Senate confirms Trump's first judicial nominee of his second term
The confirmation of Hermandorfer, who worked for Tennessee's attorney general, comes after the Democratic-led Senate under former President Joe Biden confirmed 235 federal judges and the Republican-led Senate in Trump's first term confirmed 234 federal judges.
The two presidents each worked to reshape the judiciary, with Trump taking advantage of a high number of judicial vacancies at the end of President Barack Obama's term and Democrats working to beat Trump's number after he had the opportunity to nominate three Supreme Court justices.
So far in his second term, Trump has fewer vacancies to fill. While he inherited more than 100 vacancies from Obama, who was stymied by a Republican Senate in his final two years, Trump now has 49 vacancies to fill out of almost 900 federal judgeships.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week that the Senate would work to quickly confirm Trump's judicial nominees, even though 'we're not facing the number of judicial vacancies this Congress we did during Trump's first term.'
Hermandorfer, who was confirmed 46-42 along party lines, has defended many of Trump's policies as director of strategic litigation for Tennessee's attorney general, including his bid to end birthright citizenship. Democrats and liberal judicial advocacy groups criticized her as extreme on that issue and others, also citing her office's defense of the state's strict abortion ban.
Before working for the Tennessee Attorney General, she clerked for three Supreme Court justices. But at her confirmation hearing last month, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware criticized what he called a 'striking brevity' of court experience since Hermandorfer graduated from law school a decade ago.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Monday that Trump is only focused on 'a nominee's perceived loyalty to him and his agenda — and a willingness to rule in favor of him and his administration.'
The Judiciary panel is scheduled to vote on additional judges this week, including top Justice Department official Emil Bove, a former lawyer for Trump who is nominated for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bove's nomination has come under scrutiny after a fired department lawyer claimed in a complaint that Bove used an expletive when he said during a meeting that the Trump administration might need to ignore judicial commands. Bove has pushed back against suggestions from Democrats that the whistleblower's claims make him unfit for the federal bench.
Bove has also accused FBI officials of 'insubordination' for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the U.S. Capitol riot and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 criminal cases.
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Trump tariffs live updates: Trump boasts of tariff billions, vows to punish China on for Russian oil
President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday boasting that billions of dollars in tariffs were now flowing into the US. "IT'S MIDNIGHT!!! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!" Trump wrote. The US president added that this additional money will come "largely from countries" that he says has taken "advantage" of the US. "RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TAKE EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LARGELY FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS, LAUGHING ALL THE WAY, WILL START FLOWING INTO THE USA." Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs hit US trade partners on Thursday when his deadline to strike deals expired at 12:01 a.m ET. As the trade deadline loomed Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. The new tariff, which will come into effect in 21 days, is set to "stack" on top of an existing country-specific tariff of 25%, which takes effect today. In doing so, Trump is set to make good on a threat for higher tariffs on India, as he has accused the country of effectively financing the Russian war in Ukraine. "They're fueling the war machine," he charged in a CNBC interview. Trump also floated the idea of higher tariffs on China due to Beijing's purchase of Russian oil. Trump said he would punish China with additional tariffs. Outside of China and India, Switzerland is the developed nation whose goods face a whopping increase: up to 39%. You can see the new rates Trump is set to levy in the graphic below: Trump also said that he would soon announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports, as he prepares to add more sectoral duties to his mix of tariffs. He said duties on pharma could eventually balloon as high as 250%. On Wednesday, during a White House event with Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, he suggested he would impose a tariff of 100% on "all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States." In the past several days, Trump has unleashed a flurry of deals and trade moves leading up to his self-imposed deadline: Trump granted Mexico, the US's largest trading partner, a 90-day reprieve on higher tariffs. Trump hiked tariffs on Canadian imports to 35%, though goods contained in the US-Mexico-Canada agreement are exempt, keeping this hike's impact limited so far. The US agreed to a trade deal with South Korea. The agreement includes a 15% tariff rate on imports from the country, while the US will not be charged a tariff on its exports. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Aug. 1. The president signed an order to end the de minimis exemption on low-value imports under $800, thereby applying tariffs from Aug. 29. Trump signed another order to impose a total of 50% tariffs on many goods from Brazil. However, it exempts key US imports like orange juice and aircraft parts. The US and EU agreed to a trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on EU goods. The nations are still working on finalizing many terms of the deal. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Trump says he plans to set tariffs on computer chips at 100% President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. Apple set to dodge bulk of India tariffs Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Modi's rival blasts 'bully' Trump as public opinion hardens Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Trump order lowering tariffs on EU autos still days away: source European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. Alcohol groups say tariffs put $2B in sales and 25,000 jobs at risk In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump hits India with additional 25% tariff over Russia oil buys President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. Carney says he'll look at opportunities to remove tariffs on US Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says Japan to import Ford's huge F-150 pickup trucks President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US investments under trade deal will be determined by benefits for Tokyo: Japan Reuters reports: Read more here. Honda Q1 operating profit halves on tariffs Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. China draws red lines on US chip tracking with Nvidia meeting China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says he's readying more tariffs on Russian energy buyers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canada to help lumber industry cope with US tariffs: Carney Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Starbucks under pressure again as Brazilian tariffs hike coffee costs Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump says he plans to set tariffs on computer chips at 100% President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. Apple set to dodge bulk of India tariffs Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Modi's rival blasts 'bully' Trump as public opinion hardens Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Trump order lowering tariffs on EU autos still days away: source European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. Alcohol groups say tariffs put $2B in sales and 25,000 jobs at risk In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump hits India with additional 25% tariff over Russia oil buys President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. Carney says he'll look at opportunities to remove tariffs on US Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says Japan to import Ford's huge F-150 pickup trucks President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US investments under trade deal will be determined by benefits for Tokyo: Japan Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Honda Q1 operating profit halves on tariffs Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. China draws red lines on US chip tracking with Nvidia meeting China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says he's readying more tariffs on Russian energy buyers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canada to help lumber industry cope with US tariffs: Carney Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Starbucks under pressure again as Brazilian tariffs hike coffee costs Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. 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24 minutes ago
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Confusion Over Tariff Stacking Hampers Japan's Bid to Pin Down US Trade Deal
(Bloomberg) -- The US has imposed higher tariffs than Japan expected on a broad range of its goods, a senior Japanese ruling party official said Thursday, after a day of confusion over what exactly had been agreed between the two countries. All Hail the Humble Speed Hump Mayor Asked to Explain $1.4 Billion of Wasted Johannesburg Funds Three Deaths Reported as NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak Spreads Major Istanbul Projects Are Stalling as City Leaders Sit in Jail PATH Train Service Resumes After Fire at Jersey City Station Japan faces 'stacking' tariffs, where a new 15% levy is added to existing import taxes, even though it had expected to be given an exemption stripping out the old tariffs, Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera said in Tokyo. 'The tariffs have been imposed with no exemption, so the rate has risen by 15% as it stands,' Onodera said. 'We are requesting a prompt correction from the US.' Fresh confusion over the US-Japan trade deal came to the fore on Thursday, as Japan's chief negotiator visits Washington to press his counterparts to follow through on a pledge to cut a separate levy on car imports. The disagreement between the two nations over implementing the universal tariffs suggests more misunderstandings and friction may emerge in the future. Japanese media reports said Washington would not exempt Tokyo from an order stacking new 15% across-the-board tariffs on top of existing levies, hours before they came into effect. Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa had earlier disputed such an understanding. 'There will be no stacking,' Akazawa said on Tuesday before leaving for Washington. 'There's mutual understanding on this matter.' The controversy is the latest in a series over the agreement, which hasn't been laid out in an official joint document, and has been described differently by each side. Trump has said the deal opens up Japan's markets to US cars and other goods and brings $550 billion in investment, while Japan has touted lower tariffs for its own products. Asked about the difference in understanding between the US and Japan Thursday, Japan's chief spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said Akazawa had reconfirmed the agreement on universal tariffs with the US. Akazawa met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday in the US, reiterating the terms of the trade agreement reached last month and calling for its quick implementation. The top priority for Japan is to have the US carry out a promise to cut car tariffs. An executive order released by the US administration last week indicated that the European Union will be given an exemption from tariff stacking, but didn't mention that Japan would also get such treatment. The impact from the stacking may be limited in scope. Before Trump began announcing new tariffs on nations around the world, the US had applied levies averaging 1.4% on Japanese goods, according to estimates by Kenichi Kawasaki, a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. More importantly, Japan is urging US President Donald Trump to lower tariffs on cars to 15% from 27.5%, a combination of an existing 2.5% and additional 25%, as agreed upon in the deal. The reduction wasn't mentioned in the White House fact sheet on the agreement, and it remains unclear when the change will take place. Toyota Motor Corp. cut its annual guidance as it warned of a ¥1.4 trillion ($9.5 billion) hit to its bottom line from US tariffs. The world's biggest carmaker now sees ¥3.2 trillion in operating income for the fiscal year ending in March 2026, it said Thursday. That's down from its initial forecast of ¥3.8 trillion. The damage to Toyota and other automakers bodes ill for Japan's economy as the auto sector employs roughly 8% of the nation's workforce. Major carmakers are also a trend setter for wage growth, which has underpinned the central bank's tapering of its monetary easing with gradual interest rate hikes. Implementing the deal is one of the reasons Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has cited for staying in his role even after his ruling party suffered a historic election loss last month. 'There are all sorts of debates over the tariffs, but we have reached an agreement,' Ishiba said at a press conference in Hiroshima on Wednesday. 'As stated by US government officials involved in previous US-Japan trade negotiations, it is much, much more difficult to implement the deal than agree on it.' --With assistance from Sakura Murakami, Takashi Hirokawa and Nicholas Takahashi. (Recasts with Japan politician remarks, Toyota earnings.) 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Apple to hike investment in US to $600 bn over four years
Apple will invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, taking its total pledge to $600 billion over the next four years, US President Donald Trump said Wednesday. Trump announced the increased commitment at the White House alongside the tech giant's CEO Tim Cook, calling it "the largest investment Apple has made in America." "Apple will massively increase spending on its domestic supply chain," Trump added, highlighting a new production facility for the glass used to make iPhone screens in Kentucky. In February, Apple said it would spend more than $500 billion in the United States and hire 20,000 people, with Trump quickly taking credit for the decision. It builds on plans announced in 2021, when the company founded by Steve Jobs said it would invest $430 billion in the country and add 20,000 jobs. "This year alone, American manufacturers are on track to make 19 billion chips for Apple in 24 factories across 12 different states," Cook said in the Oval Office. Trump, who has pushed US companies to shift manufacturing home by slapping tariffs on trading partners, claimed that his administration was to thank for the investment. "This is a significant step toward the ultimate goal of... ensuring that iPhones sold in the United States of America also are made in America," Trump said. Cook later clarified that, while many iPhone components will be manufactured in the United States, the complete assembly of iPhones will still be conducted overseas. "If you look at the bulk of it, we're doing a lot of the semiconductors here, we're doing the glass here, we're doing the Face ID module here... and we're doing these for products sold elsewhere in the world," Cook said. He gifted Trump a custom-engraved glass piece made by iPhone glassmaker Corning, set in a 24-karat gold base. Cook said the Kentucky-made glass piece was designed by a former Marine Corps corporal now working at Apple. After receiving it, Trump said it was "nice" that "we're doing these things now in the United States, instead of other countries, faraway countries." - 'They're coming home' - Trump has repeatedly said he plans to impose a "100 percent" tariff on imported semiconductors, a major export of Taiwan, South Korea, China and Japan. "We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors," he told reporters at the White House. Taiwanese giant TSMC -- the world's largest contract maker of chips, which counts Nvidia and Apple among its clients -- would be "exempt" from those tariffs as it has factories in the United States, Taipei said Thursday. While he did not offer a timetable for enactment of the new tech levies, on Tuesday, he said fresh tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and chips could be unveiled within the coming week. The United States is "going to be very rich and it's companies like Apple, they're coming home," Trump said. Trump specified further that "Apple will help develop and manufacture semiconductors and semiconductor equipment in Texas, Utah, Arizona and New York." He noted that if tech companies commit to manufacturing their wares in the United States, "there will be no charge." Apple reported a quarterly profit of $23.4 billion in late July, topping forecasts despite facing higher costs due to Trump's sweeping levies. aue/cdl/lb Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
