Latest news with #UK-US
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
There's 115,000 reasons why Trump should be welcomed to Scotland
Little is yet clear on the economic implications of America's new trade policies and Scotland's position within a radically changed global trade structure. The Trump administration is actively reshaping the way the world does business wherever the US is involved. Unfortunately the recent UK-US tariff deal is not yet the broadly-based trade agreement that would secure jobs for Scottish exporters. A baseline 10% tariff on most goods entering the United States might be less challenging than the EU position but it has hit growth and jobs. For Scotland, it represents a significant challenge to our transatlantic trade relationship, which generated £3.8 billion in exports to the US in 2024. Exporters have been forced to re-route product and quickly develop new markets. The urgency of this month's discussions is underscored by the imminent review in August of the UK-US trade arrangements. The present temporary agreement is fragile, creating anxiety in many sectors of the Scottish economy, from universities to food and drink. The impact on Scotland's key industries is already tangible. Scotch whisky, which suffered a major hit to sales during Trump's first presidency when he imposed 25% tariffs, faces renewed uncertainty. The US remains the largest Scotch export market by value, but global trade turmoil is a big headwind for an industry that exports 90% of its product. Read more: Similarly, Scottish salmon exports to the US are significant. Worth over £200 million annually, this trade is the second largest market for the product. And the pressure that lies ahead to harmonise with American regulatory standards could fundamentally alter Scotland's economic landscape. The US now views trade imbalances in simplistic terms, regulatory differences much more important than tariff levels. This represents a profound challenge to European standards on food safety, environmental protection, and product regulations. Food standards in particular are contentious and any changes could have far-reaching implications. Scotland still aims to keep in lock-step with the EU but may have to make some compromises with Westminster running the negotiations. American investment in Scotland extends far beyond Trump's golf properties. The USA is Scotland's largest inward investor, accounting for around 25% of total foreign inward investment in Scotland. More than 650 US-owned businesses employ around 115,000 people across the country. The pharmaceutical sector, financial services, and technology companies in particular have established significant operations ranging from JP Morgan to Amazon and Microsoft. Encouragingly, it seem that some American businesses are actually now viewing Scotland more favourably. If the UK can successfully negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement that provides greater certainty, Scotland could benefit from increased US investment as companies seek to establish operations that can serve both American and European markets from a single location. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that some individual Americans are considering Scotland for potential relocation, attracted by our political stability, social democratic values, and cultural heritage. The relationship also involves exchange of ideas, as the US is Scotland's top global research collaborator. Eighty links between Scottish and US universities and colleges involve staff and student exchanges and many joint publications. The thousands of US students who come to our universities help to forge long lasting relationships between the two nations. The controversial nature of Trump's presidency may actually be driving some North American tourism to Scotland. Many Canadians say they have changed their thinking about travelling to the USA. But overall Scotland's tourism sector is under pressure, as a weak US dollar makes Scotland expensive for American visitors. Combined with new visitor taxes, this means that the sector does not need any new frictions. Trump's approach to international relations reflects a broader strategy to reshape the global economic order around American interests. The traditional multilateral framework that has governed international trade since the Second World War is being replaced by a more transactional system where countries must demonstrate an alignment of interests to maintain favourable treatment. Scotland's relationship with the US clearly matters but, however much it grates to be dictated to, we have relatively few negotiating levers. Even the EU as a whole seems to be in that position at the moment. It will take our leaders all their skill to make the best of the forthcoming meetings. We must find common ground and realise we might learn from new US policies. It seems reasonable for example, that countries should pay their fair share for what is effectively an American security and financial umbrella. And it took US pressure for the UK recently to drop some surprising tariffs; on pasta, pineapples and fruit juice. In some ways, Trump is pursuing a typical agenda for second term presidents - recognising that time and domestic political leverage is not on his side, making foreign policy a bigger focus. US exceptionalism may be unwinding even as it tears up longstanding agreements. In an increasingly fragmented global order it is more important than ever to protect Scottish interests. When emotion and reason are in conflict, the heart often overrules the head. But this is a time to look beyond personalities. The path forward requires acknowledging uncomfortable realities about American power and Scottish dependence while working to preserve the values and interests that define Scotland. Colin McLean is director of Barnton Capital Holdings
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump bans Wall Street Journal from Scotland trip press pool over Epstein report
A Wall Street Journal reporter was kicked out of Donald Trump's press pool for his upcoming weekend trip to Scotland. The removal marked increased retaliation after the newspaper published an article alleging the US president sent Jeffrey Epstein a 50th birthday letter that included a drawing of a naked woman. The US president promptly sued the paper for $10bn. 'As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,' said White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, in a statement. 'Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President's trip to Scotland. Due to the Wall Street Journal's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board. Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible.' Related: Trump sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over Epstein report Tarini Parti, the reporter selected for removal, was not one of the writers of the Epstein piece. Trump is headed to Scotland to work on the UK-US trade deal, and to visit his golf courses in Scotland. The Guardian US also confirmed the reporter's removal. Prior to the second Trump administration, decisions regarding the White House press pool were in the hands of the White House Correspondents' Association. Seats in the press pool are highly coveted, and crucial for media that wish to stay on the cutting edge of politics coverage. The administration initially banned the Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other exclusive access after the outlet declined to use Trump's new moniker for the Gulf of Mexico. The decision for the administration to control the press pool came shortly after. White House Correspondents Association president, Weijia Jiang, spoke strongly against the decision to remove Parti from the Scotland trip's press pool. She said the administration had yet to clarify whether the ban was temporary, or if it was permanently barring Wall Street Journal reporters from the press pool. Related: Trump news at a glance: Trump sues Murdoch and WSJ for libel and slander over Epstein claims 'This attempt by the White House to punish a media outlet whose coverage it does not like is deeply troubling, and it defies the First Amendment. Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media,' Jiang wrote in a statement to The Guardian US. Trump's fury over the Epstein article comes amidst increasing scrutiny over his relationship with the now deceased Epstein. One of Epstein's first public accusers said she urged the FBI to investigate Trump's relationship with Epstein decades ago. Trump is also named as a friend of Epstein in early 2000's write-ups from Vanity Fair and NYMag. In a rare crack in armor, Trump appears to have lost control over the Epstein narrative to some Maga-faithful, with the unreleased files opening huge rifts among some of Trump's most die-hard supporters. The Wall Street Journal has stood by the accuracy of its reporting, which the Guardian has not been able to verify. 'We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,' a Dow Jones spokesperson wrote in a statement.
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Fady El Sayed Lands First Leading Role in Egyptian Drama 'Weld, Bent, and a Shaib"
Yara Sameh British-Egyptian actor Fady El-Sayed has joined the cast of the upcoming series "Weld, Bent, and a Shaib," which began filming this week in preparation for its premiere on the Watch It platform. The series is part of Watch It's slate of original productions in collaboration with AF Production, and marks Fady's first lead role in an Egyptian television series. "Weld, Bent, and a Shaib" is directed by Zeina Ashraf Abdel Baky, written by Mohamed Barakat and Ahmed Fawzy Saleh, with screenplay and dialogue by El-Sayed Abdel Nabi. The cast includes Ashraf Abdel Baky, Layla Ahmed Zaher, Marwan El Moselmani, Entessar, Nabil Issa, and Alaa Arafa. El Sayed's most recent role was portraying 'Faz' in the third season of Gangs of London, a character he first introduced in the show's second season. "Gangs of London" is a UK-US co-production between Sky Studios, AMC Networks, and Pulse Films, and features an ensemble cast of international stars. Prior to that, El Sayed starred in the dark comedy series "Kaos," which recently premiered on Netflix, and in the third season of "Industry," produced by HBO. El Sayed began his acting career with a breakout lead role in the film "My Brother the Devil," which earned him a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival. Since then, he has appeared in several notable international projects, including the series "Penny Dreadful," "River," "Baghdad Central," and "Little Bird," as well as films like "A Private War" and "Daniel." read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
News18
a day ago
- Automotive
- News18
JLR Delays Range Rover And Jaguar EV Launches Again, Here's Why
More testing, slow demand, and global market shifts push back launch timelines for Jaguar Land Rover's highly anticipated electric vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has officially delayed the launch of its much-awaited electric Range Rover and Jaguar EV models. Originally scheduled to hit the roads by late 2025, these vehicles will now roll out sometime in 2026 and beyond. The company says it's using this extra time to carry out more in-depth testing and to wait for the EV demand to pick up. Customers who had booked the Range Rover Electric have been informed that deliveries won't begin until next year, upsetting many who were hoping to drive the new model this year. Jaguar EV Line-Up Also Faces Delay It's not just the Range Rover Electric facing a delay. Two all-new Jaguar EVs, expected as part of the brand's rebranding efforts, are also behind schedule. The first is now expected in August 2026, with the second model likely pushed to late 2027. Both models will be priced above £100,000 (Rs 1.16 crore), aimed at the luxury segment. Why the Hold-Up? One major reason for the delay is the need for further development and testing of the new EV platforms. Another contributing factor is market uncertainty. JLR wants to wait for electric vehicle demand to pick up before fully committing. Adding to the pressure, former US President Donald Trump's tariffs briefly halted exports to the United States, causing a 15.1 percent drop in JLR sales in the April–June quarter. Although a new UK-US trade deal has helped ease tariffs on the first 100,000 exports, the slowdown has impacted operations. To manage costs, JLR has also introduced a voluntary redundancy scheme for up to 500 managers. What's next for JLR's EV line-up? Besides the Range Rover Electric, JLR is also working on an electric Velar and a Defender EV. But those too could face delays. Despite setbacks, JLR remains optimistic. As per Team BHP, a spokesperson said: 'We'll launch our EVs at the right time—for our customers and for the market." view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UK government may have ‘good news' for Apple in the case that Donald Trump said, "something you hear about with China"
The UK government is preparing to retreat from its controversial order forcing Apple to provide backdoor access to encrypted user data, following intense pressure from the Trump administration that threatens vital technology partnerships between the two nations. Senior British officials told the Financial Times that the Home Office will likely abandon its January demand for Apple to break end-to-end encryption on iCloud storage , with US Vice President JD Vance leading opposition to the UK's stance. "The Home Office is basically going to have to back down," one technology department official said, noting Vance's strong objections to the encryption order. The standoff has created significant diplomatic friction, with multiple US officials including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard all raising concerns about the UK's approach. Trump previously compared the British demand to "something you hear about with China" and reportedly told Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly: "You can't do this." UK-US tech partnerships at risk over privacy battle by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The encryption dispute threatens to derail broader technology cooperation between the allies, particularly around artificial intelligence and data sharing agreements central to Starmer's digital trade strategy. "One of the challenges for the tech partnerships we're working on is the encryption issue," a senior UK official explained. "It's a big red line in the US — they don't want us messing with their tech companies." US officials have warned that the UK order could violate Americans' privacy rights and potentially breach existing data agreements between the countries, with Gabbard calling it an "egregious violation." Apple withdraws secure storage service from UK market In response to the secret government order issued under the Investigatory Powers Act , Apple withdrew its most secure cloud storage service, Advanced Data Protection , from the UK market in February. The tech giant is now challenging the Home Office demand at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, with WhatsApp joining the legal battle in a rare collaboration between Silicon Valley rivals. British officials acknowledge the Home Office has handled the encryption issue "very badly" and now has "its back against the wall" as it seeks an exit strategy from the high-profile privacy confrontation. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
