8 h. ago Swiss chocolate prices could rise as makers hit by Trump tariffs ahead of Easter

Your favourite chocolate bar could become a lot more expensive

Politics

12 h. ago Starmer vows not to raise key taxes despite hit from Trump’s tariffs

Prime minister says he will ‘seize the opportunity’ to make the economy more secure

Politics

12 h. ago Here’s one key thing you should know about Trump’s shock to the world economy: it could work | James Meadway

It’s hard to say if the president truly knows what he’s doing. But there is a precedent for the US causing short-term chaos and reaping long-term gainIt’s less than a week since Donald Trump’s sensational announcement that he was unilaterally ending the world’s trading system with the imposition of a 10% minimum tariff for trading with the US – and a very much higher rate for those countries unfortunate enough to have the US as a major export partner. Long-term allies such as Japan and South Korea have been hammered with tariffs of around 25%, while export-dependent poorer countries such as Vietnam, which sells about a third of its exports to the US, have been hit with tariffs in excess of 45%. A further round of global debt crises is possible as heavily indebted countries face the sudden loss of export earnings.Global stock markets have tumbled as panicked investors dump shares, and political condemnation has been near-universal. China has already retaliated with 34% tariffs, threa...

Politics

22 h. ago Australian PM Albanese extends lead in polls after Trump tariffs hit

Labor leader seeking to be first prime minister in two decades to win second consecutive term

Politics

41 h. ago Trump's tariffs hit a sour note in landmark NYC emporium of sweets

The biggest-ticket implications of President Donald Trump's tariff blitz understandably gain the most attention

Politics

56 h. ago ‘Fundamentally wrong, brutal and paranoid’: how will the world respond to Donald Trump’s tariffs?

The US president’s sweeping, unprecedented tariffs on countries around the world are threatening to reshape the global economy – so, what exactly happens next?On Thursday evening, towards the end of a long week at a textiles factory on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thi Dieu and her husband were watching the news. More than 8,700 miles away, US president Donald Trump was announcing sweeping, unprecedented tariffs on every country around the world. Nowhere was safe, even the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands off the western coast of Australia that, for some unexplained reason, were hit with a 10% tariff.His announcement launched a fierce global trade war and triggered a global market meltdown, including on Trump’s own cherished Wall Street, where hundreds of billions of dollars of stock values evaporated. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Britain must boost its military to counter the growing threat from Russia

Editorial: The former head of MI6 warns that Europe must meet the challenge of the new rules set by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

Events

62 h. ago Blair tells Starmer NOT to hit back at Trump's tariffs as US stocks see biggest 2

Blair was speaking to students at King's College University in London on Friday, just days after President Trump unveiled major tariffs in possibly the biggest shake-up of world economics on record.

Politics

3 d. ago It could set the industry back 50 years: fashion braces for impact of Trump tariffs

From farmers to designers, the entire supply chain will be hit – but it is unclear what duties apply to a finished productFirst it was steel producers. Then automobiles. Now the fashion industry has been left reeling from Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday that he was imposing tariffs on more than 180 countries including severe levies aimed at some of fashion’s biggest manufacturing regions.Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs included a 10% duty on all imports to the US but “worst offender” countries – those with whom America has bigger trade deficits – face a higher rate. Several of these are key to fashion’s supply chains. China, where everyone from Prada to Zara outsource production, faces a 54% duty. Vietnam, where more than half of Nike’s footwear was produced last year, will be subject to a 46% tariff. Pakistan, a key manufacturer of denim items, will be hit with a 29% duty. Bangladesh, where garment manufacturing makes up to 80% of its total exports, will be subjected to 3...

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves speaks on whether tax rises will hit workers after Donald Trump tariffs announcement

The UK Chancellor was forced to make unpopular cuts to the welfare bill after the country's growth forecasts were downgraded.

Economics

3 d. ago China hits back hard at ‘bullying’ Trump tariffs as global recession fears grow

Beijing imposes punitive 34% extra tariffs on all goods imported from US, exacerbating stock market sell-offBusiness live – latest updatesUS politics live – latest updatesChina has hit back hard against Donald Trump’s “bullying” tariffs, raising fears that the escalating trade war could trigger a global recession and prompting fresh turmoil in financial markets.Beijing retaliated on Friday with punitive 34% additional tariffs on all goods imported from the US – mirroring the US decision and exacerbating a sell-off on global stock markets. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Sadiq Khan assures Londoners that Trump tariffs won't hit economy hard as stock markets plunge

The Mayor of London ‘fully’ supports the Prime Minister's efforts to secure a trade deal rather than slapping retaliatory measures on the United States

Economics

3 d. ago ‘Only job I know’: tiny Lesotho’s garment workers reel from Trump’s tariffs

Impoverished African country is hit with highest tariff rate at 50%, overturning decades of global trade policyThe day after Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, Lesotho’s garment workers feared for their jobs.Last year, Lesotho sent about 20% of its $1.1bn (£845m) of exports to the US, most of it clothing, as well as diamonds, under a continent-wide trade agreement meant to help African countries’ development via tariff-free exports. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Only job I know’: tiny Lesotho’s garment workers reel from Trump’s 50% tariffs

Impoverished African country is hit with highest tariff rate, overturning decades of global trade policyThe day after Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, Lesotho’s garment workers feared for their jobs.Last year, Lesotho sent about 20% of its $1.1bn (£845m) of exports to the US, most of it clothing under a continent-wide trade agreement meant to help African countries’ development via tariff-free exports, as well as diamonds. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago From Nike to Apple: which US brands could be hit hardest by Trump tariffs and what’s at stake?

Companies with suppliers in Asian countries are likely to have to raise prices after the US president’s measuresBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s “liberation day” tariff war has so far wiped trillions off the market value of publicly traded companies, with the sweeping border taxes of up to 50% poised to wreak havoc on businesses across the world.US-based global brands from Nike to Apple have suffered some of the heaviest falls in share price and market value, as investors react to fears of price increases and a potential slowdown in consumer spending. Here, we examine some of the most exposed industries and brands. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago The first UK victim of Trump's Tariff: Firm lost £350,000 order from US customer at last minute because of new levy

A businessman has lost a £350,000 deal with a US customer following President Trump's decision to hit the UK with tariffs on exports.

Economics

3 d. ago Tony Blair urges Starmer not to retaliate against Trump tariffs

Exclusive: In a rare intervention, the former prime minister says it’s not in UK best interests to hit back with its own tariffs

Politics

3 d. ago Trump claims Starmer is ‘very happy’ about tariffs imposed on Britain

UK foreign secretary regrets ‘return to protectionism’ and says Britons will be concerned about impact on financesBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump has claimed that the UK is “very happy” with tariffs imposed on the country as part of his shock upending of global trade, but the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, said he regretted the “return to protectionism”.Wielding a chart in the White House Rose Garden, the US president revealed on Wednesday that the UK would be hit with 10% so-called “reciprocal” tariffs as part of a sweeping drive on all countries. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump tariffs list in full: Every country hit and the surprising exemptions

Some of the world’s weakest economies in Asia are among those hardest-hit in opening salvo of global trade war

Politics

3 d. ago How Donald Trump's tariffs and a trade war will hit British business and YOU

We explain what the tariffs mean, what the impact could be on British businesses and consumers and what they mean for you.

Events