All posts tagged: tariffs

At anti-Trump rally, Sánchez promises to ‘twist the arm’ of the global right – POLITICO

At anti-Trump rally, Sánchez promises to ‘twist the arm’ of the global right – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“We will twist the arm of the people who think they are completely untouchable,” Sánchez told the crowd. “The billionaires with greed that is unlimited. Those who speculate with houses of people,” he said. He singled out oligarchs “who want to get richer using our democracy and the mental health of our youngsters.” “When we progressives reach government, it is not to serve the elites — we put them in their place,” said Sánchez. He said the far right was “organizing internationally” but insisted their numbers betrayed weakness rather than strength. “They shout not because they are winning but because they know their time is about to be over,” he said. Some 6,000 left-leaning elected officials, policy analysts and activists attended the event in Barcelona. Organizers said the gathering would conclude with a joint declaration outlining coordinated action on shared priorities including inequality, climate and digital regulation. The gathering drew an unusually broad cast of heads of state and government, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Colombian President …

Don’t ‘overload’ US deal with extra demands, says EU trade boss – POLITICO

Don’t ‘overload’ US deal with extra demands, says EU trade boss – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“There is a clear preference on the U.S. side to stick to the deal as we agreed it. And it’s also their preference on our side,” Šefčovič said. In D.C. patience with the EU’s slowness in enacting the deal has worn thin. The commissioner only this week began negotiations with EU capitals and lawmakers to find a compromise on implementing the EU’s side of the bargain, under which the bloc would scrap all tariffs on U.S. industrial goods. The European Parliament has proposed several amendments to the two legal texts that would lower the U.S. tariffs: It added a so-called sunrise clause for the deal to kick in only after the U.S. reduces tariffs on products containing steel, and a sunset clause under which the deal would expire in March 2028. Asked about those conditions, Šefčovič said: “It’s very difficult to preclude the outcome of the negotiation. I just would like to have a clean result.” He added: “I very much appreciate the position of the Council,” referring to the endorsement by EU member countries …

Arts Groups Speak Out Against Potential New Tariffs

Arts Groups Speak Out Against Potential New Tariffs

Published by Jenni Sidey

President Donald Trump has said that tariff is “the most beautiful word,” and he has done his best to unilaterally impose these duties to correct what he sees as exploitative trade imbalances. In February, the United States Supreme Court struck down most of Trump’s tariffs on major trading partners Canada, Mexico, and China, ruling that Trump exceeded his authority when instituting sweeping tariffs under a 1977 law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Experts had told ARTnews that his tariffs would deeply affect the art industry, which breathed a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court ruling. Related Articles But true to form, Trump, who has tried again and again to impose these duties, wants another bite at the apple. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has launched an investigation, authorized by Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, into the economies of some 60 countries, aiming to discern whether their policies and practices fail to impose bans on the importation of goods produced with forced labor in such a way that would “burden …

Microsoft Surface PCs Are Getting Big Price Hikes, and the Cheaper Models Are Going Away

Microsoft Surface PCs Are Getting Big Price Hikes, and the Cheaper Models Are Going Away

Published by skeptic

If you’ve been waiting for Microsoft to update its Surface PC lineup—perhaps with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X2 Elite processors—I’ve got bad news for you. Microsoft is shaking up its PC lineup, but it’s doing so by instituting big price hikes. This means you’ll be paying at least $1,500 for Surface devices that launched at $1,000 just two years ago and that Microsoft no longer offers new Surface devices under $1,000 at all. The 12-inch Surface Pro tablet that originally started at $799 and the 13-inch Surface Laptop that launched at $899 now cost $1,049 and $1,149, respectively, a $250 price increase. The higher-end Surface Laptop and 13-inch Surface Pro from 2024 both started at $999 but increased to $1,199 in 2025 when their entry-level versions with 256 GB of storage were discontinued; both now start at $1,499, a $300 increase. As originally reported by Windows Central, Microsoft is blaming “recent increases in memory and component costs” for the price hikes. Supply shortages for RAM and storage chips in particular have been wreaking havoc with consumer tech all …

New UK steel tariffs threaten British manufacturing, industry warns – POLITICO

New UK steel tariffs threaten British manufacturing, industry warns – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The aim is to boost homegrown steelmakers’ production to meet half of domestic demand, serving strategically significant sectors such as defense, infrastructure and clean energy. The government set out details of the new quotas on 20 steel products, which take effect on July 1, ahead of the April Easter holiday weekend. “We were assured that steel products not made in the UK would be excluded from quotas,” Morley told Bryant in the letter dated April 9, calling the government’s moves “reckless” and arguing the new protections “could lead to critical material shortages for some industry sectors.” “With the utmost respect, I don’t think you will be in office when the long-term impact of this decision is played out and the devastating impact will be felt on steel importers, stockholders and downstream processors and manufacturers,” Morley said. The CBM represents 200 firms that employ about 40,000 people in the U.K. The new quotas will lead to “much higher costs for UK manufacturers,” he added, with these potentially being passed on to consumers. As steel importers brace …

Federal Court Hears New Case Against Trump’s Latest Global Tariffs

Federal Court Hears New Case Against Trump’s Latest Global Tariffs

Published by Sam Flores

The U.S. Court of International Trade, a specialized court in New York, heard oral arguments Friday in an attempt to overturn the temporary tariffs Trump turned to after the Supreme Court in February struck down his preferred choice — even bigger, even more sweeping tariffs. In his first attempt to impose global tariffs, the president last year invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), using the law to declare America’s longstanding trade deficit a national emergency and to impose double-digit worldwide taxes on imports to combat it. He interpreted the law broadly to justify tariffs of whatever size he wanted, whenever he wanted to impose them, on whatever country he wanted to target. But Trump had alternatives to IEEPA. The quickest option was Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose global tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days, after which congressional approval is needed to extend them. After his defeat at the Supreme Court, Trump quickly announced 10% Section 122 tariffs. He said he’d raise …

Merz und Klingbeil im Gipfel-Stress – POLITICO

Merz und Klingbeil im Gipfel-Stress – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Gestern wurde Lars Klingbeil (SPD) selbst ins Kanzleramt gerufen, heute ist er der Gastgeber. Ab 10 Uhr empfängt der Finanzminister die Spitzen der Wirtschaftsverbände und Gewerkschaften zum Krisentreffen. Das Ziel: Angesichts hoher Energiepreise und eines stagnierenden Wirtschaftswachstums Handlungsfähigkeit demonstrieren. Doch während Klingbeil mit dem Spritpreis-Deckel und der Übergewinnsteuer vorprescht, warnt Kanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU) vor „Gießkannen-Lösungen“ und Marktinterventionen. Zusammen mit Nikolaus Doll von WELT analysiert Rixa Fürsen, wie die Koalition vor einem Wochenende der Dauerkrisensitzungen steht und warum echte Entlastungen am riesigen Haushaltsloch zu scheitern drohen. In Islamabad beginnen die entscheidenden Gespräche zwischen den USA und dem Iran. Ziel ist es, aus der fragilen Waffenruhe ein dauerhaftes Kriegsende zu machen. Doch der 10-Punkte-Plan der Mullahs und die weiterhin gesperrte Straße von Hormuz sind massive Hürden. Hans von der Burchard ordnet das Setting ein und beleuchtet die Rolle Israels, dessen hartes Vorgehen im Libanon Kanzler Merz deutlich als Gefahr für den gesamten Friedensprozess kritisiert. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht Paul Ziemiak (CDU). Als Mitglied im Auswärtigen Ausschuss und Berichterstatter für den Libanon erklärt er, warum Bomben allein das …

Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100-percent in feud with neighbour Colombia | Government News

Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100-percent in feud with neighbour Colombia | Government News

Published by Sam Flores

The government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has surged its tariffs on the neighbouring country of Colombia to 100 percent, effective May 1. On Thursday, Ecuador’s Ministry of Production issued a statement blasting Colombia for failing to adequately address drug-trafficking and border security. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list It was the latest salvo in an ongoing cross-border dispute between the right-wing Noboa and his left-wing counterpart in Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who have been feuding for months. “After noting the lack of implementation of concrete and effective measures regarding border security on the part of Colombia, Ecuador is obliged to take sovereign actions,” the Ministry of Production wrote in its statement. It justified the tariff hike as a necessary incentive to “confront the presence of drug trafficking on the border”. “For Ecuador, security, as well as the fight against corruption and drug trafficking, are a non-negotiable priority,” the ministry said. “This measure reaffirms the country’s commitment to protecting its citizens and safeguarding the integrity of its territory.” Already, Noboa had slapped Colombia with …