35 h. ago Between ‘rollover UK’ and ‘retaliatory China’: will EU hardball secure trade deal with US?

Optimism is growing in Brussels, but high-risk strategy has only weeks to play out before pause in tariff threat endsIn Brussels’ corridors of power, quiet optimism is growing that the EU’s hardball strategy to secure a US trade deal is working. While Britain quickly moved to try to cushion the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs with a deal agreed last month – and US-Chinese relations are a tit-for-tat situation – the EU has taken a different stance. “We are positioning ourselves between ‘rollover UK’ and ‘retaliatory China’,” said a Brussels source.The stakes are not just the £706bn in transatlantic trade between the EU and US but the fallout from what diplomats and businesses say is a dangerous assault on the global rules-based system that governs western democracy. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago Trump is ‘obsessed’ about having a call with China’s Xi this week to hammer out trade deal, insiders reveal

A person familiar with the matter reportedly said the administration is “under a lot of pressure” following China’s critical minerals blockade

Politics

5 d. ago China vows ‘forceful measures’ after accusing US of violating tariffs truce

Beijing says it is ‘strictly implementing’ consensus reached in Geneva but US is taking steps that ‘seriously undermine’ it

Politics

1 week ago Merz says ‘no restrictions’ on range limits for Ukraine arms as Kyiv hit by record drone attack – Russia

The Kremlin says giving Ukraine long range missiles is a ‘dangerous move’ as German chancellor says Kyiv can now hit Russian targetsKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has held his regular media briefing with journalists. When asked for reaction to Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin (see post at 08.41) by the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, Peskov thanked the US for its role in trying to bring an end to the war through its mediation efforts, which have so far faltered, but suggested Russian strikes against Ukraine are being launched for security and self-defence. He said in the conference call with reporters:It’s a very important achievement. Of course, at the same time this is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved and emotional reactions.We carefully monitor all the reactions. However, President Putin takes those decisions which are necessary for the security of our country.Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russi...

Events

1 week ago Macron says Trump realises Putin has ‘lied’ about Ukraine as Kyiv hit by record drone strike – Russia

French president says he hopes US president’s anger at Moscow will ‘translate into action’ Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has held his regular media briefing with journalists. When asked for reaction to Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin (see post at 08.41) by the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, Peskov thanked the US for its role in trying to bring an end to the war through its mediation efforts, which have so far faltered, but suggested Russian strikes against Ukraine are being launched for security and self-defence. He said in the conference call with reporters:It’s a very important achievement. Of course, at the same time this is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved and emotional reactions.We carefully monitor all the reactions. However, President Putin takes those decisions which are necessary for the security of our country.Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue ...

Politics

1 week ago Kremlin claims record drone strike was ‘response’ to Kyiv’s attacks as Trump criticises Putin – Russia

Latest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine the heaviest recorded so far in the war as US president says Putin has ‘gone crazy’Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has held his regular media briefing with journalists. When asked for reaction to Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin (see post at 08.41) by the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, Peskov thanked the US for its role in trying to bring an end to the war through its mediation efforts, which have so far faltered, but suggested Russian strikes against Ukraine are being launched for security and self-defence. He said in the conference call with reporters:It’s a very important achievement. Of course, at the same time this is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved and emotional reactions.We carefully monitor all the reactions. However, President Putin takes those decisions which are necessary for the security of our country.Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to ...

Events

3 w. ago China lashes out at PM's trade deal with Trump complaining it is designed to damage them

Beijing warned the pact broke 'basic principles' after it featured a commitment to 'address non-market policies of third countries'.

Politics

3 w. ago Britain’s biggest pawnbroker H&T snapped up by US firm for £297m; Goldman Sachs lifts UK and eurozone growth forecasts – business live

China issues warning to UK over terms of US trade deal, saying it is a ‘basic principle’ that bilateral agreements should not target other nationsHere’s our full story on the Co-op saying that that stock availability in its stores will not improve until this weekend, as it struggles to recover from a cyber-attack two weeks ago.And our full take on Burberry’s planned 1,700 job cuts. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago How YOU can invest to cash in on the bombshell trade deal between China and the US: ANNE ASHWORTH

The trade deal between the US and China has sparked a wave of optimism on stock markets around the world - leaving many savers and investors wondering if they can cash in.

Economics

3 w. ago US and China strike temporary trade truce. Could it be a turning point in Trump

After months of economic brinkmanship, world’s two largest economies have hit pause

Politics

3 w. ago Here's how YOU can cash in on the bombshell trade deal between China and the US by our investment guru ANNE ASHWORTH

The trade deal between the US and China has sparked a wave of optimism on stock markets around the world - leaving many savers and investors wondering if they can cash in.

Economics

3 w. ago White South Africans given ‘refugee’ status arrive in US as Trump administration told they got ‘wrong end of the stick’ – live

Trump administration welcomes 59 white South Africans who were granted refugee status in US for being deemed victims of racial discriminationQatar has offered to donate a plane to the United States and details are still being worked out, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.“The Qatari Government has graciously offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense. The legal details of that are still being worked out,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump says tariffs on China imports won’t return to 145% and that he sees a deal – live

Trump warns US could raise tariffs after 90-day pause on trade war with China but expresses confidence a deal will be madeChina and US agree 90-day pause to trade warQatar has offered to donate a plane to the United States and details are still being worked out, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.“The Qatari Government has graciously offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense. The legal details of that are still being worked out,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Stock market goes berserk on China trade deal as S&P 500 set to wipe out Liberation Day losses: Live updates

Donald Trump is sure to send the stock market rebounding after a flurry of major announcements on Sunday. 

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 lags behind Europe in stock markets’ response to US

US stocks are set to open higher later on Monday, while Europe’s major markets are all up in trading

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s China deal leaves world exposed to trade policy lottery

Beijing and London’s pacts with US create exceedingly uncertain future

Politics

3 w. ago Trump – live updates: US strikes trade deal with China as tariffs slashed for 90 days

Tariffs will drop 115 percent after weeks of escalation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said

Economics

3 w. ago US and China agree deal to slash tariffs for 90 days in bid to end massive trade war

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says reciprocal tariffs will come down over 100 percentage points to 10%

Economics

3 w. ago Trump live: US strikes trade deal with China as tariffs slashed for 90 days

Tariffs will drop 115 percent after weeks of escalation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said

Economics

3 w. ago Trade war breakthrough as US and China agree to slash tariffs by 115% for 90 days

Speaking in Geneva, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both countries would slash their reciprocal tariffs by 115 per cent for 90 days.

Events