he can to make sure farmers are taken care of. The number one thing he could do for farmers right now is lower interest rates. That’s what’s killing the American farmer right now are interest rates. We can do 45Z which is something when the biofuels industry, there’s so many more things that President Trump can and will do for the American farmer. You can’t look at these things just a little isolation. Farmers are first and foremost, they’re farmers…If this is a price we have to pay to make our families safe, then so be it. But I have faith that President Trump is going to work through all of this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “It’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.”

    Murray: “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to sound the alarm over Elon Musk and his team at the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” being granted access to the federal government’s central payments system, which handles $6 trillion and the vast majority of all federal disbursements each year. Musk and his associates were granted access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems the same weekend they threatened their way into the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and seized Office of Personnel Management (OPM) computer systems. New reporting indicates they are now forcing their way into Small Business Administration (SBA) systems, as well. 

    Murray and her colleagues outlined the threat of Musk and the administration abusing the Treasury’s payment system to illegally block funding and payments, the danger of allowing Musk access to Americans’ most sensitive personal data, and how this administration’s historic corruption and illegal funding freezes are putting our country’s economy and national security in jeopardy. 

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Well we’re two weeks in, and it’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.

    “In particular, we learned that Elon Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s most sensitive payment system handling six trillion dollars every year and managing nearly all federal disbursements. It’s a system that contains extremely sensitive personal and commercial information, and I’ve been hearing from people across my state who are truly alarmed about what Musk and his associates having access to this system could mean for their data—and for funding that they count on. 

    “Let’s not mince words here. An unelected, unaccountable billionaire—with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China, and an indiscreet axe to grind against perceived enemies—is hijacking our nation’s most sensitive financial data system and its checkbook so that he can illegally block funds to our constituents, based on the slightest whim or wildest conspiracy. Funds—mind you—that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis. 

    “Some Republicans are trying to suggest that Musk only has ‘viewing access’ to Treasury’s highly sensitive payment system as if that’s acceptable either. But why on earth should we believe that—particularly when he is saying the exact opposite loudly and repeatedly for everyone to see? 

    “What funds will Elon target next—life-saving medical research? Housing assistance? Food banks? We already know he is falsely attacking faith-based organizations that help people—and promising to cut off funds based off conspiracy theories.

    “The world’s richest man has vowed to cut off funding that helps the least among us. Think about that. And next—think about how many dollars he himself makes from government contracts. And the Trump Administration is handing the keys of the Treasury over to him? It does not get more blatantly corrupt than that. 

    “And let me underscore just how dangerous this is—because now that Trump has handed over Treasury’s checkbook, what if Elon decides he doesn’t like how Ford is getting federal funds to build an EV battery plant, what’s next? All Elon has to do is say ‘oh, they’re woke,’ and he can convince Trump to illegally cut off those funds.

    “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.

    “Now, make no mistake: Trump and Musk have absolutely zero legal authority to hold up any federal payments that are law, but that has not stopped them so far.

    “This country is still reeling from the chaos of last week’s blanket spending freeze and Trump’s illegal executive orders to withhold funds are still not yet revoked. Trump and Musk have yet to find a law they think applies to them.

    “That is not how things work in this country. We have a democracy. We have checks and we have balances—where the President is accountable to Congress, where we pass the laws, and he implements them.

    “But some of my colleagues across the aisle seem to be forgetting that our democracy does not work by magic. We have to do our part to hold the President accountable. Our job is not to say ‘yes’ to everything any President does—no matter how lawless or harmful. 

    “Democrats are pushing back with the tools that we have. We will speak out, we will press this administration, we will open investigations, and we will demand accountability. The one tool we do not have is the majority in this Congress. 

    “So that means our Republican colleagues have to say ‘enough.’ We need them to join us. We need them to stand up to the corruption and lawlessness and stand up for the people they represent.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warren Sounds Alarm on Threat Elon Musk Poses to Government Payment Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    “Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else.” 

    “[T]his is not business as usual…We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up.” 

    Video of Press Conference (YouTube) 

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (BHUA), delivered remarks on the danger of Elon Musk having access to the federal government’s critical payment systems, which includes the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans.

    Transcript: Press Conference – Democrats Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly Sensitive Central Government Payment System
    February 3, 2025
    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: I want to be clear about what’s going on here.

    The system that makes sure that your granddad gets his Social Security check. The system that makes sure your mom’s doctor gets a Medicare payment to cover her medical appointment. And the system that makes sure you get the tax refund you’re owed, has been taken over by Elon Musk. And every organization from your state government that uses federal money on that bridge project to the local Head Start that takes care of little kids while their mommies and daddies go to work is now at the mercy of Elon Musk. Maybe you get paid, or maybe you don’t—because now it appears that all of us work for Elon Musk.

    Elon just grabbed the controls of that whole payment system, demanding the power to turn it on for his friends or turn it off for anyone he doesn’t like. One guy deciding who gets paid and who doesn’t. It is not the law, but it is the reality. 

    Now, there’s a second problem here. It’s not just payments from the federal government that are now in Elon’s control. Elon and his handful of friends now have full access to your personal and financial information that’s in the system. Your payment history. Your social security number. Your bank account numbers. Elon now has the power to suck out all that information for his own use. Now, whether it’s to boost his finances or expand his political power, it is all up to Elon. 

    And there’s a third problem. In order for this handful of programmers to gain access to our $6 trillion payment system, we don’t know what safeguards were pulled down. Are the gates wide open now for hackers from China, from North Korea, from Iran, from Russia? Heck, who knows what black hat hackers all around the world are finding out about each one of us and copying that information for their own criminal uses. 

    Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else. And this is just the start. As we gear up for the tax fight, it will become even clearer that Trump will open the doors for billionaires and giant corporations to find more ways to loot the government at your expense. Meanwhile, everyone else pays more for groceries, more for housing, more for prescription drugs, and more for healthcare.

    When unelected billionaires start ransacking our government offices, this is not business as usual. Nope. Nothing is normal. We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up. We need to use every tool we have to fight back, and in the Senate, we can start by saying NO to dangerous Trump nominees like Tulsi Gabbard or Russ Vought. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington Post: Senators urge tougher chip controls to stymie Chinese AI advance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) have issued a populist appeal to Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick to toughen chip export controls against China, in response to the country’s surprise DeepSeek AI breakthrough.

    “Multiple administrations have failed — at the behest of corporate interests — to update and enforce our export controls in a timely manner. We cannot let that continue,” they wrote in a letter provided exclusively to The Washington Post, calling DeepSeek “an export control failure.”

    The pair laid out an anti-Big Tech line in arguing that “corporate lobbying” resulted in loopholes to Biden administration export controls, allowing DeepSeek to acquire — and more pointedly Nvidia to sell — the chips it needed to train its AI model.

    The senators also asked Lutnick to “insulate” the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security from industry lobbying by hiring senior staffers without existing connections to industry or lobbying firms.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Eva Dou
    Source: Washington Post

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: People enjoy Spring Festival holiday across China

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    People enjoy Spring Festival holiday across China

    Updated: February 4, 2025 08:35 Xinhua
    A child using augmented reality (AR) glasses visits the Chengdu Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A child visits the Chengdu Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People ride bikes at Shanghai’s World Expo culture park during the Spring Festival holiday in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People have fun at Shanghai’s World Expo culture park during the Spring Festival holiday in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A visitor looks at exhibits displayed at the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist poses for a photo at Sanlitun, a popular shopping area during the Spring Festival holiday in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit a temple fair during the Spring Festival holiday in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2025 shows tourists visiting Xianghuiqiao station during the Spring Festival holiday at Jianshui County of the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists are seen on the Duanqiao Bridge, or the Broken Bridge in the West Lake scenic area during the Spring Festival holiday in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Chengdu Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists walk on the Duanqiao Bridge, or the Broken Bridge in the West Lake scenic area during the Spring Festival holiday in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2025 shows people visiting the Shuanglong bridge during the Spring Festival holiday at Jianshui County of the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Chang’e-7 mission to land on lunar south pole for water ice search: report

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s Chang’e-7 mission to land on lunar south pole for water ice search: report

    BEIJING, Feb. 3 — China’s Chang’e-7 lunar probe, scheduled for launch in 2026, will target the moon’s south pole to search for water ice and test cutting-edge technologies critical for sustainable human activities on the moon, China Media Group reported Monday.

    The mission using an innovative hopper spacecraft equipped with a water molecule analyzer aims to confirm the presence and distribution of water ice in permanently shadowed craters, said the report.

    The Chang’e-3 and Chang’e-5 missions successfully landed on the moon’s near side, while Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-6 achieved historic touchdowns on the far side. Therefore, Chang’e-7’s planned landing at the lunar south pole will test the capability of China’s lunar probe to reach any region of the moon, Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-7 mission, said in the interview.

    If lunar water ice is successfully located, it could significantly reduce the cost and time required to transport water from Earth, facilitating the establishment of a human base for long-term activities on the moon and enabling further exploration of Mars or deep space, Tang said.

    According to Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, the Chang’e-7 probe – comprising an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a mobile hopper – will face extreme challenges, including temperatures below minus 100 degrees Celsius and complex terrain.

    The hopper, a first-of-its-kind lunar explorer, will “jump” from sunlit areas to shadowed craters to conduct detailed analyses. The lander will deploy China’s inaugural deep-space “landmark image navigation” system to ensure precision, while the hopper utilizes active shock-absorption technology to safely land on slopes, said the report.

    The probe can autonomously analyze its landing terrain, with more than half of its operations performed independently without requiring ground intervention. The solar panels installed vertically on the probe are being optimized to capture low-angle sunlight near the lunar pole, Tang said, adding that the mission has entered its final assembly and testing phase.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union: While Tariffs Pause, U.S. and Canadian Workers Should Have Seat at Table

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2025 – Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement following a pause of proposed U.S.-Canadian tariffs.

    “As the largest aerospace and defense labor union in the United States and Canada, the IAM Union is relieved that destructive tariffs between our two allied countries are being paused. A new path forward—one that doesn’t put U.S. and Canadian workers in a needless cycle of worrying about job loss due to tariff threats between allies—is possible. This moment offers the perfect opportunity for workers and unions from both countries to be a part of the solution moving forward. 

    “For decades, we have seen millions of good-paying, high-skilled U.S. and Canadian jobs outsourced to countries with little to no labor rights. Thanks to bad trade deals, tens of thousands of good IAM Union aerospace and defense jobs have become low-wage jobs in Mexico, while China has used forced technology offsets to create its own aerospace industry. This race-to-the-bottom model is being replicated by other bad actors across the globe – and it’s hurting all workers, as well as our shared national security. 

    “We have a chance right now to pull all stakeholders – government, business and labor – together to forge a real, comprehensive strategy to protect and grow critical manufacturing here in the United States and Canada. Workers on the both sides of the border deserve to drive policy conversations about their livelihoods, not be pawns in a larger political discussion.”  

    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: TRUMP’S CHINA IMPORT TARIFFS AND MASSIVE OCEAN FREIGHT RATE INCREASES DUE TO RED SEA CONFLICT IS PERFECT STORM FOR US SHIPPERS

    Source: Xeneta

    Oslo, Norway – 3 February 2025 – A delay in tariffs on Mexico imports does little to ease the pain for US shippers still facing a 10% hike on tariffs from China in addition to massive increases in ocean container freight rates due to conflict in the Red Sea.

    Latest data from Xeneta – the ocean and air freight intelligence platform – shows average spot rates from China stand at USD 4 816 per FEU (40ft container) to the US West Coast and USD 6 264 per FEU in to the US East Coast.

    This is an increase of 196% and 157% respectively since the escalation of conflict in the Red Sea in December 2023 and is in addition to tariffs on all China imports coming into effect on 4 February.

    Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst, said: “US Shippers are being hit by wave after wave of disruption and spiralling costs to import goods.

    “They have already faced massive increases in ocean container freight costs due to conflict in the Red Sea and now they are hit with a 10% hike in tariffs on imports from China.

    “You struggle to see how a business can absorb these costs without increasing prices for the end consumer. Given more than 40% of total containerized imports into the US come direct from China, that is a lot of businesses and a lot of consumers who will be affected.

    “A delay in tariffs on Mexico is welcome news but it does nothing to ease concerns over the re-igniting of the US-China trade war, which represents risk at a different order of magnitude.”

    Sand added that shippers have very few options available to deal with the tariff threat.

    He said: “When Trump announced tariffs on China back in 2018, there was a period of time in which shippers could rush as many imports as possible and build up stock inventories before they came into effect.

    “This time Trump has imposed tariffs almost immediately so if shippers haven’t taken action by now, it’s already too late. Shippers may well look at shifting supply chains out of China into nations such as India or South East Asia, but this takes time, financial investment and deep understanding of market data and intelligence.

    “The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas raised the prospect of a better year for shippers in 2025 if a large scale return of container ships to the Red Sea sees freight rates fall. Trump’s latest move has dented those hopes because any gains a shipper makes through lower freight rates will be more than offset by a 10% increase in tariffs.

    “If China retaliates and we enter another escalating trade war, an already very bad situation will get even worse for US importers.”

    About Xeneta

    Xeneta is the leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry. Xeneta’s powerful reporting and analytics platform provides liner-shipping stakeholders the data they need to understand current and historical market behavior—reporting live on market average and low/high movements for both short and long-term contracts. Xeneta’s data is comprised of +500 million contracted container and air freight rates and covers over 160,000 global ocean trade routes and over 58,000 airport-airport connections. Xeneta is a privately held company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and regional offices in New Jersey, US and Hamburg. To learn more, please visit www.xeneta.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy, University of Guelph

    U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to pause his planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico for at least 30 days following talks with the leaders of both countries. Previously, a senior Canadian governmental official had said Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods was expected to come into effect on Feb. 4.

    If implemented, this tariff will have significant economic consequences on both sides of the border, as the U.S. and Canada share one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world.

    A key concern is the highly integrated supply chains between the two countries. Many goods cross the border multiple times as intermediate inputs before becoming final products. Imposing tariffs at any point in this supply chain will raise production costs and increase prices for a wide range of goods traded between the U.S. and Canada.

    For Canada, the tariffs on Canadian products will significantly affect Canada’s competitiveness in the U.S. market by driving up prices. Such tariffs could pose serious challenges for various sectors in Canada, given the country’s heavy reliance on the U.S. economy.

    Effects on different sectors

    The impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian prices is likely to differ across sectors and products, depending on their reliance on the U.S. market.

    Sectors with a higher dependence on U.S. trade are likely to experience more severe disruptions. If the tariffs make certain products uncompetitive, Canadian producers may struggle to secure alternative markets in the short term.

    Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy will experience varying degrees of impact. Energy products and motor vehicles, which represent Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., are expected to be among the most adversely affected.

    In the agricultural and forestry sector, wood and paper products, along with cereals, are among Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., with the U.S. accounting for 86 to 96 per cent of these exports, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution.

    In the energy and mineral sector, crude oil is Canada’s top export, reaching US$143 billion in 2023, with 90 per cent destined for the U.S. Given its critical role as Canada’s largest export across all sectors, it is not surprising that Trump has noted crude oil would be subject to a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

    Canada’s dependence on U.S. trade

    When examining the impact on different products, it’s not only the value of trade that matters, but also the share of trade. The share of trade indicates how reliant Canada is on the U.S. compared to other markets.

    A high trade share with the U.S. suggests a product is particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions, as Canada depends heavily on the U.S. market for that product. Conversely, a lower share indicates that Canada has diversified suppliers, which reduces its dependence on the U.S.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat could shake North American trade relations and upend agri-food trade

    For instance, in 2023, Canada’s top exports to the U.S. included vehicles and parts, nuclear machinery and plastics, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution. The U.S. accounted for 93 per cent of vehicle and parts exports, 82 per cent of nuclear machinery exports, and 91 per cent of plastics exports.

    This data highlights Canada’s extreme dependence on the U.S. market, making these industries within the manufacturing sector highly susceptible to the tariff. This could harm jobs in the manufacturing sector, which is vital to employment in Canada, providing jobs for over 1.8 million people.

    Canada’s reliance on the U.S. is also evident in imports. In 2023, vehicle imports totalled US$92 billion, with the U.S. accounting for 58 per cent of that amount.

    The dependence is also evident in the agri-food and forestry sector, where Canada heavily relies on U.S. imports. This suggests that retaliatory tariffs on agricultural goods from the U.S. could have a substantial impact on food prices in Canada.

    Retaliatory tariffs and inflationary pressures

    Canada has announced it’s imposing $155 billion of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports in response. This could contribute to inflationary pressures within Canada.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this includes immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days’ time to “allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”

    This will include tariffs on “everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” and also on major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics.

    Given Canada’s significant dependence on U.S. imports, the retaliatory tariffs will raise the cost of American goods entering the country, further driving up consumer prices and exacerbating inflation.

    In its latest policy rate announcement, the Bank of Canada warned of the severe economic consequences of Trump’s tariffs, highlighting their potential to reverse the current downward trend in inflation.

    What should Canada do now?

    Canada must extend its economic diplomacy efforts beyond the Trump administration, engaging with the U.S. Congress and Senate to advocate for the reconsideration of tariffs on Canadian goods. The Canadian government should persist in leveraging this channel to push for a reversal of the tariffs. This kind of broader negotiation remains the most effective approach to mitigating trade tensions and ensuring stable economic relations with the U.S.

    At the same time, Canada must reduce dependence on the U.S. market by adopting a comprehensive export diversification strategy. While the U.S. remains a convenient and accessible trade partner, expanding into emerging and developing markets would help mitigate risks and create more stable long-term trade opportunities.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat is a sign that Canada should be diversifying beyond the U.S.

    One effective way to achieve export diversification is by expanding free trade agreements (FTAs) with emerging and developing economies. Currently, Canada has 15 FTAs covering about 51 countries, but there is room for expansion. However, signing FTAs alone is insufficient; Canada must ensure these agreements translate into tangible trade growth with partner countries.

    International politics is increasingly shaping global trade, making it imperative for Canada to proactively manage diplomatic and trade relations. In recent years, tensions have emerged with key partners such as China, India and Saudi Arabia. These countries could all become potential markets for Canadian products. Given that China is Canada’s second-largest export destination, there is significant potential to expand trade ties.

    Additionally, countries like the United Arab Emirates present promising markets, particularly for agricultural products, as the UAE imports about 90 per cent of its food.

    Boosting innovation and productivity

    Canada stands at a critical juncture in its trade relationship with the U.S. While diplomatic efforts remain essential to averting harmful tariffs, they cannot be the country’s only line of defence.

    Boosting productivity is one of the most effective ways for Canada to improve its competitiveness in global markets. Canadian producers should prioritize innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and maintain a competitive edge, particularly as they seek to expand beyond the U.S.

    In response to potential U.S. tariffs, the Canadian government should implement a bailout strategy to provide short-term relief and mitigate revenue losses to firms that will be mostly affected. Additionally, Canada should leverage its embassies and consulates worldwide to promote exports and help affected firms identify and access new market opportunities.

    By doing this, Canada can position itself as a more self-reliant and competitive player in the global economy — one less vulnerable to shifting U.S. policies.

    Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor receives funding from the OMAFRA and the USDA. He is affiliated with the Centre for Trade Analysis and Development (CeTAD Africa).

    Naduni Uduwe Welage and Promesse Essolema do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries – https://theconversation.com/u-s-tariff-threat-how-it-will-impact-different-products-and-industries-248824

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: WHO chief asks US to reconsider withdrawal, gender parity remains distant goal, call for rethink on Nordic alcohol law change

    Source: United Nations 4

    Health

    The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday he would “welcome constructive dialogue” with the United States Government over the decision made by President Donald Trump to withdraw. 

    President Trump’s executive order of 20 January is regrettable “and we hope the US will reconsider,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a speech to the organization’s executive board.

    The WHO chief said he would welcome the opportunity “to preserve and strengthen the historic relationship between WHO and the US.”

    Pushing back on the rationale laid out in the executive order, Tedros said WHO had implemented the deepest and most wide-ranging reforms in its history over the past seven years.

    The US is the biggest donor by far to the agency, accounting for around 14 per cent of its $6.9 billion budget, according to latest WHO figures. 

    Addressing the US complaint that it is paying too much compared to other countries, Tedros said reducing reliance on the US and others who pay the most was a “critical element of our long-term plan to broaden our donor base.”

    COVID record

    Third, he rejected the accusation that WHO had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic:

    “From the moment we picked up the first signals of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, we asked for more information, activated our emergency incident management system, alerted the world, convened global experts, and published comprehensive guidance for countries on how to protect their populations and health systems – all before the first death from this new disease was reported in China on the 11th of January 2020.”

    Tedros also addressed the allegation that WHO lacks independence from “inappropriate political influence” by some Member States: “WHO is impartial and exists to serve all countries and all people,” he said. 

    “Our Member States ask us for many things, and we always try to help as much as we can. But when what they ask is not supported by scientific evidence or is contrary to our mission to support global health, we say no, politely.”

    © UNICEF/Joshua Estey

    A government-run shelter in the Philippines is a safe haven for girls who have been physically and sexually abused and exploited, including through the sex tourism industry. (file)

    A third of women experience physical or sexual violence: Rights experts 

    Approximately one in three women is subjected to physical or sexual violence, and 800 women and girls continue to die every day from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth, a top independent rights panel meeting heard on Monday.

    Addressing the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the UN in Geneva, Andrea Ori from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said that the world is “still far” from achieving the goal of gender parity.

    “The global landscape has changed,” she told the CEDAW session.

    Backlash against equal rights

    “We are witnessing a backlash against women’s human rights and gender equality, especially against women’s sexual and reproductive health rights – with an increase in attacks against abortion providers, shrinking civic space for women human rights defenders, and reduced funding.” 

    Mr. Ori noted that 2025 marks 30 years since the universal adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for ensuring women’s human rights and achieving gender equality around the world.  

    It remains the case, however, that sexual violence against women and girls continues to be used as a tactic of war in numerous conflicts, the UN human rights official said, while only 26 per cent of parliamentarians in the world are women and only around three in 10 women have managerial roles at work. 

    One less for the road: Time Europe cut down on booze intake, WHO warns

    The UN World Health Organization (WHO) urged Nordic countries on Monday to keep a lid on alcohol sales, or risk reversing the positive impact of strict regulations put in place years ago.

    For decades, governments in Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands have restricted supermarkets and private retailers from selling stronger alcoholic beverages.

    This policy has resulted in some of the lowest alcohol consumption levels in the European Union – which by contrast is the booziest region globally, with drinking habits “largely unchanged” for over 10 years, WHO said.

    Free market pressures

    The Nordic model is now at risk however, from legislative initiatives in the region that signal a potential shift toward privatization of alcohol sales, warned WHO’s Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges.

    In Sweden, for instance, a court is hearing a challenge to the Government’s exclusive rights to online sales of alcohol, while proposed laws would permit sales of alcoholic beverages in farm shops.

    Dr Ferreira-Borges explained that Nordic countries’ alcohol controls – that involve increasing taxes and raising prices, limiting availability and restricting advertising – have reduced alcohol-related harms. 

    These span from “liver disease, cancers and cardiovascular conditions, to injuries and drownings”, she insisted. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy At USAID: Trump And Musk Are Shuttering Agencies To Turn Government Over To Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Monday joined a press conference in front of the shuttered United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to raise the alarm about how President Trump’s decision – at the behest of Elon Musk – to illegally shut down the agency will have disastrous impacts on national security while strengthening China and Russia.

    Murphy highlighted USAID’s crucial role in global security and support for democracy: “USAID fights terrorist groups all across this world making sure that we address the underlying causes that lead to terrorism. USAID chases China all around the world, making sure China doesn’t monopolize contracts for critical minerals and port infrastructure all around the world. It supports freedom fighters everywhere in this world, up until yesterday, delivering firewood, for instance, to the brave Ukrainian defenders on the eastern front.”

    Murphy called out Trump’s closure of USAID as a play by Elon Musk and the billionaire class to hijack U.S. foreign policy for profit: “Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China. And China is cheering at this action today. There is no question that the billionaire class trying to take over our government right now is doing it based on self-interest–their belief that if they can make us weaker in the world, if they can elevate their business partners all around the world, that they will gain the benefit.”

    Murphy continued: “They are shuttering agencies and sending employees home in order to create the illusion that they are saving money in order to do what? Pass a giant tax cut for billionaires and corporations, right? This is all a smokescreen, a shell game, in order to turn this government over to a handful of unelected billionaires and corporate interests, and we are not going to let them do that.”

    Murphy concluded: “So we will use every power that we have in our disposal in the United States Senate. My colleagues will do the same thing in the House. This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today.  Let’s call it what it is. The people get to decide how we defend the United States of America. The people get to decide how their taxpayer money is spent. Elon Musk does not get to decide. We are weaker today than we were yesterday. China sees that, Russia sees that, and they will take advantage. Our job, and your job together, is to raise our voices, raise the alarm, so that this crisis, this emboldening of our enemies, doesn’t last a second longer than it has to.”

    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:

    MURPHY: “So, Elon Musk has been floating all sorts of awful, terrible conspiracy theories about what happens at USAID. Let’s make it very clear that every single day America is safer because of what happens at USAID. 

    “USAID fights terrorist groups all across this world making sure that we address the underlying causes that lead to terrorism. USAID chases China all around the world, making sure China doesn’t monopolize contracts for critical minerals and port infrastructure all around the world. It supports freedom fighters everywhere in this world, up until yesterday, delivering firewood, for instance, to the brave Ukrainian defenders on the eastern front. 

    “But let’s not pull any punches about why this is happening. Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China. And China is cheering at this action today. There is no question that the billionaire class trying to take over our government right now is doing it based on self-interest–their belief that if they can make us weaker in the world, if they can elevate their business partners all around the world, that they will gain the benefit. 

    “But there is another reason this is happening. They are shuttering agencies and sending employees home in order to create the illusion that they are saving money in order to do what? Pass a giant tax cut for billionaires and corporations, right? This is all a smokescreen, a shell game, in order to turn this government over to a handful of unelected billionaires and corporate interests, and we are not going to let them do that. 

    “So we will use every power that we have in our disposal in the United States Senate. My colleagues will do the same thing in the House. This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today.  Let’s call it what it is. The people get to decide how we defend the United States of America. The people get to decide how their taxpayer money is spent. Elon Musk does not get to decide. 

    “We are weaker today than we were yesterday. China sees that, Russia sees that, and they will take advantage. Our job, and your job together, is to raise our voices, raise the alarm, so that this crisis, this emboldening of our enemies, doesn’t last a second longer than it has to. Thank you everybody for being here today. Really, really important.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: RBB Bancorp Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RBB Bancorp (NASDAQ:RBB) and its subsidiaries, Royal Business Bank (the “Bank”) and RBB Asset Management Company (“RAM”), collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Net income totaled $4.4 million, or $0.25 diluted earnings per share
    • Return on average assets of 0.44%, compared to 0.72% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024
    • Net interest margin of 2.76% compared to 2.68% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024
    • Book value and tangible book value per share(1) of $28.66 and $24.51 at December 31, 2024, compared to $28.81 and $24.64 at September 30, 2024

    The Company reported net income of $4.4 million, or $0.25 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $7.0 million, or $0.39 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled $26.7 million, or $1.47 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $42.5 million, or $2.24 diluted earnings per share, for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    “Declining funding costs and stable interest income drove net interest income and net interest margin higher in the fourth quarter,” said Johnny Lee, President of the Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. “We continue to make good progress on our growth initiatives and expect we will resume loan growth in the first quarter and for the remainder of the year.  We did see an increase in nonperforming loans mainly due to one credit relationship that was downgraded late in the fourth quarter.  We are actively working to resolve our nonperforming loans as quickly as possible while minimizing the impact to earnings and capital.”

    “We are saddened by the devastation caused by the recent fires in Los Angeles,” said David Morris, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We stand ready to support our community and neighbors as they begin the process of rebuilding.”

    (1) Reconciliations of the non–U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures included at the end of this press release.
       

    Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

    Net interest income was $26.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $24.5 million for the third quarter of 2024. The $1.4 million increase was due to a $130,000 increase in interest income and a $1.3 million decrease in interest expense. The increase in interest income was mostly due to higher interest income on cash and investment securities of $1.1 million offset by lower interest income on total loans of $952,000. The decrease in loan interest income was mostly due to lower average loans of $9.8 million and a 10 basis point decrease in the average loan yield due to decreases in market rates and a change in the loan mix. The increase in cash and investment interest income was attributed to higher average balances and a higher investment portfolio yield, offset by a lower yield on cash. The decrease in interest expense was mostly due to a 33 basis point decrease in total average interest-bearing deposit rates offset by higher average interest-bearing deposits of $33.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Net interest margin (“NIM”) was 2.76% for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 8 basis points from 2.68% for the third quarter of 2024. The increase was due to a 25 basis point decrease in the overall cost of funds, partially offset by a 15 basis point decrease in the yield on average interest-earning assets. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 5.79% for the fourth quarter of 2024 from 5.94% for the third quarter of 2024 due mainly to a 55 basis point decrease in the yield on average cash and cash equivalents to 5.02%, a decrease in the loan yield of 10 basis points and the impact of a change in the mix of average-earnings assets. Average loans represented 82% of average interest-earning assets in the fourth quarter of 2024, a 2% decrease from the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in the loan yield was attributed mostly to a decrease in market rates and a change in the loan mix. 

    The overall cost of funds decreased to 3.32% in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 3.57% in the third quarter of 2024 due to a lower average cost of interest-bearing deposits. The overall funding mix for the fourth quarter of 2024 remained relatively unchanged from the third quarter of 2024 with the ratio of average noninterest-bearing deposits to average total funding sources of 16%. The all-in average spot rate for total deposits was 3.15% at December 31, 2024.

    Net interest income was $99.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $119.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $19.9 million decrease was due to a $15.4 million increase in interest expense and a $4.5 million decrease in interest income. The decrease in interest income was mostly due to lower interest income on total loans of $9.7 million offset by higher interest income on interest-earning deposits of $4.7 million. The decrease in loan interest income was mostly due to lower average loans of $164.3 million. The increase in cash and investment interest income was attributed to higher average cash balances and a higher investment portfolio yield, offset by a lower average of investment securities. The increase in interest expense was mostly due to a 72 basis point increase in total average interest-bearing deposit rates and higher average interest-bearing deposits of $30.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.

    NIM was 2.70% for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 46 basis points from 3.16% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was due to a 55 basis point increase in the overall cost of funds, partially offset by a 2 basis point increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased to 5.88% for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the prior year due mainly to a 12 basis point increase in the yield on average cash and cash equivalents to 5.53%, an 18 basis point increase in the investment portfolio yield, offset by the impact of lower average loan balances. Average loans represented 83% of average interest-earning assets during 2024, and 85% during 2023.

    The overall cost of funds increased to 3.49% in the year ended December 31, 2024 from 2.94% in the year ended December 31, 2023 due to a higher average cost of interest-bearing deposits in response to higher average market interest rates. The overall funding mix for December 31, 2024 remained relatively unchanged from the prior year with a ratio of average noninterest-bearing deposits to average total funding sources of 16%.

    Provision for Credit Losses

    The provision for credit losses was $6.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter of 2024 provision for credit losses was due to an increase in specific reserves of $4.3 million and net charge-offs of $2.0 million, partially offset by lower general reserves. The fourth quarter increase in specific reserves included $4.5 million for a construction loan secured by a partially completed mixed-use commercial project. Fourth quarter net charge-offs included $1.8 million for nonaccrual loans that were moved to held for sale (“HFS”). Net charge-offs on an annualized basis represented 0.26% of average loans for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 0.16% for the third quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter provision also took into consideration factors such as changes in loan balances, the loan portfolio mix, the outlook for economic conditions and market interest rates, and changes in credit quality metrics, including higher nonperforming loans, and changes in special mention and substandard loans during the period.

    The provision for credit losses was $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The 2024 provision included the impact from an increase in specific reserves of $6.1 million and net charge-offs of $3.9 million. Net charge-offs totaled $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net charge-offs represented 0.13% of average loans for the fiscal year 2024 compared to 0.10% for the fiscal year 2023.

    Noninterest Income

    Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $2.7 million, a decrease of $3.0 million from $5.7 million for the third quarter of 2024. This decrease was mostly due to the third quarter of 2024 including a $2.8 million recovery of a fully charged off loan acquired in a bank acquisition.

    Noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $15.3 million, an increase of $317,000 from $15.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was mostly due to a $2.9 million increase in recoveries on purchased loans, a $1.2 million increase in gain on sale of loans and an $883,000 increase in gain on OREO, offset by income from a $5.0 million Community Development Financial Institution Equitable Recovery Program award that was recognized during 2023.

    Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $17.6 million, an increase of $228,000 from $17.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. This increase was mostly due to higher legal and professional expenses of $397,000, partially offset by lower occupancy and equipment expenses of $115,000. The annualized noninterest expenses to average assets ratio was 1.76% for the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 1.78% for the third quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio was 61.5% for the fourth quarter of 2024, up from 57.5% for the third quarter of 2024 due mostly to lower noninterest income as the third quarter included a $2.8 million recovery of a fully charged off loan acquired in a bank acquisition.

    Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $69.2 million, a decrease of $1.5 million from $70.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This decrease was mostly due to lower legal and professional expenses of $3.7 million, partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefits of $1.6 million. The noninterest expenses to average assets ratio was 1.76% for the fiscal year 2024 and 2023. The efficiency ratio was 60.3% for the year ended December 31, 2024, up from 52.6% for the year ended December 31, 2023 due mostly to lower net interest income for 2024.

    Income Taxes

    The effective tax rate was 13.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 26.9% for the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter was due primarily to higher tax credits relative to pre-tax net income as compared to the prior quarter.

    The effective tax rate was 25.3% for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 29.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in the effective tax rate for 2024 was due primarily to higher tax credits as compared to the prior year.

    Balance Sheet

    At December 31, 2024, total assets were $4.0 billion, a $2.0 million increase compared to September 30, 2024, and a $33.5 million decrease compared to December 31, 2023.

    Loan and Securities Portfolio

    Loans held for investment (“HFI”) totaled $3.1 billion as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $38.7 million compared to September 30, 2024 and a $21.4 million increase compared to December 31, 2023. The decrease from September 30, 2024 was primarily due to a $51.3 million decrease in commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans, a $6.9 million decrease in construction and land development (“C&D”) loans and an $826,000 decrease in Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, partially offset by a $20.6 million increase in single-family residential (“SFR”) mortgages and a $724,000 increase in commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans. The loan to deposit ratio was 97.5% at December 31, 2024, compared to 98.6% at September 30, 2024 and 94.2% at December 31, 2023. 

    As of December 31, 2024, available-for-sale securities totaled $420.2 million, an increase of $114.5 million from September 30, 2024, primarily related to the purchase of $79.2 million in short-term commercial paper. As of December 31, 2024, net unrealized losses totaled $29.2 million, a $6.0 million increase due mostly to increases in treasury rates, when compared to net unrealized losses of $23.2 million as of September 30, 2024.

    Deposits

    Total deposits were $3.1 billion as of December 31, 2024, an $8.4 million decrease compared to September 30, 2024 and a $91.0 million decrease compared to December 31, 2023. The decrease during the fourth quarter of 2024 was due to a $27.8 million decrease in interest-bearing deposits, while noninterest-bearing deposits increased $19.4 million to $563.0 million as of December 31, 2024 compared to $543.6 million as of September 30, 2024. The decrease in interest-bearing deposits included a decrease in time deposits of $24.7 million and non-maturity deposits of $3.1 million. Wholesale deposits remained relatively unchanged at $147.5 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $147.3 million at September 30, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 18.3% of total deposits at December 31, 2024 compared to 17.6% at September 30, 2024.

    Credit Quality

    Nonperforming assets totaled $81.0 million, or 2.03% of total assets, at December 31, 2024, compared to $60.7 million, or 1.52% of total assets, at September 30, 2024. The $20.4 million increase in nonperforming assets was due to the addition of one $26.4 million C&D loan, $2.0 million in SFR loans and $890,000 in SBA loans that migrated to nonaccrual status during the fourth quarter of 2024, partially offset by payoffs and paydowns of $6.7 million and partial charge-offs of $2.0 million.

    Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2024 include loans HFS with a total fair value of $11.2 million, which were transferred from HFI during the fourth quarter of 2024 after a $1.8 million charge-off against the allowance for credit losses. These loans were reported as nonperforming loans at September 30, 2024.

    Special mention loans totaled $65.3 million, or 2.14% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, compared to $77.5 million, or 2.51% of total loans, at September 30, 2024. The $12.2 million decrease was primarily due to CRE loans totaling $11.8 million that were upgraded to pass-rated and $1.8 million in payoffs and paydowns, offset by CRE loans totaling $1.4 million downgraded during the fourth quarter of 2024. All special mention loans are paying current.

    Substandard loans totaled $100.3 million, of which $11.2 million were HFS at December 31, 2024, compared to $79.8 million at September 30, 2024. This $20.5 million increase was primarily due to downgrades of one $26.4 million C&D loan, SFR loans totaling $2.0 million, C&I loans totaling $1.9 million and SBA loans totaling $747,000. These downgrades were offset by payoffs and paydowns totaling $6.5 million, upgrades totaling $2.0 million and partial charge-offs totaling $2.0 million. Of the total substandard loans at December 31, 2024, there are $19.3 million on accrual status, including an $11.7 million C&D loan that was in the process of renewal and also included in the 30-89 day delinquent category below.

    30-89 day delinquent loans, excluding nonperforming loans, totaled $22.1 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $10.6 million at September 30, 2024. The $11.5 million increase was mostly due to one $11.7 million C&D loan in process of renewal for a completed multifamily project at December 31, 2024, and since year end, it has been brought current and paid down by $1.5 million. Other changes in delinquent loans included additions totaling $5.5 million, offset by $3.2 million that returned to current status, $1.8 million that migrated to nonaccrual status and $735,000 in payoffs.

    As of December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses totaled $48.5 million and was comprised of an allowance for loan losses of $47.7 million and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $729,000 (included in “Accrued interest and other liabilities”). This compares to the allowance for credit losses of $44.5 million comprised of an allowance for loan losses of $43.7 million and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $779,000 at September 30, 2024. The $4.0 million increase in the allowance for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2024 was due to a $6.0 million provision for credit losses offset by net charge-offs of $2.0 million. The increase in charge-offs in the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a decrease in the estimated fair value of collateral dependent loans and loans moved to HFS. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans HFI increased to 1.56% at December 31, 2024, compared to 1.41% at September 30, 2024, due to an increase in specific reserves on one C&D loan mentioned previously. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans HFI was 68% at December 31, 2024, a decrease from 72% at September 30, 2024.

               
      For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2024     For the Year Ended December 31, 2024  
    (dollars in thousands) Allowance for loan losses     Reserve for unfunded loan commitments     Allowance for credit losses     Allowance for loan losses     Reserve for unfunded loan commitments   Allowance for credit losses  
    Beginning balance $ 43,685     $ 779     $ 44,464     $ 41,903     $ 640   $ 42,543  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses   6,050       (50 )     6,000       9,768       89     9,857  
    Less loans charged-off   (2,092 )     —       (2,092 )     (4,083 )     —     (4,083 )
    Recoveries on loans charged-off   86       —       86       141       —     141  
    Ending balance $ 47,729     $ 729     $ 48,458     $ 47,729     $ 729   $ 48,458  
                                                 

    Shareholders’ Equity

    At December 31, 2024, total shareholders’ equity was $507.9 million, a $1.9 million decrease compared to September 30, 2024, and a $3.4 million decrease compared to December 31, 2023. The decrease in shareholders’ equity for the fourth quarter of 2024 was due to higher net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities of $4.2 million and common stock cash dividends paid of $2.9 million, offset by net income of $4.4 million, and equity compensation activity of $794,000. The decrease in shareholders’ equity for the year ended 2024 was due to common stock repurchases of $20.7 million, common stock cash dividends paid of $11.7 million and higher net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities of $744,000, offset by net income of $26.7 million, and equity compensation activity of $3.1 million. Book value per share and tangible book value per share(1) decreased to $28.66 and $24.51 at December 31, 2024, down from $28.81 and $24.64 at September 30, 2024 and up from $27.47 and $23.48 at December 31, 2023.

    Contact:
    Lynn Hopkins, Chief Financial Officer
    (213) 716-8066
    lhopkins@rbbusa.com

    (1) Reconciliations of the non–U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures included at the end of this press release.
       

    Corporate Overview

    RBB Bancorp is a community-based financial holding company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of $4.0 billion. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Business Bank, is a full service commercial bank, which provides consumer and business banking services predominately to the Asian-centric communities in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Ventura County in California, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan in New York, in Edison, New Jersey, in the Chicago neighborhoods of Chinatown and Bridgeport, Illinois, and on Oahu, Hawaii. Bank services include remote deposit, E-banking, mobile banking, commercial and investor real estate loans, business loans and lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans, SBA 7A and 504 loans, 1-4 single family residential loans, trade finance, a full range of depository account products and wealth management services. The Bank has nine branches in Los Angeles County, two branches in Ventura County, one branch in Orange County, California, one branch in Las Vegas, Nevada, three branches and one loan operation center in Brooklyn, three branches in Queens, one branch in Manhattan in New York, one branch in Edison, New Jersey, two branches in Chicago, Illinois, and one branch in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Company’s administrative and lending center is located at 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90017, and its operations center is located at 7025 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, California 90621. The Company’s website address is www.royalbusinessbankusa.com.

    Conference Call

    Management will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time/2:00 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter 2024 financial results.

    To listen to the conference call, please dial 1-888-506-0062 or 1-973-528-0011, the Participant ID code is 834092, conference ID RBBQ424. A replay of the call will be made available at 1-877-481-4010 or 1-919-882-2331, the passcode is 51830, approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call and will remain available through February 5, 2025.

    The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast over the Internet; please visit our Royal Business Bank website at www.royalbusinessbankusa.com and click on the “Investors” tab to access the call from the site. This webcast will be recorded and available for replay on our website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call.

    Disclosure

    This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial disclosures for tangible common equity and tangible assets and adjusted earnings. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such financial performance. Please refer to the tables at the end of this release for a presentation of performance ratios in accordance with GAAP and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the GAAP financial measures.

    Safe Harbor

    Certain matters set forth herein (including the exhibits hereto) constitute forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s current business plans and expectations and our future financial position and operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and/or achievements to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; the potential for additional material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or other potential control deficiencies of which the Company is not currently aware or which have not been detected; business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry, nationally and within our current and future geographic markets, including the tight labor market, ineffective management of the United States (“U.S.”) federal budget or debt or turbulence or uncertainly in domestic or foreign financial markets; the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; adverse developments in the banking industry highlighted by high-profile bank failures and the potential impact of such developments on customer confidence, liquidity and regulatory responses to these developments; our ability to attract and retain deposits and access other sources of liquidity; possible additional provisions for credit losses and charge-offs; credit risks of lending activities and deterioration in asset or credit quality; extensive laws and regulations and supervision that we are subject to, including potential supervisory action by bank supervisory authorities; increased costs of compliance and other risks associated with changes in regulation, including any amendments to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and other money laundering statutes and regulations; potential goodwill impairment; liquidity risk; failure to comply with debt covenants; fluctuations in interest rates; risks associated with acquisitions and the expansion of our business into new markets; inflation and deflation; real estate market conditions and the value of real estate collateral; the effects of having concentrations in our loan portfolio, including commercial real estate and the risks of geographic and industry concentrations; environmental liabilities; our ability to compete with larger competitors; our ability to retain key personnel; successful management of reputational risk; severe weather, natural disasters, earthquakes, fires, including direct and indirect costs and impacts on clients, the Company and its employees from the January 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires; or other adverse external events could harm our business; geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the U.S. or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, including the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, and increasing tensions between China and Taiwan, which could impact business and economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad; public health crises and pandemics, and their effects on the economic and business environments in which we operate, including our credit quality and business operations, as well as the impact on general economic and financial market conditions; general economic or business conditions in Asia, and other regions where the Bank has operations; failures, interruptions, or security breaches of our information systems; climate change, including any enhanced regulatory, compliance, credit and reputational risks and costs; cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them; our ability to adapt our systems to the expanding use of technology in banking; risk management processes and strategies; adverse results in legal proceedings; the impact of regulatory enforcement actions, if any; certain provisions in our charter and bylaws that may affect acquisition of the Company; changes in tax laws and regulations; the impact of governmental efforts to restructure the U.S. financial regulatory system; the impact of future or recent changes in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance assessment rate and the rules and regulations related to the calculation of the FDIC insurance assessments; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices or accounting standards, as may be adopted from time-to-time by bank regulatory agencies, the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standards setters, including Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 (Topic 326, “Measurement of Current Losses on Financial Instruments, commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Losses Model, which changed how we estimate credit losses and may further increase the required level of our allowance for credit losses in future periods; market disruption and volatility; fluctuations in the Company’s stock price; restrictions on dividends and other distributions by laws and regulations and by our regulators and our capital structure; issuances of preferred stock; our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, and the potential resulting dilution of interests of holders of our common stock; the soundness of other financial institutions; our ongoing relations with our various federal and state regulators, including the SEC, FDIC, FRB and California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items and all other factors set forth in the Company’s public reports, including its Annual Report as filed under Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and particularly the discussion of risk factors within that document. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law. Any statements about future operating results, such as those concerning accretion and dilution to the Company’s earnings or shareholders, are for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts, and actual results may differ.

                                 
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
                                 
      December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,  
      2024     2024     2024     2024     2023  
    Assets                                      
    Cash and due from banks $ 27,747     $ 26,388     $ 23,313     $ 21,887     $ 22,671  
    Interest-earning deposits with financial institutions   229,998       323,002       229,456       247,356       408,702  
    Cash and cash equivalents   257,745       349,390       252,769       269,243       431,373  
    Interest-earning time deposits with financial institutions   600       600       600       600       600  
    Investment securities available for sale   420,190       305,666       325,582       335,194       318,961  
    Investment securities held to maturity   5,191       5,195       5,200       5,204       5,209  
    Loans held for sale   11,250       812       3,146       3,903       1,911  
    Loans held for investment   3,053,230       3,091,896       3,047,712       3,027,361       3,031,861  
    Allowance for loan losses   (47,729 )     (43,685 )     (41,741 )     (41,688 )     (41,903 )
    Net loans held for investment   3,005,501       3,048,211       3,005,971       2,985,673       2,989,958  
    Premises and equipment, net   24,601       24,839       25,049       25,363       25,684  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock   15,000       15,000       15,000       15,000       15,000  
    Cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance   60,296       59,889       59,486       59,101       58,719  
    Goodwill   71,498       71,498       71,498       71,498       71,498  
    Servicing assets   6,985       7,256       7,545       7,794       8,110  
    Core deposit intangibles   2,011       2,194       2,394       2,594       2,795  
    Right-of-use assets   28,048       29,283       30,530       31,231       29,803  
    Accrued interest and other assets   83,561       70,644       63,416       65,608       66,404  
    Total assets $ 3,992,477     $ 3,990,477     $ 3,868,186     $ 3,878,006     $ 4,026,025  
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                                      
    Deposits:                                      
    Noninterest-bearing demand $ 563,012     $ 543,623     $ 542,971     $ 539,517     $ 539,621  
    Savings, NOW and money market accounts   663,034       666,089       647,770       642,840       632,729  
    Time deposits, $250,000 and under   1,007,452       1,052,462       1,014,189       1,083,898       1,190,821  
    Time deposits, greater than $250,000   850,291       830,010       818,675       762,074       811,589  
    Total deposits   3,083,789       3,092,184       3,023,605       3,028,329       3,174,760  
    FHLB advances   200,000       200,000       150,000       150,000       150,000  
    Long-term debt, net of issuance costs   119,529       119,433       119,338       119,243       119,147  
    Subordinated debentures   15,156       15,102       15,047       14,993       14,938  
    Lease liabilities – operating leases   29,705       30,880       32,087       32,690       31,191  
    Accrued interest and other liabilities   36,421       23,150       16,818       18,765       24,729  
    Total liabilities   3,484,600       3,480,749       3,356,895       3,364,020       3,514,765  
    Shareholders’ equity:                                      
    Common stock   259,957       259,280       266,160       271,645       271,925  
    Additional paid-in capital   3,645       3,520       3,456       3,348       3,623  
    Retained earnings   264,460       262,946       262,518       259,903       255,152  
    Non-controlling interest   72       72       72       72       72  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net   (20,257 )     (16,090 )     (20,915 )     (20,982 )     (19,512 )
    Total shareholders’ equity   507,877       509,728       511,291       513,986       511,260  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,992,477     $ 3,990,477     $ 3,868,186     $ 3,878,006     $ 4,026,025  
                                           
                                           
             
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except share and per share data) 
             
      For the Three Months Ended     For the Year Ended
      December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023     December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Interest and dividend income:                              
    Interest and fees on loans $ 46,374   $ 47,326   $ 45,895     $ 184,567   $ 194,264
    Interest on interest-earning deposits   3,641     3,388     4,650       15,422     10,746
    Interest on investment securities   3,962     3,127     3,706       14,331     14,028
    Dividend income on FHLB stock   330     326     312       1,314     1,125
    Interest on federal funds sold and other   248     258     269       1,027     985
    Total interest and dividend income   54,555     54,425     54,832       216,661     221,148
    Interest expense:                              
    Interest on savings deposits, NOW and money market accounts   4,671     5,193     4,026       19,295     12,205
    Interest on time deposits   21,361     22,553     22,413       89,086     76,837
    Interest on long-term debt and subordinated debentures   1,660     1,681     2,284       6,699     9,951
    Interest on FHLB advances   886     453     440       2,217     2,869
    Total interest expense   28,578     29,880     29,163       117,297     101,862
    Net interest income before provision for credit losses   25,977     24,545     25,669       99,364     119,286
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses   6,000     3,300     (431 )     9,857     3,362
    Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit losses   19,977     21,245     26,100       89,507     115,924
    Noninterest income:                              
    Service charges and fees   988     1,071     972       4,115     4,172
    Gain on sale of loans   376     447     116       1,586     374
    Loan servicing fees, net of amortization   492     605     616       2,265     2,576
    Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance   407     403     374       1,577     1,409
    (Loss) gain on OREO   —     —     (57 )     1,016     133
    Other income   466     3,220     5,373       4,776     6,354
    Total noninterest income   2,729     5,746     7,394       15,335     15,018
    Noninterest expense:                              
    Salaries and employee benefits   9,927     10,008     8,860       39,395     37,795
    Occupancy and equipment expenses   2,403     2,518     2,387       9,803     9,629
    Data processing   1,499     1,472     1,357       5,857     5,326
    Legal and professional   1,355     958     1,291       4,453     8,198
    Office expenses   399     348     349       1,455     1,512
    Marketing and business promotion   251     252     241       864     1,132
    Insurance and regulatory assessments   677     658     1,122       3,298     3,165
    Core deposit premium   182     200     215       784     923
    Other expenses   956     1,007     571       3,254     3,016
    Total noninterest expense   17,649     17,421     16,393       69,163     70,696
    Income before income taxes   5,057     9,570     17,101       35,679     60,246
    Income tax expense   672     2,571     5,028       9,014     17,781
    Net income $ 4,385   $ 6,999   $ 12,073     $ 26,665   $ 42,465
                                   
    Net income per share                              
    Basic $ 0.25   $ 0.39   $ 0.64     $ 1.47   $ 2.24
    Diluted $ 0.25   $ 0.39   $ 0.64     $ 1.47   $ 2.24
    Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.16   $ 0.16   $ 0.16     $ 0.64   $ 0.64
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding                              
    Basic   17,704,992     17,812,791     18,887,501       18,121,764     18,965,346
    Diluted   17,796,840     17,885,359     18,900,351       18,183,319     18,985,233
                                   
                                   
         
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND NET INTEREST INCOME
    (Unaudited)
         
      For the Three Months Ended  
      December 31, 2024     September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
     (tax-equivalent basis, dollars in thousands) Average   Interest   Yield /     Average   Interest   Yield /     Average   Interest   Yield /  
    Balance   & Fees   Rate     Balance   & Fees   Rate     Balance   & Fees   Rate  
    Interest-earning assets                                                    
    Cash and cash equivalents (1) $ 308,455   $ 3,890   5.02 %   $ 260,205   $ 3,646   5.57 %   $ 333,940   $ 4,919   5.84 %
    FHLB Stock   15,000     330   8.75 %     15,000     326   8.65 %     15,000     312   8.25 %
    Securities                                                    
    Available for sale (2)   361,253     3,939   4.34 %     298,948     3,105   4.13 %     329,426     3,684   4.44 %
    Held to maturity (2)   5,194     48   3.68 %     5,198     46   3.52 %     5,212     46   3.50 %
    Total loans   3,059,786     46,374   6.03 %     3,069,578     47,326   6.13 %     3,055,232     45,895   5.96 %
    Total interest-earning assets   3,749,688   $ 54,581   5.79 %     3,648,929   $ 54,449   5.94 %     3,738,810   $ 54,856   5.82 %
    Total noninterest-earning assets   244,609                 242,059                 253,385            
    Total average assets $ 3,994,297               $ 3,890,988               $ 3,992,195            
                                                         
    Interest-bearing liabilities                                                    
    NOW   53,879     254   1.88 %   $ 55,757   $ 277   1.98 %   $ 54,378   $ 214   1.56 %
    Money market   463,850     3,735   3.20 %     439,936     4,093   3.70 %     422,582     3,252   3.05 %
    Saving deposits   162,351     682   1.67 %     164,515     823   1.99 %     148,354     560   1.50 %
    Time deposits, $250,000 and under   1,034,946     11,583   4.45 %     1,037,365     12,312   4.72 %     1,162,014     13,244   4.52 %
    Time deposits, greater than $250,000   835,583     9,778   4.66 %     819,207     10,241   4.97 %     781,833     9,169   4.65 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   2,550,609     26,032   4.06 %     2,516,780     27,746   4.39 %     2,569,161     26,439   4.08 %
    FHLB advances   200,000     886   1.76 %     150,543     453   1.20 %     150,000     440   1.16 %
    Long-term debt   119,466     1,295   4.31 %     119,370     1,295   4.32 %     155,536     1,895   4.83 %
    Subordinated debentures   15,121     365   9.60 %     15,066     386   10.19 %     14,902     389   10.36 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,885,196     28,578   3.94 %     2,801,759     29,880   4.24 %     2,889,599     29,163   4.00 %
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities                                                    
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   539,900                 528,081                 535,554            
    Other noninterest-bearing liabilities   56,993                 52,428                 61,858            
    Total noninterest-bearing liabilities   596,893                 580,509                 597,412            
    Shareholders’ equity   512,208                 508,720                 505,184            
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,994,297               $ 3,890,988               $ 3,992,195            
    Net interest income / interest rate spreads       $ 26,003   1.85 %         $ 24,569   1.70 %         $ 25,693   1.82 %
    Net interest margin             2.76 %               2.68 %               2.73 %
                                                         
    Total cost of deposits $ 3,090,509   $ 26,032   3.35 %   $ 3,044,861   $ 27,746   3.63 %   $ 3,104,715   $ 26,439   3.38 %
    Total cost of funds $ 3,425,096   $ 28,578   3.32 %   $ 3,329,840   $ 29,880   3.57 %   $ 3,425,153   $ 29,163   3.38 %
                                                         

    ____________________

    (1) Includes income and average balances for interest-earning time deposits and other miscellaneous interest-earning assets.
    (2) Interest income and average rates for tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis.
    (3) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income on loans includes the effects of discount accretion and net deferred loan origination fees and costs accounted for as yield adjustments.
       
         
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND NET INTEREST INCOME
    (Unaudited)
         
      For the Year Ended  
      December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023  
     (tax-equivalent basis, dollars in thousands) Average   Interest   Yield /     Average   Interest   Yield /  
    Balance   & Fees   Rate     Balance   & Fees   Rate  
    Interest-earning assets                                  
    Cash and cash equivalents (1) $ 297,331   $ 16,449   5.53 %   $ 216,851   $ 11,731   5.41 %
    FHLB Stock   15,000     1,314   8.76 %     15,000     1,125   7.50 %
    Securities                                  
    Available for sale (2)   324,644     14,242   4.39 %     331,357     13,928   4.20 %
    Held to maturity (2)   5,200     188   3.62 %     5,509     198   3.59 %
    Total loans   3,041,337     184,567   6.07 %     3,205,625     194,264   6.06 %
    Total interest-earning assets   3,683,512   $ 216,760   5.88 %     3,774,342   $ 221,246   5.86 %
    Total noninterest-earning assets   243,258                 246,980            
    Total average assets $ 3,926,770               $ 4,021,322            
                                       
    Interest-bearing liabilities                                  
    NOW $ 56,158     1,105   1.97 %   $ 58,191   $ 725   1.25 %
    Money market   436,925     15,231   3.49 %     429,102     10,565   2.46 %
    Saving deposits   162,243     2,959   1.82 %     126,062     915   0.73 %
    Time deposits, $250,000 and under   1,074,291     50,059   4.66 %     1,146,513     47,150   4.11 %
    Time deposits, greater than $250,000   803,187     39,027   4.86 %     742,839     29,687   4.00 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   2,532,804     108,381   4.28 %     2,502,707     89,042   3.56 %
    FHLB advances   162,705     2,217   1.36 %     172,219     2,869   1.67 %
    Long-term debt   119,324     5,182   4.34 %     169,182     8,477   5.01 %
    Subordinated debentures   15,039     1,517   10.09 %     14,821     1,474   9.95 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,829,872     117,297   4.14 %     2,858,929     101,862   3.56 %
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities                                  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   531,458                 602,291            
    Other noninterest-bearing liabilities   53,970                 59,562            
    Total noninterest-bearing liabilities   585,428                 661,853            
    Shareholders’ equity   511,470                 500,540            
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,926,770               $ 4,021,322            
    Net interest income / interest rate spreads       $ 99,463   1.74 %         $ 119,384   2.30 %
    Net interest margin             2.70 %               3.16 %
                                       
    Total cost of deposits $ 3,064,262   $ 108,381   3.54 %   $ 3,104,998   $ 89,042   2.87 %
    Total cost of funds $ 3,361,330   $ 117,297   3.49 %   $ 3,461,220   $ 101,862   2.94 %
                                       

    ____________________

    (1) Includes income and average balances for interest-earning time deposits and other miscellaneous interest-earning assets.
    (2) Interest income and average rates for tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis.
    (3) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income on loans includes the effects of discount accretion and net deferred loan origination fees and costs accounted for as yield adjustments.
       
               
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
               
      At or for the Three Months Ended     At or for the Year Ended December 31,  
      December 31,   September 30,     December 31,                  
        2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Per share data (common stock)                                  
    Book value $ 28.66     $ 28.81     $ 27.47     $ 28.66     $ 27.47  
    Tangible book value (1) $ 24.51     $ 24.64     $ 23.48     $ 24.51     $ 23.48  
    Performance ratios                                  
    Return on average assets, annualized   0.44 %     0.72 %     1.20 %     0.68 %     1.06 %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity, annualized   3.41 %     5.47 %     9.48 %     5.21 %     8.48 %
    Return on average tangible common equity, annualized (1)   3.98 %     6.40 %     11.12 %     6.09 %     9.97 %
    Noninterest income to average assets, annualized   0.27 %     0.59 %     0.73 %     0.39 %     0.37 %
    Noninterest expense to average assets, annualized   1.76 %     1.78 %     1.63 %     1.76 %     1.76 %
    Yield on average earning assets   5.79 %     5.94 %     5.82 %     5.88 %     5.86 %
    Yield on average loans   6.03 %     6.13 %     5.96 %     6.07 %     6.06 %
    Cost of average total deposits (2)   3.35 %     3.63 %     3.38 %     3.54 %     2.87 %
    Cost of average interest-bearing deposits   4.06 %     4.39 %     4.08 %     4.28 %     3.56 %
    Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities   3.94 %     4.24 %     4.00 %     4.14 %     3.56 %
    Net interest spread   1.85 %     1.70 %     1.82 %     1.74 %     2.30 %
    Net interest margin   2.76 %     2.68 %     2.73 %     2.70 %     3.16 %
    Efficiency ratio (3)   61.48 %     57.51 %     49.58 %     60.30 %     52.64 %
    Common stock dividend payout ratio   64.00 %     41.03 %     25.00 %     43.54 %     28.57 %
                                           

    ____________________

    (1) Non-GAAP measure. See Non–GAAP reconciliations set forth at the end of this press release.
    (2) Total deposits include non-interest bearing deposits and interest-bearing deposits.
    (3) Ratio calculated by dividing noninterest expense by the sum of net interest income before provision for credit losses and noninterest income.
       
         
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
         
      At or for the quarter ended  
      December 31,     September 30,     December 31,  
      2024     2024     2023  
    Credit Quality Data:                      
    Special mention loans $ 65,329     $ 77,501     $ 32,842  
    Special mention loans to total loans   2.14 %     2.51 %     1.08 %
    Substandard loans HFI $ 89,141     $ 79,831     $ 61,099  
    Substandard loans HFS $ 11,195     $ —     $ —  
    Substandard loans HFI to total loans HFI   2.92 %     2.58 %     2.02 %
    Loans 30-89 days past due, excluding nonperforming loans $ 22,086     $ 10,625     $ 16,803  
    Loans 30-89 days past due, excluding nonperforming loans, to total loans   0.72 %     0.34 %     0.55 %
    Nonperforming loans HFI $ 69,843     $ 60,662     $ 31,619  
    Nonperforming loans HFS $ 11,195     $ —     $ —  
    OREO $ —     $ —     $ —  
    Nonperforming assets $ 81,038     $ 60,662     $ 31,619  
    Nonperforming loans HFI to total loans HFI   2.29 %     1.96 %     1.04 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets   2.03 %     1.52 %     0.79 %
                           
    Allowance for loan losses $ 47,729     $ 43,685     $ 41,903  
    Allowance for loan losses to total loans HFI   1.56 %     1.41 %     1.38 %
    Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans HFI   68.34 %     72.01 %     132.52 %
    Net charge-offs $ 2,006     $ 1,201     $ 109  
    Net charge-offs to average loans   0.26 %     0.16 %     0.01 %
                           
    Capital ratios (1)                      
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)   11.08 %     11.13 %     11.06 %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio   11.92 %     12.19 %     11.99 %
    Tier 1 common capital to risk-weighted assets   17.94 %     18.16 %     19.07 %
    Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets   18.52 %     18.75 %     19.69 %
    Total capital to risk-weighted assets   24.49 %     24.80 %     25.92 %
                           

    ____________________

    (1 ) December 31, 2024 capital ratios are preliminary.
    (2 ) Non-GAAP measure. See Non-GAAP reconciliations set forth at the end of this press release.
         
                   
    RBB BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
                   
    Loan Portfolio Detail As of December 31, 2024   As of September 30, 2024     As of December 31, 2023  
    (dollars in thousands) $   %   $     %     $     %  
    Loans:                                    
    Commercial and industrial $ 129,585   4.2 %   $ 128,861     4.2 %   $ 130,096     4.3 %
    SBA   47,263   1.5 %     48,089     1.6 %     52,074     1.7 %
    Construction and land development   173,290   5.7 %     180,196     5.8 %     181,469     6.0 %
    Commercial real estate (1)   1,201,420   39.3 %     1,252,682     40.5 %     1,167,857     38.5 %
    Single-family residential mortgages   1,494,022   48.9 %     1,473,396     47.7 %     1,487,796     49.1 %
    Other loans   7,650   0.4 %     8,672     0.2 %     12,569     0.4 %
    Total loans (2) $ 3,053,230   100.0 %   $ 3,091,896     100.0 %   $ 3,031,861     100.0 %
    Allowance for loan losses   (47,729 )       (43,685 )           (41,903 )      
    Total loans, net $ 3,005,501       $ 3,048,211           $ 2,989,958        
                                         

    _____________________

    (1) Includes non-farm and non-residential loans, multi-family residential loans and non-owner occupied single family residential loans.
    (2) Net of discounts and deferred fees and costs of $488, $467, and $542 as of December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.
       
                   
    Deposits As of December 31, 2024   As of September 30, 2024     As of December 31, 2023  
    (dollars in thousands) $   %   $   %     $   %  
    Deposits:                                
    Noninterest-bearing demand $ 563,012   18.3 %   $ 543,623   17.6 %   $ 539,621   17.0 %
    Savings, NOW and money market accounts   663,034   21.5 %     666,089   21.5 %     632,729   19.9 %
    Time deposits, $250,000 and under   882,438   28.6 %     926,877   30.0 %     876,918   27.6 %
    Time deposits, greater than $250,000   827,854   26.8 %     808,304   26.1 %     719,892   22.7 %
    Wholesale deposits (1)   147,451   4.8 %     147,291   4.8 %     405,600   12.8 %
    Total deposits $ 3,083,789   100.0 %   $ 3,092,184   100.0 %   $ 3,174,760   100.0 %
                                       

    ______________________

    (1) Includes brokered deposits, collateralized deposits from the State of California, and deposits acquired through internet listing services.
       

    Non-GAAP Reconciliations

    Tangible Book Value Reconciliations

    Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP disclosure. Management measures tangible book value per share to assess the Company’s capital strength and business performance and believes this is helpful to investors as additional tools for further understanding our performance. The following is a reconciliation of tangible book value to the Company shareholders’ equity computed in accordance with GAAP, as well as a calculation of tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

                         
    (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) December 31, 2024     September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
    Tangible common equity:                      
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 507,877     $ 509,728     $ 511,260  
    Adjustments                      
    Goodwill   (71,498 )     (71,498 )     (71,498 )
    Core deposit intangible   (2,011 )     (2,194 )     (2,795 )
    Tangible common equity $ 434,368     $ 436,036     $ 436,967  
    Tangible assets:                      
    Total assets-GAAP $ 3,992,477     $ 3,990,477     $ 4,026,025  
    Adjustments                      
    Goodwill   (71,498 )     (71,498 )     (71,498 )
    Core deposit intangible   (2,011 )     (2,194 )     (2,795 )
    Tangible assets $ 3,918,968     $ 3,916,785     $ 3,951,732  
    Common shares outstanding   17,720,416       17,693,416       18,609,179  
    Common equity to assets ratio   12.72 %     12.77 %     12.70 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio   11.08 %     11.13 %     11.06 %
    Book value per share $ 28.66     $ 28.81     $ 27.47  
    Tangible book value per share $ 24.51     $ 24.64     $ 23.48  
                           
                           

    Return on Average Tangible Common Equity

    Management measures return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”) to assess the Company’s capital strength and business performance and believes this is helpful to investors as an additional tool for further understanding our performance. Tangible equity excludes goodwill and other intangible assets (excluding mortgage servicing rights) and is reviewed by banking and financial institution regulators when assessing a financial institution’s capital adequacy. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table reconciles ROATCE to its most comparable GAAP measure:

               
      Three Months Ended     Year Ended December 31,  
    (dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024     September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023     2024     2023  
    Net income available to common shareholders $ 4,385     $ 6,999     $ 12,073     $ 26,665     $ 42,465  
    Average shareholders’ equity   512,208       508,720       505,184       511,470       500,540  
    Adjustments:                                      
    Average goodwill   (71,498 )     (71,498 )     (71,498 )     (71,498 )     (71,498 )
    Average core deposit intangible   (2,129 )     (2,326 )     (2,935 )     (2,425 )     (3,282 )
    Adjusted average tangible common equity $ 438,581     $ 434,896     $ 430,751     $ 437,547     $ 425,760  
    Return on average common equity   3.41 %     5.47 %     9.48 %     5.21 %     8.48 %
    Return on average tangible common equity   3.98 %     6.40 %     11.12 %     6.09 %     9.97 %

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for February

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The Security Council’s February programme of work will feature a signature event on practising multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance, its President for the month announced at a Headquarters press conference today.

    “As the world enters a very turbulent period, the open debate aims to encourage countries to revisit the original aspirations of the [United Nations],” said Fu Cong of China, which has assumed the rotating presidency of the 15-nation organ.  This high-level meeting, scheduled for 18 February, will be chaired by his country’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, he said, encouraging foreign ministers and senior officials of other countries to attend.

    The Middle East will remain a priority on the Council’s agenda this month, he said, noting briefings on the Palestinian issue, Syria and Yemen.  The Gaza situation remains fragile, and the Council needs to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and unhindered humanitarian access.  Also highlighting reports of the Israel Defense Forces’ military attacks on Sunday, 2 February, against residential blocks in Jenin, he said the Council is considering a possible meeting to address this.

    It will also pay close attention to the challenges facing United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), he added. On Syria, he said, the Council’s focus is on supporting that country in maintaining unity, restoring stability and starting a credible and inclusive political transition.

    Turning to Africa, he noted that the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo “is deteriorating rapidly which could further jeopardize peace and security of the region”.  The Council’s actions must be conducive to the cessation of hostilities and easing of tensions there.  The programme of work for February also includes briefings on UN missions in South Sudan, Libya and the Central African Republic, as well as the situation in Sudan, he said.  Pointing to the volatile security and humanitarian situations in many countries on the continent, he said, as President, “China will work with other Council members, the A3 [Council members representing African countries] in particular, to promote dialogue and consultation and seek political solutions on African issues.”

    The Council will also consider the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), he said, describing it as an opportunity to further coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.  It will also conduct its annual dialogue with the peacekeeping police, and will hold consultations on the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), regarding sanctions relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  China will “encourage Council members to consult with each other to enhance trust and bridge differences”, he said, noting that the presidency will invite civil society representatives to participate in relevant meetings and keep in close contact with the media.

    In the ensuing conversation with correspondents, Ambassador Fu elaborated on the open debate on multilateralism, noting the increasing calls in the international community, particularly among the Global South countries, for reforming the global governance system.  Rather than “dismantling the existing system or reinventing the wheel”, the aim is to build a more equitable system that addresses the global governance deficit, he said.  He also stressed the need to enhance the Council’s ability to respond to crises, adding that “solidarity and cooperation are being replaced by division and confrontation”, as a result of which, the Council has been unable to discharge its responsibilities.  The core of the diplomatic mission is to build bridges, he said, adding that the Council must return to the path of multilateralism.

    Mr. Fu took several questions concerning the new United States President Donald J. Trump’s “America First” policy, its impact on the United Nations, as well as the 10 per cent tariffs he recently imposed on Chinese goods.  His country considers the tariff increases unwarranted, he said, and will file a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO).  “There is no winner in a trade war,” he emphasised, and noting that the excuse for raising tariffs is fentanyl, he said China has stringent regulations on that and related substances.  The United States should look at its own problems, including the “demand side of fentanyl”, he advised.

    China and the United States have much in common, he said, adding that it is essential they cooperate on global issues such as climate change and terrorism.  Further, as the two biggest financial contributors “within this house”, he said both countries have similar concerns about improving the efficiency of the United Nations.  All these offer avenues of cooperation, he said.

    He also took a question on United States’ claims that China has influence over the Panama Canal and surrounding areas, and the subsequent statement by Panama’s President about leaving the Belt and Road initiative.  Such an action would be regrettable, he said, stressing that his country has not participated or interfered in the management or operation of the Canal.  The Panama Belt and Road initiative is an economic platform to enable Global South countries to cooperate with each other, he said, adding that the “smear campaign launched by the US and other Western countries on this initiative is totally groundless”.

    Regarding competition with the United States on artificial intelligence (AI) he noted that the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek has caused “some commotion or panic in certain quarters” and encouraged the correspondents to use it to write their news reports.  Technological restrictions do not work, he said, adding:  “Never ever underestimate the ingenuity of Chinese scientists and engineers.”  The world must ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence are available to all countries and there are guardrails to prevent it from being misused, he said, noting that his country put forward the Assembly resolution concerning cooperation on this matter.

    Responding to various questions concerning the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said a ceasefire is a priority — the 23 March Movement (M23) and Rwandan troops must withdraw from the territories they occupied.  Encouraging Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage in peace talks, he noted that one Council member has floated the idea of a resolution on this topic, which his country will support in its national and presidential capacity.  The territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be protected, he said, calling on parties to respond to mediation efforts.

    On meetings concerning Ukraine, he noted proposals from Member States to mark the upcoming 25 February anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in that country.  China is obliged to make proper arrangements according to rules of procedures, he said, adding that it is also crucial to highlight that conflict’s ramifications on the food and energy security, as well as maritime transportation. 

    For the full programme of work, please see:  www.un.org/securitycouncil/events/calendar.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: NXP Semiconductors Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year, which ended December 31, 2024. “NXP delivered full-year 2024 revenue of $12.61 billion, a decrease of 5 percent year-on-year. In the fourth quarter, revenue was $3.11 billion, a decrease of 9 percent year-on-year, modestly above the mid-point of our guidance range. In review, NXP delivered resilient results throughout 2024, reflecting solid execution, consistent gross margin, and healthy free cash flow generation despite a challenging market environment. We rigorously focus on managing what is in our control, to navigate a soft landing while executing our growth strategy,” said Kurt Sievers, NXP President and Chief Executive Officer.

    Key Highlights for the Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2024:

    • Fourth quarter revenue was $3.11 billion, down 9 percent year-on-year. Full-year revenue was 12.61 billion, down 5 percent year-on-year;
    • Fourth quarter GAAP gross margin was 53.9 percent, GAAP operating margin was 21.7 percent and GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $1.93. Full year GAAP gross margin was 56.4 percent, GAAP operating margin was 27.1 percent and GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $9.73;
    • Fourth quarter Non-GAAP gross margin was 57.5 percent, non-GAAP operating margin was 34.2 percent, and non-GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $3.18. Full-year Non-GAAP gross margin was 58.1 percent, non-GAAP operating margin was 34.6 percent, and non-GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $13.09;
    • Fourth quarter cash flow from operations was $391 million, with net capex investments of $99 million, resulting in non-GAAP free cash flow of $292 million. Full-year cash flow from operations was $2,782 million, with net capex investments of $693 million, resulting in non-GAAP free cash flow of $2,089 million;
    • During the fourth quarter of 2024, NXP continued to execute its capital return policy with the payment of $258 million in cash dividends, and the repurchase of $455 million of its common shares. The total capital return of $713 million in the quarter represented 244 percent of fourth quarter non-GAAP free cash flow. On a trailing twelve month basis, capital return to shareholders represented $2.4 billion or 115 percent of non-GAAP free cash flow. The interim dividend for the fourth quarter 2024 was paid in cash on January 8, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 5, 2024. Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter, between January 1, 2025 and January 31, 2025, NXP executed via a 10b5-1 program additional share repurchases totaling $101 million;
    • On October 15, 2024, NXP introduced the S32J family of high-performance automotive Ethernet switches and network controllers to enable the next generation of software-defined vehicle development (SDV). The S32J family shares a common switch core with the NXP S32 portfolio of automotive processing devices to maximize software re-use and simplify network configuration and integration;
    • On October 23, 2024, NXP announced Audi has adopted the Trimension® NCJ29Dx Ultra Wide Band (UWB) product family in its advanced UWB platform delivering precise and secure real-time localization to enable hands-free secure car access via smart mobile device and other UWB-based features. Cars featuring NXP’s Trimension UWB devices, including the Audi Q6 e-tron, will hit the road in 2024;
    • On November 12, 2024, NXP announced the i.MX 94 family, the newest addition to its i.MX 9 series of applications processors, designed for industrial control, telematics, gateways, and building and energy control. The i.MX94 family includes Ethernet Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) switching capabilities;
    • On November 12, 2024, NXP announced industry-first wireless battery management system (BMS) based on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) connectivity, expanding its “FlexCom” family of wired and wireless BMS solutions. The new UWB-based BMS solutions enable increased battery energy density, decoupling the mechanical and electrical development for faster time to market;
    • On December 17, 2024, NXP announced it had entered into an definitive agreement to acquire Aviva Links, a provider of Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) compliant in-vehicle connectivity solutions in an all-cash transaction valued at $242.5 million. The acquisition of Aviva Links expands NXP’s market leading in-vehicle networking (IVN) portfolio with the industry’s most advanced ASA compliant portfolio, supporting SerDes point-to-point (ASA-ML) and Ethernet-based connectivity (ASA-MLE) with data rates up to 16 Gbps;
    • On January 7, 2025, NXP announced it had entered into an definitive agreement to acquire TT Tech Auto, a leader in safety-critical systems and middleware for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The all-cash transaction is valued at $625 million, and accelerates the NXP CoreRide platform, enabling automakers to reduce complexity, maximize system performance and shorten time to market. TT Tech Auto’s MotionWise middleware platform has a proven industry track record and is designed to manage the interconnected systems in SDVs, prioritizing safety-critical functions while ensuring seamless integration.

    Summary of Reported Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2024 ($ millions, unaudited) (1)

      Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 Q – Q Y – Y 2024 2023 Y – Y
    Total Revenue $ 3,111   $ 3,250   $ 3,422   -4 % -9 % $ 12,614   $ 13,276   -5 %
    GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,678   $ 1,866   $ 1,937   -10 % -13 % $ 7,119   $ 7,553   -6 %
    Gross Profit Adjustments (i) $ (111 ) $ (26 ) $ (73 )     $ (213 ) $ (209 )  
    Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,789   $ 1,892   $ 2,010   -5 % -11 % $ 7,332   $ 7,762   -6 %
    GAAP Gross Margin   53.9 %   57.4 %   56.6 %       56.4 %   56.9 %  
    Non-GAAP Gross Margin   57.5 %   58.2 %   58.7 %       58.1 %   58.5 %  
    GAAP Operating Income (Loss) $ 675   $ 990   $ 907   -32 % -26 % $ 3,417   $ 3,661   -7 %
    Operating Income Adjustments (i) $ (390 ) $ (163 ) $ (312 )     $ (952 ) $ (1,001 )  
    Non-GAAP Operating Income $ 1,065   $ 1,153   $ 1,219   -8 % -13 % $ 4,369   $ 4,662   -6 %
    GAAP Operating Margin   21.7 %   30.5 %   26.5 %       27.1 %   27.6 %  
    Non-GAAP Operating Margin   34.2 %   35.5 %   35.6 %       34.6 %   35.1 %  
    GAAP Net Income (Loss) attributable to Stockholders $ 495   $ 718   $ 697       $ 2,510   $ 2,797    
    Net Income Adjustments (i) $ (322 ) $ (172 ) $ (269 )     $ (866 ) $ (864 )  
    Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders $ 817   $ 890   $ 966       $ 3,376   $ 3,661    
    GAAP diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share (ii) $ 1.93   $ 2.79   $ 2.68       $ 9.73   $ 10.70    
    Non-GAAP diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share (ii) $ 3.18   $ 3.45   $ 3.71       $ 13.09   $ 14.01    
    Additional information                
      Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 Q – Q Y – Y 2024 2023 Y – Y
    Automotive $ 1,790 $ 1,829 $ 1,899 -2 % -6 % $ 7,151 $ 7,484 -4 %
    Industrial & IoT $ 516 $ 563 $ 662 -8 % -22 % $ 2,269 $ 2,351 -3 %
    Mobile $ 396 $ 407 $ 406 -3 % -2 % $ 1,497 $ 1,327 13 %
    Comm. Infra. & Other $ 409 $ 451 $ 455 -9 % -10 % $ 1,697 $ 2,114 -20 %
    DIO   151   149   132          
    DPO   65   60   72          
    DSO   30   30   24          
    Cash Conversion Cycle   116   119   84          
    Channel Inventory (weeks)   8   8   7          
    Gross Financial Leverage (iii) 2.1x 1.9x 2.1x          
    Net Financial Leverage (iv) 1.5x 1.3x 1.3x          
                     
    1. Additional Information for the Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2024:
      1. For an explanation of GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
      2. Refer to Table 1 below for the weighted average number of diluted shares for the presented periods.
      3. Gross financial leverage is defined as gross debt divided by trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA.
      4. Net financial leverage is defined as net debt divided by trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA.

        5. Guidance for the First Quarter 2025: ($ millions, except Per Share data) (1)

          Guidance Range
          GAAP   Reconciliation   non-GAAP
          Low   Mid   High       Low   Mid   High
        Total Revenue $2,725   $2,825   $2,925       $2,725   $2,825   $2,925  
        Q-Q -12%   -9%   -6%       -12%   -9%   -6%  
        Y-Y -13%   -10%   -6%       -13%   -10%   -6%  
        Gross Profit $1,489   $1,559   $1,630   $(31)   $1,520   $1,590   $1,661  
        Gross Margin 54.6%   55.2%   55.7%       55.8%   56.3%   56.8%  
        Operating Income (loss) $652   $712   $773   $(178)   $830   $890   $951  
        Operating Margin 23.9%   25.2%   26.4%       30.5%   31.5%   32.5%  
        Financial Income (expense) $(90)   $(90)   $(90)   $(10)   $(80)   $(80)   $(80)  
        Tax rate 18.0%-19.0%       17.0%-18.0%
        Equity-accounted investees $(4)   $(4)   $(4)   $(3)   $(1)   $(1)   $(1)  
        Non-controlling interests $(5)   $(5)   $(5)       $(5)   $(5)   $(5)  
        Shares – diluted 256.0   256.0   256.0       256.0   256.0   256.0  
        Earnings Per Share – diluted $1.75   $1.95   $2.14       $2.39   $2.59   $2.79  
                                     

        Note (1) Additional Information:

        1. GAAP Gross Profit is expected to include Purchase Price Accounting (“PPA”) effects, $(7) million; Share-based Compensation, $(16) million; Other Incidentals, $(8) million;
        2. GAAP Operating Income (loss) is expected to include PPA effects, $(35) million; Share-based Compensation, $(128) million; Restructuring and Other Incidentals, $(15) million;
        3. GAAP Financial Income (expense) is expected to include Other financial expense $(10) million;
        4. GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees is expected to include results relating to non-foundry equity-accounted investees $(3) million;
        5. GAAP diluted EPS is expected to include the adjustments noted above for PPA effects, Share-based Compensation, Restructuring and Other Incidentals in GAAP Operating Income (loss), the adjustment for Other financial expense, the adjustment for Non-controlling interests & Other and the adjustment on Tax due to the earlier mentioned adjustments.

        NXP has based the guidance included in this release on judgments and estimates that management believes are reasonable given its assessment of historical trends and other information reasonably available as of the date of this release. Please note, the guidance included in this release consists of predictions only, and is subject to a wide range of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NXP’s control. The guidance included in this release should not be regarded as representations by NXP that the estimated results will be achieved. Actual results may vary materially from the guidance we provide today. In relation to the use of non-GAAP financial information see the note regarding “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. For the factors, risks, and uncertainties to which judgments, estimates and forward-looking statements generally are subject see the note regarding “Forward-looking Statements.” We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, including the guidance set forth herein, to reflect future events or circumstances.

        Non-GAAP Financial Measures

        In managing NXP’s business on a consolidated basis, management develops an annual operating plan, which is approved by our Board of Directors, using non-GAAP financial measures, that are not in accordance with, nor an alternative to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In measuring performance against this plan, management considers the actual or potential impacts on these non-GAAP financial measures from actions taken to reduce costs with the goal of increasing our gross margin and operating margin and when assessing appropriate levels of research and development efforts. In addition, management relies upon these non-GAAP financial measures when making decisions about product spending, administrative budgets, and other operating expenses. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when coupled with the GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of the Company’s results of operations and the factors and trends affecting NXP’s business. We believe that they enable investors to perform additional comparisons of our operating results, to assess our liquidity and capital position and to analyze financial performance excluding the effect of expenses unrelated to core operating performance, certain non-cash expenses and share-based compensation expense, which may obscure trends in NXP’s underlying performance. This information also enables investors to compare financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management.

        These non-GAAP financial measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of these and other similar items in NXP’s non-GAAP financial results should not be interpreted as implying that these items are non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are provided in the financial statements portion of this release in a schedule entitled “Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited).” Please refer to the NXP Historic Financial Model file found on the Financial Information page of the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.nxp.com for additional information related to our rationale for using these non-GAAP financial measures, as well as the impact of these measures on the presentation of NXP’s operations.

        In addition to providing financial information on a basis consistent with GAAP, NXP also provides the following selected financial measures on a non-GAAP basis: (i) Gross profit, (ii) Gross margin, (iii) Research and development, (iv) Selling, general and administrative, (v) Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, (vi) Other income, (vii) Operating income (loss), (viii) Operating margin, (ix) Financial Income (expense), (x) Income tax benefit (provision), (xi) Results relating to non-foundry equity-accounted investees, (xii) Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders, (xiii) Earnings per Share – Diluted, (xiv) EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA, and (xv) free cash flow, trailing 12 month free cash flow and trailing 12 month free cash flow as a percent of Revenue. The non-GAAP information excludes, where applicable, the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets, the purchase accounting effect on inventory and property, plant and equipment, merger related costs (including integration costs), certain items related to divestitures, share-based compensation expense, restructuring and asset impairment charges, extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax effect on adjustments described above and results from non-foundry equity-accounted investments.

        The difference in the benefit (provision) for income taxes between our GAAP and non-GAAP results relates to the income tax effects of the GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments that we make and the income tax effect of any discrete items that occur in the interim period. Discrete items primarily relate to unexpected tax events that may occur as these amounts cannot be forecasted (e.g., the impact of changes in tax law and/or rates, changes in estimates or resolved tax audits relating to prior year tax provisions, the excess or deficit tax effects on share-based compensation, etc.).

        Conference Call and Webcast Information

        The company will host a conference call with the financial community on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST) to review the fourth quarter 2024 results in detail.

        Interested parties may preregister to obtain a user-specific access code for the call here.

        The call will be webcast and can be accessed from the NXP Investor Relations website at www.nxp.com. A replay of the call will be available on the NXP Investor Relations website within 24 hours of the actual call.

        About NXP Semiconductors

        NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communications infrastructure markets. NXP’s “Brighter Together” approach combines leading-edge technology with pioneering people to develop system solutions that make the connected world better, safer, and more secure. The company has operations in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $12.61 billion in 2024. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

        Forward-looking Statements

        This document includes forward-looking statements which include statements regarding NXP’s business strategy, financial condition, results of operations, market data, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following: market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; our ability to successfully introduce new technologies and products; the demand for the goods into which NXP’s products are incorporated; trade disputes between the U.S. and China, potential increase of barriers to international trade and resulting disruptions to NXP’s established supply chains; the impact of government actions and regulations, including restrictions on the export of US-regulated products and technology; increasing and evolving cybersecurity threats and privacy risks, including theft of sensitive or confidential data; the ability to generate sufficient cash, raise sufficient capital or refinance corporate debt at or before maturity to meet both NXP’s debt service and research and development and capital investment requirements; our ability to accurately estimate demand and match our production capacity accordingly or obtain supplies from third-party producers to meet demand; our access to production capacity from third-party outsourcing partners, and any events that might affect their business or NXP’s relationship with them; our ability to secure adequate and timely supply of equipment and materials from suppliers; our ability to avoid operational problems and product defects and, if such issues were to arise, to correct them quickly; our ability to form strategic partnerships and joint ventures and to successfully cooperate with our alliance partners; our ability to win competitive bid selection processes; our ability to develop products for use in customers’ equipment and products; the ability to successfully hire and retain key management and senior product engineers; global hostilities, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and resulting regional instability, sanctions and any other retaliatory measures taken against Russia and the continued hostilities and the armed conflict in the Middle East, which could adversely impact the global supply chain, disrupt our operations or negatively impact the demand for our products in our primary end markets; the ability to maintain good relationships with NXP’s suppliers; and a change in tax laws could have an effect on our estimated effective tax rate. In addition, this document contains information concerning the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business generally, which is forward-looking in nature and is based on a variety of assumptions regarding the ways in which the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business will develop. NXP has based these assumptions on information currently available, if any one or more of these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from those predicted. While NXP does not know what impact any such differences may have on its business, if there are such differences, its future results of operations and its financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak to results only as of the date the statements were made. Except for any ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required by the United States federal securities laws, NXP does not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this document, whether to reflect any future events or circumstances or otherwise. For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors listed in our SEC filings. Copies of our SEC filings are available on our Investor Relations website, www.nxp.com/investor or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov.

        For further information, please contact:

        NXP-CORP

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 1: Condensed consolidated statement of operations (unaudited)

        ($ in millions except share data) Three months ended   Full-year
          December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
                           
        Revenue $ 3,111     $ 3,250     $ 3,422     $ 12,614     $ 13,276  
        Cost of revenue   (1,433 )     (1,384 )     (1,485 )     (5,495 )     (5,723 )
        Gross profit   1,678       1,866       1,937       7,119       7,553  
        Research and development   (612 )     (577 )     (651 )     (2,347 )     (2,418 )
        Selling, general and administrative   (323 )     (265 )     (311 )     (1,164 )     (1,159 )
        Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets   (28 )     (29 )     (63 )     (136 )     (300 )
        Total operating expenses   (963 )     (871 )     (1,025 )     (3,647 )     (3,877 )
        Other income (expense)   (40 )     (5 )     (5 )     (55 )     (15 )
        Operating income (loss)   675       990       907       3,417       3,661  
        Financial income (expense):                  
        Extinguishment of debt   —       —       —       —       —  
        Other financial income (expense)   (91 )     (82 )     (78 )     (318 )     (309 )
        Income (loss) before income taxes   584       908       829       3,099       3,352  
        Benefit (provision) for income taxes   (77 )     (173 )     (124 )     (545 )     (523 )
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees   (2 )     (6 )     (2 )     (12 )     (7 )
        Net income (loss)   505       729       703       2,542       2,822  
        Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests   10       11       6       32       25  
        Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders   495       718       697       2,510       2,797  
                           
        Earnings per share data:                  
        Net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders in $        
        Basic $ 1.95     $ 2.82     $ 2.71     $ 9.84     $ 10.83  
        Diluted $ 1.93     $ 2.79     $ 2.68     $ 9.73     $ 10.70  
                           
        Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period (in thousands):        
        Basic   254,349       254,458       257,285       255,208       258,381  
        Diluted   256,628       257,717       260,298       257,848       261,370  
                           

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 2: Condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) As of
            December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023
        ASSETS          
        Current assets:          
          Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,292   $ 2,748   $ 3,862
          Short-term deposits   —     400     409
          Accounts receivable, net   1,032     1,070     894
          Inventories, net   2,356     2,234     2,134
          Other current assets   625     574     565
        Total current assets   7,305     7,026     7,864
                     
        Non-current assets:          
          Deferred tax assets   1,251     1,131     992
          Other non-current assets   1,796     1,510     1,297
          Property, plant and equipment, net   3,267     3,309     3,323
          Identified intangible assets, net   836     735     922
          Goodwill   9,930     9,958     9,955
        Total non-current assets   17,080     16,643     16,489
                     
        Total assets   24,385     23,669     24,353
                     
        LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
        Current liabilities:          
          Accounts payable   1,017     899     1,164
          Restructuring liabilities-current   147     52     92
          Other current liabilities   1,434     1,542     1,855
          Short-term debt   500     499     1,000
        Total current liabilities   3,098     2,992     4,111
                     
        Non-current liabilities:          
          Long-term debt   10,354     9,683     10,175
          Restructuring liabilities   10     4     9
          Other non-current liabilities   1,392     1,246     1,098
        Total non-current liabilities   11,756     10,933     11,282
                     
          Non-controlling interests   348     338     316
          Stockholders’ equity   9,183     9,406     8,644
        Total equity   9,531     9,744     8,960
                   
        Total liabilities and equity   24,385     23,669     24,353
                     

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 3: Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows (unaudited)

        ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
          December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        Cash flows from operating activities:                  
        Net income (loss) $ 505     $ 729     $ 703     $ 2,542     $ 2,822  
        Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:                  
        Depreciation, amortization and impairment   259       218       269       925       1,106  
        Share-based compensation   117       115       107       461       411  
        Amortization of discount (premium) on debt, net   1       —       —       3       2  
        Amortization of debt issuance costs   2       2       2       7       8  
        Net (gain) loss on sale of assets   (1 )     —       —       (3 )     (1 )
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees   2       6       2       12       7  
        (Gain) loss on equity securities, net   6       7       —       18       (1 )
        Deferred tax expense (benefit)   (145 )     (40 )     (97 )     (272 )     (267 )
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                  
        (Increase) decrease in receivables and other current assets   (25 )     (167 )     (20 )     (207 )     (138 )
        (Increase) decrease in inventories   (122 )     (86 )     6       (222 )     (353 )
        Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities   16       118       101       (188 )     (119 )
        (Increase) decrease in other non-current assets   (218 )     (134 )     65       (306 )     16  
        Exchange differences   (1 )     7       7       14       22  
        Other items   (5 )     4       (8 )     (2 )     (2 )
        Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities   391       779       1,137       2,782       3,513  
                           
        Cash flows from investing activities:                  
        Purchase of identified intangible assets   (36 )     (26 )     (44 )     (149 )     (179 )
        Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment   (130 )     (186 )     (175 )     (727 )     (827 )
        Insurance recoveries received for equipment damage   —       —       —       2       —  
        Proceeds from the disposals of property, plant and equipment   1       —       —       4       1  
        Advance payment from sale of property, plant and equipment   30       —       —       30       —  
        Investment in short-term deposits   —       —       (409 )     —       (409 )
        Proceeds of short-term deposits   400       —       —       409       —  
        Purchase of investments   (67 )     (159 )     (1 )     (260 )     (94 )
        Proceeds from the sale of investments   —       —       —       5       —  
        Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities   198       (371 )     (629 )     (686 )     (1,508 )
                           
        Cash flows from financing activities:                  
        Repurchase of long-term debt   —       —       —       (1,000 )     —  
        Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   670       —       —       670       —  
        Cash paid for debt issuance costs   (1 )     —       —       (1 )     —  
        Dividends paid to common stockholders   (258 )     (259 )     (261 )     (1,038 )     (1,006 )
        Proceeds from issuance of common stock through stock plans   3       39       1       82       71  
        Purchase of treasury shares and restricted stock unit
        withholdings        		   (455 )     (305 )     (434 )     (1,373 )     (1,053 )
        Other, net   —       (1 )     —       (2 )     (2 )
        Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   (41 )     (526 )     (694 )     (2,662 )     (1,990 )
                           
        Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash positions   (4 )     7       6       (4 )     2  
        Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   544       (111 )     (180 )     (570 )     17  
        Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   2,748       2,859       4,042       3,862       3,845  
        Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   3,292       2,748       3,862       3,292       3,862  
                           
        Net cash paid during the period for:                  
        Interest   92       27       83       243       261  
        Income taxes, net of refunds   280       196       221       867       919  
        Net gain (loss) on sale of assets:                  
        Cash proceeds from the sale of assets   1       —       —       4       1  
        Book value of these assets   —       —       —       (1 )     —  
        Non-cash investing activities:                  
        Non-cash capital expenditures   161       125       266       161       266  
                           

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 4: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

        ($ in millions except share data) Three months ended   Full-year
          December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,678     $ 1,866     $ 1,937     $ 7,119     $ 7,553  
        PPA Effects   (11 )     (12 )     (13 )     (47 )     (53 )
        Restructuring   (21 )     —       (13 )     (28 )     (11 )
        Share-based compensation   (15 )     (14 )     (14 )     (59 )     (54 )
        Other incidentals   (64 )     —       (33 )     (79 )     (91 )
        Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,789     $ 1,892     $ 2,010     $ 7,332     $ 7,762  
        GAAP Gross margin   53.9 %     57.4 %     56.6 %     56.4 %     56.9 %
        Non-GAAP Gross margin   57.5 %     58.2 %     58.7 %     58.1 %     58.5 %
        GAAP Research and development $ (612 )   $ (577 )   $ (651 )   $ (2,347 )   $ (2,418 )
        Restructuring   (50 )     —       (49 )     (57 )     (59 )
        Share-based compensation   (60 )     (58 )     (55 )     (234 )     (211 )
        Other incidentals   (5 )     —       (1 )     (6 )     (5 )
        Non-GAAP Research and development $ (497 )   $ (519 )   $ (546 )   $ (2,050 )   $ (2,143 )
        GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ (323 )   $ (265 )   $ (311 )   $ (1,164 )   $ (1,159 )
        PPA effects   —       (1 )     (1 )     (2 )     (3 )
        Restructuring   (41 )     —       (22 )     (40 )     (28 )
        Share-based compensation   (42 )     (43 )     (38 )     (168 )     (146 )
        Other incidentals   (12 )     (2 )     (5 )     (45 )     (32 )
        Non-GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ (228 )   $ (219 )   $ (245 )   $ (909 )   $ (950 )
        GAAP Operating income (loss) $ 675     $ 990     $ 907     $ 3,417     $ 3,661  
        PPA effects   (39 )     (42 )     (77 )     (185 )     (356 )
        Restructuring   (112 )     —       (84 )     (125 )     (98 )
        Share-based compensation   (117 )     (115 )     (107 )     (461 )     (411 )
        Other incidentals   (122 )     (6 )     (44 )     (181 )     (136 )
        Non-GAAP Operating income (loss) $ 1,065     $ 1,153     $ 1,219     $ 4,369     $ 4,662  
        GAAP Operating margin   21.7 %     30.5 %     26.5 %     27.1 %     27.6 %
        Non-GAAP Operating margin   34.2 %     35.5 %     35.6 %     34.6 %     35.1 %
        GAAP Income tax benefit (provision) $ (77 )   $ (173 )   $ (124 )   $ (545 )   $ (523 )
        Income tax effect   87       9       54       141       170  
        Non-GAAP Income tax benefit (provision) $ (164 )   $ (182 )   $ (178 )   $ (686 )   $ (693 )
        GAAP Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ 495     $ 718     $ 697       2,510       2,797  
        PPA Effects   (39 )     (42 )     (77 )     (185 )     (356 )
        Restructuring   (112 )     —       (84 )     (125 )     (98 )
        Share-based compensation   (117 )     (115 )     (107 )     (461 )     (411 )
        Other incidentals   (122 )     (6 )     (44 )     (181 )     (136 )
        Other adjustments:                      
        Adjustments to financial income (expense)   (17 )     (12 )     (9 )     (43 )     (26 )
        Income tax effect   87       9       54       141       170  
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   (2 )     (6 )     (2 )     (12 )     (7 )
        Non-GAAP Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ 817     $ 890     $ 966     $ 3,376     $ 3,661  
                           
                           
        Additional Information:                  
        1. Refer to Table 7 below for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.
                           
        GAAP net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders – diluted $ 1.93     $ 2.79     $ 2.68     $ 9.73     $ 10.70  
        PPA Effects   (0.15 )     (0.16 )     (0.30 )     (0.72 )     (1.36 )
        Restructuring   (0.44 )     —       (0.32 )     (0.48 )     (0.38 )
        Share-based compensation   (0.46 )     (0.45 )     (0.41 )     (1.79 )     (1.57 )
        Other incidentals   (0.47 )     (0.02 )     (0.17 )     (0.70 )     (0.52 )
        Other adjustments:                  
        Adjustments to financial income (expense)   (0.07 )     (0.05 )     (0.03 )     (0.17 )     (0.10 )
        Income tax effect   0.34       0.04       0.21       0.55       0.65  
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   —       (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.05 )     (0.03 )
        Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders – diluted $ 3.18     $ 3.45     $ 3.71     $ 13.09     $ 14.01  
                           
                           
        Additional Information:                  
        1. Refer to Table 7 below for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.


        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 5: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial income (expense) (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
            December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        GAAP Financial income (expense) $ (91 )   $ (82 )   $ (78 )   $ (318 )   $ (309 )
          Foreign exchange loss   3       (3 )     (6 )     (3 )     (15 )
          Other financial expense   (20 )     (9 )     (3 )     (40 )     (11 )
        Non-GAAP Financial income (expense) $ (74 )   $ (70 )   $ (69 )   $ (275 )   $ (283 )
                             

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 6: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Other income (expense) (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
            December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        GAAP Other income (expense) $ (40 )   $ (5 )   $ (5 )   $ (55 )   $ (15 )
          Other incidentals   (41 )     (4 )     (5 )     (51 )     (8 )
        Non-GAAP Other income (expense) $ 1     $ (1 )   $ —     $ (4 )   $ (7 )
                           

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 7: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
            December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees $ (2 )   $ (6 )   $ (2 )   $ (12 )   $ (7 )
          Results of equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   (2 )     (6 )     (2 )     (12 )     (7 )
        Non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —  
                           
        Additional Information:
        1. We adjust our results relating to equity-accounted investees for those results from investments over which NXP has significant influence, but not control, and whose business activities are not related to the core operating performance of NXP. Our equity-investments in foundry partners are part of our long-term core operating performance and accordingly those results comprise the Non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees.

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 8: Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow (unaudited)

        ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
          December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        GAAP Net income (loss) $ 505     $ 729     $ 703     $ 2,542     $ 2,822  
        Reconciling items to EBITDA (Non-GAAP)                  
        Financial (income) expense   91       82       78       318       309  
        (Benefit) provision for income taxes   77       173       124       545       523  
        Depreciation and impairment   190       149       167       630       652  
        Amortization   69       69       102       295       454  
        EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 932     $ 1,202     $ 1,174     $ 4,330     $ 4,760  
        Reconciling items to adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)                  
        Results of equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   2       6       2       12       7  
        Restructuring   112       —       84       125       98  
        Share-based compensation   117       115       107       461       411  
        Other incidental items2   77       6       44       136       134  
        Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 1,240     $ 1,329     $ 1,411     $ 5,064     $ 5,410  
        Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 5,064     $ 5,235     $ 5,410     $ 5,064     $ 5,410  
                           
        Additional Information:                  
        1. Refer to Table 7 above for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.
        2. Excluding from total other incidental items, charges included in depreciation, amortization or impairment reconciling items:        
                   – other incidental items   45       —       —       45       2  
                           
                           
                           
        ($ in millions) Three months ended   Full-year
          December 31,
        2024        		   September 29,
        2024        		   December 31,
        2023        		     2024       2023  
        Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities $ 391     $ 779     $ 1,137     $ 2,782     $ 3,513  
        Net capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment   (99 )     (186 )     (175 )     (693 )     (826 )
        Non-GAAP free cash flow $ 292     $ 593     $ 962     $ 2,089     $ 2,687  
        Trailing twelve month non-GAAP free cash flow $ 2,089     $ 2,759     $ 2,687     $ 2,089     $ 2,687  
        Trailing twelve month non-GAAP free cash flow as percent of Revenue   17 %     21 %     20 %     17 %     20 %
                           

      The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Whether Biden Or Trump, US’ Latin American Policy Will Be Contemptible

    Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage

    By John Perry and Roger D. Harris

    Migration, Drugs, and Tariffs.

    With Donald Trump as the new US president, pundits are speculating about how US policy towards Latin America might change.

    In this article, we look at some of the speculation, then address three specific instances of how the US’s policy priorities may be viewed from a progressive, Latin American perspective. This leads us to a wider argument: that the way these issues are dealt with is symptomatic of Washington’s paramount objective of sustaining the US’s hegemonic position. In this overriding preoccupation, its policy towards Latin America is only one element, of course, but always of significance because the US hegemon still treats the region as its “backyard.”

    First, some examples of what the pundits are saying. In Foreign Affairs, Brian Winter argues that Trump’s return signals a shift away from Biden’s neglect of the region. “The reason is straightforward,” he says. “Trump’s top domestic priorities of cracking down on unauthorized immigration, stopping the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and reducing the influx of Chinese goods into the United States all depend heavily on policy toward Latin America.”

    Ryan Berg, who is with the thinktank, Center for Strategic and International Studies, funded by the US defense industry, is also hopeful. Trump will “focus U.S. policy more intently on the Western Hemisphere,” he argues, “and in so doing, also shore up its own security and prosperity at home.”

    According to blogger James Bosworth, Biden’s “benign neglect” could be replaced by an “aggressive Monroe Doctrine – deportations, tariff wars, militaristic security policies, demands of fealty towards the US, and a rejection of China.” However, notwithstanding the attention of Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Bosworth thinks there is still a good chance of policy lapsing into benign neglect as the new administration focuses elsewhere.

    The wrong end of the telescope

    What these and similar analyses share is a concern with problems of importance to the US, including domestic ones, and how they might be tackled by shifts in policy towards Latin America. They view the region from the end of a US-mounted telescope.

    Trump’s approach may be the more brazen “America first!,” but the basic stance is much the same as these pundits. The different scenarios will be worked out in Washington, with Latin America’s future seen as shaped by how it handles US policy changes over which it has little influence. Analyses by these supposed experts are constrained by their adopting the same one-dimensional perspective as Washington’s, instead of questioning it.

    Here’s one example. The word “neglect” is superficial because it hides the immense involvement of the US in Latin America even when it is “neglecting” it: from deep commercial ties to a massive military presence. It is also superficial because, in a real sense, the US constantly neglects the problems that concern most Latin Americans: low wages, inequality, being safe in the streets, the damaging effects of climate change, and many more. “Neglect” would be seen very differently on the streets of a Latin American city than it is inside the Washington beltway.

    Who has the “drug problem”?

    The vacuum in US thinking is nowhere more apparent than in responses to the drug problem. Trump threatens to declare Mexican drug cartels to be terrorist organizations and to invade Mexico to attack them.

    But, as academic Carlos Pérez-Ricart told El Pais: “This is a problem that does not originate in Mexico. The source, the demand, and the vectors are not Mexican. It is them.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also points out that it is consumption in the US that drives drug production and trafficking in Mexico.

    Trump could easily make the same mistake as his predecessor Clinton did two decades ago. Back then, billions were poured into “Plan Colombia” but still failed to solve the “drug problem,” while vastly augmenting violence and human rights violations in the target country.

    A foretaste of what might happen, if Trump carries out his threat, occurred last July, when Biden’s administration captured Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. That caused an all-out war between cartels in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

    Sheinbaum rightly turns questions about drug production and consumption back onto the US. Rhetorically, she asks: “Do you believe that fentanyl is not manufactured in the United States?…. Where are the drug cartels in the United States that distribute fentanyl in US cities? Where does the money from the sale of that fentanyl go in the United States?”

    If Trump launches a war on cartels, he will not be the first US president to the treat drug consumption as a foreign issue rather than a concomitantly domestic one.

    Where does the “migration problem” originate?

    Trump is also not the first president to be obsessed by migration. Like drugs, it is seen as a problem to be solved by the countries where the migrants originate, while both the “push” and “pull” factors under US control receive less attention.

    Exploitation of migrant labor, complex asylum procedures, and schemes such as “humanitarian parole” to encourage migration are downplayed as reasons. Biden intensified US sanctions on various Latin American countries, which have been shown conclusively to provoke massive emigration. Meanwhile Trump threatens to do the same.

    Many Latin American countries have been made unsafe by crime linked to drugs or other problems in which the US is implicated. About 392,000 Mexicans were displaced as a result of conflict in 2023 alone, their problem aggravated by the massive, often illegal, export of firearms from the US to Mexico.

    Costa Rica, historically a safe country, had a record 880 homicides in 2023, many of which were related to drug trafficking. In Brazil and other countries, US-trained security forces contribute directly to the violence, rather than reducing it.

    Mass deportations from the US, promised by Trump, could worsen these problems, as happened in El Salvador in the late 1990s. They would also affect remittances sent home by migrant workers, exacerbating regional poverty. The threatened use of tariffs on exports to the US could also have serious consequences if Latin America does not stand up to Trump’s threats. Economist Michael Hudson argues that countries will have to jointly retaliate by refusing to pay dollar-based debts to bond holders if export earnings from the US are summarily cut.

    China in the US “backyard”

    Trump also joins the Washington consensus in its preoccupation with China’s influence in Latin America. Monica de Bolle is with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a thinktank partly funded by Pentagon contractors. She told the BBC: “You have got the backyard of America engaging directly with China. That’s going to be problematic.”

    Recently retired US Southern Command general, Laura Richardson, was probably the most senior frequent visitor on Washington’s behalf to Latin American capitals, during the Biden administration. She accused China of “playing the ‘long game’ with its development of dual-use sites and facilities throughout the region, “adding that those sites could serve as “points of future multi-domain access for the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] and strategic naval chokepoints.”

    As Foreign Affairs points out, Latin America’s trade with China has “exploded” from $18 billion in 2002 to $480 billion in 2023. China is also investing in huge infrastructure projects, and seemingly its only political condition is a preference for a country to recognize China diplomatically (not Taiwan). Even here, China is not absolute as with Guatemala, Haiti, and Paraguay, which still recognize Taiwan. China still has direct investments in those holdouts, though relatively more modest than with regional countries that fully embrace its one-China policy.

    Peru, currently a close US ally, has a new, Chinese-funded megaport at Chancay, opened in November by President Xi Jinping himself. Even right-wing Argentinian president Milei said of China, “They do not demand anything [in return].”

    What does the US offer instead? While Antony Blinken proudly displayed old railcars that were gifted to Peru, the reality is that most US “aid” to Latin America is either aimed at “promoting democracy” (i.e. Washington’s political agenda) or is conditional or exploitative in other ways.

    The BBC cites “seasoned observers” who believe that Washington is paying the price for “years of indifference” towards the region’s needs. Where the US sees a loss of strategic influence to China and to a lesser extent to Russia, Iran, and others, Latin American countries see opportunities for development and economic progress.

    Remember the Monroe Doctrine

    Those calling for a more “benign” policy are forgetting that, in the two centuries since President James Monroe announced the “doctrine,” later given his name, US policy towards Latin America has been aggressively self-interested.

    Its troops have intervened thousands of times in the region and have occupied its countries on numerous occasions. Just since World War II, there have been around 50 significant interventions or coup attempts, beginning with Guatemala in 1954. The US has 76 military bases across the region, while other major powers like China and Russia have none.

    The doctrine is very much alive. In Foreign Affairs, Brian Winter warns: “Many Republicans perceive these linkages [with China], and the growing Chinese presence in Latin America more broadly, as unacceptable violations of the Monroe Doctrine, the 201-year-old edict that the Western Hemisphere should be free of interference from outside powers.”

    Bosworth adds that Trump wants Latin America to decisively choose a side in the US vs China scrimmage, not merely underplay the role of China in the hemisphere. Any country courting Trump, he suggests, “needs to show some anti-China vibes.”

    Will Freeman is with the Council on Foreign Relations, whose major sponsors are also Pentagon contractors. He thinks that a new Monroe Doctrine and what he calls Trump’s “hardball” diplomacy may partially work, but only with northern Latin America countries, which are more dependent on US trade and other links.

    Trump has two imperatives: while one is stifling China’s influence (e.g. by taking possession of the Panama Canal), another is gaining control of mineral resources (a reason for his wanting to acquire Greenland). The desire for mineral resources is not new, either. General Richardson gave an interview in 2023 to another defense-industry-funded thinktank in which she strongly insinuated that Latin American minerals rightly belong to the US.

    Maintaining hegemonic power against the threat of multipolarity

    Neoconservative Charles Krauthammer, writing 20 years ago for yet another thinktank funded by the  defense industry, openly endorsed the US’s status as the dominant hegemonic power and decried multilateralism, at least when not in US interests. “Multipolarity, yes, when there is no alternative,” he said. “But not when there is. Not when we have the unique imbalance of power that we enjoy today.”

    Norwegian commentator Glen Diesen, writing in 2024, contends that the US is still fighting a battle – although perhaps now a losing one – against multipolarity and to retain its predominant status. Trump’s “America first!” is merely a more blatant expression of sentiments held by his other presidential predecessors for clinging on to Washington’s contested hegemony.

    The irony of Biden’s presidency was that his pursuit of the Ukraine war has led to warmer relations between his two rivals, Russia and China. In this context, the growth of BRICS has been fostered – an explicitly multipolar, non-hegemonic partnership. As Glen Diesen says, “The war intensified the global decoupling from the West.”

    Other steps to maintain US hegemony – its support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the regime-change operation in Syria and the breakdown of order in Haiti – suggest that, in Washington’s view, according to Diesen, “chaos is the only alternative to US global dominance.” Time and again, Yankee “beneficence” has meant ruination, not development.

    These have further strengthened desires in the global south for alternatives to US dominance, not least in Latin America. Many of its countries (especially those vulnerable to tightening US sanctions) now want to follow the alternative of BRICS.

    Unsurprisingly, Trump has been highly critical of this perceived erosion of hegemonic power on Biden’s watch. Thomas Fazi argues in UnHerd that this is realism on Trump’s part; he knows the Ukraine war cannot be conclusively won, and that China’s power is difficult to contain. Accordingly, this is leading to a “recalibrating of US priorities toward a more manageable ‘continental’ strategy — a new Monroe Doctrine — aimed at reasserting full hegemony over what it deems to be its natural sphere of influence, the Americas and the northern Atlantic,” stretching from Greenland and the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica.

    The pundits may not agree on quite what Trump’s approach towards Latin America will be, but they concur with Winter’s judgment that the region “is about to become a priority for US foreign policy.” His appointment of Marco Rubio is a signal of this. The new secretary of state is a hawk, just like Blinken, but one with a dangerous focus on Latin America.

    However, the mere fact that such pundits hark back to the Monroe Doctrine indicates that this is only, so to speak, old wine in new bottles. Even in the recent past, an aggressive application of the 201-year-old Monroe Doctrine has never seen a hiatus.

    Recall US-backed coups that deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya (2009) and Bolivian Evo Morales (2019), plus the failed coup against Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua (2018), along with the parliamentary coup that ousted Paraguayan Fernando Lugo (2012). To these, US-backed regime change by “lawfare” included Dilma Rousseff in Brazil (2016) and Pedro Castillo in Peru (2023). Currently presidential elections have simply been suspended in Haiti and Peru with US backing.

    Even if Trump is more blatant than his predecessors in making clear that his policymaking is based entirely on what he perceives to be US interests, rather than those of Latin Americans, this is not new.

    As commentator Caitlin Johnstone points out, the main difference between Trump and his predecessors is that he “makes the US empire much more transparent and unhidden.” From the other end of the political spectrum, a former John McCain adviser echoes the same assessment: “there will likely be far more continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye.”

    Regardless, Latin America will continue to struggle to set its own destiny, patchily and with setbacks, and this will likely draw it away from the hegemon, whatever the US does.

    Nicaragua-based John Perry is with the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition and writes for the London Review of Books, FAIR, and CovertAction.

    Roger D. Harris is with the Task Force on the Americas, the US Peace Council, and the Venezuela Solidarity Network

    Featured image courtesy of Cornell University/Wikimedia Commons

    First published by Popular Resistance: https://popularresistance.org/whether-biden-or-trump-us-latin-american-policy-will-still-be-contemptible/

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Services trade growth hits new highs in third quarter of 2024

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The third quarter of 2024 saw services exports rise by 16 per cent in Asia, followed by 8 per cent in Europe, while North America, South and Central America and the Caribbean expanded by 7 per cent. Marked growth was also recorded on imports across regions, reflecting high demand for diverse services.

    Services are the bright spot of trade, with growth of 9 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2024 (Chart 1). This is in sharp contrast with goods trade, which was up by only 2 per cent over the same period.

    In the third quarter of 2024, transport saw a 14 per cent rise (Chart 1) as shipping rates climbed amid persistent disruptions on major trade routes. Global freight prices were nearly four times higher than in Q3 2023, at about US$ 4,500, according to data from Freightos.

    Asia’s transport services exports increased by 32 per cent, with peaks of 47 per cent in China and 40 per cent in Singapore. Available monthly statistics of leading Asian transport traders point to sustained growth through the end of the year. For example, in the last quarter of 2024, China’s transport exports soared by 50 per cent, reflecting a surge in shipments.

    International travellers’ expenditure in foreign economies increased by 10 per cent in Q3 2024, and in the first three quarters of 2024, global travel receipts were 15 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels. Growth is stabilizing after the post-pandemic surge, and visa-free schemes adopted throughout 2024 by many economies have benefited international tourism worldwide. By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.

    Travel in 2024 was also boosted by the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, and Europe’s travel exports grew by 7 per cent from an already high base in 2023. Many African economies recorded double-digit growth, including Namibia (+32 per cent), Morocco (+19 per cent) and Tanzania (+18 per cent).

    Other commercial services, a heterogeneous group of services accounting for some 60 per cent of total services trade, expanded on average by 8 per cent in Q3. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, exports in this category increased by 9 per cent, and in the United States by 7 per cent. Double-digit growth was widespread in many economies in different regions. For example, South and Central America and the Caribbean economies saw very high growth rates, including Chile (+32 per cent), Argentina (+26 per cent) and Peru (+17 per cent).

    Digitally deliverable services such as computer, financial, business and insurance services were the main drivers of growth. Computer services continued their impressive rise in January-September 2024, with cumulative exports surging globally by 13 per cent (Chart 2). Rapid growth in computer services exports was recorded both in developed and developing economies, including a sharp increase of 77 per cent in Indonesia and strong growth of 37 per cent in Mauritius and 18 per cent in the United States (Chart 3). According to WTO estimates, the European Union’s exports of computer services grew by 15 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024, or by 10 per cent if excluding the largest EU exporter, Ireland.

    Companies are increasingly outsourcing information technology (IT) services and software development. The rapid expansion of e-commerce and digital platforms, including in developing economies, has accelerated this process. The growing adoption of AI, such as to develop chatbots, machine learning and predictive analytics, as well as for cybersecurity needs, has further accelerated the global demand for computer services. This trend is expected to persist as businesses adapt to new technologies and consumer preferences for digital solutions.

    Quarterly statistics are estimates as of the time of publication, and subject to frequent revisions. They are available for download at WTO Stats, along with monthly and annual statistics. Annual services trade data and related visualizations can also be accessed at the Global Services Trade Data Hub and at WTO World Trade Statistics 2023.

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    MIL OSI Economics –