50 h. ago US tariff war hurting trade with China; M&S tells hundreds of warehouse agency staff not to come to work after cyber

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBack in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry has said President Xi Jinping had not spoken to Donald Trump.The ministry also denied that the two administrations are in talks to strike a tariff deal, which contradicts a claim from Trump last week.“As far as I know, the two heads of state have not called each other recently,“I would like to reiterate that China and the U.S. have not conducted consultations or negotiations on the tariffs issue. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago FTSE 100 claws back week of strong gains after Trump tariff nosedive

The FTSE 100 delivered a week of solid gains ahead of Easter as unpredictable US trade policy continues to drive volatility in global markets.

Politics

1 week ago Temu and Shein warn of US price hikes from next week due to Trump tariffs

Shein says ‘operating expenses have gone up’ as both Chinese retailers also drop ad spending in USTwo of China’s largest fast fashion retailers, Temu and Shein, have warned US customers that they will face price hikes from next week, as Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs on Chinese imports come into force.Both companies will be hit by new import levies, which will mean taxes of up to 145% being applied to Chinese goods. They will also suffer from Trump’s cancellation of so-called “de minimus” exemption, under which shipments worth less than $800 (£600) could be imported duty-free. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Nvidia expects to take $5.5bn hit as US tightens AI chip export rules to China

Shares plunge as firm says H20 chip, designed for Chinese market to comply with controls, will now need special licenceNvidia has said it expects a $5.5bn (£4.1bn) hit after Donald Trump’s administration barred the chip designer from selling crucial artificial intelligence chips in China, sending shares in one of the US’s most valuable companies plunging in after-hours trading.The company said in an official filing late on Tuesday that its H20 AI chip, which was designed specifically for the Chinese market to comply with export controls, would now require a special licence to sell there for the “indefinite future”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago How YOU can invest like the legendary Warren Buffett: Of the world's 10 richest billionaires he's the only one who grew his fortune last week... here's how

As investors worldwide nursed huge losses in the wake of US President Trump's tariff wars last week, one escaped relatively unscathed.

Economics

2 w. ago Price hike on Shein? How Trump tariffs could shift the US’s love of fast fashion

Trump ended the ‘de-minimis’ rule while launching a trade war with China – which will make retail giants such as Temu more expensive, experts sayAfter a chaotic week of flip-flopping tariff policies, cheap clothes from China are nearly certain to face a steep price hike soon – prompting concern among fast fashion retailers and potentially pushing consumers to look for other alternatives.As part of a package of global tariff policies announced on “liberation day” last week, Donald Trump signed an executive order that ended a duty-free exemption for low-priced goods to enter the US from China and Hong Kong. Known as the “de-minimis” rule, packages under $800 do not qualify for any taxes or tariffs on the goods and are inspected minimally at the border. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Criticise Trump’s tariffs all you like, but western sanctions aren’t any better – just ask Syria | Simon Jenkins

This form of economic aggression is macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to give it upAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s tariffs are ruinous, but are western sanctions any better? Just look at Syria | Simon Jenkins

Sanctions as a form of economic aggression are macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to call a haltAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in th...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump claims TikTok deal still on the table as China tariffs threaten to derail agreement

Trump announced a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs this week, except for those placed on China

Economics

2 w. ago Where do the tariffs stand now? Mapping Trump’s week of market chaos

The president’s week of upheaval drew to a close after he issued a 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs

Politics

2 w. ago Tesla CEO Elon Musk becomes severe casualty of Trump’s tariff war after losing $44bn in one week

A bitter rift appears to be forming between the world’s richest man and Republican president over his controversial trade policy

Economics

3 w. ago Will Trump’s tariffs tip the world into recession? – podcast

As countries reel from the Trump tariffs, can a global recession still be avoided? Richard Partington reportsJust after midnight on Tuesday, EDT time, the wall of tariffs Donald Trump announced last week came into effect. The new system upends decades of precedent from the world’s strongest economy and has sent global markets reeling.The Guardian’s senior economics correspondent, Richard Partington, explains to Michael Safi the dynamics of a market crash and a trade war and how together they may contribute to the onset of a global recession. However, as he makes clear, the world is not yet in that worst-case scenario and steps can still be taken to minimise the risk. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago China vows to 'fight to the end' over Trump's tariffs and accuses the US of 'making mistake on top of mistake' with its 'bullying'

China, the world's second-largest economy, responded to Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs last week by imposing 34% rates on US imports, directly mirroring the US President's move

Politics

3 w. ago Netanyahu discusses Gaza and tariffs with Trump at White House meeting

President says the pair had a ‘great discussion’ while prime minister says Israel will eliminate trade deficit with USThe Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met with Donald Trump on Monday for the second time since the US president’s return to office, marking the first effort by a foreign leader to negotiate a deal after Trump announced sweeping tariffs last week.Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office, Netanyahu said Israel would eliminate the trade deficit with the US. “We intend to do it very quickly,” he told reporters, adding that he believed Israel could “serve as a model for many countries who ought to do the same”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Will the tariffs lead to a recession? Here's how to know if we're in one

President Donald Trump’s sharp tariff hikes last week have sent the stock market into a tailspin, raised alarm bells among Wall Street executives, and heightened many economists’ worries that the U.S. could tip into recession

Economics

3 w. ago Asian share markets routed in early trading as Trump says ‘you have to take medicine’

US president tells reporters the levies are ‘medicine to fix something’ as Nikkei tumbles nearly 9% in early trading, worsening huge losses from last week’s announcementMarkets react to Trump tariffs – live updatesDonald Trump said foreign governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs that he characterised as “medicine,” as markets in Asia plunged in early trading on Monday.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late on Sunday, the US president indicated he was not concerned about market losses that have already wiped out nearly $6tn in value from US stocks. “I don’t want anything to go down. But sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Global stock market meltdown leaves Wall Street fearing repeat of 1987's Black Monday amid Trump tariff fallout

Fears are growing that Wall Street is about to see Black Monday 2 tomorrow - which would make last week's sell-off caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs look tiny. 

Politics

3 w. ago 'Black Monday 2' fears rise as stock futures sink sharply again as Trump tariff fallout escalates

Fears are growing that Wall Street is about to see Black Monday 2 tomorrow - which would make last week's sell-off caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs look tiny. 

Politics

3 w. ago Sir Keir Starmer to announce new financial support after Trump news

The Prime Minister will make a statement this week in the wake of the damaging Trump Tariffs

Politics

3 w. ago Retirees keep their eyes on the economy as Trump's tariffs roil financial markets

With financial markets roiling as President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariffs this week, the economy has been top of mind for many retirees

Economics