Trump issues rare rebuke of Putin after Russian strikes on Kyiv
In this episode of Global News Today, presented by Tom Burges Watson, we'll examine the latest Russian strikes on Kyiv and President Donald Trump's reaction on Truth Social – along with his recent remarks on Crimea. We'll also speak with Angie Wong about a turbulent week at the White House, from Signal message leaks to Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulling out of the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
Guests:
Jan Halper Hayes - Former member of President Trump's transition team
Sir Gerald Howarth - Former UK defense minister
Colonel Brendan Kearney - Former US Marines chief of staff in Europe
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Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump Speaks with Xi amid Stalled Talks between the US, China over Tariffs
US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday at a time when stalled tariff negotiations between their two countries have roiled global trade. The conversation was confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry, which said Trump initiated the call, The AP news reported. Trump had declared one day earlier that it was difficult to reach a deal with Xi. 'I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!" Trump posted Wednesday on his social media site. Trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled shortly after a May 12 agreement between the two countries to reduce their tariff rates while talks played out. Behind the gridlock has been the continued competition for an economic edge. The US accuses China of not exporting critical minerals, and the Chinese government objects to America restricting its sale of advanced chips and its access to student visas for college and graduate students. Trump has lowered his 145% tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% for 90 days to allow for talks. China also reduced its taxes on US goods from 125% to 10%. The back and forth has caused sharp swings in global markets and threatens to hamper trade between the two countries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had suggested that only a conversation between Trump and Xi could resolve these differences so that talks could restart in earnest. The underlying tension between the two countries may still persist, though. Even if negotiations resume, Trump wants to lessen America's reliance on Chinese factories and reindustrialize the US, whereas China wants the ability to continue its push into technologies such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence that could be crucial to securing its economic future. The United States ran a trade imbalance of $295 billion with China in 2024, according to the Census Bureau. While the Chinese government's focus on manufacturing has turned it into a major economic and geopolitical power, China has been muddling through a slowing economy after a real estate crisis and coronavirus pandemic lockdowns weakened consumer spending. Trump and Xi had last spoken in January, three days before Inauguration Day. The pair discussed trade then, as well as Trump's demands that China do more to prevent the synthetic opioid fentanyl from entering the United States. Trump had long expressed optimism about the prospects for a major deal, before his post suggesting Xi was making that difficult. Last week, Trump went further, posting, 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted. 'So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!'
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Washington says Pakistan needs to address barriers to American exports, companies
KARACHI: Pakistan's government needs to address its tariff and non-tariff barriers against American exports and companies, a spokesperson at the US consulate general in Karachi said on Thursday as both nations seek to forge closer trade ties through negotiations. Reva Gupta, the spokesperson at the US consulate general in Karachi, made the comments a week after Pakistan and the US started what the official described as 'dynamic' negotiations with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Washington's imposition of tariffs. The talks take place as US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on a number of countries earlier this year, a move widely viewed as a setback for the global economy still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan faces a potential 29 percent tariff, currently under a 90-day pause announced in April, on its exports to the US due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world's biggest economy. 'In our bilateral engagements with Pakistan, we always message the need to jointly tackle challenges to our trade relationship, including the need for Pakistan to address its longstanding tariff and non-tariff barriers against US exports and companies,' Gupta told Arab News. The tariffs could be a setback to Islamabad's hectic efforts aimed at navigating a tricky path to economic recovery. Pakistan hopes to achieve sustainable economic growth driven by exports. The US is Pakistan's largest export destination. American exports to Pakistan were valued at $2.1 billion in 2024, up 4.4 percent ($90.9 million) from 2023, according to US government data. The import of goods from Pakistan to the US totaled $5.1 billion in 2024, up 4.9 percent ($238.7 million) from 2023. 'The United States and Pakistan share a robust economic relationship going back decades, of which trade and investment are key elements,' Gupta said. 'That the United States remains Pakistan's largest export market globally is a testament to this strong partnership'. Gupta, however, referred to US Trade Representative's (USTR) National Trade Estimate Report which highlights significant foreign barriers to US exports in various countries, including Pakistan. The USTR details tariff and non-tariff hurdles ranging from Pakistan charging higher tariffs to US businesses to the closure of Internet services, imposing a ban on US beef imports and 'perceived politicization' of the anti-graft National Accountability Bureau body. 'US companies have cited concerns that Pakistan has been imposing high tariff rates and, in some cases, additional duties, on products such as automobiles and finished goods,' the report said. Some prominent American companies operating in Pakistan include Pepsi-Cola, General Electric International, Procter and Gamble, Pfizer and DuPont, according to the International Trade Administration, a US government agency. Experts have warned the tariffs could harm Pakistan's competitiveness in the global market, especially if regional exporters such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam redirect more goods to Europe, intensifying competition in alternative markets. 'LIKELY TO SAIL THROUGH' However, economist Shankar Talreja, who is also the director of research at Topline Securities Ltd. brokerage form, said talks between Washington and Islamabad are likely to 'sail through.' 'Pak-US trade talks are likely to sail through as Pakistan exports are primarily based on labor-intensive industry such as textile,' Talreja told Arab News. He said Pakistan is likely to increase its import of agricultural commodities such as cotton and petroleum products from the US to fill the trade deficit. But if talks fail, Pakistani textile exports may be adversely affected, he said. 'If talks are not successful, Pakistan textile exports may get hurt in future assuming other countries will successfully negotiate with the US,' the analyst warned. The textile industry attracts the largest amount of foreign exchange for Pakistan, fetching an impressive $17 billion for the cash-strapped nation in FY2024.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Afghans who helped America during the war plead for an exemption from Trump travel ban
ISLAMABAD: Afghans who worked for the US during its war against the Taliban urged President Donald Trump Thursday to exempt them from a travel ban that could lead to them being deported to Afghanistan, where they say they will face persecution. Their appeal came hours after Trump announced a US entry ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. It affects thousands of Afghans who fled Taliban rule and had been approved for resettlement through a US program assisting people at risk due to their work with the American government, media organizations, and humanitarian groups. But Trump suspended that program in January, leaving Afghans stranded in several locations, including Pakistan and Qatar. Pakistan, meanwhile, has been deporting foreigners it says are living in the country illegally, mostly Afghan, adding to the refugees' sense of peril. 'This is heartbreaking and sad news,' said one Afghan, who worked closely with US agencies before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue, fearing Taliban reprisals and potential arrest by Pakistani authorities. He said the travel ban on an estimated 20,000 Afghans in Pakistan could encourage the government to begin deporting Afghans awaiting resettlement in the US 'President Trump has shattered hopes,' he told The Associated Press. He said his life would be at risk if he returned to Afghanistan with his family because he previously worked for the US Embassy in Kabul on public awareness campaigns promoting education. 'You know the Taliban are against the education of girls. America has the right to shape its immigration policy, but it should not abandon those who stood with it, risked their life, and who were promised a good future.' Another Afghan, Khalid Khan, said the new restrictions could expose him and thousands of others to arrest in Pakistan. He said police had previously left him and his family alone at the request of the US Embassy. 'I worked for the US military for eight years, and I feel abandoned. Every month, Trump is making a new rule,' said Khan. He fled to Pakistan three years ago. 'I don't know what to say. Returning to Afghanistan will jeopardize my daughter's education. You know the Taliban have banned girls from attending school beyond sixth grade. My daughter will remain uneducated if we return.' He said it no longer mattered whether people spoke out against Trump's policies. 'So long as Trump is there, we are nowhere. I have left all of my matters to Allah.' There was no immediate comment on the travel ban from the Taliban-run government. Pakistan previously said it was working with host countries to resettle Afghans. Nobody was available to comment on Trump's latest executive order.
