7 h. ago Trump threatens 17% tariffs on food and farm produce exports from Europe

EU says it ‘favours a negotiated solution’ but is prepared for potential trade war with retaliatory dutiesDonald Trump threatened to impose 17% tariffs on food and farm produce exports from Europe during talks in Washington this week, it has emerged.Such tariffs would hit everything from Belgian chocolate to Kerrygold butter from Ireland and olive oil from Italy, Spain and France, all big sellers in the US. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago China warns Trump’s tariff war will have ‘no winners’ as deadline looms

Beijing hopes Washington will continue to meet it halfway

Events

37 h. ago US economy adds 147,000 jobs in June, surpassing expectations amid Trump trade war

Economists anticipated drop, but 8,000 new positions were added in June compared with May, with unemployment rate down to 4.1%The US economy added 147,000 jobs in June, a sign of continuing strength in the labor market amid Donald Trump’s trade war.The number of jobs added surpassed expectations, as economists largely anticipated a drop in openings. Instead, 8,000 more jobs were added in June compared with May, according to new job figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The unemployment rate actually decreased to 4.1%, down from 4.2% in May. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Canada poised to pass infrastructure bill despite pushback from Indigenous people

Bill prioritizes ‘nation-building’ pipelines and mines, causing concern that sped-up approvals will override constitutional rightsCanada’s Liberal government is poised to pass controversial legislation on Friday that aims to kick-start “nation building” infrastructure projects but has received widespread pushback from Indigenous communities over fears it tramples on their constitutional rights.On its final day of sitting before breaking for summer, parliament is expected to vote on Bill C-5. The legislation promised by Mark Carney, the prime minister, during the federal election, is meant to strengthen Canada’s economy amid a trade war launched by Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago UK transport secretary calls HS2 an ‘appalling mess’ as she confirms delay

Heidi Alexander vows to ‘sort out’ HS2 project; UK inflation dips to 3.4% as transport costs ease while food prices jumpUK inflation eases to 3.4% amid falling fuel and air fare pricesInflation pressures remain sticky in the UK, according to Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.Looking ahead, we continue to expect CPI inflation to average 3.4% for the rest of the year as strong wage growth, minimum wage hikes and tax increases pass through to retail prices. We think headline inflation will struggle to dip below 3% before April 2026. By that point, inflation will have been above target almost continuously for five years, risking further deanchoring of inflation expectations and persistent wage pressure.Granted, US president Trump’s trade war could lead to some diversion of Chinese exports previously bound to the US, which could cut UK inflation. But war in the Middle-East has boosted oil and natural gas prices, adding 10bp to our forecast inflation peak and risks p...

Politics

2 w. ago Live: Trump and world leaders attend G7 summit against backdrop of trade war tension and Middle East conflict

Watch live as Donald Trump meets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as he attends the G7 summit in Alberta on Monday (16 June).

Politics

3 w. ago China delays approval of $35bn US chip merger amid Trump’s trade war

Beijing’s antitrust regulator postpones sign-off on Synopsys and Ansys deal

Politics

3 w. ago Trump says Trade War ‘deal with China is done’ and he and Xi agree on minerals: ‘FULL MAGNETS’

China’s restrictions on rare earth exports have been putting pressure on American manufacturers who rely on them for a wide range of products

Politics

3 w. ago 2020s on course to be weakest decade for global economy since 1960s, says World Bank

Washington-based lender cuts its forecast for world GDP growth, blaming Donald Trump tariffsBusiness live – latest updatesThe World Bank has cut its forecasts for growth, blaming Donald Trump’s trade war and says the 2020s are on course to be the weakest decade for the global economy since the 1960s.In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the Washington-based lender reduced its forecast for global GDP growth this year to 2.3%, down from 2.7% in January. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Apple heads into annual showcase reeling from AI missteps, tech upheaval and Trump's trade war

After stumbling out of the starting gate in Big Tech’s pivotal race to create artificial intelligence, Apple will try to regain its footing Monday with its annual showcase for the next generation of software powering the iPhone and other popular products

Politics

4 w. ago US jobs market slows down as businesses cope with Trump trade war uncertainty

May’s jobs report was dragged down by loss of 22,000 federal workers’ jobs as Doge cut positionsThe US economy added 139,000 jobs in May, a slowdown compared with recent months as American businesses cope with uncertainty around Donald Trump’s continuing trade war.After signs of a strong labor market in April – which was largely seen as resiliency against teetering trade policy from the White House – May saw a drop in new jobs added to the labor market, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, unchanged from last month. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago The right is breaking ranks over Trump and his tariffs | Sidney Blumenthal

A trade court ruling is exposing the civil war on the right, as key legal establishment figures oppose the presidentDonald Trump’s trade war has become his quagmire: legal, economic and political. On 28 May, the court of international trade ruled his tariffs exceeded his constitutional authority. Point by point, the decision decimated Trump’s arguments as flimsy and false, implicitly castigated the Republican Congress for abdicating its constitutional responsibility, and reminded other courts, not least the supreme court, of the judicial branch’s obligation to exercise its authority regardless of the blustering of the executive and the fecklessness of the legislative branches.Trump’s tariffs, along with his withdrawal of active support for Ukraine and passivity toward his strongman father figure Vladimir Putin, have broken the western alliance, forcing the west to make its own arrangements with China, and cementing the idea for a generation to come that the United States is an untru...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump’s tariffs have become his Vietnam – and the right is breaking ranks | Sidney Blumenthal

A trade court ruling is exposing the civil war on the right, as key legal establishment figures oppose the presidentDonald Trump’s trade war has become his quagmire: legal, economic and political. On 28 May, the court of international trade ruled his tariffs exceeded his constitutional authority. Point by point, the decision decimated Trump’s arguments as flimsy and false, implicitly castigated the Republican Congress for abdicating its constitutional responsibility, and reminded other courts, not least the supreme court, of the judicial branch’s obligation to exercise its authority regardless of the blustering of the executive and the fecklessness of the legislative branches.Trump’s tariffs, along with his withdrawal of active support for Ukraine and passivity toward his strongman father figure Vladimir Putin, have broken the western alliance, forcing the west to make its own arrangements with China, and cementing the idea for a generation to come that the United States is an untru...

Politics

4 w. ago Europe's central bank expected to lower interest rates as Trump's trade war threatens growth

Lower inflation and concern that U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war will slow already modest growth have cleared the way for the European Central Bank to cut interest rates at Thursday’s policy meeting, a step that would lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses and promote economic activity

Events