3 d. ago US treasury secretary urges Fed chair to cut interest rates as Trump claims shrinking economy isn’t related to tariff war – live

Bessent urges Powell to cut interest rates, echoing Trump’s demands; US president claims economic slowdown ‘nothing to do with tariffs’Trump’s tariffs: ‘It feels like Covid 2.0. So many things are getting disrupted’The Trump administration is seeking to strip collective bargaining rights from large swaths of federal employees in a test case union leaders argue is part of a broader attack on US labor unions that could land before the US Supreme Court.A Trump win would deliver a severe blow to labor unions in the US. Some 29.9% of all federal workers were represented by labor unions in 2024 compared to 11.1% for all US workers. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago China ‘may exempt some US goods’ from tariffs; British retail sales beat forecasts – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsRachel Reeves used a brief speech to US investors at the British ambassador’s lavish residence in Washington last night, to acknowledge some of the downsides of globalisation, in a nod to Donald Trump’s stance.As she prepares to meet Treasury secretary Scott Bessent today, Reeves said China’s entry into the global trading system 25 years ago had created “huge benefits in terms of cheaper goods, more innovation and more opportunities to trade”.“They voted for change because they didn’t think that the economy worked well enough for them and their families. They saw the erosion of good jobs that paid a decent wage. They saw industries that once powered their towns disappear. And as elected politicians we have to respond to that”.“Some may say that under this very consequential president we have at the moment, this is a rollercoaster period and therefore a challenge to us all. But we would say that a rollercoaster is fine, as lon...

Economics

1 week ago Elon Musk in White House 'WWE' style shouting match before stepping back from DOGE

Elon Musk has reportedly had a bust up with another key figure in the Trump administration, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, at the White House where witnesses described the pair going "chest-to-chest"

Events

1 week ago Trump sends the markets wild with promise for 'fair' trade deal with China amid growing uncertainty

Markets rose Wednesday as Trump and his Treasury secretary spoke of the potential of a deal with China amid a trade war, plus the president saying he didn't plan to fire the head of the Fed.

Economics

1 week ago The Latest: Treasury secretary says trade war with China is not ‘sustainable’

U.S. markets opened with big gains Wednesday amid clear signs of relief after President Donald Trump said he would not attempt to fire the head of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects a “de-escalation” from unsustainable tariffs against China in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies

Events

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Pressure mounts on chancellor as UK borrowing soars ahead of Trump trade showdown

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor in Washington for major Trump trade deal talks

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor under pressure to secure Trump trade deal

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor under pressure to secure Trump trade deal amid tax hike fears

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Economics

1 week ago US Treasury secretary says trade war with China is not 'sustainable'

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Tuesday speech that the ongoing tariffs showdown with China is unsustainable and expects a “de-escalation” in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies

Events

3 w. ago Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary shaping Trump’s trade war

The former hedge fund manager is being asked to lead negotiations with foreign governments amid America’s self-inflicted hit

Politics

3 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

3 w. ago Inside Trump's whirlwind decision to pause tariffs and how it stunned even his own staff

President Donald Trump sat down with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning to plot a way out of the trade war.

Politics

3 w. ago Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent fires back at 'loser' China in all

President Donald Trump said other world leaders are desperate to deals with him as his tariffs come into effect.

Politics

4 w. ago Senior Trump officials give conflicting lines on tariffs after markets turmoil

Commerce secretary insists on CBS that tariffs will ‘stay in place’ as treasury secretary tells NBC negotiation is possibleSenior officials within Donald Trump’s administration officials gave conflicting messages on Sunday about the US president’s global tariffs that have caused a meltdown in stock markets, prompted warnings of a world recession and provoked rare expressions of dissent from within his Republican party.Cabinet members fanned out across Sunday’s political talk shows armed with talking points on Trump’s 10% across-the-board tariff on almost all US imports, with higher rates targeted at about 60 countries. If the intention was to calm nerves with a clear statement of intent, then it backfired as top officials gave starkly contrasting signals. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Era of globalisation ‘at an end’, says UK minister, as countries mull tariff responses – live updates

Darren Jones says age of ‘fast-fashion or cheap TVs’ is over and people should be prepared for tougher times to come amid market turmoilStarmer orders economic reset amid Trump’s tariff mayhemDarren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, was also interviewed by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning. He said the UK had been “treated differently to the European Union” as a result of Brexit. As a reminder, Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on UK goods but a 20% tariff on EU goods.Asked if the lower 10% tariff imposed by the US was a “Brexit dividend”, the chief secretary to the Treasury said:It is, there’s one. I’ve struggled to find one in the past but there is one we’ve ended up with.It’s good, but what we’re not going to do is pick or trade off the United States or the European Union.People should be prepared for things to be tougher in the global economy.Globalisation has “come to an end” in the wake of the new tariffs. Asked if the era of “cheap fast-fashion or cheap TVs” was over,...

Politics