39 h. ago Treasury secretary says China tariffs not sustainable as US signals willingness to de

Scott Bessent said the tariffs – 145% on Chinese products and a retaliatory 125% on US products – would have to come down before talks can proceedStock markets rise as Trump backtracks on high China tariffs and firing Fed chairNato secretary general Mark Rutte will visit the US and meet the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and the national security adviser, Mike Waltz, according to a media notice shared by the military alliance’s press office.Rutte will visit the US on 24 and 25 April. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Law firms targeted by Trump ask judges to permanently bar executive orders against them – live

Law firms Perkins Coie and WilmerHale say Trump’s executive orders against them are acts of retaliation that violate US constitutional protectionsNato secretary general Mark Rutte will visit the US and meet the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and the national security adviser, Mike Waltz, according to a media notice shared by the military alliance’s press office.Rutte will visit the US on 24 and 25 April. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago Watch live: Rachel Reeves gives major speech on UK economy at International Monetary Fund in Washington DC

Watch live as chancellor Rachel Reeves gives a major speech on the UK economy at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC on Wednesday (23 April).

Society

42 h. ago Trump says he is suing Perkins Coie law firm after it filed suit against executive order – live

US president claims he is suing law firm for ‘egregious and unlawful acts’ Nato secretary general Mark Rutte will visit the US and meet the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and the national security adviser, Mike Waltz, according to a media notice shared by the military alliance’s press office.Rutte will visit the US on 24 and 25 April. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago IMF forecasts three more Bank of England rate cuts this year

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its forecasts for the UK economy on the back of Donald Trump's trade tariff uncertainty warning the UK is likely to see an inflation spike

Politics

4 d. ago There is a way to turn Trump’s chaos into an opportunity. Here is what European leaders must do | Paul Taylor

The EU, the world’s biggest single market, can reposition itself and become less reliant on exporting goods to the US and ChinaThis is why America first doesn’t have to mean Europe last.Europeans have had plenty to mope about since Donald Trump entered the White House not quite three months ago. The US president has said that the EU was created to “screw the United States” and slapped punitive tariffs on European goods. He has cast doubt on the US commitment to defend Nato allies. He has cosied up to Vladimir Putin, insulted Volodymyr Zelenskyy and tried to settle Russia’s war in Ukraine on terms that would undermine European security. His vice-president has denigrated European democratic values, and his national security team has spewed venom in a Signal chat at “pathetic” Europe.Finally complete the European capital markets union and banking union to unleash the cross-border investment power of some €3tn in European savingsStrike trade deals with countries and regions around the w...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump tariffs will send global trade into reverse this year, warns WTO

World Trade Organization says trade between US and China is expected to plunge by 81% in ‘decoupling’Donald Trump’s tariffs will send international trade into reverse this year, depressing global economic growth, the World Trade Organization has warned.In its latest snapshot of the global trading system, the Geneva-based institution says it had previously expected goods trade to expand by a healthy 2.7% this year. As a result of Washington’s trade policy, it is now forecasting a 0.2% decline. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Nato chief visits Odesa, declares ‘unwavering’ support for Kyiv

Nato’s Mark Rutte makes his pledge after Donald Trump blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war. What we know on day 1,148See all our Ukraine-Russia war coverageNato secretary general Mark Rutte has visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and declared “unwavering” support for Ukraine in the aftermath of a Russian attack on the northern city of Sumy that killed 35 people. Rutte said the military alliance was still strongly behind Kyiv, even as it also supported the ceasefire push by US president Donald Trump, who has issued fresh criticism of Zelenskyy, accusing him of starting the war. “Nato stands with Ukraine,” Rutte said at a press conference with Zelenskyy on Tuesday. “You and I know that this has been true all along. I also know that some have called Nato’s support into question in the last couple of months. But let there be no doubt: our support is unwavering.” Rutte also said: “Russia is the aggressor, Russia started this war. The...

Events

9 d. ago Nato chief in surprise Ukraine visit as US fails to condemn Sumy attack – Europe live

Mark Rutte makes unannounced visit to Odesa and tells Zelenskyy that ‘Nato support is unwavering’The EU has said that “significant joint efforts will be needed” for a successful outcome to trade talks at the end of Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on tariffs.The European Commission, which handles trade policy for the 27 EU member states, was reporting back on a meeting between its lead trade official Maroš Šefčovič and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Monday.The EU will continue to approach these talks in a constructive manner, with a view to identify areas of common interest. It is clear that significant joint efforts will be needed to achieve a successful outcome within the 90-day window.The EU is doing its part. Now it is necessary for the US to define its position. As with every negotiation this must be a two-way street... With both sides bringing something to the table.” Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago European travellers cancel US visits as Trump’s policies threaten tourism

International visitors stay away as political and economic tension and fears of a hostile border rise

Events

2 w. ago China's military expansion is 'staggering' and the world cannot afford to be 'naive' about Beijing's intentions, NATO chief warns

Mark Rutte said China's substantial investments in its defence capabilities must act as a wake-up call for Western nations who have not taken the threat seriously so far.

Events

2 w. ago NATO chief raises concern over China's arms buildup, calls on allies to work togather

NATO's chief has raised concern about China’s arms buildup and military drills near Taiwan and called on the organization's members and friendly nations to work together to keep free and open sea lanes in the region

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration fires senior Navy female officer at NATO. She appeared on a 'woke' list

U.S. officials say Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s military committee, was fired over the weekend by the Trump administration

Events

2 w. ago China accuses US of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying with tariffs

China on Monday accused the U_S_ of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying with tariffs for "putting the U_S_ first over international rules.”

Economics

2 w. ago FTSE suffers biggest daily drop since early in the pandemic as Wall Street slides again – business live

Global trade war escalates as Beijing hits back against Donald Trump with new tariffs on US goodsChina retaliates to Trump’s ‘bullying practice’ with 34% tariffs on US importsIMF warns of ‘significant risk’ to global economy from Trump tariffs as markets slideAnalysis: Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economistsNew Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, has filed what it says is the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority. Reuters reports:The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that Trump lacked the legal authority to impose the sweeping tariffs unveiled on Wednesday as well as duties authorized on February 1 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.“By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right ...

Economics

2 w. ago Stock markets plunge as China announces retaliatory 34% tariffs on US goods – business live

Global trade war escalate as Beijing hits back against Donald Trump with new tariffs on US goodsIMF warns of ‘significant risk’ to global economy from Trump tariffs as markets slideGlobal markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5tn off Wall StreetAnalysis: Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economistsNew Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, has filed what it says is the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority. Reuters reports:The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that Trump lacked the legal authority to impose the sweeping tariffs unveiled on Wednesday as well as duties authorized on February 1 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.“By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right to contro...

Economics

2 w. ago Mark Rutte says US tariffs do not violate Nato commitments on ‘eliminating conflict in international economic policies’ – Europe live

Nato secretary general says ‘we have seen many examples of fights over tariffs in the past’ when pressed on US tariffsAsked further about Ukraine, Rutte lists a number of projects by Nato member states, including Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.He says that “the shortest answer” to question on safety guarantees is to adopt measures that make sure that “Putin will never, ever try again to get one square kilometer or one square mile of Ukraine in the future, that he knows that there is a deterrence and a defence by which Ukraine can never be attacked in the future.” Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 hits lowest level since January as IMF warns Trump tariffs ‘a significant risk’ to global economy – business live

Kristolina Georgieva warns against retaliation to US levies while US president insists ‘markets will boom’ after sweeping tariff announcementGlobal markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5tn off Wall StreetAnalysis: Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economistsNew Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, has filed what it says is the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority. Reuters reports:The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that Trump lacked the legal authority to impose the sweeping tariffs unveiled on Wednesday as well as duties authorized on February 1 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.“By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right to control tariffs, and upset the Constitution’s ...

Events

3 w. ago US committed as ever to Nato and Trump is not against the alliance, says Rubio

Washington wants to see European countries increase defence spending to five per cent, the US secretary of state said

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s ‘idiotic’ and flawed tariff calculations stun economists

‘Willing sycophants’ came up with simplistic formula that has thrown global economy into disarrayUS politics live – latest updatesUK politics live –latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesWaving a big chart as a prop in the White House Rose Garden, Donald Trump suggested his new tariff plan was simple: “Reciprocal – that means they do it to us, and we do it to them. Very simple. Can’t get simpler than that.”Perhaps a bit too simple. The method used to calculate the most important numbers in international trade, politics and economics has left some of the world’s leading experts shocked.Goods trade deficit: $291.9bnTotal goods imports: $438.9bnThose figures divided = 0.67, or 67%And halved = 34%Reciprocal tariffs are calculated as the tariff rate necessary to balance bilateral trade deficits between the US and each of our trading partners. This calculation assumes that persistent trade deficits are due to a combination of tariff and non-tariff factors that prevent trade from balanc...

Politics