Apple Takes Fight Against $587 Million EU Antitrust Fine to Court
The European Commission in a decision in April said the iPhone maker's technical and commercial restrictions that prevent app developers from steering users to cheaper deals outside the App Store breached the Digital Markets Act.
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
A look at the countries that received Trump's tariff letters
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has sent letters this week outlining higher tariffs countries will face if they don't make trade deals with the US by Aug. 1. Some mirror the so-called 'reciprocal' rates Trump unveiled against dozens of trading partners in April — the bulk of which were later postponed just hours after taking effect. But many are higher or lower than those previously announced amounts. So far, Trump has warned the European Union and 24 nations, including major trading partners like South Korea and Japan, that steeper tariffs will be imposed starting Aug. 1. Nearly all of these letters took the same general tone with the exception of Brazil, Canada, the EU and Mexico, which included more specifics about Trump's issues with those countries. Nearly every country has faced a minimum 10 percent levy on goods entering the US since April, on top of other levies on specific products like steel and automobiles. And future escalation is still possible. In his letters, which were posted on Truth Social, Trump warned countries that they would face even higher tariffs if they retaliated by increasing their own import taxes. Here's a look at the countries that have gotten tariff letters so far — and where things stand now: Brazil Tariff rate: 50 percent starting Aug. 1. Brazil wasn't threatened with an elevated 'reciprocal' rate in April — but, like other countries, has faced Trump's 10 percent baseline over the last three months. Key exports to the US: Petroleum, iron products, coffee and fruit juice. Response: In a forceful response, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Trump's tariffs would trigger the country's economic reciprocity law — which allows trade, investment and intellectual property agreements to be suspended against countries that harm Brazil's competitiveness. He also noted that the US has had a trade surplus of more than $410 billion with Brazil over the past 15 years. Myanmar Tariff rate: 40 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 44 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Clothing, leather goods and seafood Response: Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government said it will follow up with negotiations. Laos Tariff rate: 40 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 48 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Shoes with textile uppers, wood furniture, electronic components and optical fiber Cambodia Tariff rate: 36 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 49 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Textiles, clothing, shoes and bicycles Response: Cambodia's chief negotiator, Sun Chanthol, said the country successfully got the tariff dropped from the 49 percent Trump announced in April to 36 percent and is ready to hold a new round of negotiations. He appealed to investors, especially factory owners, and the country's nearly 1 million garment workers not to panic about the tariff rate announced Monday. Thailand Tariff rate: 36 percent starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the US: Computer parts, rubber products and gemstones Response: Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said Thailand will continue to push for tariff negotiations with the United States. Thailand on Sunday submitted a new proposal that includes opening the Thai market for more American agricultural and industrial products and increasing imports of energy and aircraft. Bangladesh Tariff rate: 35 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 37 percent announced in April. Key export to the US: Clothing Response: Bangladesh's finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh hopes to negotiate for a better outcome. There are concerns that additional tariffs would make Bangladesh's garment exports less competitive with countries like Vietnam and India. Canada Tariff rate: 35 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 25 percent imposed earlier this year on goods that don't comply with a North American trade agreement covering the US, Canada and Mexico. Some of Canada's top exports to the US are subject to different industry-specific tariffs. Key exports to the US: Oil and petroleum products, cars and trucks Response: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X early Friday that the government will continue to work toward a trade deal by the new Aug. 1 deadline. Serbia Tariff rate: 35 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 37 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Software and IT services; car tires Indonesia Tariff rate: 32 percent starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the US: Palm oil, cocoa butter and semiconductors Algeria Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the US: Petroleum, cement and iron products Bosnia and Herzegovina Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 35 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Weapons and ammunition The European Union Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 20 percent announced in April but less than the 50 percent Trump later threatened. Key exports to the US: Pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. Iraq Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 39 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Crude oil and petroleum products Response: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the tariffs would disrupt essential supply chains 'to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.' She said the EU remains ready to continue working toward an agreement but will take necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including countermeasures if required. Libya Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 31 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Petroleum products Mexico Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 25 percent imposed earlier this year on goods that don't comply with the free trade agreement covering the US, Mexico and Canada. Some of Mexico's top exports to the US are subject to other sector-specific tariffs. Key exports to the US: Cars, motor vehicle parts and accessories, crude oil, delivery trucks, computers, agricultural products South Africa Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the US: Platinum, diamonds, vehicles and auto parts Response: The office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that the tariff rates announced by Trump mischaracterized the trade relationship with the US, but it would 'continue with its diplomatic efforts toward a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States' after having proposed a trade framework on May 20. Sri Lanka Tariff rate: 30 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 44 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Clothing and rubber products Brunei Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Mineral fuels and machinery equipment Moldova Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 31 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Fruit juice, wine, clothing and plastic products Japan Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Autos, auto parts, electronic Response: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the tariff 'extremely regrettable' but said he was determined to continue negotiating. Kazakhstan Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 27 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Oil, uranium, ferroalloys and silver Malaysia Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Electronics and electrical products Response: Malaysia's government said it will pursue talks with the US A cabinet meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. South Korea Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the US: Vehicles, machinery and electronics Response: South Korea's Trade Ministry said early Tuesday that it will accelerate negotiations with the United States to achieve a deal before the 25 percent tax goes into effect. Tunisia Tariff rate: 25 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 28 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Animal and vegetable fats, clothing, fruit and nuts Philippines Tariff rate: 20 percent starting Aug. 1. That's down from 17 percent announced in April. Key exports to the US: Electronics and machinery, clothing and gold
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik
DUBROVNIK: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi was received by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic at the Dubrovnik Forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Saturday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the 'latest developments in free trade agreement negotiations and a proposal to hold a joint Gulf-European conference on energy security,' the General Secretariat said in a report. They also reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Entente cordiale: Macron's visit helps reset UK-France relations
French-UK relations have often been in the political and economic 'deep freeze' since Brexit. Yet the two G7 and G20 nations have reemerged in recent years as regional leaders, including building Europe's relationship with US President Donald Trump's administration. The warmer Franco-UK ties were showcased again this week with President Emmanuel Macron making his first UK state visit, to London and Windsor Castle. The last such state visit by a French president to the UK was by Nicolas Sarkozy almost two decades ago in 2008. While Starmer enjoys a good relationship with Macron, the warming of UK ties with France actually began under his predecessor as prime minister, Rishi Sunak, after the latter agreed to a deal on the so-called Northern Ireland protocol between London and Brussels. This removed a huge post-Brexit barrier in UK relations with the 27 EU member states. Moreover, both Macron and Sunak assumed their nation's highest public office at an early age. Previously, both had served as finance ministers having previously earned their fortunes in the financial services industry. The warming of the so-called UK-French entente cordiale has continued under Starmer, and with King Charles and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, both playing a key role in bilateral relations in recent times, too. Charles made a state visit to France in 2023, and Macron spoke of the late queen's affection for France when he attended her funeral. Queen Elizabeth made many trips to France during her reign. Her first was in 1957, four years after her coronation; her last state visit was in June 2014, when she visited Paris and Normandy. This week, Macron laid flowers at her tomb in Windsor. Specific issues on the agenda this week included migration, and shared foreign policy and security goals, such as Ukraine and the Trump administration's trade tariffs. There is a potential upside in many of these issues from a stronger UK-France relationship. Take the example of security whereby London and Paris are nuclear states with UN Security Council permanent membership, unlike other European partners. The 2010 Lancaster House agreement opened a window to jointly update nuclear arsenals which is, as yet unfulfilled, and there is potential for broader military coordination. Positive as this all is, however, bilateral ties continue to have some challenges in the post-Brexit era. During those long UK-EU divorce negotiations, France took one of the hardest lines on the UK's exit from the Brussels-based club. This reflects the complex, contradictory relationship that Paris has long had with London in the context of EU affairs. The ardently pro-Brussels Macron, who believes Brexit to be an act of political vandalism to the Continent, was frequently accused by UK ministers of holding up progress in exit negotiations after the UK's 2016 referendum. The warmer Franco-UK ties were showcased this week with President Macron making his first UK state visit. Andrew Hammond Macron's Brexit positioning, including his robust stance on precluding future UK access to the single market, was reinforced by broader French plans to pitch Paris as a competing financial center to London which began in earnest under the presidency of Francois Hollande. This saw former Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Hollande's Brexit Special Envoy Christian Noyer, former Bank of France governor, openly promoting Paris with key financial firms. This has continued under Macron as he hailed the decision to relocate the European Banking Agency to Paris from London as 'recognition of France's attractiveness and European commitment.' French officials hope that the EBA's relocation will help bring still more UK banking jobs to the French capital. What France's position on Brexit underlines is how each EU state has distinctive political, economic, and social interests that have informed their stance on the UK's exit. Thus, while the EU-27 were in general remarkably unified in their negotiations with London, the positions of the individual countries varied according to factors such as trade and wider economic ties and patterns of migration with the UK, domestic election pressures, and levels of Euroskeptic support within their populations. The divergent and complex positions of EU states thus range from the UK's fellow non-eurozone member Sweden, whose political and economic interests are broadly aligned with UK positions, to countries that have more complicated positions, including France. While the position of Paris has now moderated, especially in the wake of the Northern Ireland protocol deal, the two nations remain misaligned in some key areas, including fishing rights. Take another example of migration where Sunak and Macron struck an initial agreement to stop people illegally crossing the English Channel. That deal stepped up UK payments to France to increase patrols on its beaches and led to closer police collaboration. However, the numbers making the crossing did not decline. This led Sunak to announce a law to try to make asylum claims inadmissible from those who travel to the UK in small boats. Today, Starmer is under growing pressure to deliver on this agenda, too, including from the new Reform UK party led by top Brexiteer Nigel Farage. This week, Starmer and Macron agreed on a new 'one in, one out' return scheme under which the UK would deport to France undocumented people arriving in small boats in return for accepting an equal number of legitimate asylum-seekers with UK family connections. Only time will tell how successful this will be in halting illegal migrants making so-called small boat crossings of the English Channel. Taken together, this underlines that relations are positive between Starmer and Macron. However, the distinctive post-Brexit interests of Paris and London will continue to drive bilateral tensions from time to time, and this will remain a barrier to a full reset of relations.
