The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by former president Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;to block the release to a congressional committee of documents related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump, citing executive privilege, had sought to prevent the documents held by the National Archives from being given to the committee investigating the assault on Congress by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;supporters.

Trump, who has been accused of fomenting the assault on the Capitol, had asked the nation's highest court to stay a ruling this month by a federal appeals court which rejected his attempt to keep the documents and records secret.

But the Supreme Court, in an 8-1 vote, refused to issue a stay and upheld the appeals court ruling.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, was the only justice in favor of issuing a stay.

Trump&nbsp;had sought to exercise his privilege as a former president to keep under wraps White House records and communications that might relate to the attack.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by former president Donald Trump to block the release to a congressional committee of documents related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by former president Donald Trump to block the release to a congressional committee of documents related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Trump, citing executive privilege, had sought to prevent the documents held by the National Archives from being given to the committee investigating the assault on Congress by Trump supporters. Trump, who has been accused of fomenting the assault on the Capitol, had asked the nation's highest court to stay a ruling this month by a federal appeals court which rejected his attempt to keep the documents and records secret. But the Supreme Court, in an 8-1 vote, refused to issue a stay and upheld the appeals court ruling. Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, was the only justice in favor of issuing a stay. Trump had sought to exercise his privilege as a former president to keep under wraps White House records and communications that might relate to the attack.

US: Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to block Capitol attack document release

Governor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shooter-among-one-dead-in-texas-church-attack-270896">Greg Abbott</a> of&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;on Friday became the&nbsp;first&nbsp;governor in the United&nbsp;States to&nbsp;refuse&nbsp;to accept&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;under&nbsp;an executive&nbsp;order&nbsp;requiring local jurisdictions to actively opt into the federal resettlement program.

The decision is a major blow to the program since&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;is the largest recipient of&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;in the country.

"At this time, the&nbsp;state&nbsp;and non-profit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including&nbsp;refugees, migrants and the homeless," Abbott, a Republican, said in his letter to the US&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department.

"As a result,&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;cannot consent," to refugee resettlement this fiscal year, he said.

A&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department official said the executive&nbsp;order&nbsp;signed by President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-under-pressure-at-home-over-plane-crash-warns-iran-world-is-watching-273502">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;only affects the federal government’s decision about where to place&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;immediately after they arrive. It does not apply to a refugee's spouse or unmarried children&nbsp;under&nbsp;21 who are being admitted to join them in the United&nbsp;States, the official said.

Refugees&nbsp;who are initially settled in another US&nbsp;state&nbsp;can subsequently move to&nbsp;Texas, but they would not have access to federal resettlement benefits, such as housing, there, resettlement agencies say.

"This is a deeply disappointing decision," said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and chief executive officer of the resettlement agency Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). "Historically,&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;has served as a beacon of hope for&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;from across the globe."

So far, 41 governors,18 of them Republican and at least seven dozen local officials have consented to resettlement, according to an LIRS tally.

Florida and Georgia, other major recipients of&nbsp;refugees, have so far remained silent on their stance. The governor's office in Florida said it was still reviewing the issue and Georgia declined to comment.

Cutting immigration has been a centrepiece of&nbsp;Trump's presidency and 2020 re-election campaign. One of his&nbsp;first&nbsp;acts after assuming office in January 2017 was to issue an&nbsp;order&nbsp;capping the maximum number of&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;that year at 50,000. Since then, the cap has been slashed every year.

Trump&nbsp;set a ceiling of 18,000 refugee admissions for this year, the lowest level since the modern refugee program began in 1980. By contrast, former Democratic President Barack Obama proposed resettling 110,000&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;in the 2017 fiscal year ending in September.

Approximately 2,500&nbsp;refugees&nbsp;were resettled in&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;in the 2019 fiscal year, down 70 per cent from fiscal 2016, according to&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department data.

The administration has said the consent requirement, signed in September, aimed to ensure receiving communities have the resources to integrate&nbsp;refugees.

But refugee resettlement groups have argued that giving local governors and mayors a veto over whom they accept is unconstitutional and would disrupt the way they work.

Three of the nine national resettlement agencies sued the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration in federal court in an effort to block the&nbsp;order&nbsp;from being implemented.

Arguments in the case were held this week, and US&nbsp;District Judge Peter Messitte in Greenbelt, Maryland, appointed by former Democratic President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-leader-ready-to-pass-impeachment-trial-rules-without-democrats-272835">Bill Clinton</a>, could rule on the case soon.

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas on Friday became the first governor in the United States to refuse to accept refugees under an executive order requiring local jurisdictions to actively opt into the federal resettlement program.

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas on Friday became the first governor in the United States to refuse to accept refugees under an executive order requiring local jurisdictions to actively opt into the federal resettlement program. The decision is a major blow to the program since Texas is the largest recipient of refugees in the country. "At this time, the state and non-profit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants and the homeless," Abbott, a Republican, said in his letter to the US State Department. "As a result, Texas cannot consent," to refugee resettlement this fiscal year, he said. A State Department official said the executive order signed by President Donald Trump only affects the federal government’s decision about where to place refugees immediately after they arrive. It does not apply to a refugee's spouse or unmarried children under 21 who are being admitted to join them in the United States, the official said. Refugees who are initially settled in another US state can subsequently move to Texas, but they would not have access to federal resettlement benefits, such as housing, there, resettlement agencies say. "This is a deeply disappointing decision," said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and chief executive officer of the resettlement agency Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). "Historically, Texas has served as a beacon of hope for refugees from across the globe." So far, 41 governors,18 of them Republican and at least seven dozen local officials have consented to resettlement, according to an LIRS tally. Florida and Georgia, other major recipients of refugees, have so far remained silent on their stance. The governor's office in Florida said it was still reviewing the issue and Georgia declined to comment. Cutting immigration has been a centrepiece of Trump's presidency and 2020 re-election campaign. One of his first acts after assuming office in January 2017 was to issue an order capping the maximum number of refugees that year at 50,000. Since then, the cap has been slashed every year. Trump set a ceiling of 18,000 refugee admissions for this year, the lowest level since the modern refugee program began in 1980. By contrast, former Democratic President Barack Obama proposed resettling 110,000 refugees in the 2017 fiscal year ending in September. Approximately 2,500 refugees were resettled in Texas in the 2019 fiscal year, down 70 per cent from fiscal 2016, according to State Department data. The administration has said the consent requirement, signed in September, aimed to ensure receiving communities have the resources to integrate refugees. But refugee resettlement groups have argued that giving local governors and mayors a veto over whom they accept is unconstitutional and would disrupt the way they work. Three of the nine national resettlement agencies sued the Trump administration in federal court in an effort to block the order from being implemented. Arguments in the case were held this week, and US District Judge Peter Messitte in Greenbelt, Maryland, appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, could rule on the case soon.

Texas becomes first US state to refuse refugees under Trump order

Amazon.com Inc on Monday accused US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trumps-attitude-towards-india-unpredictable-unreliable-238560">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;of exerting "improper pressure" and bias that led the Department of Defence to award a lucrative $10 billion&nbsp;cloud&nbsp;contract&nbsp;to rival <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/growth-in-cloud-computing-business-helps-lift-microsoft-corps-quarterly-revenue-2847">Microsoft Corp</a>.

In a complaint filed in the US&nbsp;Court of Federal Claims,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-offers-employees-10000-to-quit-launch-delivery-business-218463">Amazon</a>&nbsp;said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;launched "repeated public and behind-the-scenes attacks to steer" the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;cloud&nbsp;contract&nbsp;called the Joint Enterprise Defence Infrastructure, popularly known as JEDI, away from&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;Web Services.

The heavily redacted complaint said&nbsp;Trump's motive was to "harm his perceived political enemy-Jeffrey P. Bezos, founder, and CEO of AWS's parent company,&nbsp;Amazon.com and owner of the Washington Post."

Trump's interference made it impossible for the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;to judge a winner "reasonably, consistently, an in a fair and equal manner,"&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;said.

Trump&nbsp;has long criticized Bezos and&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;over low tax payments and accused the Washington Post of acting as a lobbyist for Bezos and&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;and spreading "fake news."

Amazon&nbsp;called for a reevaluation of the proposals submitted to the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;and a new award decision.

"The question is whether the President of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of DoD to pursue his own personal and political ends," the 103-page complaint said.

Amazon&nbsp;and the Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Details from the complaint were first reported by Bloomberg last week.

In recent congressional testimony, a top&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;technology official, Dana Deasy, denied that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;or the White House influenced the JEDI selection process.

A challenge to the Defense Department's award announced in October was widely expected by legal experts, analysts and consultants, especially after&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;publicly derided&nbsp;Amazon's bid for the high-stakes&nbsp;contract.

Amazon.com Inc on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of exerting "improper pressure" and bias that led the Department of Defence to award a lucrative $10 billion cloud contract to rival Microsoft Corp.

Amazon.com Inc on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of exerting "improper pressure" and bias that led the Department of Defence to award a lucrative $10 billion cloud contract to rival Microsoft Corp. In a complaint filed in the US Court of Federal Claims, Amazon said Trump launched "repeated public and behind-the-scenes attacks to steer" the Pentagon cloud contract called the Joint Enterprise Defence Infrastructure, popularly known as JEDI, away from Amazon Web Services. The heavily redacted complaint said Trump's motive was to "harm his perceived political enemy-Jeffrey P. Bezos, founder, and CEO of AWS's parent company, Amazon.com and owner of the Washington Post." Trump's interference made it impossible for the Pentagon to judge a winner "reasonably, consistently, an in a fair and equal manner," Amazon said. Trump has long criticized Bezos and Amazon over low tax payments and accused the Washington Post of acting as a lobbyist for Bezos and Amazon and spreading "fake news." Amazon called for a reevaluation of the proposals submitted to the Pentagon and a new award decision. "The question is whether the President of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of DoD to pursue his own personal and political ends," the 103-page complaint said. Amazon and the Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Details from the complaint were first reported by Bloomberg last week. In recent congressional testimony, a top Pentagon technology official, Dana Deasy, denied that Trump or the White House influenced the JEDI selection process. A challenge to the Defense Department's award announced in October was widely expected by legal experts, analysts and consultants, especially after Trump publicly derided Amazon's bid for the high-stakes contract.

Amazon lawsuit blames Trump for loss of Pentagon cloud contract

Seizing on mounting Farm Belt frustration with President Donald Trump's economic agenda, Democratic rivals are stepping up their push to take back part of rural America, whose overwhelming support for Trump helped propel his upset 2016 election victory.

Seizing on mounting Farm Belt frustration with President Donald Trump's economic agenda, Democratic rivals are stepping up their push to take back part of rural America, whose overwhelming support for Trump helped propel his upset 2016 election victory. The sparsely populated US heartland has remained loyal to the Republican president even as farmers from Iowa to Wisconsin to Pennsylvania bear the brunt of his tariff war with China. His advisers insist Trump's projection of toughness against China will only delight, not alienate, his base. Democrats seeking to face Trump in the November 2020 election challenge that presumption, pointing to farmers reeling from plunging prices and unsold crops during what is now more than a year-long trade war with China. Farmers and ethanol producers are also upset with the administration's latest decision to allow more oil refiners to skirt biofuel laws and useless corn-based ethanol. From front-runner, Joe Biden to US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, many of the more than 20 Democratic presidential candidates have highlighted the economic damage caused by Trump's trade war and biofuel waivers as the central plank of their pitches to rural America. At various campaign stops in Iowa since June, Biden has said the trade war was "crushing" American farmers. “How many farmers across this state, across this nation, have to face the prospect of losing everything, losing their farm because of these tariffs?” Biden said in Warren County, Iowa, last week. Biden's aides say he will make campaigning in rural areas a top priority. "Vice President Biden will work to expand the market for ethanol and the next generation of biofuels, and will re-engage allies to negotiate trade that benefits American farmers and other workers," TJ Ducklo, a Biden spokesman, told Reuters. In recent weeks, several other candidates, including Warren and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, have rushed to roll out plans for rural America, touching on everything from farm subsidies to rural healthcare and broadband. They have already been campaigning heavily in rural Iowa, the state that kicks off the party’s nominating contest in February and is the largest producer of corn and ethanol. In the past, Democratic candidates often just paid lip service to rural voters, said former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, who founded the One Country Project to help democrats broaden their rural appeal after she lost her re-election bid last year. This year is different, she said in an interview. “There’s an appreciation that we can’t continue to fail at the rate we’re failing in rural America and be successful in presidential races and Senate races," Heitkamp said. She added: “We’re getting helped a lot by the president in this regard." Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, said in a statement last Friday: "Between burning bridges with all of our biggest trading partners and undermining our domestic biofuels industry, President Trump is making things worse, not better." Uphill battle Many rural voters helped former Democratic President Barack Obama win the White House in 2008 and 2012. But they supported Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by more than 30 percentage points. Next year is again expected to be an uphill battle for Democrats. Officials worry the party's increasingly liberal direction on immigration and other Trump-driven hot-button issues are socially and culturally at odds with rural voters. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted this month, five in 10 US adults in rural areas approved of Trump's performance in office, higher than his 41 per cent approval nationwide. Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s communications director, said farmers know the trade war is a "fight worth winning." “Farmers are patriots ... and they know the long-term benefits are going to be worth it for themselves and this nation," Murtaugh said. The White House also unveiled a $16 billion aid package in July to help farmers hurt by the trade war and bad weather. But Democrats point to last year's congressional elections, where the party increased its share of the vote from 2016 in at least 54 districts with large rural populations, as a sign that Trump's grip on rural America may be loosening. Even a small erosion in Trump’s support among rural voters could make a difference in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where Trump won by razor-thin margins in 2016, Democratic strategists say. Trump won by a combined total of just 77,000 votes in the three states. Priorities USA, the largest Democratic Super PAC, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a week to run digital ads in those states as well as in Florida, aimed at tying Trump’spolicies to economic difficulties that many working-class people face. 'Folded to big oil' A round of more bad news for farmers last week, including extra tariffs Beijing announced on soybeans and other key US agricultural exports gave Democrats a fresh opening to attack Trump. After Reuters reported this month that Trump gave regulators the green light to grant exemptions to more than 30 small refineries so they can use less ethanol, Democratic candidates pounced on it as evidence Trump favours the oil industry. Klobuchar, the Minnesota lawmaker who has centred her campaign narrative on her ability to win over rural Midwestern voters, said that if elected, she would block pending refinery waiver applications and look to reverse any approved. “He folded to Big Oil,” she told reporters on Thursday. Murtaugh, the Trump campaign spokesman, rejected the accusation, saying the president was concerned about some “small” refineries not being able to cope with costly standards. “As president, he must look out for the economic interests of everyone involved,” he said. The backlash from agricultural and biofuel trade groups has been particularly strong in Iowa, a swing state won twice by Obama but that Trump carried in 2016. “Democrats have crisscrossed Iowa. They are speaking to ethanol producers who have idled plants and talking to workers who are losing their jobs," said Patty Judge, a former Democratic lieutenant governor in Iowa and current chair of the Focus on Rural America, which advocates progressive economic policies in rural areas. "This is an opportunity for Democrats to win back the heartland and the White House."

As Trump policies deepen farmers' pain, Democrats see an opening in rural America

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/san-diego-area-synagogue-shooting-appears-to-be-hate-crime-trump-214020">San Diego-area synagogue shooting appears to be hate crime, says Trump as gunman identified</a>

US President Donald&nbsp;Trump on Saturday sent his sympathies to the families of the victims of a San Diego-area synagogue shooting, saying it appeared to be a hate crime and that authorities will "get to the bottom of it."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamic-state-says-its-fighters-behind-police-clashes-in-sri-lanka-214029">Islamic State says its fighters behind police clashes in Sri Lanka</a>

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-fires-barca-to-eighth-la-liga-title-in-11-years-214022">Messi fires Barcelona to eighth La Liga title in 11 years</a>

Lionel Messi clinched an eighth La Liga title for Barcelona in 11 seasons on Saturday as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to Levante.

The Argentine star struck his league-leading 34th goal of the campaign after coming off the bench for the second half to help Barca wrap up the title with three games remaining.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ask-sbi-to-release-one-months-salary-to-jet-airways-staff-national-aviators-guild-to-pm-modi-214028">Ask SBI to release one month's salary to Jet Airways staff: National Aviator's Guild to PM Modi</a>

The National Aviator's Guild (NAG), which represents pilots of the grounded carrier Jet Airways, Saturday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "direct" the airline's lender State Bank of India to release one month's salary of all the employees.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-envoy-ghani-push-intra-afghan-talks-214023">US envoy, Ghani push 'intra-Afghan' talks</a>

The United States and Afghanistan stressed the need for "intra-Afghan dialogue" when US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani held talks on Saturday, a palace statement said.

San Diego-area synagogue shooting appears to be hate crime, says Trump as gunman identified US President Donald Trump on Saturday sent his sympathies to the families of the victims of a San Diego-area synagogue shooting, saying it appeared to be a hate crime and that authorities will "get to the bottom of it.

San Diego-area synagogue shooting appears to be hate crime, says Trump as gunman identified US President Donald Trump on Saturday sent his sympathies to the families of the victims of a San Diego-area synagogue shooting, saying it appeared to be a hate crime and that authorities will "get to the bottom of it." Islamic State says its fighters behind police clashes in Sri Lanka The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement. Messi fires Barcelona to eighth La Liga title in 11 years Lionel Messi clinched an eighth La Liga title for Barcelona in 11 seasons on Saturday as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to Levante. The Argentine star struck his league-leading 34th goal of the campaign after coming off the bench for the second half to help Barca wrap up the title with three games remaining. Ask SBI to release one month's salary to Jet Airways staff: National Aviator's Guild to PM Modi The National Aviator's Guild (NAG), which represents pilots of the grounded carrier Jet Airways, Saturday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "direct" the airline's lender State Bank of India to release one month's salary of all the employees. US envoy, Ghani push 'intra-Afghan' talks The United States and Afghanistan stressed the need for "intra-Afghan dialogue" when US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani held talks on Saturday, a palace statement said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

China&nbsp;said on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;defend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbsp;threats from US President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;that are testing transatlantic ties.

Germany and&nbsp;China, two exporting nations that run large&nbsp;trade&nbsp;surpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbsp;Trump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests.

Merkel&nbsp;faces a delicate balancing act on the&nbsp;China&nbsp;trip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;and the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington.

In the latest US trade&nbsp;move that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs.

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbsp;China&nbsp;vowed to protect its interests.

European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbsp;China&nbsp;instructs importers to buy more US goods to ease&nbsp;trade&nbsp;disputes with the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration.&nbsp;China has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsp;trade&nbsp;sources told Reuters.

Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbsp;China&nbsp;and Germany both upheld global free&nbsp;trade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them.

Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;and stressing "friendly relations" with Germany.

Trump's "America First"&nbsp;trade&nbsp;policy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbsp;TradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbsp;China&nbsp;and Germany into closer alignment, German officials say.

However,&nbsp;Merkel's government also shares many of the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsp;trade&nbsp;secrets.

Li said&nbsp;China&nbsp;would protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbsp;China&nbsp;and adjust its rules if needed.

"If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbsp;China&nbsp;is striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said.

German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property.

Merkel&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;China's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy.

But German industry said it was now up to&nbsp;China&nbsp;to deliver on its promises of greater openness.

"China&nbsp;must rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA).

Germany and&nbsp;China&nbsp;should work on a "multilateral global system",&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;said, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;is challenging.

Trump&nbsp;has also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbsp;China&nbsp;by pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.

European countries, Russia and&nbsp;China, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance.

Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;not to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbsp;China&nbsp;were "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt".

European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk US sanctions for trading there,&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;said, adding with a nod to&nbsp;China: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers. China vowed to protect its interests

China said on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela Merkel defend free commerce and counterbalance trade threats from US President Donald Trump that are testing transatlantic ties. Germany and China, two exporting nations that run large trade surpluses with the United States, have found themselves in Trump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests. Merkel faces a delicate balancing act on the China trip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free trade and the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington. In the latest US trade move that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the Trump administration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs. The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers. China vowed to protect its interests. European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if China instructs importers to buy more US goods to ease trade disputes with the Trump administration. China has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans, trade sources told Reuters. Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with Merkel at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said China and Germany both upheld global free trade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them. Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to Merkel and stressing "friendly relations" with Germany. Trump's "America First" trade policy, his administration's professed disdain for the World TradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed China and Germany into closer alignment, German officials say. However, Merkel's government also shares many of the Trump administration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up trade secrets. Li said China would protect the interests of German firms investing in China and adjust its rules if needed. "If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that China is striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said. German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property. Merkel welcomed China's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy. But German industry said it was now up to China to deliver on its promises of greater openness. "China must rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA). Germany and China should work on a "multilateral global system", Merkel said, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that Trump is challenging. Trump has also pushed Europe to work more closely with China by pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. European countries, Russia and China, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance. Merkel, who personally lobbied Trump not to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and China were "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt". European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk US sanctions for trading there, Merkel said, adding with a nod to China: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge

China&nbspsaid on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbspMerkel&nbspdefend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbspthreats from U.S. President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspthat are testing transatlantic ties.

Germany and&nbspChina, two exporting nations that run large&nbsptrade&nbspsurpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbspTrump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests.

Merkel&nbspfaces a delicate balancing act on the&nbspChina&nbsptrip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsptrade&nbspand the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington.

In the latest U.S.&nbsptrade&nbspmove that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs.

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbspChina&nbspvowed to protect its interests.

European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbspChina&nbspinstructs importers to buy more U.S. goods to ease&nbsptrade&nbspdisputes with the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration.&nbspChina has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsptrade&nbspsources told Reuters.

Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbspMerkel&nbspat Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbspChina&nbspand Germany both upheld global free&nbsptrade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them.

Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbspMerkel&nbspand stressing "friendly relations" with Germany.

Trump's "America First"&nbsptrade&nbsppolicy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbspTradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbspChina&nbspand Germany into closer alignment, German officials say.

However,&nbspMerkel's government also shares many of the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsptrade&nbspsecrets.

Li said&nbspChina&nbspwould protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbspChina&nbspand adjust its rules if needed.

"If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbspChina&nbspis striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said.

German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property.

Merkel&nbspwelcomed&nbspChina's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy.

But German industry said it was now up to&nbspChina&nbspto deliver on its promises of greater openness.

"China&nbspmust rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA).

Germany and&nbspChina&nbspshould work on a "multilateral global system",&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbspTrump&nbspis challenging.

Trump&nbsphas also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbspChina&nbspby pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.

European countries, Russia and&nbspChina, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance.

Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbspTrump&nbspnot to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbspChina&nbspwere "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt".

European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk U.S. sanctions for trading there,&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, adding with a nod to&nbspChina: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

China&nbspsaid on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbspMerkel&nbspdefend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbspthreats from U.S. President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspthat are testing transatlantic ties. Germany and&nbspChina, two exporting nations that run large&nbsptrade&nbspsurpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbspTrump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests. Merkel&nbspfaces a delicate balancing act on the&nbspChina&nbsptrip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsptrade&nbspand the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington. In the latest U.S.&nbsptrade&nbspmove that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs. The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbspChina&nbspvowed to protect its interests. European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbspChina&nbspinstructs importers to buy more U.S. goods to ease&nbsptrade&nbspdisputes with the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration.&nbspChina has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsptrade&nbspsources told Reuters. Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbspMerkel&nbspat Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbspChina&nbspand Germany both upheld global free&nbsptrade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them. Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbspMerkel&nbspand stressing "friendly relations" with Germany. Trump's "America First"&nbsptrade&nbsppolicy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbspTradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbspChina&nbspand Germany into closer alignment, German officials say. However,&nbspMerkel's government also shares many of the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsptrade&nbspsecrets. Li said&nbspChina&nbspwould protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbspChina&nbspand adjust its rules if needed. "If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbspChina&nbspis striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said. German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property. Merkel&nbspwelcomed&nbspChina's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy. But German industry said it was now up to&nbspChina&nbspto deliver on its promises of greater openness. "China&nbspmust rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA). Germany and&nbspChina&nbspshould work on a "multilateral global system",&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbspTrump&nbspis challenging. Trump&nbsphas also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbspChina&nbspby pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. European countries, Russia and&nbspChina, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance. Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbspTrump&nbspnot to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbspChina&nbspwere "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt". European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk U.S. sanctions for trading there,&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, adding with a nod to&nbspChina: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

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Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge

Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge