Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Clearer signs of the impact of present U.S. tariff rates are beginning to emerge, with Vietnam having published its trade data for September -- its first full month under its 20% rate. The wider tariff impact is set to dominate discussions at the congress of the global body representing freight forwarders that Vietnam is hosting.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te is due to give a speech marking the self-ruled island's national day, with China's reaction set to be as closely watched as the content of the address itself.
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MONDAY
Nobel Prize announcements begin
Nobel Prize week kicks off with the award in physiology or medicine, and culminates next Monday with the economics prize. Last year saw South Korean author Han Kang honored with the literature prize and Japanese anti-nuclear weapons group Nihon Hidankyo given the peace prize. Japan's Kenji Kangawa and Masayasu Kojima are being tipped by data analytics company Clarivate for this year's physiology or medicine prize, while China's Tao Zhang has been identified as a possible chemistry laureate.
TUESDAY
FIATA World Congress
Global freight forwarders gather in Hanoi for the FIATA World Congress to discuss various topics, such as challenges in the new global trade landscape and how to navigate them. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is scheduled to attend the event, which runs through Friday.
Data: Philippines inflation
WEDNESDAY
Thai monetary policy
The Bank of Thailand will hold a monetary policy meeting for the first time under newly appointed central bank Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn. Committee members will discuss whether to hold the key interest rate at 1.5%, or cut the rate further with the aim of bolstering the economy.
Data: Philippines employment
THURSDAY
Fast Retailing earnings
Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing will announce its results for the fiscal year ending August. Chairman and President Tadashi Yanai is scheduled to participate in a news conference, and attention will be paid to what the company will say about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and the business outlook.
Earnings: Seven & i, Tata Consultancy Services
Monetary policy: Philippines
FRIDAY
Lai's Taiwan national day speech
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te is expected to deliver a national day address, one that is sure to be watched closely by the government in Beijing. Lai, a stalwart defender of Taiwan's sovereignty, gave a speech on the occasion last year in which he said that China "has no right to represent Taiwan," although he also called for peace and extended an olive branch. Beijing, which considers Taiwan its territory, responded with condemnations and military exercises around the island.
NBA games in Macao
The Brooklyn Nets face off against the Phoenix Suns in two preseason matches in Macao on Friday and Sunday, in the first National Basketball Association contests in a Chinese city in six years. The NBA, which drew Beijing's ire in 2019 after the Houston Rockets general manager at the time backed protests in Hong Kong, is seeking to reestablish itself in a market where it has more than 43 million Weibo followers.
Malaysia budget
Malaysia's budget for 2026, to be unveiled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to focus on housing, education and health care while tackling rising living costs and widening income gaps. Anwar has signaled there will be a shift toward broad fiscal reforms, including a series of subsidy rationalization measures.
North Korea ruling party's 80th anniversary
North Korea is expected to show off its newest weapons at a large military parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party. High-ranking officials from China and Russia are expected to participate. The last time North Korea held a large military parade was in July 2023 to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice.
Correction: The article originally misstated the timing of the release of Vietnamese trade data.
