Netanyahu to visit White House amid Gaza ceasefire talks
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Powys County Times
7 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Trump seeks to pressure trading partners to make deals before tariffs deadline
The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on trading partners to make new deals before a Wednesday deadline, with plans for the US to start sending letters warning countries that higher tariffs could begin on August 1. That furthers the uncertainty for businesses, consumers and America's trading partners, and questions remain about which countries will be notified, whether anything will change in the days ahead and whether President Donald Trump will once more delay imposing the rates. Mr Trump and his top trade advisers say he could extend the time for deal-making but they insist the administration is applying maximum pressure on other nations. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CBS's Face The Nation on Sunday that Mr Trump would decide when it was time to give up on negotiations. 'The United States is always willing to talk to everybody about everything,' Mr Hassett said. 'There are deadlines, and there are things that are close, so maybe things will push back past the deadline or maybe they won't. In the end the president is going to make that judgment.' Stephen Miran, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, likewise said countries negotiating in good faith and making concessions could 'sort of, get the date rolled'. The steeper tariffs that Mr Trump announced on April 2 threatened to overhaul the global economy and lead to broader trade wars. A week later, after the financial markets had panicked, his administration suspended for 90 days most of the higher taxes on imports just as they were to take effect. The negotiating window until July 9 has led to announced deals only with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Mr Trump imposed elevated tariff rates on dozens of nations that run meaningful trade surpluses with the US, and a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries in response to what he called an economic emergency. There are separate 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and a 25% tariff on vehicles. Since April, few foreign governments have set new trade terms with Washington as the Republican president demanded. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that his administration might be sending out letters as early as Saturday to countries spelling out their tariff rates if they did not reach a deal, but that the US would not start collecting those taxes until August 1. On Sunday, he said he would send out letters starting Monday — 'could be 12, could be 15' — to foreign governments reflecting planned tariffs for each. 'We've made deals also,' Mr Trump told reporters before heading back to the White House from his home in New Jersey. 'So we'll get to have a combination of letters, and some deals have been made.' He and his advisers have declined to say which countries would receive the letters. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected the idea that August 1 was a new deadline and declined to say what might happen on Wednesday. 'We'll see,' Mr Bessent said on CNN's State Of The Union. 'I'm not going to give away the playbook.' He said the US was 'close to several deals' and predicted several big announcements over the next few days. He gave no details. 'I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly,' Mr Bessent said.
Powys County Times
7 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
‘Discussions continue' over US steel tariffs deal ahead of deadline, says No 10
Downing Street would not say whether the Government was confident that a deal to eliminate American tariffs on UK steel would be struck as Donald Trump's deadline looms. The US president has said he plans to start implementing tariffs on the US's trade partners on July 9. The UK has already managed to negotiate a deal with the US which eliminates the threat of tariffs to British car and aeroplane manufacturers. But a reprieve for the steel industry is yet to be finalised, leaving open the threat that the current 25% tariff rate could rise to 50% after the July 9 deadline. Mr Trump is reportedly stepping up pressure on countries who could soon be subject to the tariffs, urging them to negotiate trade deals with the US. But amid signs of confusion within the US administration, trade secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested America's trade partners will see the levies begin on August 9, after receiving a letter outlining them on July 9. Asked if the Government was confident a deal would be reached on UK steel, a No 10 spokesman said: 'Our work with the US continues to get this deal implemented as soon as possible. 'That will remove the 25% tariff on UK steel and aluminium, making us the only country in the world to have tariffs removed on these products. 'The US agreed to remove tariffs on these products as part of our agreement on May 8. It reiterated that again at the G7 last month. The discussions continue, and will continue to do so.' Pressed again whether ministers were confident British producers would not be hit by the 50% tariff, the Downing Street spokesman said: 'As I say, discussions continue. 'We have very close engagement with the US, and the US has been clear that it wants to keep talking to us to get the best deal for businesses and consumers on both sides.'
Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gaza ceasefire could happen this week, while Israeli forces kill 100 in 24 hours
More than 100 Gazans were killed in just 24 hours as the Israeli PM jets into Washington to discuss shaky ceasefire proposals - while his warplanes batter Yemeni ports in a major attack against Houthi rebels Israeli forces killed at least 100 Palestinians in 24 hours even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew into Washington to discuss a Gaza ceasefire. His warplanes were also pounding Yemeni Houthi targets overnight after warning residents to flee for their lives as large-scale air-strikes had been ordered. US President Donald Trump has suggested a ceasefire - supposedly lasting 60 days in exchange for half of the hostages - could happen as soon as this week. At least 82 Gazans were killed on Sunday and on Monday the death toll shot up over 100 as Israeli troops drove on with their assaults, despite the Hamas- Israel talks. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are also thought to be taking place in Doha, Qatar today, possibly hammering out plans to release more Palestinian prisoners. Israel's military launched airstrikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks came after a Sunday assault which targeted a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, forcing its crew to abandon it. A security firm said bomb-carrying drone boats appeared to hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. A renewed Iran-backed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance. Iran is also weighing up whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most sensitive atomic sites. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. It released footage showing an F-16 launching from Israel for the strike, which came after the Israeli military issued a warning for the area. The Israel Defence Force s aid: "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies.' The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. The IDF added: "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities.' The Houthis's military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis. Israel has repeatedly attacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz t hreatened: "What's true for Iran is true for Yemen." Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions." The Houthis responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the two missiles launched by the Houthis, but they appeared to make impact, though no injuries have been reported. Sirens sounded in the West Bank. Saree on Monday claimed launching missiles and drones targeting Israel in its attack. He said: "We are fully prepared for a sustained and prolonged confrontation, to confront hostile warplanes and to counter attempts to break the naval blockade imposed by our armed forces on the enemy.' The Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors.
