25 h. ago In Trump’s game of chicken, the EU cannot afford to back down | Nathalie Tocci

When threatened with US tariffs, Europe was initially bullish. But the influence of nationalist leaders sympathetic to Trump has caused a splitDonald Trump’s trade policy has been labelled “Taco” – “Trump always chickens out” – by his critics. But when it comes to his latest trade war with the EU, it’s Brussels that risks chickening out. The US and the EU have been negotiating for months on an agreement. This week Trump made the shock announcement that the US would hit the EU with punitive tariffs on goods at a crippling 30% rate from 1 August. This was in addition to separate steel and aluminium tariffs, and cars at even more punitive rates.Blindsided Brussels negotiators calculated the economic damage, and ministers talked about retaliation. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, warned that “all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests” would be taken. But so far, despite the tough words, the EU is holding back.Nathalie Tocci is a Guardian Europe columnist Cont...

Politics

36 h. ago Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick team up to promote energy investments in Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump and Sen. David McCormick of Pennsylvania are planning on announcing roughly $70 billion of energy investments at a new summit that focuses on energy and innovation

Politics

45 h. ago Kyiv hails US weapons deal as Moscow dismisses Trump’s sanctions threat

US president says he will send Ukraine Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles paid for by EU alliesTrump does deal with Nato allies to arm Ukraine and warns Russia of severe sanctionsPoliticians in Kyiv have welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement that billions of dollars worth of US military equipment will be sent to Ukraine, while officials in Moscow dismissed his threat of sanctions against Russia as hot air.In a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, at the White House, Trump said the US would send Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles, paid for by European allies. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago The Guardian view on Europe’s Trump challenge: Brussels must hold its nerve and think big | Editorial

A renewed threat of punitive tariffs from the White House is a reminder that the EU must invest in its own values in a volatile and transforming worldAs the world has grown used to Donald Trump delivering aggressive ultimatums that are then revised or watered down, the shock-and-awe effect of a presidential edict on Truth Social has somewhat diminished. On Saturday, Mr Trump unexpectedly announced that the United States would hit the European Union with swingeing tariffs on goods of 30% from 1 August. That certainly prompted urgent weekend discussions in Brussels, Paris and Berlin. But for now, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, is placing all countermeasures on hold, in the hope that what the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, described as “reasonable solutions” can be found.Given the stakes, betting on the success of a softly, softly approach to trade negotiations remains sensible. Mr Trump’s previous imposition of 25% tariffs on European carmakers ...

Politics

47 h. ago Voices: In a deeply weird NATO presser, ‘Daddy’ Trump made one announcement — and then another, and then another

NATO’s new golden boy accompanied the U.S. president on a verbal tour round Trump’s brain on Monday morning

Politics

50 h. ago Ceasefire prospects, joint drone production and strengthening air defences on table in US talks, Ukraine says – Europe live

Ukraine president says he had ‘productive’ meeting with US envoy with Trump announcement on Russia due to come later todayUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

51 h. ago Starmer to meet Trump in Scotland this month as demonstrations planned against state visit – UK politics live

PM to meet US president during private visit in July as Stop Trump Coalition announces protest planned for SeptemberAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Strengthening air defences, sanctions against Russia and procurement of weapons all on table in US talks, Zelenskyy says – Europe live

Ukraine president says he had ‘productive’ meeting with US envoy with Trump announcement on Russia due to come later todayUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Society

53 h. ago Donald Trump state visit: Everything we know as Buckingham Palace confirms date

The dates for Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK have been announced

Politics

58 h. ago US to send Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as furious Trump blasts two

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday he will send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Politics

65 h. ago King Charles schedules Trump state visit for when UK parliament is in recess

Buckingham Palace to host US president during party conferences removing chance of Commons addressKing Charles has invited Donald Trump for an unprecedented second state visit in September, scheduling the trip for three days when parliament is not sitting and removing the possibility of the US president addressing parliament.Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Trump would come to the UK from 17-19 September, soon after the House of Commons rises for its traditional break for the annual party conferences. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump announces 30% tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico

The fresh tariffs were announced in separate letters posted on Truth Social

Politics

4 d. ago Trump announces sweeping tariffs on America's biggest trading partners as he slams 'major threat to economy'

President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs to the US' biggest trading partner as he slammed that the trade deficit was a 'major threat' to America's economy.

Politics

4 d. ago Trump aide waited months to unload his TruthSocial stock. Then he sold hours before ‘Liberation Day’ tanked the markets

Dan Scavino sold the day before President Donald Trump officially announced reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners

Politics

5 d. ago Trump expected to resume weapons deliveries to Ukraine through Nato allies

President hints at ‘major announcement’ on Monday after halting arms shipments due to dwindling stockpilesUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump appears poised to deliver weapons to Ukraine by selling them first to Nato allies in a major policy shift for his administration amid frustrations with Vladimir Putin over stalling negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.During an interview with NBC News, Trump said he will probably have a “major announcement” on Russia on Monday and confirmed he had struck a deal with Nato leaders to supply weapons to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump expected to deliver weapons to Ukraine through Nato allies

President hints at ‘major announcement’ on Monday after halting arms shipments due to dwindling stockpilesDonald Trump appears poised to deliver weapons to Ukraine by selling them first to Nato allies in a major policy shift for his administration amid frustrations with Vladimir Putin over stalling negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.During an interview with NBC News, Trump said he will probably have a “major announcement” on Russia on Monday and confirmed he had struck a deal with Nato leaders to supply weapons to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Reeves ‘disappointed’ after UK economy unexpectedly shrinks for second month in a row

It followed a 0.3 per cent contraction in April, when US president Donald Trump announced tariffs

Politics

5 d. ago US set to be host to biggest sporting events with guests it doesn’t want | Emma John

Donald Trump is closing the borders even though the World Cup and 2028 Olympics will take place in his countryCall it big, beautiful timing. On Tuesday, Fifa announced it had taken an office in Trump Tower. On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced he would attend the Club World Cup final. And who could begrudge the US president a little sporting entertainment after the week he has had? Those Nobel peace prize applications don’t write themselves.Trump’s attendance at a tournament that we can be 95% sure he doesn’t understand is, doubtless, a huge coup and political victory for football. This is a sport that only a decade ago was openly considered un-American, scrawled into the rightwing commentator’s list of pet peeves between meteorologists and Judy Blume. Ann Coulter described soccer’s growing popularity as a “sign of the nation’s moral decay”. Glenn Beck likened it to Obamacare: “It doesn’t matter how you try to sell it to us, it doesn’t matter how many celebrities you get we want not...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump announces 35% tariffs on Canadian goods and threatens blanket increases on the rest of the world

The two nations have been locked in deep negotiations trying to settle the tariff war that broke out when Trump returned to office and announced plans to upend world trade.

Politics

5 d. ago UK economy shrinks for second month in a row after unexpected slump in May

It followed a 0.3 per cent contraction in April, when US president Donald Trump announced tariffs

Politics