6 h. ago Will Keir Starmer get ANYTHING out of Donald Trump's visit? Steel industry misery as deal to slash US tariffs is abandoned despite PM's boasts

Little more than four months on from the Prime Minister boasting of his 'fantastic' deal with Donald Trump, it was revealed that punitive levies on British steel will remain.

Economics

8 h. ago Trump’s tariffs have hurt tea exports to the US, says Fortnum & Mason boss

Tom Athron says stricter rules on country of origin and end of ‘de minimis’ exemptions are up and sales downThe boss of upmarket retailer Fortnum & Mason has said Donald Trump’s trade war has hit sales of its luxury tea exports to the US and forced up prices.Tom Athron, the London-based retailer’s chief executive, said Trump’s stricter country of origin rules and the end of the “de minimis” cost exemption for parcels worth less than $800 (£587) had hit customers across the Atlantic. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Keir Starmer makes embarrassing climbdown as he is forced to abandon hope of a UK 0% tariff on steel exports ahead of Trump visit

Whitehall sources said months of lobbying had failed to persuade the White House to implement an agreement to slash tariffs on British steel exports to zero, despite one being announced.

Politics

22 h. ago The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s Ukraine strategy: talking tough and doing very little isn’t working | Editorial

Last week’s incursion into Polish territory by Russian drones was an ominous escalation. But the US president keeps finding reasons not to actBack in January, with Donald Trump’s campaign promises to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” still fresh in the memory, there was genuine unease in Moscow over the US president’s intentions. When Mr Trump mused that “high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions” on Russia might be necessary, one high-profile and pro-war Moscow commentator wrote: “It’s better to prepare for the worst. Soon, we’ll look back on Biden’s term with nostalgia, like a thaw.”How wrong can you be? Since then, the US president has repeatedly talked the talk without coming close to walking the walk. In May, when Vladimir Putin rejected a 30-day ceasefire, and peace talks in Turkey went nowhere, a “bone-crushing” US sanctions package failed to materialise. An 8 August deadline for Mr Putin to agree to a ceasefire somehow morphed into a red carpet welcome in Alas...

Politics

26 h. ago Donald Trump set to arrive in UK as John Swinney warns Scotch whisky trade deal may not be reached

US officials have reportedly warned any trade deals announced this week by Keir Starmer and Donald Trump are unlikely to include a reduction in tariffs on Scotch.

Events

27 h. ago Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes

Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school purchases, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs are starting to hurt the job market and lead to price hikes

Economics

31 h. ago 'Very real risk' Labour turmoil will jeopardise John Swinney's efforts on US whisky tariffs with Donald Trump

First Minister John Swinney says the UK government is too distracted to deliver for the people of Scotland.

Politics

53 h. ago Russia and Belarus carry out military drills amid rising tension – Europe live

Allies rehearsing scenarios of an attack on Belarus in the first such exercises since Russia invaded UkraineEU trade spokesperson Olof Gill also defended the EU’s sanctions from criticism that they are not going far enough.He said:“Our assessment is that the successive sanctions packages we have brought forward, which includes new initiatives plus additional initiatives to make the previous one stronger if that makes sense, our assessment is that those sanctions are working. The economic evidence shows that they are having an impact on the Russian economy, and that is precisely what they intended to do. “Phasing out of Russian fossil fuels is something that we have been doing and are doing actively for a number already of years, since the beginning of the war, with a very clear roadmap, with now even a clear legislative proposal in order to phase out the remaining gas still entering the EU. This is something on which the EU has been very actively and we have a very, very clear roadm...

Events

3 d. ago MPs urge maximum pressure on US over tariffs ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit

The Commons Business and Trade Committee also urged the Government to seal a deal on aluminium and pharmaceuticals.

Politics

4 d. ago Trump ‘ready’ to impose sanctions on Russia if Nato nations stop buying its oil

In Truth Social post, US president also suggests members consider imposing tariffs of 50% to 100% on ChinaDonald Trump has said he is ready to impose sanctions on Moscow, but on the condition that all Nato allies agree to completely halt purchases of Russian oil and implement their own sanctions.He also suggested members of the transatlantic alliance consider imposing tariffs of 50% to 100% on China for its purchases of Russian petroleum as a way to help end the war. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump makes stunning threat to NATO allies over oil as he calls for sweeping new tariffs

Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday morning to rebuke NATO allies for buying oil from Russia, despite their opposition to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Politics

6 d. ago Inflation spiked in August as Trump’s tariffs went into full effect ... and that’s not all the bad news for economy

Increases in the costs of food, shelter and energy caused inflation to spike and increase the likelihood of an interest rate cut

Economics

6 d. ago Inflation spiked in August as Trump’s tariffs went into full effect

Inflation rose 0.4 percent in the month of August and 2.9 percent in the past 12 months, a sign that President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs have begun to affect the larger global economy.

Economics

6 d. ago US inflation rises in August as companies push Trump tariffs cost onto consumers

New CPI update shows prices increased 2.9% over the last year, but Wall Street optimistic Fed will cut interest ratesInflation rose slightly in August as companies continued to push the cost of tariffs onto consumers.The newest update to the consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, showed that prices increased 2.9% over the last year – the highest since January. Core CPI, which excludes energy and food costs, stayed stable at 3.1% after going up in July. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago US inflation rises in August as firms pass Trump tariffs cost on to consumers

New CPI update shows prices increased 2.9% over the last year, but Wall Street optimistic Fed will cut interest ratesInflation rose slightly in August as companies continued to push the cost of tariffs on to consumers.The newest update to the consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, showed that prices increased 2.9% over the last year – the highest since January. Core CPI, which excludes energy and food costs, stayed stable at 3.1% after going up in July. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago European Central Bank expected to keep rates on hold as economy weathers Trump's tariffs

Inflation is back under control, and the European economy is weathering Trump’s tariff onslaught better than expected

Economics

6 d. ago Trump tariffs ‘clearly hitting‘ as US inflation rises to 2.9%; ECB leaves interest rates on hold – business live

Trump tariffs ‘clearly hitting‘ as US inflation rises to 2.9%; ECB leaves interest rates on hold – business live  The Guardian

Economics

6 d. ago Charlie Kirk shooting: Trump blames ‘radical left’, but does not mention attacks on Democrats as search for suspect continues – follow live

In Oval Office address, Trump vows retribution, but neglects to mention murder of Melissa Hortman, attack on Paul Pelosi and threats to Mike PenceFull report: Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot and killedAnalysis: Kirk’s death shows political violence now feature of US lifeCharlie Kirk: influential rightwing activist and trusted ally of TrumpA jump in greenhouse gas pollution in the US helped push global emissions higher in the first half of this year. This could be an omen of what’s to come, with Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda set to significantly slow down the emissions cuts required to avoid disastrous climate impacts, a new forecast has found.The “most abrupt shift in energy and climate policy in recent memory” that has occurred since Trump re-entered the White House will have profound consequences for the global climate crisis by slowing the pace of US emissions cuts by as much as half the rate achieved over the past two decades, the Rhodium Group forecast states. Continue rea...

Politics

6 d. ago Mexico's new tariffs on Asian imports aim to counter US trade pressures

Mexican import taxes on more than 1,400 products from China and other Asian countries will be as high as 50%, as the country tries to shore up domestic production and pass on some of the Trump administration’s tariff pain

Events

6 d. ago The cup of tea at Clarence House that could change everything: Prince Harry's meeting with King Charles is the first tentative step on the road to reconciliation, insiders tell REBECCA ENGLISH

Fifty four minutes - and one cup of tea. Not enough to erase almost six years of hurt, not to mention tens of thousands of words of vitriol.

Politics