Latest news with #householdAppliances
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Steel Tariffs Expanded to Hit Home Appliances
Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and other common household appliances made with steel parts will soon be subject to new tariffs, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The department said in a notice that levies would take effect on so-called steel derivative products on June 23 and will be set at 50 percent. While many products have become subject to higher import taxes since Mr. Trump began implementing his aggressive trade policy this year, Thursday's announcement marked one of the first times that everyday consumer goods were specifically targeted. The result will likely mean higher costs for American households. The new tariffs will be assessed based on the level of steel content in each import, the government said. Thursday's move came one week after the Trump administration doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 percent. They follow wave after wave of similar moves that have targeted cars, auto parts and a host of other goods from many of America's trading partners. The government said that the action was necessary to address 'trade practices that undermine national security.' Note: Goods from Canada and Mexico that fall under the U.S.M.C.A. trade pact — the agreement that replaced NAFTA — are not subject to tariffs that took effect in March targeting those countries. The higher metal levies have already rankled close allies that sell to the United States, including Canada, Mexico and Europe. They have also sent alarms to automakers, plane manufacturers, home builders, oil drillers and other companies that rely on buying metals. Despite Mr. Trump's tariffs, measures of inflation have so far remained muted. Price increases were relatively stable last month, government data showed on Wednesday, and the costs of appliances in particular have increased more slowly than overall inflation did last month. Economists caution, however, that the growing list of tariffs could begin to push up prices more noticeably later this year. Mr. Trump's economic advisers have tried to downplay the economic toll their trade actions take on American consumers. At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that many companies are opting against passing the costs of tariffs onto their consumers and said that inflation remains under control. 'Inflation in the U.S. is at its slowest pace since 2021 on decelerating cost increases for shelter, food, and energy,' Mr. Bessent said. 'After four years of price increases diminishing the U.S. standard of living, inflation is showing substantial improvement due to the administration's policies.' Colby Smith contributed reporting.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I'm an American living in the UK - this common household appliance terrified me when I first moved here and I thought I was going to get electrocuted
An American woman has revealed the common household appliance she found 'terrifying' when she first moved to the UK. Maxine, who has lived in Britain for the past 23 years, made the revelation in a viral video on her TikTok account, @yorkshireyank. In the clip, which racked up over 36,000 views, she listed the 'five things that I have never seen until I moved to the UK'. Maxine, who lives in Leeds, revealed one of the biggest differences she spotted was seeing a 'power shower' for the first time. A power shower has a built-in electrical pump in order to increase the flow rate by providing a stronger jet of water. The TikToker revealed she was 'terrified' because she thought she might get 'electrocuted' having an electrical machine in the shower. She said: 'I had genuinely never seen a power shower before I moved over here. And I'll be honest with you, when I first used a power shower, I was terrified that I was going to be electrocuted.' Elsewhere the influencer claimed she had 'never seen a radiator' before moving to Britain. She explained: 'I had never seen a radiator in a house. I know that sounds ridiculous but we had never had radiators in our home. 'We had forced air and it was either hot or cold and that's how we heated or cooled our homes.' Another thing that confused Maxine was having a plug socket for a razor in the bathroom. She said: 'I had never seen, what do you call those things? Those razor sockets in the bathrooms before. I've never seen anything like that. 'We were just never allowed to play with electricity and water at the same time.' The fifth household appliance to have her scratching her head was a 'washer dryer combo'. She said: 'I had never seen a washer dryer combo unit until I moved to this country. 'Now, since I've left, they actually have them in the USA, but they were extremely uncommon when I left. They're just not a thing. She concluded: 'So if you're an American in the UK, what's some things that surprised you that you'd never seen before? 'Or, if you're British and visited the USA, what's some things that surprised you about the United States?' Brits rushed to the comments to reveal things that they found strange when visiting the US for the first time. One person said: 'I'm British and it shocks me that American hotel rooms don't have kettles, how am I supposed to make a cup of Yorkshire tea?' Another said: 'Tipping, why not pay people a decent wage in America.' Someone else added: 'Probably taking away your card after a meal. Packing your shopping and the amount of plastic bag wastage. Ordering kids McDonald's and the small bag of fries.' A fourth added: 'Oh I LOVE that you have laundry rooms as standard in your homes, with large washers and dryers.' Another said: 'The thing that really surprised me in the US was toilet cubicle doors!' Brits rushed to the comments to reveal things that they found strange when visiting the US for the first time Previously, Maxine revealed the normal habits in the US that would be considered 'rude' in the UK. She says that it is deemed normal for American citizens to give tours of their houses to guests, showing them where they cook, do laundry and relax in their spare time. 'This is something that I have personally been privy to and I've personally been walked around people's homes,' she said. 'It's just weird and it would be considered rude in this country (the UK).' She then went on to say that is common for waiters and waitresses to take a customer's debit card away from when paying a bill in a restaurant. 'For about a period of five to ten minutes, you have no idea where your card has been, who has touched it and what has happened to your card in that timeframe, she added. 'In the UK, that just doesn't happen. 'They bring the credit card reader to your table and then they do it right in front of you, so there is no chance of anyone skimming your credit card.' 'A lot of Americans will say that they know their table manners but you don't them like the Brits do, so let's agree to disagree,' she said. The content creator said that people generally find Americans to be louder than Brits and believes it comes down to the difference in tone. 'I think it's because our accent just carries but sometimes being loud is considered rude,' she said. But sometimes being loud is considered rude because you'll be sitting on a train and the first thing you can hear are these American accents. You can hear us before you can see us.' The last point that the TikToker noted was that manners and said that those from the UK will typically say 'thank you' much more than Americans do. 'Now there are some Americans who will say thank you for everything but there is a large chunk of Americans who will go into a store and say "Hey, where's the flour?" not intending to be rude, when in fact, the Brits will see it as rude. 'All you should just be saying is "Please can you tell me where the flour is?" These are just a few of the differences.'
