Beijing / Bloomberg Talk about a hostile takeover. What seemed like a straightforward consolidation of two Chinese cement makers has morphed into a test of President Xi Jinping’s push to streamline bloated industries and rebalance a lagging economy. Missing company chops, seized corporate offices, $700 million in bond defaults and suspended shares are major plot points in the story of …

Bloomberg The Canadian government is signaling it could test the waters of quota-free softwood lumber trade with the U.S., a move expected to reignite a dispute that simmered for decades. Canada’s trade minister wouldn’t commit to reaching a deal before the U.S. is allowed to again place tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. The previous softwood agreement, which included quotas and …

Bloomberg Mexico’s Finance Ministry is preparing a support plan for Petroleos Mexicanos and studying all potential options, including a capital transfer or reducing the company’s tax burden, chief economist Luis Madrazo said. Capital aid for Pemex could come from part of the special revenue that the government will receive from the central bank’s operational surplus, Madrazo said in an interview …