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Disney’s domestic parks fueled Q2 strength: International results lagged, but a capital-light Abu Dhabi expansion points to future opportunity.

The biggest ecommerce disruptors face a reckoning: The closing of the de minimis exemption is forcing Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop to pivot, but it isn’t clear that shoppers will follow.

Turbulence in trade relations is changing how China’s ecommerce platforms do business in the US, with spillover effects on US retail and advertising.

Halting US shipments reflects how tariff volatility is driving inventory risk, pressuring supply chains, and prompting a realignment of go-to-market strategies. Read online

Shein considers restructuring to minimize tariff, de minimis impact: But any move to shift production out of China could provoke Beijing’s ire—and derail its long-awaited IPO.

In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has reshaped business strategy across retail, tech, healthcare, and media. Here’s how tariffs, regulation, and market volatility are forcing brands to rethink spend, growth, and planning.

China-based firms look to skirt the tariffs: Some have reached out to Indian exporters to fill orders on their behalf, while others turn to bonded warehouses.

China’s AI agents, such as Manus, can tackle complex tasks with minimal human intervention. That’s helping accelerate the global arms race—nearly 7 in 10 Asia-Pacific decision-makers expect AI agents to bring major disruptions to their companies within 18 months.

Internet adoption in Asia-Pacific will rise from 65.8% in 2025 to 70.2% in 2030, thanks to rapidly expanding infrastructure—particularly in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. But parts of the region are still lagging.

ByteDance restructures TikTok Shop’s US operations: The move reflects growing dissatisfaction with the unit’s performance, as well as a potential change in strategy as uncertainty threatens growth.

Walmart promises support for tariff-hit Chinese manufacturers: The retailer will help suppliers get in front of domestic shoppers as it tries to stay on Beijing’s good side.

Gucci sales slid 25% in Q1: The brand’s struggles put parent company Kering in a tough spot as it attempts to navigate a slowdown in luxury goods spending.

Retailers aren’t likely to get certainty any time soon: The Trump administration is considering slashing China tariffs down to a still-astronomical 50% or 65%, leaving merchants to stay cautious on merchandising.

Australia will exempt YouTube from its under-16 social media ban: The promise is receiving backlash from Meta and TikTok, and will require brands to adapt.

Digital’s share of total media ad spending in Asia-Pacific will reach a milestone in 2025, surpassing $200 billion for the first time. The region’s digital ad spending will increase 8.6%, led by India, while China’s growth will slip noticeably amid the country’s economic struggles before a rebound the following year.

JD.com challenges Meituan’s food delivery dominance: The Chinese ecommerce giant will hire 100,000 workers to help break the latter’s hold on the industry.

The Trump administration injects more uncertainty into supply chains with new ship fees: While less stringent than initially proposed, the levies will raise costs and complicate operations.

Tariffs drive ad pullbacks: Temu and Shein reduce US ad spending ahead of policy shift, signaling fallout across ecommerce and social platforms.

Anticipated tariffs are speeding up purchasing decisions, revealing a tension between economic caution and the desire to avoid future markups.