PBS brings the arts to American living rooms; funding cuts could change that: L.A. arts and culture this week
A week ago, President Trump's Office of Communications issued a news release titled 'The NPR, PBS Grift Has Ripped Us Off for Too Long.' The missive went on to criticize the use of taxpayer money to support National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, which, according to the Trump administration, 'spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news'.'
It was soon reported that the administration had drafted a memo to Congress stating that it intended to end almost all federal funding for public media. The loss of funding for both organizations could very well cripple or eliminate local radio and television member stations, even if their parent companies survive.
This would be an immense loss for the arts — and arts-loving TV viewers.
'PBS and our member stations are America's largest classroom, the nation's largest stage for the arts and a trusted window to the world. In addition, PBS's educational media helps prepare children for success in school and opens up the world to them in an age-appropriate way,' reads the 'About' page on the PBS website. And it's true.
Some of PBS' most popular and enduring shows deal directly with the arts. Think 'Great Performances,' which has been around since the early 1970s and dubs itself as TV's longest-running performing arts anthology. For decades it has presented live shows from stages across the world, including opera, plays, ballets, musicals, classical music concerts and more in an easily digestible format for those unable to catch the shows in person.
Then there's 'American Masters,' which — since 1986 — has detailed the life and times of some of the world's most noteworthy and accomplished artists and performers, including Charlie Chaplin, Andy Warhol, James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Harlem Renaissance sculptor Augusta Savage, Liza Minnelli, Art Spiegelman and George Plimpton.
And let's not forget the wildly popular 'Antiques Roadshow,' which often unearths a dusty piece of art, craft or design and assigns it worth.
While most of Trump's grievances with PBS — as outlined in his news release — center around the non-commercial broadcaster's airing of shows that deal with racial identity and LGBTQ+ issues, the scope of programming has broad-based appeal for anyone seeking to learn more about themselves and the world through the beautiful and challenging lens of arts and culture.
If you're worried about losing public access to this kind of programming, you can always donate to your local station at pbs.org/stations. You can also call your congressperson to urge them to vote against defunding PBS and NPR. The administration plans to send its memo to Congress on April 28, at which point a 45-day window opens for the House and Senate to cut off the money, or allow it to be restored.
I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, thinking of all the times I watched PBS as a kid, and how the love and inclusiveness displayed in its children's programming helped shape me into a curious, empathetic adult. Ashley Lee and I are here with your weekly arts rundown.
Evgeny Kissin'The Russian-born pianist … currently a British and Israeli citizen highly critical of the Russian government (which recently declared him a 'foreign agent'), and a composer and Yiddish poet as well as pianist, Kissin has become a kind of world citizen whose recitals have an intensity all their own,' says Times classical music critic Mark Swed. 'It's been a while since he's been back to L.A., but the Los Angeles Philharmonic presents his first recital in more than a decade for a program of Bach, Chopin and Shostakovich. With luck, Kissin can be enticed to read and play his own works as well.' Thursday, 8 p.m. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
'The Winter's Tale'Skylight Theater presents an accessible, modern verse translation by director Tracy Young, adapted with Lisa Wolpe, of Shakespeare's drama about a tyrannical and paranoid ruler who plunges his kingdom into darkness, and a princess wielding extraordinary power who emerges to heal the land and its people. The 90-minute production, currently in previews, opens Thursday and runs through June 14. Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. skylighttheatre.org
'Scale Maps of the Ocean Floor'Timothy Hawkinson Gallery is showing a collection of works by linn meyers, Jenene Nagy and Marc Pally — all of which are labor-intensive abstractions that straddle the line between drawing and painting. (The exhibition's titular ocean floor is metaphorical.) The precise and pattern-centric exhibition, which opened last month, is on view through April 26. Timothy Hawkinson Gallery, 7424 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles. timothyhawkinsongallery.com
— Ashley Lee
TUESDAYIn the Spirit A rare 35mm screening of the 1990 comedy; the only film directed by acting coach Sandra Seacat, it was co-written by Jeannie Berlin, who stars along with her mother Elaine May, Marlo Thomas and Peter Falk.7:30 p.m. Brain Dead Studios, 611 N. Fairfax Ave. studios.wearebraindead.com
WEDNESDAYThird Annual New Works Festival Five days of staged readings and discussions of plays by writers from across the country.Through April 27, Trinity Theatre, Mission Valley Mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio N., Suite 129, San Diego. trinityttc.org
Poetry in the Garden Camae Ayewa, with V.C.R on violin, is next up in this weekly series of live readings featuring poetry inspired by the Getty Research Institute exhibition 'What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843–1999.'2 p.m. Getty Center, Central Garden, 1200 Getty Center Dr. getty.edu
The Violin Maker ICT artistic director caryn desai directs the American premiere of Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum and Ronda Spinak's new play based on the real-life story of Israeli Amnon Weinstein, who collected and restored ruined violins that survived the Holocaust.Through May 11. International City Theatre, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. ictlongbeach.org/theviolinmaker
THURSDAYThe Secret Comedy of Women Playhouse Productions present an immersive evening of skits and improv on all things female created by Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein.Through May 18. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. playhouseinfo.com
TCM Classic Film Festival 'The Empire Strikes Back' on opening night, the world premiere of a restored version of 'The Wiz,' a 30th anniversary screening of 'Heat' and an original technicolor release print of 'Jaws' are among this year's marquee offerings, along with the usual 'meet and greets' with stars and panel discussions with experts, all rolling out in historic venues along Hollywood Boulevard.Through April 27. TCL Chinese Theatre and Chinese 6 multiplex; Egyptian Theatre; El Capitan Theatre; and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. filmfestival.tcm.com
The artist Don Barchardy spent decades living with his partner, writer Christopher Isherwood, and it's the former's drawings of the latter as he was close to death that Times art critic Christopher Knight found particularly moving in a new retrospective, 'Don Bachardy: A Life in Portraits,' at the Huntington. The survey consists of just over 100 works on paper, including a portrait Bachardy made of Knight in 1983. Knight's experience sitting for the renowned artist, who is now 91 years old, proved illuminating for his understanding of the way Bachardy worked. 'The vulnerability was mutual, extending to both artist and sitter,' Knight writes in his glowing review of the show.
Times classical music critic Mark Swed recently paid a visit to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington to take in 'Moon,' a series of short dances choreographed by Mark Morris. The Kennedy Center-commissioned show was part of the center's 'Earth to Space: Arts Breaking the Sky' festival, with Morris' dances honoring the Kennedy-era space program that resulted in Neil Armstrong's famous 1969 moonwalk. Swed wandered the Kennedy Center campus before the show, finding the place — recently (and infamously) taken over by President Trump — oddly melancholic and deserted. Morris' show changed that feeling, however, and could light the way for the future of the now highly politicized national arts center, Swed writes in a column.
The Geffen Playhouse announced its 2025-26 season — the second under its new artistic director, Tarell Alvin McCraney — and it's chock full of shows the theater spent time workshopping while his lauded inaugural season filled seats. 'It's an effort intended to cement the Geffen as a lab for artistic development and a platform for creative experimentation and development of new works,' writes Ashley Lee in an article about the new season. Read all about the upcoming shows here.
A character diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is at the center of playwright Keiko Green's world-premiere play, 'You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!', directed by Zi Alikhan and now playing at South Coast Repertory. Times theater critic Charles McNulty found himself agreeing with Green's suspicion that the end may well be nigh, but found the play slightly uneven. Nonetheless, 'its discursive heart is in the right place for these grievous times,' he writes.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that allocates $50,000 to shore up 'art-centered' fire recovery efforts in Altadena. 'The funding will support initiatives including conservation clinics, fire recovery preservation kits, and resources for artists and community members whose creative works and personal collections were damaged by the fire,' a news release about the initiative explains. The motion empowers the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture to use community feedback to 'ensure Altadena's unique arts, culture, and identity are part of the rebuilding process.'
If you enjoy shopping at Trader Joe's, chances are you've noticed the art on the walls. It's always unique, and often site-specific, and now there's a book about it. 'The Art of Trader Joe's: Discovering the Hidden Art Gems of America's Favorite Grocery Store,' written by Julie Averbach, examines the walls of more than 150 TJ's across the country, and is based on an art history thesis about the subject that Averbach penned while at Yale. In an email, Averbach wrote that some of her favorite art displays are in L.A. 'Did you know that [the] Trader Joe's store in Eagle Rock features a grocery-themed parody of 'The Starry Night' by Vincent van Gogh? Or that the artwork in Trader Joe's Hollywood & Vine store pays tribute to classic Hollywood cinema, from 'Singin' in the Rain' to Marilyn Monroe?'
— Jessica Gelt
The drive to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was all about the billboards. This year, artists booked coveted space with self-promotional ads that showed remarkable creativity and verve.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
Canada coach Jesse Marsch condemns U.S. treatment, ‘lack of respect' for Ukraine
Canada men's national team coach Jesse Marsch offered his support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian national team on Friday while also taking aim once again at United States President Donald Trump. 'As an American, the treatment that we have given the President of the Ukraine and the lack of respect really bothers me. Without having to know what it's like to go through something like what these players, this coach and this federation has been through, I am just really excited to be able to show our support,' Marsch said in his opening remarks at a Friday morning event with the Canada Ukraine Foundation. Advertisement Marsch is likely referencing a tense and fiery exchange between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 that made global headlines. Marsch has previously taken aim at Trump, saying in February that Trump should 'lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state; as an American, I'm ashamed of the arrogance and disregard we've shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.' Due to the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian national team is required to play its matches in neutral venues. 'If you think about the challenges that the players from Ukraine have been through, they haven't played a home match in several years, they've had to play World Cup qualifiers on foreign soil, they've had players playing professionally and internationally with the concern of the safety of their country and their family and their friends,' Marsch said. 'In general, the ability for us to have empathy and sympathy for everything that their team, their nation, their team, their players have gone through is really important at a time like this.' Ukraine's upcoming home matches in UEFA Group D of 2026 World Cup qualification do not yet have a location. 'As the Canadian national team coach, to show how much we are behind them, we are with them, that we want to do everything we can,' Marsch said, noting that one of the beauties of international football is that it 'can take on so much more than what the sport is.' Ukraine is in Toronto to play Canada in the Canadian Shield friendly tournament on Saturday. Ukraine will play its second match of the Canadian Shield friendly tournament on Tuesday against New Zealand, while Canada plays Ivory Coast also on Tuesday. 'It's really a pleasure and an honour to show that friendship and respect are at the core of everything we try to do in this sport,' Marsch said.
The Hill
18 minutes ago
- The Hill
Hegseth could be ‘on the hook' for hundreds of millions on Qatari jet, says Raskin
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he could be 'on the hook' for hundreds of millions of dollars for having accepted a luxury jet from the Qatari government. In a letter sent Wednesday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) argued that Hegseth's formal acceptance of the Boeing 747 jetliner last month – a move made so that the Air Force can upgrade its security measures so it may eventually be used as Air Force One – violates the Constitution emoluments clause. The rule bars federal officials from accepting financial benefits from foreign governments without congressional approval. 'I write now to urge and advise you to promptly mitigate these violations—and your own personal legal exposure—by either returning the plane to the Qatari government or promptly seeking Congress's consent to accept it,' Raskin wrote. The Pentagon announced on May 21 that it had officially accepted the 13-year-old luxury jet previously used by the Qatari royal family, a supposed 'free,' gift that could be used to supplement the aging Air Force One fleet, according to President Trump. The transfer has been criticized by U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who say it raises ethical and corruption questions in addition to costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit the plane into a secure and working Air Force One. Others have focused on the national security risks of such a gift, saying the aircraft would have to be swept for listening devices. Some have worried that in Trump's push to use the plane before he leaves office, the Air Force will rush security upgrades and cut corners on protection systems. A former professor of constitutional law and former ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Raskin has focused his criticisms on the ethical issues around accepting the Qatari plane, repeatedly arguing that it requires congressional approval. 'The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present 'of any kind whatever' from a foreign state without Congressional permission,' Raskin wrote on X last month after news of the gift broke. Congress has the authority to block federal officials from receiving gifts from foreign governments, as granted in the Constitution, but the government arm has not held any formal vote to accept the plane or not. Democrats largely have been unsuccessful in stopping Trump from accepting the Qatari jet. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) last month attempted to pass a bill that would bar the use of a foreign jet as Air Force One, but that effort failed. Raskin, along with other Democrat lawmakers, have introduced resolutions to condemn the gift but Republicans have blocked them from being considered on the floor. Making matters more complicated, Democrats, given their status as the minority party, can't convene any oversight hearings that would force government officials to testify on the issue, and their colleagues across the aisle have not called any such hearings themselves. In his letter, Raskin says Hegseth is in violation of the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, which could prompt the Attorney General to bring civil action and penalties against him. Under that law, government officials can accept certain gifts up to $480 in value, and they cannot 'request or otherwise encourage the tender of a gift or decoration' from another country. In violating the act, Hegseth can face a penalty 'not to exceed the retail value of the gift improperly solicited or received plus $5,000.' 'In other words, you may be on the hook for $400 million (plus $5,000) even for a jumbo jet that you accepted on behalf of the President but do not get to personally enjoy,' Raskin writes, referring to the cost of a new Boeing 747-8 jet. 'If you truly believe that there is nothing untoward about the President asking for and receiving a $400 million 'flying palace' from a foreign power, then you should let Congress and the President's Republican colleagues vote to approve the transaction,' he adds. 'If you're unwilling to do that, you must return the plane to Qatar.'
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump, Xi Jinping speak as focus turns to US trade deals
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday, and both countries pledged to restart tariff and trade talks in the coming days. Trump hailed the call as "positive," with both leaders inviting the other to visit their respective countries. Chinese state media said Xi urged Trump to remove "negative" trade measures on his country. The call came after weeks of Trump publicly pushing for the talk, as US-China tensions have risen in the aftermath of the countries' trade truce reached in mid-May in Geneva. Both countries have accused the other of breaching that truce while ratcheting up pressure on other issues. The US and China are also now using their control over certain key materials to gain control in the trade war. Bloomberg reported on Friday that the US dominates in ethane, a gas used to make plastics, and China buys nearly all of it. Washington is now tightening control by requiring export licenses. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Trump's call with Xi came as the US is pushing countries to speed up trade talks. The White House confirmed that the US sent a letter to partners as a "friendly reminder" that Trump's self-imposed 90-day pause on sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs is set to expire in early July. White House advisers have for weeks promised trade deals in the "not-too-distant future," with the only announced agreement so far coming with the United Kingdom. US and Indian officials held trade talks this week and agreed to extend those discussions on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the July 9 deadline. Also this week, effective Wednesday, June 4, Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% Meanwhile, Trump's most sweeping tariffs face legal uncertainty after a federal appeals court allowed the tariffs to temporarily stay in effect, a day after the US Court of International Trade blocked their implementation, deeming the method used to enact them "unlawful." Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Bet you were wondering how long we could go before mentioning Elon Musk's feud with President Trump in this blog (lots more on that here, here, and here). Yes, the remarkable back and forth included Trump threatening Musk's government contracts — and Musk seeming to agree with a call to impeach Trump, while also throwing in an "Epstein files" mention. But as Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul details, Musk is now going to war with many of the biggest pillars of Trump's agenda. There was a tariff mention as part of that. Specifically, Musk not only criticized the tariffs — he's now on record saying he thinks they will cause a recession this year. As Ben writes: Read more here. Trade talks between the US and India were set to wrap up this Friday, but now they are being extended into next week as officials on both sides aim to work out an interim deal before a July 9 deadline. Indian government sources said the discussions, which have focused on tariff cuts in the farming and auto sectors, will continue next Monday and Tuesday. President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are looking to double trade by 2030 and cement a trade pact by fall 2025. Reuters reports: Read more here. US and Chinese officials exchanged jabs at an event held by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai on Friday, as the chamber appealed for more clarity for American businesses operating in China. Reuters reports: Read more here. India's Tata Steel has warned that it might be excluded from tariff-free access to the US under the UK's trade agreement with the Trump administration. This exclusion risks putting more than $180M worth of annual exports at risk. The FT reports: Read more here. Two of the largest economies in the euro zone saw industrial production decline in the first month of President Trump's sweeping tariffs, indicating a economic slowdown after a stronger-than-expected year, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Wall Street Journal: Read more here. The EU said on Friday that it is open to reducing tariffs on US fertiliser imports as a trade bargaining tool in talks with the Trump administration. However, the EU said it would not weaken its food safety standards in pursuit of a deal. EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen told Reuters: "That is definitely an option," Hansen said, of reducing US fertiliser tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. If car buyers think they will be able to beat President Trump's tariffs, they should think again. The trade war has already led to an increase in US auto prices and some of these hikes are invisible to consumers. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. According to a survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, most US firms with operations in china are not budging. The survey revealed that some US don't want to leave the country and in fact would ramp up production in China, despite the the challenges posed by tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. We know what President Trump wants in trade discussions with China. But what does China's Xi Jinping want? Bloomberg News reports Read more here. Both the US and China are using their control over key materials in a deepening trade war standoff. On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Washington is restricting ethane shipments, a gas China heavily relies on for plastics production. This follows Washingtons block on chip exports to China. 'Ethane is no longer just a byproduct of shale — it's now a geopolitical weapon,' said Julian Renton, lead analyst covering natural gas liquids at East Daley Analytics. 'China bet billions building infrastructure around US ethane, and Washington is now questioning whether that bet should continue to pay off.' But the US is not the only one weaponising their grip on vital materials. China has tightened control on rare earths, a crucial element used for technology products. However, on Thursday President Trump got a commitment from China to restore flow of rare earth magnets. These moves by the US and China marks a shift toward using strategic resources as leverage. President Trump confirmed his call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Truth Social, saying the call lasted one and half hours and "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries." "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal," President Trump said. Trump added that the call focused on trade, including rare earth minerals, and that the two leaders did not discuss the Russia-Ukraine war or Iran. Notably, Trump outlined that he and Xi agreed on next steps for trade talks, which will take place "shortly." Trump is sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to meet with Chinese officials. Trump also said he and the first lady had been invited to visit China and that he extended the same invitation to President Xi. Read more here. The US trade deficit shrank in April as imports fell sharply, mainly due to President Trump's tariffs and companies who had previously raced to beat high import costs, no longer rushing in goods ahead of new levies. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese state media reported Thursday morning that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call at Trump's request. Anticipation had been building as to when the two leaders would speak, as trade tensions between the US and China reignited after Trump and Chinese officials each stated the other had broken their informal Geneva agreement. Trump had publicly pushed for a phone call, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted would come this week. The call appears to mark the first talk between the two leaders during Trump's second term in office. Indian and US officials are holding high-level talks this week in New Delhi to hammer out a finalized trade deal that could be announced this month, two government sources told Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. The tit-for-tat game between the US and China continues. A Bloomberg report on Thursday said that the Trump administration plans to broaden restrictions on China's tech sector with new regulations to include subsidiaries of companies under US curbs. This follows China's curbs on rare earths which have led to the US, the EU, Japan and global car companies sounding the alarm on supply chain issues. The Geneva tariff talks between the US and China were meant to help prevent trade tensions between the two nations and put a stop to escalating tariffs. However, it seems both sides are unwilling to back down. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US business optimism has fallen sharply, reflecting a trend seen in the first quarter of the year and a reversal from the buoyant mood after President Trump was elected. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The world's largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble (PG), said on Thursday it will cut 7,000 jobs, approximately 6% of its total workforce, over the next two years as part of a new restructuring plan to combat falling consumer demand and higher costs due to tariffs. P&G said it also plans to exit some product categories and brands in certain markets. P&G, which makes popular brands such as Pampers and Tide detergent, said the restructuring plan comes when consumer spending is pressured. Like P&G, other consumer companies are also facing a drop in demand, such as Unilever. President Trump's tariffs on trading partners have deeply impacted global markets and led to recession fears in the US, which is the biggest market for P&G. A Reuters poll revealed that Trump's trade war has cost companies over $34B in lost sales and higher costs. My colleague Brian Sozzi highlights some of P&G's changes within his latest piece, stating that the consumer goods brand knows how to do a "few things very well." P&G was forced to raise prices on some products in April. Pricing and cost cuts were the main levers, CFO Andre Schulten said. On Thursday, Schulten and P&G's operations head Shailesh Jejurikar acknowledged that the geopolitical environment was "unpredictable" and that consumers were facing "greater uncertainty." Read more here. Instead of passing on tariff costs to consumers, tonic maker Fevertree Drinks (FQVTY) announced on Thursday it would equally split costs of the 10% tariff imposed on UK imports to the US with brewer Molson Coors (TAP). The British company, known for its premium cocktail mixers, counts the United States as its largest market, where it continues to deliver strong momentum bolstered by its partnership with the US beer maker Molson Coors. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. British firms are brushing off President Trump's tariffs, according to a survey released on Thursday by the Bank of England. Reuters reports: Read more here. Bet you were wondering how long we could go before mentioning Elon Musk's feud with President Trump in this blog (lots more on that here, here, and here). Yes, the remarkable back and forth included Trump threatening Musk's government contracts — and Musk seeming to agree with a call to impeach Trump, while also throwing in an "Epstein files" mention. But as Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul details, Musk is now going to war with many of the biggest pillars of Trump's agenda. There was a tariff mention as part of that. Specifically, Musk not only criticized the tariffs — he's now on record saying he thinks they will cause a recession this year. As Ben writes: Read more here. Trade talks between the US and India were set to wrap up this Friday, but now they are being extended into next week as officials on both sides aim to work out an interim deal before a July 9 deadline. Indian government sources said the discussions, which have focused on tariff cuts in the farming and auto sectors, will continue next Monday and Tuesday. President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are looking to double trade by 2030 and cement a trade pact by fall 2025. Reuters reports: Read more here. US and Chinese officials exchanged jabs at an event held by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai on Friday, as the chamber appealed for more clarity for American businesses operating in China. Reuters reports: Read more here. India's Tata Steel has warned that it might be excluded from tariff-free access to the US under the UK's trade agreement with the Trump administration. This exclusion risks putting more than $180M worth of annual exports at risk. The FT reports: Read more here. Two of the largest economies in the euro zone saw industrial production decline in the first month of President Trump's sweeping tariffs, indicating a economic slowdown after a stronger-than-expected year, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Wall Street Journal: Read more here. The EU said on Friday that it is open to reducing tariffs on US fertiliser imports as a trade bargaining tool in talks with the Trump administration. However, the EU said it would not weaken its food safety standards in pursuit of a deal. EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen told Reuters: "That is definitely an option," Hansen said, of reducing US fertiliser tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. If car buyers think they will be able to beat President Trump's tariffs, they should think again. The trade war has already led to an increase in US auto prices and some of these hikes are invisible to consumers. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. According to a survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, most US firms with operations in china are not budging. The survey revealed that some US don't want to leave the country and in fact would ramp up production in China, despite the the challenges posed by tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. We know what President Trump wants in trade discussions with China. But what does China's Xi Jinping want? Bloomberg News reports Read more here. Both the US and China are using their control over key materials in a deepening trade war standoff. On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Washington is restricting ethane shipments, a gas China heavily relies on for plastics production. This follows Washingtons block on chip exports to China. 'Ethane is no longer just a byproduct of shale — it's now a geopolitical weapon,' said Julian Renton, lead analyst covering natural gas liquids at East Daley Analytics. 'China bet billions building infrastructure around US ethane, and Washington is now questioning whether that bet should continue to pay off.' But the US is not the only one weaponising their grip on vital materials. China has tightened control on rare earths, a crucial element used for technology products. However, on Thursday President Trump got a commitment from China to restore flow of rare earth magnets. These moves by the US and China marks a shift toward using strategic resources as leverage. President Trump confirmed his call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Truth Social, saying the call lasted one and half hours and "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries." "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal," President Trump said. Trump added that the call focused on trade, including rare earth minerals, and that the two leaders did not discuss the Russia-Ukraine war or Iran. Notably, Trump outlined that he and Xi agreed on next steps for trade talks, which will take place "shortly." Trump is sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to meet with Chinese officials. Trump also said he and the first lady had been invited to visit China and that he extended the same invitation to President Xi. Read more here. The US trade deficit shrank in April as imports fell sharply, mainly due to President Trump's tariffs and companies who had previously raced to beat high import costs, no longer rushing in goods ahead of new levies. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese state media reported Thursday morning that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call at Trump's request. Anticipation had been building as to when the two leaders would speak, as trade tensions between the US and China reignited after Trump and Chinese officials each stated the other had broken their informal Geneva agreement. Trump had publicly pushed for a phone call, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted would come this week. The call appears to mark the first talk between the two leaders during Trump's second term in office. Indian and US officials are holding high-level talks this week in New Delhi to hammer out a finalized trade deal that could be announced this month, two government sources told Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. The tit-for-tat game between the US and China continues. A Bloomberg report on Thursday said that the Trump administration plans to broaden restrictions on China's tech sector with new regulations to include subsidiaries of companies under US curbs. This follows China's curbs on rare earths which have led to the US, the EU, Japan and global car companies sounding the alarm on supply chain issues. The Geneva tariff talks between the US and China were meant to help prevent trade tensions between the two nations and put a stop to escalating tariffs. However, it seems both sides are unwilling to back down. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US business optimism has fallen sharply, reflecting a trend seen in the first quarter of the year and a reversal from the buoyant mood after President Trump was elected. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The world's largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble (PG), said on Thursday it will cut 7,000 jobs, approximately 6% of its total workforce, over the next two years as part of a new restructuring plan to combat falling consumer demand and higher costs due to tariffs. P&G said it also plans to exit some product categories and brands in certain markets. P&G, which makes popular brands such as Pampers and Tide detergent, said the restructuring plan comes when consumer spending is pressured. Like P&G, other consumer companies are also facing a drop in demand, such as Unilever. President Trump's tariffs on trading partners have deeply impacted global markets and led to recession fears in the US, which is the biggest market for P&G. A Reuters poll revealed that Trump's trade war has cost companies over $34B in lost sales and higher costs. My colleague Brian Sozzi highlights some of P&G's changes within his latest piece, stating that the consumer goods brand knows how to do a "few things very well." P&G was forced to raise prices on some products in April. Pricing and cost cuts were the main levers, CFO Andre Schulten said. On Thursday, Schulten and P&G's operations head Shailesh Jejurikar acknowledged that the geopolitical environment was "unpredictable" and that consumers were facing "greater uncertainty." Read more here. Instead of passing on tariff costs to consumers, tonic maker Fevertree Drinks (FQVTY) announced on Thursday it would equally split costs of the 10% tariff imposed on UK imports to the US with brewer Molson Coors (TAP). The British company, known for its premium cocktail mixers, counts the United States as its largest market, where it continues to deliver strong momentum bolstered by its partnership with the US beer maker Molson Coors. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. British firms are brushing off President Trump's tariffs, according to a survey released on Thursday by the Bank of England. Reuters reports: Read more here.
