Mercedes is set to “localize” a “core segment” vehicle line to its plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by 2027, the automaker announced Thursday. The German company said it wanted to strengthen “our ties to the North American market” as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs prompt some companies to relocate to the United States.

Mercedes-Benz’s manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will build a new vehicle for the luxury automaker, according to a Thursday announcement.

Mercedes-Benz on Thursday said it will add a new vehicle to its plant in Alabama amid President Donald Trump's auto tariff.

Beijing is "evaluating" an offer from Washington to hold talks over U.S. President Donald Trump's crippling tariffs, China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday, signalling a potential de-escalation in the trade war that has roiled global markets.

China on Friday asserted that it is 'currently assessing' US proposals to begin trade talks, marking a subtle tone shift that could open the door for negotiations.

The signals from Beijing helped lift market sentiment across Asia. S&P 500 futures erased earlier losses, regional equities rebounded, and the offshore yuan strengthened.

Small-value packages shipped to the US from China will no longer be exempted from tariffs starting Friday, when President Donald Trump’s move against an exception he called a “big scam” takes effect.

Supporters say the change is important to stop cheap Chinese goods from entering the U.S. But the decision could drive up prices for goods Americans buy online.