Starmer ‘accepts invite' to visit Trump during expected trip to Scotland
Details, including a specific date, are still being finalised, the source familiar with the plans, who was not authorised to speak publicly, told Reuters on Thursday.
Scottish police said on Wednesday that they were preparing for a possible visit by Mr Trump to Scotland later this month, which would mark his first visit to Britain since the US election last year.
The White House had no immediate comment on the report. The British embassy declined to comment.
Mr Trump and Sir Keir have developed a warm relationship in recent months, and last month signed a framework trade deal on the sidelines of a G7 meeting that formally lowered some US tariffs on imports from Britain.
The deal came after the British prime minister visited the White House in February for a friendly encounter that included an invitation from King Charles for a future state visit, which Mr Trump accepted.
UK media this week reported that Mr Trump would visit his golf clubs in Scotland later this month, though a final date is yet to be confirmed. Sky News said he would visit his Turnberry and Aberdeenshire golf courses.
The cost of policing a potential visit by the US president will be "considerable", a senior Police Scotland officer said as the force looks to secure extra funding. The visit will require substantial policing resources and likely units to be called in from elsewhere in the UK.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs told the PA news agency on Thursday that Police Scotland will be discussing costs with the Scottish and UK Governments.
The last time Mr Trump came to Scotland – in between his two terms as US president – he was met with substantial protests.
Mr Speirs said he was confident the force would be able to deal with any protests, urging those who would want to demonstrate to "do it in a fair and reasonable way and within the realms of the law".
A Scottish government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has been working collaboratively with the UK Government to support Police Scotland's planning for a potential visit to Scotland by the President of the United States.'
Additonal reporting by Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump readies new hands-off AI 'action plan' that offers a split with Biden
President Trump is expected to release an AI "action plan" on Wednesday that reportedly outlines how the US can win in the global race to develop artificial intelligence by fostering a hands-off regulatory approach to the technology. Media reports suggest the document will likely mark a split from Biden administration policies, which favored restrictions against exports of AI chips and steps to ensure AI was not used to spread misinformation. The White House, according to a Reuters report that cited a summary of the draft action plan, will likely discuss how to make it easier to export AI technology abroad and reduce barriers to its development in the US. That may include everything from faster permitting for building AI data centers to more use of AI at the Pentagon to identifying which federal regulations slow down AI and even withholding federal funding from states with tough AI laws already in place. Trump is expected to discuss the topic during a speech at a Wednesday event titled "Winning the AI Race," organized by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and his co-hosts on the "All-In" podcast. The strategy announcement from the White House is the outcome of an order Trump signed in his first week that asked for an AI action plan to "sustain and enhance America's global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security." Some executive orders are also expected this week, according to Axios and the Wall Street Journal, that would promote the exports of chips and AI technology to countries considered friendly to the US. There may be an order that targets "woke AI," according to The Wall Street Journal. It would target AI developers that the administration believes create liberally biased algorithms and block them from serving as federal contractors. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment. Two constitutional law scholars who talked with Yahoo Finance said it is doubtful the "woke AI" measure will withstand legal scrutiny. "If you sanction software that is liberal, but not software that is conservative, the challenge will be that the executive order is content-based discrimination," said UC San Francisco School of Law professor Rory Little. "I don't even know how you tell if software is liberal or conservative," Little said, adding that the First Amendment protects intellectual property as forms of speech that the government may not single out for punishment. But the order's constitutional viability may not matter in the short term for companies like Amazon (AMZN), Anthropic ( Google (GOOG), OpenAI ( Microsoft (MSFT), and Perplexity ( all of which are vying to supply AI systems to the government. Even if the order is met with legal challenges, AI developers might not have time to wait out a court solution. "A lot of people are trying to make deals with the Trump administration, so they view these executive orders not as law, but as the opening bid in a negotiation," Little said. "If you're an AI company, like Google, you're probably going to do your best to negotiate something that permits whatever you want to do to go forward," he added. "And you could care less what atmospheric politics might look like, so long as you're making money on your software." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Tuesday at a Federal Reserve banking conference in Washington, D.C., that his company now has lots of government work. "We are increasingly working with the government to roll out our services to lots of government employees," Altman said. If such an AI order is issued and then challenged, a court fight is likely to resemble those in multiple ongoing lawsuits against two other DEI-focused executive orders issued by Trump during his first days back in office. Those earlier orders directed all federal contractors to certify that they do not operate DEI programs in violation of anti-discrimination laws. They also shuttered government offices and employment positions focused on DEI. David Coale, a partner with the law firm Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann, said the executive orders get into an area called the "unconstitutional conditions" doctrine, which prohibits the government from conditioning a grant on the exercise of constitutional rights. "This [type of] proposal goes too far," Coale said, explaining that tying the eligibility to an AI's liberal bias presents "serious First Amendment issues." Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed. 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
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump strikes trade agreement with Japan, calls it 'largest deal in history'
President Trump said on Tuesday during an official meeting at the White House with members of Congress, that the US and Japan had reached a trade deal. 'I just signed the largest deal in history with Japan," Trump said during the meeting. The president said the agreement includes a 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said the US had also struck a trade deal with the Philippines, which will see the country's imports face a 19% tariff into the US. Trump said US exports will face no import tax in the Philippines as part of the deal. The White House unveiled new details of a confirmed trade agreement with Indonesia too. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports that a 19% tariff will apply to Indonesian goods, as well as a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. Officials said no tax would apply to "99%" of US imports. The deal developments come as prospects for larger pacts with India and the European Union have soured. An interim deal between the US and India before an Aug. 1 deadline looks increasingly unlikely, according to Reuters. The EU still wants a trade deal with the US but is preparing countermeasures as Trump's hardline stance makes a no-deal outcome more likely, The Wall Street Journal reported. 'If they want war, they will get war,' a German official told the WSJ. Trump is reportedly pushing for higher blanket tariffs on imports from the EU, throwing a wrench in negotiations ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for sweeping duties to take effect. He has threatened 30% tariffs on all imports. Last week, Trump said he would soon send letters to over 150 smaller US trade partners, setting blanket tariff rates for that large group. Trump has already sent letters to over 20 trade partners outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries. Earlier in July, Trump announced a 35% tariff on Canadian goods and followed that up with promises of 30% duties on Mexico and the EU. The letters have at times upended months of careful negotiations, with Trump saying he is both open to reaching different deals but also touting his letters as "the deals" themselves. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said he expected many deals to take shape over the next several days. 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: 'I've just signed the largest trade deal in history with Japan' President Trump announced overnight that his team and Japan have finally reached a trade deal, which includesa 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Trump, who made the announcement during a White House reception with members of Congress and later on Truth Social, called it the "largest trade deal in history" in reference to Japan. The deal wasn't easy to achieve. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had hoped to speak with Trump at the G-7 meeting back in June, but earlier this month Trump said Japan was "spoiled" and doubted a deal would happen. The two sides have come a long way, with Ishiba remaining stoic yet firm to maintain his country's trust while trying to reach an agreement with the US. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Japanese auto stocks surge as US announces lower-than-expected tariffs Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Trump announces new details on trade pact with Indonesia President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' Trump says US has reached trade deal with the Philippines President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of tariffs Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Coca-Cola CFO on tariffs: 'We think we can manage' Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Bessent says he will meet Chinese officials, discuss tariff deadline extension US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. RTX cuts 2025 profit forecast as tariff costs weigh US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. GM's core profit slides in second quarter as Trump's tariffs bite Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canadian boycott of US spirits hurts broader alcohol sales: Trade group American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. AstraZeneca announces $50B US manufacturing investment, matching its big pharma peers Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here Trump targeting trade loopholes risks 70% of China exports to US China's growth could be eroded due to President Trump's efforts to target the country via its trading partners across global supply chains, according to Bloomberg Economics. China is using other countries like Vietnam and Mexico more to make products for the US, a trend that accelerated after Trump's first trade war. China's share of total value- added manufacturing of goods destined for the US via Vietnam and Mexico surged 22% in 2023 from 14% in 2017. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. India-US interim trade deal prospects dim ahead of tariff deadline: Sources Hopes for a US-India trade deal before the August 1 deadline are fading, with talks stuck over cuts to farm and dairy tariffs, according to sources. Reuters reports: Read more here. Orange juice importer says Trump's Brazil tariffs will raise US prices Orange juice prices join the list of products that could see price increases as a result of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Bloomberg reports: A US orange juice distributor is suing over President Donald Trump's move to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil starting next month. Johanna Foods Inc. is arguing that Trump's reasons for the levy increase — including support for Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro — don't present 'unusual and extraordinary' threats that give him emergency authority to circumvent Congress' taxing power. The New Jersey-based company estimates that the Brazil tariffs would increase its costs for not-from-concentrate orange juice from Brazil by $68 million over the next 12 months and raise retail costs for consumers between 20-25%. According to the complaint, Brazil supplies more than half of all orange juice sold in the US. Read more here. Brazil acknowledges possibility of no US trade deal by August 1 President Trump's August 1 tariff deadline is steadily approaching, and trading partners are preparing for multiple outcomes. Brazil, for example, is increasingly open to the possibility that a trade deal won't be reached in time. Reuters reported: Read more here. US steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs touts 'positive impact' of tariffs Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) CEO Lourenco Goncalves praised President Trump's protectionist policies on Monday, stating that the 25%-50% tariffs on foreign steel imports have had a "positive impact" on the US steel and automotive industries. The Section 232 steel tariffs "have played a significant role in supporting the domestic steel industry," Goncalves said during the company's earnings call. 'So far, there's no indication that the Section 232 tariffs will be used as a bargaining chip by the Trump administration as leverage in trade deals with other countries," Goncalves added. "We appreciate that and fully expect that the administration will keep in place and enforce these Section 232 tariffs." Goncalves said the only place where it's having a problem is with Stelco, the Canadian steel company it acquired in November 2024. The CEO urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to implement similar protectionist policies, saying that other efforts to curb unfair trade practices were "insufficient." Cleveland-Cliffs stock soared 11% in early trading Monday after the company reported record steel shipments of 4.3 million net tons for the three months ended June 30. Read more about how Cleveland-Cliffs' stock is trading. Bessent: Trump more concerned about quality of deals than making deals by Aug. 1 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said the US wouldn't rush to make trade deals ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for many of President Trump's sweeping tariffs to kick in. "We're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals," Bessent told CNBC in an interview. More from Reuters: Read more here. More signs that Europe is hardening its stance We detailed earlier (keep scrolling) how the EU is readying its plans for retaliation in case a trade deal with the US fails. The Wall Street Journal has a big report out today with some more details of those plans — and details on how delicate negotiations are on even thinner ice, as President Trump keeps wanting more. The report said the EU got a "surprise" when US officials said Trump would want a higher baseline tariff in any deal, likely north of 15%, after months of talks around a 10% baseline. That apparently prompted Germany, Europe's largest economy, to swing to more of an alignment with France, which has been pushing a harder line throughout the negotiations. 'All options are on the table,' a German official said. The official said there was still time to negotiate a deal but added, 'If they want war, they will get war.' More from the report: Read more here. Stellantis warns of $2.7B loss as tariffs bite Big Three automaker Stellantis (STLA) warned on Monday that it expects a 2.3 billion euro ($2.7 billion) net loss for the first half of 2025, hit by restructuring costs, ebbing sales, and an initial hit from US tariffs. The Chrysler maker's US-listed shares slipped nearly 2% in premarket, mirroring a drop in its stock in Milan. Reuters reports: Read more here. EU to prepare its retaliation plan as US hardens its stance on trade talks EU negotiators are scrambling to make a trade agreement with the US as the Aug. 1 tariff deadline closes in. But they are also stepping up preparations to strike back if the two sides fail to secure a deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. President Trump announced overnight that his team and Japan have finally reached a trade deal, which includesa 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Trump, who made the announcement during a White House reception with members of Congress and later on Truth Social, called it the "largest trade deal in history" in reference to Japan. The deal wasn't easy to achieve. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had hoped to speak with Trump at the G-7 meeting back in June, but earlier this month Trump said Japan was "spoiled" and doubted a deal would happen. The two sides have come a long way, with Ishiba remaining stoic yet firm to maintain his country's trust while trying to reach an agreement with the US. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Japanese auto stocks surge as US announces lower-than-expected tariffs Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Trump announces new details on trade pact with Indonesia President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' Trump says US has reached trade deal with the Philippines President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of tariffs Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Coca-Cola CFO on tariffs: 'We think we can manage' Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Bessent says he will meet Chinese officials, discuss tariff deadline extension US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. RTX cuts 2025 profit forecast as tariff costs weigh US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. GM's core profit slides in second quarter as Trump's tariffs bite Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canadian boycott of US spirits hurts broader alcohol sales: Trade group American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. AstraZeneca announces $50B US manufacturing investment, matching its big pharma peers Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here Trump targeting trade loopholes risks 70% of China exports to US China's growth could be eroded due to President Trump's efforts to target the country via its trading partners across global supply chains, according to Bloomberg Economics. China is using other countries like Vietnam and Mexico more to make products for the US, a trend that accelerated after Trump's first trade war. China's share of total value- added manufacturing of goods destined for the US via Vietnam and Mexico surged 22% in 2023 from 14% in 2017. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. China's growth could be eroded due to President Trump's efforts to target the country via its trading partners across global supply chains, according to Bloomberg Economics. China is using other countries like Vietnam and Mexico more to make products for the US, a trend that accelerated after Trump's first trade war. China's share of total value- added manufacturing of goods destined for the US via Vietnam and Mexico surged 22% in 2023 from 14% in 2017. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. India-US interim trade deal prospects dim ahead of tariff deadline: Sources Hopes for a US-India trade deal before the August 1 deadline are fading, with talks stuck over cuts to farm and dairy tariffs, according to sources. Reuters reports: Read more here. Hopes for a US-India trade deal before the August 1 deadline are fading, with talks stuck over cuts to farm and dairy tariffs, according to sources. Reuters reports: Read more here. Orange juice importer says Trump's Brazil tariffs will raise US prices Orange juice prices join the list of products that could see price increases as a result of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Bloomberg reports: A US orange juice distributor is suing over President Donald Trump's move to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil starting next month. Johanna Foods Inc. is arguing that Trump's reasons for the levy increase — including support for Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro — don't present 'unusual and extraordinary' threats that give him emergency authority to circumvent Congress' taxing power. The New Jersey-based company estimates that the Brazil tariffs would increase its costs for not-from-concentrate orange juice from Brazil by $68 million over the next 12 months and raise retail costs for consumers between 20-25%. According to the complaint, Brazil supplies more than half of all orange juice sold in the US. Read more here. Orange juice prices join the list of products that could see price increases as a result of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Bloomberg reports: A US orange juice distributor is suing over President Donald Trump's move to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil starting next month. Johanna Foods Inc. is arguing that Trump's reasons for the levy increase — including support for Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro — don't present 'unusual and extraordinary' threats that give him emergency authority to circumvent Congress' taxing power. The New Jersey-based company estimates that the Brazil tariffs would increase its costs for not-from-concentrate orange juice from Brazil by $68 million over the next 12 months and raise retail costs for consumers between 20-25%. According to the complaint, Brazil supplies more than half of all orange juice sold in the US. Read more here. Brazil acknowledges possibility of no US trade deal by August 1 President Trump's August 1 tariff deadline is steadily approaching, and trading partners are preparing for multiple outcomes. Brazil, for example, is increasingly open to the possibility that a trade deal won't be reached in time. Reuters reported: Read more here. President Trump's August 1 tariff deadline is steadily approaching, and trading partners are preparing for multiple outcomes. Brazil, for example, is increasingly open to the possibility that a trade deal won't be reached in time. Reuters reported: Read more here. US steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs touts 'positive impact' of tariffs Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) CEO Lourenco Goncalves praised President Trump's protectionist policies on Monday, stating that the 25%-50% tariffs on foreign steel imports have had a "positive impact" on the US steel and automotive industries. The Section 232 steel tariffs "have played a significant role in supporting the domestic steel industry," Goncalves said during the company's earnings call. 'So far, there's no indication that the Section 232 tariffs will be used as a bargaining chip by the Trump administration as leverage in trade deals with other countries," Goncalves added. "We appreciate that and fully expect that the administration will keep in place and enforce these Section 232 tariffs." Goncalves said the only place where it's having a problem is with Stelco, the Canadian steel company it acquired in November 2024. The CEO urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to implement similar protectionist policies, saying that other efforts to curb unfair trade practices were "insufficient." Cleveland-Cliffs stock soared 11% in early trading Monday after the company reported record steel shipments of 4.3 million net tons for the three months ended June 30. Read more about how Cleveland-Cliffs' stock is trading. Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) CEO Lourenco Goncalves praised President Trump's protectionist policies on Monday, stating that the 25%-50% tariffs on foreign steel imports have had a "positive impact" on the US steel and automotive industries. The Section 232 steel tariffs "have played a significant role in supporting the domestic steel industry," Goncalves said during the company's earnings call. 'So far, there's no indication that the Section 232 tariffs will be used as a bargaining chip by the Trump administration as leverage in trade deals with other countries," Goncalves added. "We appreciate that and fully expect that the administration will keep in place and enforce these Section 232 tariffs." Goncalves said the only place where it's having a problem is with Stelco, the Canadian steel company it acquired in November 2024. The CEO urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to implement similar protectionist policies, saying that other efforts to curb unfair trade practices were "insufficient." Cleveland-Cliffs stock soared 11% in early trading Monday after the company reported record steel shipments of 4.3 million net tons for the three months ended June 30. Read more about how Cleveland-Cliffs' stock is trading. Bessent: Trump more concerned about quality of deals than making deals by Aug. 1 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said the US wouldn't rush to make trade deals ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for many of President Trump's sweeping tariffs to kick in. "We're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals," Bessent told CNBC in an interview. More from Reuters: Read more here. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said the US wouldn't rush to make trade deals ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for many of President Trump's sweeping tariffs to kick in. "We're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals," Bessent told CNBC in an interview. More from Reuters: Read more here. More signs that Europe is hardening its stance We detailed earlier (keep scrolling) how the EU is readying its plans for retaliation in case a trade deal with the US fails. The Wall Street Journal has a big report out today with some more details of those plans — and details on how delicate negotiations are on even thinner ice, as President Trump keeps wanting more. The report said the EU got a "surprise" when US officials said Trump would want a higher baseline tariff in any deal, likely north of 15%, after months of talks around a 10% baseline. That apparently prompted Germany, Europe's largest economy, to swing to more of an alignment with France, which has been pushing a harder line throughout the negotiations. 'All options are on the table,' a German official said. The official said there was still time to negotiate a deal but added, 'If they want war, they will get war.' More from the report: Read more here. We detailed earlier (keep scrolling) how the EU is readying its plans for retaliation in case a trade deal with the US fails. The Wall Street Journal has a big report out today with some more details of those plans — and details on how delicate negotiations are on even thinner ice, as President Trump keeps wanting more. The report said the EU got a "surprise" when US officials said Trump would want a higher baseline tariff in any deal, likely north of 15%, after months of talks around a 10% baseline. That apparently prompted Germany, Europe's largest economy, to swing to more of an alignment with France, which has been pushing a harder line throughout the negotiations. 'All options are on the table,' a German official said. The official said there was still time to negotiate a deal but added, 'If they want war, they will get war.' More from the report: Read more here. Stellantis warns of $2.7B loss as tariffs bite Big Three automaker Stellantis (STLA) warned on Monday that it expects a 2.3 billion euro ($2.7 billion) net loss for the first half of 2025, hit by restructuring costs, ebbing sales, and an initial hit from US tariffs. The Chrysler maker's US-listed shares slipped nearly 2% in premarket, mirroring a drop in its stock in Milan. Reuters reports: Read more here. Big Three automaker Stellantis (STLA) warned on Monday that it expects a 2.3 billion euro ($2.7 billion) net loss for the first half of 2025, hit by restructuring costs, ebbing sales, and an initial hit from US tariffs. The Chrysler maker's US-listed shares slipped nearly 2% in premarket, mirroring a drop in its stock in Milan. Reuters reports: Read more here. EU to prepare its retaliation plan as US hardens its stance on trade talks EU negotiators are scrambling to make a trade agreement with the US as the Aug. 1 tariff deadline closes in. But they are also stepping up preparations to strike back if the two sides fail to secure a deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. EU negotiators are scrambling to make a trade agreement with the US as the Aug. 1 tariff deadline closes in. But they are also stepping up preparations to strike back if the two sides fail to secure a deal. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Recall stalled? Next step in effort to remove Kingsville commissioners might be court
Residents petitioned the Kingsville City Commission calling for the removal of three commissioners. But last week, the commission declined to call for a recall election. Now, the matter could head to the courts to decide. Exactly how the issue will play out, including whether the commissioners will remain in office and whether voters will have their say in a recall election, isn't yet clear. Texas law offers little guidance on the recall of local government officials, and the Kingsville city charter leaves questions unanswered. The dispute in Kingsville officially began in early May, when two individuals, Michelle Lerma and Selina Tijerina, filed affidavits with the city demanding the removal of Commissioners Norma Nelda Alvarez, Hector Hinojosa and Leo Alarcon, alleging unprofessional conduct. Alvarez is a retired teacher who has served as an elected official at the city and county levels in various capacities since 1994. Hinojosa is a former city of Kingsville accountant, finance director and city manager. Alarcon is a former county clerk and city director of tourism. Alvarez, Hinojosa and Alarcon could not be reached for comment. What is a recall? According to the Kingsville city charter, any member of the City Commission can be removed from office by voters. The only restriction is that a recall petition can't be filed within certain periods after the official's election or before the end of their term. The petition must state the grounds for removal, with examples like incompetency, misconduct or malfeasance, and noncompliance with the provisions outlined in the charter. According to a 2023 report from the University of Houston Election Lab, 89% of Texas home rule cities studied had language in their charters that allow for the recall of public officials. Most do not indicate the specific grounds for a recall, though some do ask petitioners for some sort of justification. Home rule cities are cities that can set policies within their jurisdiction as long as their charter provisions or ordinances do not violate state or federal law. The University of Houston Election Lab is a team of undergraduate students led by professor Brandon Rottinghaus. For the recall report, students looked at elections in Texas from 2004 to 2022. 'There are no typical recall elections,' Rottinghaus said. 'Each has their own chaotic backstory and application. ... Cities have a lot of flexibility in terms of how they handle recalls.' According to the Kingsville city charter, if a recall election is called, the ballot should ask voters whether the person should be removed from office. This is a yes or no question. The current recall effort focuses on three commissioners. The recall question on the ballot would be asked for each commissioner individually. If a majority of votes are against the recall of any individual, that person would continue in office for the remainder of their term. But, if a majority of votes are cast in favor of the recall, that individual would be removed from office. What's happening in Kingsville? Tijerina said that the path that led to her pursuing a recall began more than a year ago. She didn't like the way things were going in Kingsville, including the departure of the last city manager and the still-pending replacement process. The Kingsville native also had concerns about the handling of city tourism events. Watching commission meetings from 2024, she felt that commissioners were 'bickering like children.' In her affidavit, Tijerina alleged unprofessional conduct and behavior, neglect of fiscal responsibilities, targeting personnel and neglect of city government policies and procedures. By June 6, the petition had received 292 certified signatures. Though only a small amount compared to the total number of registered voters in Kingsville, the petition narrowly exceeded the city charter requirement. In Kingsville, the number of signatures needed for a successful petition must be at least 20% of the number of qualified voters who voted in the most recent city election. The last city election in Kingsville was held on May 4, 2024, with low voter turnout. Only 1,412 votes were cast. This means that the recall petition needed more than 282 certified signatures from qualified voters to succeed. When the petition was received by the city, none of the targeted commissioners chose to resign. In this situation, it is 'the duty of the City Commission to order an election and fix a date for holding such recall election,' according to the city charter. But on July 14, Alvarez, Hinojosa and Alarcon voted against an ordinance that would have called a special election for the recall. Mayor Sam Fugate and Commissioner Edna Lopez, the only two officials not mentioned in the recall petition, voted for the election based on the requirements of the city charter but were outnumbered. During the July 14 meeting, several attendees spoke during public comment in opposition to the recall and in support of the commissioners. Nothing in the meeting documents or mentioned during the meeting indicates that there were any problems with the validity of the petition. A draft ordinance included in July 14 documents states that a sufficient number of signatures was certified. "They complied with our charter,' Fugate said, also saying that it might be worth revising the city charter. What happens next? Though it states that it is the duty of the commission to call a recall election, the charter also includes language regarding the failure of the City Commission to call an election. This clause charges the district judge of Kleberg County, or another judge of a competent jurisdiction, with the duties of calling for a special election. This raises a few questions. Fifteen years ago, the Texas Municipal League shared a legal Q&A noting that though some Texas city charters attempt to place the duty of calling an election on a valid recall petition onto either a county or district judge, cities do not have the authority to do this. Multiple attempts to reach Judge Jack Pulcher of the 105th District Court for comment were unsuccessful. If a recall election is eventually held and voters do choose to remove one or more commissioners from office, the city would then have to hold another election, this time to fill the vacancy. In Alice, there have been several recall attempts in recent years. The city of Alice requires 10 voters to initiate a petition for recall, but the number of signatures required only needs to equal at least 5% of voters in the last election or a minimum of 100 signatures. That's a lower bar than what was required in Kingsville. A 2017 recall in Alice resulted in the ouster of two City Council members, leading to a proclamation from the governor giving the city permission for a special emergency election to fill the vacancies so that the council would have enough members to operate. A successful recall in Kingsville could pose similar problems — the petition targets three members. Kingsville only has four commissioners and one mayor. The city needs at least three members to be present in order to conduct official business. The next date when the city of Kingsville could conceivably hold an election is Nov. 4. The deadline to order an election for that date is Aug. 18. But it's still unclear if or when a recall election might take place in Kingsville. Tijerina said that she is consulting attorneys and intends to continue pursuing a recall, possibly through a lawsuit. Back to School Bash to be held at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend From the brink of extinction, wintering whooping crane counts rise Can AI predict flooding? A&M-Corpus Christi project focuses on Oso Creek This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Future of recall effort for Kingsville commissioners uncertain Solve the daily Crossword
