6 h. ago China threatens retaliation for Trump tariffs as Rubio starts first Asia trip

China has warned US president Donald Trump against reigniting trade tensions by reimposing tariffs on Chinese goods and threatened retaliation against countries siding with Washington at Beijing’s expense.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump’s China tariffs may threaten the future of America’s fireworks festivals

Industry insiders warn the full effects of Trump’s tariffs may be felt by 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding

Events

3 d. 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

8 d. ago The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s China deal: rare earths pave the green road to militarisation | Editorial

Clean tech’s key minerals now drive western rearmament, reviving extractive ambition and exposing the toxic cost of dependenceIt’s an irony that the minerals needed to save the planet may help destroy it. Rare earth elements, the mineral backbones of wind turbines and electric vehicles, are now the prize in a geopolitical arms race. The trade agreement between Washington and Beijing restores rare earth shipments from China to the US, which had been suspended in retaliation against Donald Trump’s tariffs. Behind the bluster, there has been a realisation in Washington that these are critical inputs for the US. They are needed not just by American icons such as Ford and Boeing but for its fighter jets, missile guidance systems and satellite communications.This understanding suggests that Washington will scale back some of its countermeasures once Beijing resumes delivery of rare earths. The paradox is that to reduce its dependence on China, the US must depend on Beijing ...

Events

1 week ago EU retaliation against Trump drug tariffs would be bad idea, says industry

European pharmaceutical body says it would be ‘negative for both sides’ if Brussels hits back on threatened US leviesThe European pharmaceutical industry has urged Brussels not to retaliate if Donald Trump brings in threatened tariffs on imported drugs, amid fears he could impose the levies as early as next week.The US president said last week that the sector-specific tariffs were coming “very soon”. There is concern in Brussels that he could impose them imminently to give himself further leverage ahead of his self-imposed 9 July deadline for trade deals with the EU and about 60 countries. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US Treasury asks Congress to scrap retaliatory tax measure in Trump bill

Scott Bessent says deal with G7 will stop so-called Pillar 2 taxes from applying to American companies

Politics

1 week ago Tesla’s EU sales slump continues; China’s premier warns global trade tensions ‘intensifying’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in UK defence Babcock have surged 13% at the start of trading, after it upgraded its medium-term forecasts and hailed a ‘new era’ for defence (see earlier post).After several turbulent sessions, the financial markets seem calm this morning, as the Israel-Iran ceasefire holds.‘’Optimism about the fragile ceasefire holding between Iran and Israel has bubbled through markets, lifting equities, but more doubts are now creeping in about the truce holding.Wall Street rose in a relief wave, pushing the S&P 500 close to record highs. Sentiment has held up in Asia and European indices largely look set for a positive start to trading. Nevertheless, a little more uncertainty is seeping in. A leaked report from US Intelligence casting doubt on the effectiveness of the US strikes in crippling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, has led to some worries that military action could resume. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Trump says 'last thing' on Iran's mind is nuclear weapons as he gives Netanyahu order

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "significantly scaled back" his planned retaliation against Iran's ceasefire violation after pressure from Donald Trump, it has been claimed

Events

1 week ago EU readies retaliatory tariffs to secure better trade deal with Trump

German chancellor backs more muscular approach ahead of July talks deadline

Economics

2 w. ago Labour STILL can't bring themselves to back Donald Trump's strikes after Iran retaliated by launching missile barrage at US airbase in Qatar

As Tehran launched revenge attacks on US bases in the Middle East, the Prime Minister was last night accused of a 'lack of moral clarity' as he refused to take sides in the deepening conflict.

Events

2 w. ago Iran warns Trump its retaliation for nuclear labs bombing is NOT over after firing barrage of missiles at U.S. base: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Iran has warned that its retaliation to President Trump's strikes on its nuclear facilities is not over after the largest US military base in the Middle East was targeted.

Events

2 w. ago Iran launches missiles at US base in Qatar in retaliation for Trump strikes on nuclear sites

Tehran launches attack on Al Udeid Air Base in dangerous escalation of Middle East conflict

Events

2 w. ago Donald Trump breaks silence with bizarre monologue after US airbase attacked in WW3 escalation fears

Iran bombed a US airbase in Qatar earlier on Monday in a retaliatory attack, after President Donald Trump ordered several attacks on Iranian nuclear bunkers over the weekend

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump breaks silence with bizarre rant after US airbase attacked amid WW3 escalation fears

Iran bombed a US airbase in Qatar earlier on Monday in a retaliatory attack, after President Donald Trump ordered several attacks on Iranian nuclear bunkers over the weekend

Politics

2 w. ago Iran launches missiles at US base in Qatar in retaliation to Trump strikes

Tehran launches attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Doha in response to US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in dangerous escalation of Middle East conflict

Events

2 w. ago Iran fires 10 missiles at two US bases in the Middle East in retaliation for Trump bombing: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Iran has launched at least 10 missiles at the United States' biggest base in the Middle East and one in Iraq after Iran threatened to unleash strikes on American military.

Events

2 w. ago American airbase under 'imminent threat' as Iran weighs retaliation for Trump bombing and Qatar closes airspace: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Follow live coverage of the conflict in the Middle East as a US air force base in Qatar has been placed under an 'imminent threat' amid fears Iran is set to strike.

Events

2 w. ago Predicting Trump is 'fool's game' as retaliation may bring 'more war', warns expert

EXCLUSIVE: Tensions in the Middle East are steadily rising further, but as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire, one expert says trying to work out what Trump will do next is impossible

Events

2 w. ago How Iran can retaliate after Trump strikes nuclear facilities

On one hand, the Islamic Republic will be loath to provoke a full-scale war with the United States, a conflict it cannot hope to win. But total inaction is also intolerable for Khamenei and his clerics.

Events

2 w. ago Iran says US ‘must receive a response’ after Trump’s strikes on nuclear sites

Pentagon claims major damage inflicted, world leaders call for restraint and Israel continues to strike Iranian targetsMiddle East crisis – latest updatesIran has warned the US to brace for retaliation after Donald Trump’s administration joined Israel in its war against Tehran, tearing up his isolationist foreign policy and launching the most consequential intervention in a conflict in a generation.Almost a day after US strikes targeting three key Iranian nuclear sites, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told France’s Emmanuel Macron: “The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,” signalling a potential Iranian reprisal that could drag the US into a new, protracted conflict in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Events