logo
Trump blocks California's ban on sales of new gasoline-powered cars

Trump blocks California's ban on sales of new gasoline-powered cars

NHK13-06-2025
US President Donald Trump has signed congressional resolutions to block California's ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars. California Governor Gavin Newsom has reacted sharply to the move.
In 2022, California decided to ban the sale of gas-powered and hybrid cars entirely in the state by 2035. The administration of former President Joe Biden approved the bill in December last year.
But the Republican-led Congress passed the resolution in May, reversing the Biden administration's approval.
Trump signed the resolutions on Thursday, calling the California plan "a disaster."
In response, Newsom said, "We won't let this illegal action by Trump and Republicans in the pockets of polluters stand in the way of commonsense policy to clean our air, protect the health of our kids and compete on the global stage."
The governor has reportedly directed state officials to find new ways to promote electric and other clean-energy vehicles.
Trump and Newsom have also been at odds over a federal roundup of immigrants in Southern California.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Japan-US trade deal could lessen impact on Japanese automakers by $11bn
Japan-US trade deal could lessen impact on Japanese automakers by $11bn

Nikkei Asia

time12 minutes ago

  • Nikkei Asia

Japan-US trade deal could lessen impact on Japanese automakers by $11bn

Some automakers, including Honda, are moving production of some vehicles from Japan to the U.S. to mitigate the impact of tariffs. © Reuters RYOSUKE HANADA TOKYO -- The new Japan-U.S. trade deal reduces the tariff burden on Japan's seven big automakers by an estimated 1.6 trillion yen ($10.9 billion), but the 15% duties they now face -- while down from the 27.5% imposed earlier this year -- remain far higher than the 2.5% they saw before President Donald Trump started imposing new tariffs. In April, Trump added 25 percentage points to the basic 2.5% U.S. tariff rate on imported cars. Japan exported nearly 1.37 million automobiles to the U.S. in 2024, accounting for more than 30% of the country's auto exports, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association reports.

Japan and US Agree on ‘Massive' Trade Deal
Japan and US Agree on ‘Massive' Trade Deal

Tokyo Weekender

time4 hours ago

  • Tokyo Weekender

Japan and US Agree on ‘Massive' Trade Deal

In a long-anticipated announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed a new trade agreement with Japan on Tuesday, calling it a 'massive' win for both countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba confirmed the news the next morning. He welcomed the deal, saying it was 'the lowest figure to date among countries with a surplus with the US.' The deal marks a significant shift in bilateral trade, but not without costs for Japan. While the agreement eases immediate trade tensions, Japan made several high-value concessions in exchange for relatively limited tariff relief. List of Contents: Tariff Relief at a Price Strategic Gains Amid Uneven Terms Related Posts Tariff Relief at a Price At the heart of the deal is a tariff rollback: Japanese carmakers, who had been bracing for 25% duties, will now face a 15% rate. Ishiba described the deal positively, but the reduced tariff still represents a significant burden compared to previous trade terms. In contrast, a recent US-UK agreement set a 10% cap for a limited number of British vehicles. The US made no firm commitments beyond the tariff reduction. Japan, on the other hand, agreed to invest $550 billion into American industries such as AI, semiconductors, shipbuilding and clean energy, designed to deepen bilateral ties but also ease Washington's economic security concerns. Strategic Gains Amid Uneven Terms The deal also includes assurances that Japan will not be treated unfavorably in future US tariffs on sensitive goods, such as pharmaceuticals and advanced technology. On agriculture, Japan also agreed to buy more US rice within its existing 770,000-ton import quota. Japan's chief negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, concluded the final round of talks in Washington this week. 'Mission accomplished,' he posted on X after meeting with US officials. Markets welcomed the news. The Nikkei 225 jumped over 1,300 points , passing the 41,000 mark for the first time in a year, with automakers leading the surge. Despite concerns about fairness, the agreement is Japan's 'best compromise at this stage,' Shigeto Nagai from research firm Oxford Economics told BBC News . Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Shigeru Ishiba Denies Rumors He Will Resign at the End of August Trump Hits Japan and South Korea With 25% Tariffs Sanseito, Explained: The Alarming Rise of Japan's Far-Right Movement

Britain and Europe are changing together
Britain and Europe are changing together

Japan Times

time7 hours ago

  • Japan Times

Britain and Europe are changing together

Many state visits are empty, symbolic acts that have little to no policy content or lasting significance. But every now and then, such a visit changes the shape of international relations. Could French President Emmanuel Macron's recently concluded trip to London be one of them? Macron's recent three-day trip, the first state visit to the United Kingdom by a European Union head of state since Brexit in 2020, had plenty of pomp and pageantry. But it also focused on policy and politics, which reflects a profound shift in the U.K.'s circumstances since leaving the EU. During the upheaval of the Brexit psychodrama, there was little interest in constructive exchange, and the U.K.'s relationship with Europe remained defined by its lurching departure from the bloc. But nearly a decade on, Donald Trump is back in the White House and has launched a trade war on the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shredded the European security order. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has resorted to threats of economic coercion — a striking reversal from the 'golden era' of U.K.-China relations proclaimed in 2015. Even more dramatic, perhaps, are the changes in the EU. The big policy initiatives launched during Macron's U.K. visit reflect the forces that are turning the bloc on its head. First, the EU is moving from a peace project to a war union. For most of its existence, the EU sought peace through economic integration. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reoriented the bloc toward security — a goal that has taken on greater urgency since Trump cast doubt on the United States' commitment to collective security on the continent. There is broad support for this new orientation. According to a recent opinion poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, many Europeans favor increased defense spending, conscription and the development of a European or national nuclear deterrent. Against this backdrop, Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a bold first step toward establishing an independent nuclear deterrent with the Northwood Declaration, in which they agreed that 'there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by our two nations.' A second major change is the development of 'securonomics.' The EU economy is under pressure from Trump's tariffs and China's export restrictions on magnets and critical minerals. EU policymakers now talk of de-risking, diversifying and deepening the single market, rather than pursuing free-trade agreements. While the U.K. has made it clear that it will not rejoin the single market or the customs union, the question is whether it can persuade the EU that it can be counted on to help the bloc achieve its new trade goals or whether it will be given unfriendly treatment because it is seen as posing a risk to those objectives. Domestic politics in Europe has also undergone a rapid transformation. It has been fascinating to watch Macron — once a poster boy for liberal universalism — reinvent himself as a champion of secure borders and protectionism, while taking a tougher stance on crime. This volte-face has seen mainstream European politicians shift focus toward defending national sovereignty — from Russia, China, Trump and migration — while they try to contain populist parties such as Marine Le Pen's National Rally and Alternative fur Deutschland. That is the backdrop for the ground-breaking deal that Starmer and Macron signed on migration returns. Starmer's approach to Europe is a marked improvement from that of former Conservative prime ministers Boris Johnson (who compared the EU to Napoleon and Hitler) and Liz Truss (who questioned whether Macron was a friend or a foe). Starmer has proved himself, particularly with his deft diplomacy on Ukraine, to be a reliable partner and stakeholder, regaining the trust of EU institutions and member states. One senior German policymaker told me how impressed he was by the U.K. filling the leadership vacuum created by Trump's disregard for Ukraine. In other words, the U.K. is widely seen in Europe as being 'part of the team' again. The EU-U.K. summit in May provided a clear framework for deepening the relationship, not least through a Security and Defense Partnership that paves the way for British participation in European defense programs. But the U.K. government has remained far too cautious in other areas. Most notably, Starmer has been careful not to cross the Labour Party's self-imposed red lines: no freedom of movement, no customs union and no single market. Future historians may well wonder why Starmer did not aim higher. The changing international environment offers Starmer a clear opportunity to redraw Europe's political map, which would establish him as one of Britain's most consequential leaders. But to do so, Starmer must convince British voters that today's Europe is a different creature from the one they imagine: a defense community that is more focused on safeguarding the continent than on transcending the nation-state. And he must explain how the U.K. can help build this new European security order, so long as it banishes the Brexit mindset. As a post-liberal Europe emerges, Britain must stop clinging to the past and seize the chance to shape the continent's future in a way that advances its interests. That requires acknowledging that both the EU and the U.K. have entered a new era. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, is the author of "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict" (Bantam Press, 2021). © Project Syndicate, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store