Morning News Bulletin 13 July 2025
Europe reacts to newly-announced tariffs by the United States
Families of the Air India crash victims call for justice as a preliminary investigation is handed down
Iga Swiatek wins the women's final at Wimbledon, in an astounding show on centre court From August, European and Mexican imports to the United States will be subject to a 30 per cent tariff. The news has come via letters from US President Donald Trump, posted to the Truth social and each addressed to Mexican and EU leaders. European Union president Ursula Von der Leyen has returned her own statement - expressing concern with the move and its impact on global trade. She writes that the EU is open to negotiate in coming weeks, while raising the threat import penalties could be laid on American goods coming into Europe. "We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. Meanwhile, we continue to deepen our global partnerships, firmly anchored in the principles of rules-based international trade."
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Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in the wake of a contentious plan to combat antisemitism. Rallies have been held across the country in response to the report by Australia's Special Envoy to combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, which suggests axing support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech. Criticism of the report largely focuses on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, some arguing that it will lead to heavy-handed silencing of free speech and a conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel and Zionism. Ben Saul – chair of international law at the University of Sydney, and U-N special rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism – has told SBS News the definition is inappropriate, vague and overbroad. "The real concern lies with some of the examples given under the IHRA definition, which really conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. So I think this approach is counterproductive because when the definition is so divisive, it's not going to be a unifying force to build consensus in the community on what is antisemitism." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country is ready to promote a comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia through a more proactive approach. He says that includes working with Australia to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges, and properly managing their differences. Wang has made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in the Malaysian capital, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Minister Wong says Australia is also committed to developing a positive and pragmatic relationship. The families of the Air India crash victims are calling for justice, as a preliminary investigation into the events reveals confusion in the cockpit shortly before impact. A 15-page report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, has revealed both pilots questioning a fuel switch setting that was turned off, starving the engines shortly after take-off. The preliminary report does not say how the switch could have flipped to the cut-off position on the June 12 London-bound flight from the Indian city of Ahmedabad. But father of plane crash victim, Naresh Maheswari, says those responsible must be held accountable. "We want the investigation to be neutral and the perpetrators to be punished. We have lost what we were destined to lose, but we want no one else to die due to such carelessness." Iga Swiatek has become the first Polish player to win a Wimbledon singles title, thrashing American Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes. It's the first time a Wimbledon final has been won 6-0 6-0 in 114 years, the win earning the Polish 24 year old her sixth grand slam title. Swiatek dropped only two games in her semi-final against Belinda Bencic, and was even more ruthless in the final, clinching victory with a backhand winner. Having never gone beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals before this year, despite winning four French Open crowns, she says the result has come as a shock. "Honestly, I didn't even dream (of winning Wimbledon) because for me it was just way too far... I feel like I'm already an experienced player after winning the Slams before but I never really expected this one."
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US President Donald Trump has targeted Mexico and the European Union with steep 30 per cent tariffs, dramatically raising the stakes in already tense negotiations with two of the largest US trading partners. Both sets of duties would take effect August 1, Mr Trump said in formal letters posted to his Truth Social platform. The president cited Mexico's role in illicit drugs flowing into the United States and a trade imbalance with the EU as meriting the tariff threat. Both partners swiftly slammed the new duties, with the EU warning they could disrupt supply chains — but insisting it would continue talks seeking an agreement with the US — while Mexico branded them an 'unfair deal'. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed 'very strong disapproval' of the step and called on the bloc to 'resolutely defend European interests'. Since returning to the presidency in January, Mr Trump has unleashed sweeping stop-start tariffs on allies and competitors alike, roiling financial markets and raising fears of a global economic downturn. But his administration is coming under pressure to secure deals with trading partners after promising a flurry of agreements. So far, US officials have only unveiled two pacts, with Britain and Vietnam, alongside temporarily lower tit-for-tat duties with China. The fresh duties for Mexico announced by Mr Trump would be higher than the 25 per cent levy he imposed on Mexican goods earlier this year, although products entering the United States under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempted. 'Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,' Mr Trump said in his letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. 'Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Mexico a Tariff of 30% on Mexican products sent into the United States.' Mexico was informed of the new duties during talks in the United States on Friday. 'We mentioned at the table that it was an unfair deal and that we did not agree,' the Mexican economy and foreign ministries said in a joint statement. Mexico is already in negotiations seeking an alternative to tariffs that would protect businesses and jobs on both sides of the border, the ministries added, saying they hope to avoid the duties. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whom Mr Trump often refers to favourably, expressed confidence Saturday that a deal would be reached. 'We are going to reach an agreement with the US government,' Ms Sheinbaum said during a public event hours after Mr Trump's social media post announcing the elevated tariffs. She said the talks in Washington would allow Mexico to be in a 'better position' by August 1. Mexico is one of the countries most vulnerable to the US leader's tariffs, with 80 per cent of its exports destined for its northern neighbour, which is also its largest trading partner. Since returning to the White House in January, Mr Trump has reproached Mexico for not doing what he says is enough to prevent illegal migration and drug trafficking across the border, and has wielded tariffs as retaliation. The EU tariff is also markedly steeper than the 20 per cent levy Mr Trump unveiled in April, as negotiations with the bloc continue. 'Imposing 30 per cent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic,' European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, in reply to Mr Trump's letter to her. 'We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required,' she added. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office has issued a response to Mr Trump's tariffs, saying: 'We trust in the goodwill of all players in the field in order to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given that — particularly in the current scenario — it would make no sense to trigger a trade clash between the two sides of the Atlantic'. 'It is now crucial to remain focused on the negotiations, avoiding polarisations that would make reaching an agreement more complex,' Ms Meloni's office said. The Netherlands' caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the 30 per cent tariffs were 'concerning and not the way forward'. 'The European Commission can count on our full support. As the EU we must remain united and resolute in pursuing an outcome with the United States that is mutually beneficial,' he added. Meanwhile Mr Macron backed efforts to reach an agreement that 'reflects the respect that trade partners such as the European Union and the United States owe each other.' But he urged the bloc to 'step up the preparation of credible countermeasures' to implement if the two sides fail to reach an agreement in time. The EU, alongside dozens of other economies, had been set to see its US tariff level increase from a baseline of 10 per cent on Wednesday, but Mr Trump pushed back the deadline to August 1. Mexico and Canada come under a separate tariff regime. Since the start of the week, Mr Trump has sent out letters to more than 20 countries with updated tariffs for each, including a 35 per cent levy for Canada. A US official told AFP on Saturday that the USMCA exemption was expected to remain for both Mexico and Canada, although the president has yet to make final decisions. Brussels said on Friday it was ready to strike a deal with Washington to prevent the return of 20 per cent levies. The EU has prepared retaliatory duties on US goods worth around 21 billion euros after Trump also slapped separate tariffs on steel and aluminium imports earlier this year, and they are suspended until July 14. European officials have not made any move to extend the suspension but could do it quickly if needed. 'Despite all the movement toward a deal, this threat shows the EU is in the same camp of uncertainty as almost every other country in the world,' said Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council. He told AFP that the path forward now depends on how the EU responds, calling it 'one of the most precarious moments of the trade war so far.'
