logo
Live updates: Trump's stumbling blocks ahead of tariff deadlines

Live updates: Trump's stumbling blocks ahead of tariff deadlines

In a Truth Social Post, the U.S. president linked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement that his country would recognize Palestinian statehood to the negotiations with Ottawa to stop a 35% tariff from going into effect at 12:01 am ET on Aug. 1.
"Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!!" Trump said.
Trump has made a flurry of deals with America's trading partners as his Aug. 1 deadline approaches, including agreements with South Korea and Pakistan and a trade pact with the European Union. Other countries that are currently paying a baseline tariff of 10% and have not entered into a separate arrangement with the United States may see their fees go up.
Here's where Trump's tariffs and trade negotiations stand:
In a July 30 executive order hiking tariffs on Brazil to 50%, he cited the nation's prosecution of former Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, as a reason for higher import fees on some goods. The order moved an earlier deadline for the tariffs to go into effect to Aug. 6.
He said that Bolsonaro, who's charged with plotting a coup, had been "politically persecuted." The administration also sanctioned the judge in the case in a separate action on the same day.
Trump blasted India for purchasing Russian oil, which has helped to prolong Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine. He said in a social media post that he'd hit India with a 25% tariff.
He also took aim at the country's participation in the BRICS economic group. The club rivals the Group of Seven economic alliance for advanced economies and includes Russia, Brazil, China and South Africa.
In an overnight post on social media, Trump hit India again -- and needled former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
More: Trump's trade talks intensify with tariff deadline fast approaching
"I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World," Trump wrote. "Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!"
Medvedev had previously issued a sharp warning to Trump over his threats to put steep tariffs on purchasers Russian oil.
"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with (Trump's) own country," the former Russian president said.
Trump's administration has continued negotiate with China, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a July 31 interview with CNBC that the United States' believes a deal is close at hand.
"I believe that we have the makings of a deal," Bessent said.
Bessent was expected to update Trump on the status of negotiations later in the day. China faces an Aug. 12 deadline to reach an agreement with the United States.
The tariffs will also face a key legal test this week as the U.S. Court of Appeals hears arguments in a case challenging Trump's authority to tap into emergency powers to impose unilateral tariffs.
"If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE "DEAD," WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS," Trump said on social media ahead of oral arguments.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pardons, positions and power: Trump's donor list raises questions about pay-for-access in his administration
Pardons, positions and power: Trump's donor list raises questions about pay-for-access in his administration

The Independent

time14 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Pardons, positions and power: Trump's donor list raises questions about pay-for-access in his administration

A new financial disclosure from a super PAC supporting President Donald Trump contains the name of the deep-pocket donors who have gained access to the White House. MAGA Inc.'s donor list includes Trump appointees, a mom who managed to get Trump to pardon her son, and cryptocurrency traders, according to a new report by the New York Times. The super PAC managed to pull some major donations for the president; according to the disclosure, MAGA Inc. raised more than $177 million for Trump since January. Some names on the list wound up working for Trump in his administration. Anjani Sinha, a friend of Trump's, was nominated to be the ambassador to Singapore. He donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. He hasn't been approved for the position yet, possibly because he struggled to answer questions about Singapore during his confirmation hearing. Cody Campbell, who is now on Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, donated half a million dollars to the super PAC. Josh Lobel, now sitting on Trump's Intelligence Advisory Board, donated $250,000. Several major donors are tied to the crypto industry, which has by and large found a friendly ally in Trump. According to the Times, Trump's inaugural committee raised an enormous $239 million, with approximately $18 million of that coming from crypto-related donors. According to the filing, donors working in cryptocurrencies accounted for $45 million of the donations reported through MAGA Inc. One donor alone — crypto entrepreneur Eric Schiermeyer — donated $1 million, and was given the chance to have dinner with Trump in Mar-a-Lago in March. The pair didn't just eat and chat — during the dinner, Schiermeyer apparently pitched Trump on an idea for a cryptocurrency called the "USA Token" that would be doled out to Americans for use in transactions. He reportedly wanted a government contract for his company to handle the task, according to the Times ' reporting. He told the paper that he managed to get his idea in front of Trump face-to-face, so he considers it a win. 'I was able to say my piece, and the idea is clearly making the rounds, so mission accomplished from my view.' he told the Times. And then there's Elizabeth Fago, who handed over $1 million to MAGA Inc. and got herself a dinner with Trump. Three weeks later, her son, Paul Walczak, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud, was pardoned. A White House spokesperson who talked to the Times anonymously said that Fago's words, rather than her cash, convinced the president to give her son a break. 'He spoke directly to a mother who pleaded for her son, and when you're talking to a mother pleading for her son, that's a pretty powerful thing,' the source reportedly said. The Independent has requested comment from The White House. According to MAGA Inc., all of the apparent benefits that come along with shoveling money at Trump are just a coincidence. It told the Times that Trump doesn't treat donors any different from normal Americans. 'President Trump values his supporters and donors, but unlike politicians before him, he cannot be bought and works toward the best interest of the country,' it told the paper.

TOBIAS ELLWOOD: Schoolyard threats between Russia and US with apocalyptic high stakes
TOBIAS ELLWOOD: Schoolyard threats between Russia and US with apocalyptic high stakes

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

TOBIAS ELLWOOD: Schoolyard threats between Russia and US with apocalyptic high stakes

This is classic gunboat diplomacy – a demonstration of brute American force to make Russia think twice about making idle threats. President Trump's public announcement that he was redeploying two nuclear submarines is obviously designed to avoid – not incite – all-out war with Moscow. But it's also a potentially dangerous escalation between two nations armed to the teeth with weapons capable of extinguishing life on this planet. And it underscores how sour the US-Russia relationship is becoming. At its heart is the rude awakening that Mr Trump has had to experience since he took office. Remember how, before he re-entered the White House, he promised that he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours? Once re-installed in the White House, he even sided with Putin over Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in pursuit of such a peace deal. But Mr Trump's assumption he could do business with Putin has since come crashing down. Every time the West flinched at Putin's nuclear threats during discussions about arming Ukraine, it emboldened him. Once you're spooked, Putin has you over a barrel. Secondly, what does this say about the backchannels between the West and Moscow? After the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, there were big red phones on both presidents' desks, reminding them 24/7 that in a nuclear conflict there are no winners. But now, over 60 years on, these two nuclear superpowers are arguing on social media. At its heart is the rude awakening that Mr Trump has had to experience since he took office. Once re-installed in the White House, he even sided with Putin over Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) in pursuit of such a peace deal To keep this in perspective, this wasn't a formal White House response to satellite images showing missile launchers on the move in the US's backyard. Nor was it triggered by a declaration of military intent from Putin. It came from Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council – a man known for stirring up mischief on social media. Last week he sought to tweak Mr Trump's tail by warning that each new US ultimatum over the conflict in Ukraine was 'a threat and a step towards war'. Tough words, but hardly reason for the US President publicly to redeploy two nuclear submarines? This episode shines a spotlight on Mr Trump's strategic misstep. After going out on a limb to find a deal on Ukraine, he's been humiliated. And now his response feels like an overreaction to comments that, when analysed, didn't warrant the attention they received. Ultimately, this should serve as a steep learning curve – one that shows Mr Trump just how flawed that Russia-friendly stance really was and how essential backchannels are. It also shows how alarmingly close we may be to sliding toward open conflict. Donald, this isn't statecraft. It's schoolyard brinkmanship with apocalyptic stakes.

Trump's ‘biggest deal ever' is no such thing, but I have faith in Europe
Trump's ‘biggest deal ever' is no such thing, but I have faith in Europe

Times

time3 hours ago

  • Times

Trump's ‘biggest deal ever' is no such thing, but I have faith in Europe

European funds and shares jumped for joy when the American president, Donald Trump, announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever struck by anybody' with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Unfortunately, the euphoria proved short-lived, as markets realised that this new deal means most companies in most countries will collectively pay billions more tax to trade in the world's biggest economy. However, slashing tariffs from 30 per cent to 15 per cent on most exports to America represents a substantial improvement on earlier fears. Closer to home, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, also met Trump at one of his Scottish golf courses to — among other things — tee up American import taxes set at 10 per cent for our cars and zero for aircraft engines, which Starmer hailed as safeguarding our world-class automotive and aerospace industries. Coming down from the clouds of global politics and macroeconomics, this small, long-term DIY investor is glad I ignored many pessimistic predictions elsewhere to keep faith with British and continental funds and shares. This year's stand-out winner so far is a little-known London-listed investment trust, whose share price has soared 60 per cent since March. That's when I paid 53p for Seraphim Space Investment Trust (stock market ticker: SSIT) shares, as reported here at that time. They traded at 85p at close of play on Friday. One stellar attraction of this £239 million space technology fund is its focus on defence companies listed in Europe. These businesses are benefiting from increased demand from continental countries since America warned that everyone must pay more for our own security in future. But Seraphim's chief executive, Mark Boggett, emphasised that extraterrestrial technology can also have more peaceful applications. He told me: 'Satellite-driven weather forecasts are increasingly vital to modern agriculture, providing real-time, precise data that helps farmers make smarter decisions about planting, irrigation, pest control and harvesting. 'By reducing the uncertainty of unpredictable weather, these forecasts improve crop yields, enhance resource efficiency and build resilience. a Seraphim holding, is building its own satellite constellation to derive truly global data, enabling hyperlocal and highly accurate short-term weather forecasts. • A robot surgeon? I'll put my money on that 'These have achieved some impressive savings: 20 per cent less crop loss due to unexpected freezes or hail, and $41 saved per acre in wasted irrigation costs.' Less happily, bad weather in west Africa hit the cocoa harvest, pushing up the price of this commodity and hurting profit margins at the Swiss chocolate-maker Barry Callebaut (BARN). You might never have heard of this wholesaler but you have probably eaten its products, which are sold by better-known retailers such as the Cadbury-owner, Mondelez (MDLZ), and the KitKat-maker, Nestlé (NESN). The world's biggest chocolate-maker provides another example of how it can pay to be sceptical about talk of trade wars and instead believe that commercial relations will continue, despite shocks along the way. Barry Callebaut shares I bought for 766 Swiss francs in April now cost SwFr1,008. This is an increase of 31 per cent in little more than three months, which tastes sweet enough to me. On a sour note, Adidas (ADS), the German sports goods group, said Trump's tariffs would add €200 million to its costs because it makes 30 per cent of its trainers in Vietnam. That tripped up the share price, which plunged 18 per cent last week, causing this stock to fall out of my top ten. Ouch! • FTSE 100 slides as markets retreat on new Trump tariffs Higher taxes are bad for business, whatever opponents of free trade may say, because they transfer wealth from consumers and shareholders to governments. This explains why shares in the Dutch brewer Heineken (HEIO) slipped 7 per cent on Monday, despite it reporting higher than expected profits. Dolf van den Brink, the chief executive of the business, whose brands also include Amstel and Foster's, pointed out that the beer it exports from Mexico to America continues to face 30 per cent tariffs. He said Heineken is considering shifting more production to America, adding: 'We look at all options from continuing with our current set-up, a more hybrid version, or otherwise.' Amid all that anxiety and uncertainty, Heineken looks a bit hungover. But shares I bought for €45 in January 2014 were trading at €60 on Friday, yielding 3.2 per cent dividend income, so I intend to retain a glass half-full view of this global business. Similarly, easily my biggest European shareholding is the Paris-listed Franco-Italian firm EssilorLuxottica (EL), which makes a third of all the optical lenses on this planet. Its best-known retail brands are the American sunglasses makers Oakley and Ray-Ban, which now offer artificial intelligence-enhanced eyewear via a joint venture with the Facebook and Instagram owner, Meta Platforms (META). Sales of more than two million smart glasses since October 2023 suggest EssilorLuxottica is succeeding where earlier attempts at wearable technology failed. Google Glass, internet-enabled specs from the technology giant Alphabet (GOOGL), were largely withdrawn a decade ago and discontinued completely in 2023. • A 20% return in 4 months? I'm riding the investment trust wave But Oakley and Ray-Ban models, such as the classic Wayfarers, spare customers the embarrassment of feeling conspicuous and sales are rising strongly. While I have no wish to see share prices flashed up before my wondering eyes, this baby boomer likes the sound of discreet hearing aids, hidden away in stylish shades or spectacles. Either way, EssilorLuxottica shares I bought for €96 in March 2019 were coming through loud and clear at €259 on Friday and are now my fourth-most valuable holding. It all goes to show why it can pay to look through short-term fears and instead invest in long-term hopes that international trade will eventually return to something nearer business as usual. Even world-leading European healthcare companies cannot guarantee that shareholders will always enjoy healthy returns. Novo Nordisk (NOVO), the Danish pharmaceutical firm that was first to obtain authorisation for weight-loss wonder drugs, suffered a 25 per cent share price shrinkage last week. A profits warning wiped €60 billion off what had been Europe's most valuable company. Sad to say, there may be worse to come as Novo struggles with American tariffs, copycat drugs and the risk that it could become collateral damage in Trump's improbable bid to take over Greenland, which is a protectorate of Denmark. Yes, really. Mr Market is a manic depressive at the best of times, lurching from excessive exuberance to the depths of despair, and the drugs don't help. Despite the widespread popularity of Ozempic and Wegovy flab jabs, Novo has lost 66 per cent of its stock market value over the past year. What a downer! Fortunately, I first invested more than four years ago, when few Brits had heard of this business, paying 254 Danish krone per share in June 2021, allowing for a subsequent stock split. Then I sold a five-figure parcel at DK926 last August, as also reported here at those times. They fetched just DK309 on Friday. This raises the important point that it is never too soon to take a profit. If nothing else, we need to turn paper gains into real ones to compensate for losses elsewhere. Another Danish pharma firm, Bavarian Nordic Research Institute (BAVA), where I paid DK258 last August, had slumped to DK123 before it recommended a takeover bid at DK233 on Monday. We can't win them all. Full disclosure: Ian Cowie's shareholdings

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store