13 h. ago Trade deal with US isn't certain despite Government efforts to avoid Trump's tariffs, says top minister

Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Pat McFadden said an agreement with the White House is 'possible' - but it was better not to rush it.

Politics

3 d. ago Pope Francis’s funeral is loaded with potential for diplomatic awkwardness

Saturday’s event will feature leaders who would not usually appear in the same roomAs world leaders head to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, fraught Vatican officials will be poring over logistics in an effort to avoid diplomatic awkwardness.Should Donald Trump be kept away from the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy? Or the French president, Emmanuel Macron, or Brazil’s leftist leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, or any Iranians that might appear? There may be relief that Vladimir Putin has said he will not attend, but will everyone expect front row seats? Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago UK government borrowing spikes as Rachel Reeves scrambles to strike US trade deal to dodge Trump tariffs and revive economy in Washington TODAY

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to 'defend Britain's interests' as she prepares for talks with American counterpart Scott Bessant during the three-day IMF summit.

Economics

8 d. ago Another crisis, another IMF summit: but unlike 2008, the delegates are disunited

Where once the world came together to fight the credit crunch, Trump’s tariffs will set a more divisive testWhen the world’s finance ministers and central bank governors gather at the International Monetary Fund in Washington this week, it may kindle memories of another meeting, also held against the backdrop of a global economic crisis, in autumn 2008.Then, as the aftershocks from the collapse of Lehman Brothers ripped through financial markets, central banks coordinated drastic emergency rate cuts, and the UK chancellor, Alistair Darling, urged his G7 counterparts to emulate the UK’s approach and shore up stricken banks. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Giorgia Meloni to try to act as bridge between EU and US with Trump meeting

Italian PM’s summit with US president provokes trepidation among some European allies• Europe live – latest updatesGiorgia Meloni will attempt to burnish her credentials as a possible bridge between the EU and the US during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to meet the US president since he announced and then paused some of his planned trade tariff hikes.Italy’s far-right prime minister, who has nurtured friendly relations with Trump, arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. The pair will have lunch at 12pm local time before the meeting in the Oval office, which will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Giorgia Meloni aiming to act as bridge between EU and US in Trump meeting

Italian PM’s summit with US president has provoked trepidation among some European allies• Europe live – latest updatesGiorgia Meloni will attempt to burnish her credentials as a possible bridge between the EU and the US during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to meet the US president since he announced and then paused some of his planned trade tariff hikes.Italy’s far-right prime minister, who has nurtured friendly relations with Trump, arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. The pair will have lunch at 12pm local time before the meeting in the Oval Office, which will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Canada elections: who are the key players and what is at stake?

Justin Trudeau’s resignation as prime minister came amid deep anxiety prompted by Trump’s tariffs threatsCanadians will head to the polls on 28 April to decide who will form the next government. Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre are the most likely candidates to become the next prime minister. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK scrambling to get Donald Trump to slash tariffs to zero, says minister as US threatens medicines levies

Tariffs on Britain’s pharmaceutical industry could deal a severe blow, potentially costing firms billions of pounds

Politics

2 w. ago Hopes rising for trade deal with US 'in the coming days': Ministers push for pact to see off threat of 25% tariffs from Trump

Ministers are desperate to strike an agreement with Donald Trump despite his advisers warning that he will not ease tariffs on the UK.

Politics

2 w. ago Ministers focused on US trade deal, despite signal tariffs will go no lower

Kevin Hassett, a senior economic adviser to Donald Trump, suggested the blanket 10% tariff rate most countries now face was likely to be a ‘baseline’.

Politics

2 w. ago China raises tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125%, finance ministry says – business live

China’s finance ministry said it will resolutely take countermeasures against Trump tariffs and fight to the endUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Nigel Farage hurls brutal insult at pal Donald Trump by comparing him to Liz Truss

Nigel Farage compared the wrecking ball President to the wrecking ball Prime Minister in a brutal response to this pal's tariff policy

Politics

2 w. ago US markets close with steep losses as Trump tariffs branded ‘worst self

Wall Street stocks tumbled again as investors remain jittery while former US treasury chief criticises Trump’s economic policyChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Prime Minister says tariffs here to stay as he vows to 'turbocharge' economy

India trade deal believed to be close as government seeks out new markets to mitigate against impact

Politics

2 w. ago US tariffs on China now 145%, as Trump’s policy branded ‘worst self

Total combines Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of 125% and the 20% fentanyl levy, while former US treasury chief criticises Trump’s economic policyChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Former US treasury secretary slams Trump tariffs as ‘worst self

Janet Yellen, who also is a former Federal Reserve chair, says Trump’s economic policies increase likelihood of recessionRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Wall Street opens lower despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Wall Street to fall back despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Euro strengthens as EU delays retaliatory tariffs against US by 90 days in response to Trump’s pause – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago UK visa sticking point 'almost agreed' in Government trade deal talks with India

Britain and India have speeded up talks for a free trade agreement amid growing economic instability due to Donald Trump’s tariffs

Economics