SINGAPORE (AP) — European shares are higher today after the U.S. and China kicked off two days of trade talks in Beijing. The aim is to forestall further tariff hikes in a bruising dispute over Beijing's technology policies. In Asia, markets were mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng closing 0.2 percent lower and the Shanghai Composite index dropping 0.1 percent. South Korea's Kospi rebounded 1.1 percent. Wall Street is set for gains at the open with Dow and S&P futures each up 0.3 percent.
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese and U.S. negotiators have opened talks on resolving a vexing trade war as Beijing said its exports rebounded in January despite President Donald Trump's tariff hikes. Trump said the negotiations will help decide whether he goes ahead on March 2 with more penalty tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods. Economists and business groups say Beijing is looking to persuade Trump enough progress is being made to push back his deadline.
TOULOUSE, France (AP) — European aviation giant Airbus says it will stop making its superjumbo A380 in 2021 after struggling to sell the world's biggest passenger jet. Long-haul carrier Emirates says it will receive 14 more A380s until the end of 2021.
TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Airbus says that a recent data breach appeared to target its intellectual property. Guillaume Faury, the head of Airbus commercial aircraft and future CEO of the Airbus group, says the company is working on technical and legal tools to combat this kind of cyberattack. Airbus said in late January that hackers broke into its information systems but the breach had no impact on commercial activities.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release a plan for handling long-lasting chemical contaminants found in consumer products such as carpets and dental floss. Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler says in an ABC News Live interview that the so-called forever chemicals, or PFAS, are "a very important threat" and the EPA is moving forward with a process under the Safe Drinking Water Act that could lead to new safety thresholds. An announcement is planned for today in Philadelphia.
