Judge Rules Against Trump Administration on Passport Changes
The order from Judge Julia E. Kobick was a victory, at least temporarily, for the six plaintiffs, who she said were likely to prevail on their claim that a new policy by the Trump administration amounts to a form of unconstitutional sex discrimination under the Fifth Amendment, as well as the Administrative Procedures Act. The State Department adopted the new policy earlier this year to comply with an executive order from President Trump directing all government agencies to limit official recognition of transgender identity.
'The plaintiffs have been personally disadvantaged by the government — they can no longer obtain a passport consistent with their gender identity — because of their sex assigned at birth,' wrote Judge Kobick, who was nominated by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. 'The passport policy does indeed impose a special disadvantage on the plaintiffs due to their sex and the court therefore concludes that it discriminates on the basis of sex.'
The judge's order on Friday applied only to six transgender plaintiffs who were seeking new passports and had sued the Trump administration. The order does not apply to a seventh plaintiff, who already holds a passport, valid until 2028, with the sex marker that corresponds to his gender identity. The order, which will remain in place as the case goes forward, does not bar the government from the new passport requirement for other transgender people.
In court documents, the plaintiffs suing the government argued that a mismatch between the sex listed on their passport and the way they think of themselves and are perceived puts them at risk of suspicion and hostility that other Americans do not face. During the first several weeks of Mr. Trump's administration, two plaintiffs received passports with an 'F' or 'M' marker that was contrary to what they had requested. Another plaintiff learned that selecting an 'X' marker, indicating a nonbinary gender identity, was no longer an option in the application process, though it had been allowed since 2022.
The restrictions on passports are part of a broad effort by the Trump administration to minimize the role of gender identity in how American society organizes itself. In the first of a series of executive orders on transgender issues, Mr. Trump characterized people whose gender does not match the sex on their birth certificate as 'making a false claim.' Gender identity, the order states, is not 'a replacement for sex' and 'does not provide a meaningful basis for identification.'
Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs, several of whom live in Massachusetts.
At a hearing in Boston and in court documents, Trump administration lawyers argued that the government has a strong interest in passports that accurately reflect the holder's sex. The government also urged the judge not to overestimate the harm the plaintiffs would endure if she were to decline to issue an injunction.
'They remain free to travel with the passports they have now or with passports issued pursuant to the passport policy,' the government lawyers wrote. 'Most plaintiffs have been traveling with a passport reflecting their birth sex for their entire lives.'
But the judge on Friday said that the government had failed to demonstrate that its interest in maintaining uniform data on sex across government agencies bore a 'substantial relationship' to the new policy — the standard required to justify government policies or laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. She rejected the government's argument that the policy does not discriminate on the basis of sex because it applies to people of both sexes, saying that 'the focus of the inquiry must be whether, as applied to an individual, there exists a classification based on sex.'
The judge also found that State Department was likely to be found to have violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which requires that agency policies not be 'arbitrary and capricious.'
The State Department first allowed transgender people to change their sex marker in the early 1990s if they provided evidence that they had undergone transition surgery. In 2010, the department began accepting a letter from a doctor stating that an applicant had received 'appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition.' In 2021, the State Department issued the first passport with a gender-neutral marker — an 'X.' The next year, the Biden administration issued a new policy allowing passport applicants to choose 'M,' 'F' or 'X,' and replaced the term 'sex' with 'gender' on passport application forms, according to court documents.
'The State Department jettisoned its practice of more than 30 years with no explanation of the facts on which it premised its new determination and no consideration of the reliance interests in its prior policy,'' Judge Kobick wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fmr. Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross explains Trump's BLS suspicions
Tariffs on countries like Japan and Switzerland remain in place as Trump pushes to improve the US trade balance. Wilbur Ross, former US Commerce Secretary, joins Opening Bid to discuss trade policy and prospects for a China deal. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Opening Bid. So what's next on the trade deal front? Want to welcome back onto Opening Bid, longtime investor Wilbur Ross. Mr. Ross served as the U.S. Commerce Secretary in President Trump's first term and has had a close relationship with the president for decades. Mr. Secretary, always nice to get some time with you. Appreciate you coming on here. Um, before we get into the topic of trade, I'm sure you've seen what's been going on, uh, with the president, uh, dismissing or firing the BLS commissioner. You know, you're a longtime investor. Do you still believe that the economic data coming out of the government? Well, I think what is a little bit suspicious about the most recent BLS data is it came out shortly after the Fed FOMC meeting where Trump was hoping to get rates reduced. And clearly, if the two big revisions had come out before the meeting, it would have been more likely that the FOMC would cut rates. And that's the second time that that sort of suspicious behavior occurred. Remember, just before the presidential election, they also had two months of very good, uh, labor results, and then a day or two after the election, they made a massive correction in both months. Again, had that been out before the election, it would have been helpful to Trump. So, I can understand why he would be suspicious at least of the timing as to whether the underlying data themselves are correct. I I would really have no way to know. But it is a little spooky that there were two recent events, big numbers, big changes, uh, that could have helped Trump, had they been more timely. Do you believe, uh, Mr. Secretary, uh, before we get into the trade, I, like the president, noted on Friday after the numbers were hit, that this data is rigged, not only the jobs data, but perhaps other data that the government provides? Well, I think that's just speculation. Um, I certainly never tried to influence the data that came out of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is part of Department of Commerce. We never had any problems like that during my term. But we also never had the kinds of events that I just described to you that naturally make one a little suspicious. Mr. Secretary, on the on the trade front, um, since we last talked, tariffs have stayed in place for many countries. I mentioned Japan at 15%, Switzerland now at 39%. Are tariffs the new normal for the duration of the president's, uh, second term here in your view? Or is there an opportunity to take these 15% tariff rates that that Japan is now paying and negotiate them down further? Well, I think the president has made clear that if there are further reductions by other countries, that he would take that into account. So, his target is really improving our balance of trade. That's one of his major objectives. And that can either be done by holding back the trade of foreign countries through tariffs or by everybody cutting it together. So, I think trade policy will continue to be a centerpiece of his administration, but that doesn't mean everything will be increasing. What gets, uh, a deal with China over the finish line? Well, China, as you know, is going to be having their big party Congress very, very shortly. And, as you may know, I've felt for some time that it was unlikely that they would make a radical change in policy before the Party Congress. They don't normally do that. And, uh, I think that Congress is either this week or next week. So, we should know pretty soon if anything different will come out of that. But certainly, the news that was out today about the critical materials, uh, being still restricted, that was not very encouraging. Uh, Mr. Secretary, the fact that China has not solidified a deal with the U.S. on trade, is it likely then that its tariff rate will be higher than what we saw, uh, from the likes of Japan and, of course, the European Union? Well, it's up pretty high right now. And it's, um, I I don't know whether he would make it even higher, but, you know, once you get to about 30 or so percent on the tariffs, it doesn't make too much difference if you go beyond because 30 odd percent is very, very hard for a country to absorb. And as a result, 30 or so percent is the demarcation between are you going to be doing trade with them or not. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Swiss scramble to avert 'absurd' 39% tariff as deadline looms
With President Trump's sweeping tariffs set to come into full effect later this week, focus has centered on last-minute, behind-the-scenes efforts for countries trying to avert the potentially painful penalties. Switzerland's plight has garnered perhaps the most attention: It is facing "absurd" 39% tariffs on its exports to the US — most notably gold, coffee, and watches, among other items. The Swiss government held crisis talks over the weekend and is preparing a "more attractive offer" to the US. Last week, Trump signed an order to hike tariffs on Canada to 35%, while he kept a baseline minimum rate of 10% across all partners as the US is set to implement duties this week that will dramatically change the US trade landscape. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the latest round of tariffs are "pretty much set" and unlikely to change. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul has more details on the latest orders. You can see the new rates Trump is set to levy in the graphic below: In the past several days, Trump has unleashed a flurry of deals and trade moves leading up to his self-imposed deadline: Trump granted Mexico, the US's largest trading partner, a 90-day reprieve on higher tariffs. The US agreed to a trade deal South Korea. The agreement includes a 15% tariff rate on imports from the country, while the US will not be charged a tariff on its exports, Trump said. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Aug. 1. The president signed an order to end the de minimis exemption on low-value imports under $800, thereby applying tariffs from Aug. 29. Trump signed another order to impose a total of 50% tariffs on many goods from Brazil. However, it exempts key US imports like orange juice and aircraft parts that benefit Embraer (ERJ). The US and EU agreed to a trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on EU goods. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Trump presses India, China to halt Russian oil buys as trade talks roll on The US and China are making progress on a trade deal, but a major sticking point remains: Washington wants Beijing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia. China has pushed back, saying it will secure energy based on its own national interests. 'China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,' China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff. 'Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected pressure from President Trump, encouraging people to buy local goods. India has not told its oil refiners to stop purchasing Russian oil, and those decisions remain up to each company. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Swiss gold trading takes spotlight in trade talks with Trump President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Greer says US-China talks 'about halfway there' on rare earths US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swatch CEO calls on Swiss president to meet Trump to solve tariff dispute Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia agrees to boost tech, LNG purchases from US as part of trade deal Reuters reports: Read more here. Japan PM: Win-win trade deal with US may be hard to implement Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump tariff policy leaves some partners losers but few winners WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught left a lot of losers — from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. Read more here. Switzerland business minister says it could revise tariffs offer ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. Read more here. Greer: Latest tariffs 'pretty much set' and unlikely to change (Reuters) -The tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday. Ahead of a Friday deadline, Trump set rates including a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order. In trade talks since Trump returned to office, the White House has lowered some rates from levels initially announced, including halving import duties set last week as part of a deal with the European Union. Greer told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, however, that this would not be the case on the most recent round of tariffs. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," he said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Read more here. Trump introduces tiers for trade partners in latest approach to tariffs President Trump is moving forward on a new suite of tariff rates with an approach increasingly focused on grouping countries into tiers, as opposed to a previous approach of simply looking at the trade balance. The new approach remains heavily influenced by either a trade surplus or a deficit but has grown more complex — some might say more subjective — leading to some consolidation in rate levels and the lowering of rates for many countries to a key new standard of 15%. The new landscape was reflected in Thursday night's executive action announcing rates, which centered around the 15% rate set to be in place next week in about 40 countries. Countries facing that rate include major trading partners that recently struck deals, such as Europe and Japan, as well as smaller nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 100 countries were excluded altogether from this week's announcement, meaning their rate will stay at 10%. Meanwhile, a third group of about 30 countries will see higher rates ranging from 18% to 50%. Trump and his team are taking an approach that could simplify future negotiations and be more in line with global trade dynamics. Read more here. Berkshire's consumer goods companies feel the sting of Trump's tariffs Not even the Oracle of Omaha can avoid the pinch of President Trump's trade war, it seems. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday its consumer goods businesses felt the impact of Trump's trade policy, which raised tariffs on imported goods, Reuters reported: Read more here. US has 'makings of a deal' with China, Bessent says Treasury Secretary said on X that the US has "makings of a deal" with China. Reuters reports: Read more here. Nike, Deckers, On Running among footwear stocks under pressure as Trump outlines latest tariff plans Footwear companies like Deckers (DECK), Nike (NKE), and On Holding (ONON) are under pressure from President Trump's tariff plans, including new rates released Thursday evening that range from 10% to 40%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Stocks sink after Trump's latest tariff blitz Stocks came under pressure Friday after President Trump unveiled his plan for sweeping tariffs on almost all trading partners. Also weighing on sentiment were further signs of cracks in the labor market, punctuated by a weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday morning. You can check out the latest action and updates in our markets live blog. Trump's 40% penalty for tariff dodging missing key details President Trump's tariff surprises are far from over. The US president has threatened to slap an extra 40% tariff on any product that Washington determines to be transshipped via another country. Its believed that this may be punishment, aimed at stopping goods mainly from China dodging US duties. The penalty for transshipping, which is when goods are moved from one type of transport to another, while on the way to where they're going, was included within the White house announcement on Thursday. But countries still do not have all the details. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump unleashes massive tariffs on Swiss watches, pharma firms Switzerland's exporters are bracing for financial fallout from President Trump's 39% tariffs, one of the steepest rates globally in his escalating trade war. From watch makers to pharmaceutical companies the knock on effect of Trump's new tariffs will be felt. The new tariffs on Switzerland are part of a broader package announced by Trump on Thursday. But Swiss manufacturers warned on Friday that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk due to Trump's tariff hit. Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports do exclude the country's drug sector, but pharmaceutical companies Novartis AG (NVS) and Roche Holding (RHHBY) were one of the 17 global pharma firms to receive a letter from Trump demanding lower prices. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump unleashes delayed shock for global economy Four months after Donald Trump rattled markets by revealing steep tariff plans, his latest update has drawn a quieter response from investors. Still, average tariffs now sit at 15% - some of the highest since the 1930s - with rates rising further for countries that run trade surpluses with the US. So far, the global economy has absorbed the impact better than expected, but with the new tariffs kicking in that resilience may be tested. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Copper set for weekly drop on LME after Trump's tariff surprise Copper (HG=F) prices edged higher on Friday but were on track for a weekly drop in London as the market took stock of President Trump's decision to exempt refined forms of the metal from hefty US import tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Bangladesh secures 20% US tariff for garments, exporters relieved Bangladesh has negotiated a 20% tariff on exports to the US. This tariff rate has reduced from the initial 37% proposed by President Trump and has brought some relief to the world's second-largest garment supplier. Reuters reports: Read more here. The US and China are making progress on a trade deal, but a major sticking point remains: Washington wants Beijing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia. China has pushed back, saying it will secure energy based on its own national interests. 'China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,' China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff. 'Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected pressure from President Trump, encouraging people to buy local goods. India has not told its oil refiners to stop purchasing Russian oil, and those decisions remain up to each company. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. The European Union announced on Monday that it would suspend its two packages of US tariff countermeasures for 6 months. This follows the trade deal the US and EU reached last week Sunday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Swiss gold trading takes spotlight in trade talks with Trump President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. President Trump's tariffs on Switzerland were prompted by the country being the world's largest hub for gold refining. Gold flows in from places like South America, Africa and gets processed in Switzerland and then exported to countries like the US. This gold trade makes Switzerland's exports to the US look large and the refiners don't get to keep most of the profits. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Greer says US-China talks 'about halfway there' on rare earths US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that rare earths were a key focus in last week's Stockholm talks. He told CBS the US had secured supply commitments from China but noted the two sides are "about halfway there." Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swatch CEO calls on Swiss president to meet Trump to solve tariff dispute Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Swiss stocks took a hit on Monday as the market reopened after a holiday. Worries about the impact of President Trump's 39% export tariffs and a push for drugmakers to lower prices have caused tension in the market. In addition, Swatch Group ( Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet President Trump in Washington to negotiate a better deal than the 39% tariffs announced on Swiss imports into the United States. Hayek told Reuters on Monday he was confident an agreement could still be reached before the tariffs, which were announced on Friday, went into effect on Aug. 7. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia agrees to boost tech, LNG purchases from US as part of trade deal Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Japan PM: Win-win trade deal with US may be hard to implement Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump tariff policy leaves some partners losers but few winners WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught left a lot of losers — from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. Read more here. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught left a lot of losers — from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. Read more here. Switzerland business minister says it could revise tariffs offer ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. Read more here. ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. Read more here. Greer: Latest tariffs 'pretty much set' and unlikely to change (Reuters) -The tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday. Ahead of a Friday deadline, Trump set rates including a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order. In trade talks since Trump returned to office, the White House has lowered some rates from levels initially announced, including halving import duties set last week as part of a deal with the European Union. Greer told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, however, that this would not be the case on the most recent round of tariffs. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," he said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Read more here. (Reuters) -The tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday. Ahead of a Friday deadline, Trump set rates including a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order. In trade talks since Trump returned to office, the White House has lowered some rates from levels initially announced, including halving import duties set last week as part of a deal with the European Union. Greer told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, however, that this would not be the case on the most recent round of tariffs. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," he said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Read more here. Trump introduces tiers for trade partners in latest approach to tariffs President Trump is moving forward on a new suite of tariff rates with an approach increasingly focused on grouping countries into tiers, as opposed to a previous approach of simply looking at the trade balance. The new approach remains heavily influenced by either a trade surplus or a deficit but has grown more complex — some might say more subjective — leading to some consolidation in rate levels and the lowering of rates for many countries to a key new standard of 15%. The new landscape was reflected in Thursday night's executive action announcing rates, which centered around the 15% rate set to be in place next week in about 40 countries. Countries facing that rate include major trading partners that recently struck deals, such as Europe and Japan, as well as smaller nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 100 countries were excluded altogether from this week's announcement, meaning their rate will stay at 10%. Meanwhile, a third group of about 30 countries will see higher rates ranging from 18% to 50%. Trump and his team are taking an approach that could simplify future negotiations and be more in line with global trade dynamics. Read more here. President Trump is moving forward on a new suite of tariff rates with an approach increasingly focused on grouping countries into tiers, as opposed to a previous approach of simply looking at the trade balance. The new approach remains heavily influenced by either a trade surplus or a deficit but has grown more complex — some might say more subjective — leading to some consolidation in rate levels and the lowering of rates for many countries to a key new standard of 15%. The new landscape was reflected in Thursday night's executive action announcing rates, which centered around the 15% rate set to be in place next week in about 40 countries. Countries facing that rate include major trading partners that recently struck deals, such as Europe and Japan, as well as smaller nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 100 countries were excluded altogether from this week's announcement, meaning their rate will stay at 10%. Meanwhile, a third group of about 30 countries will see higher rates ranging from 18% to 50%. Trump and his team are taking an approach that could simplify future negotiations and be more in line with global trade dynamics. Read more here. Berkshire's consumer goods companies feel the sting of Trump's tariffs Not even the Oracle of Omaha can avoid the pinch of President Trump's trade war, it seems. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday its consumer goods businesses felt the impact of Trump's trade policy, which raised tariffs on imported goods, Reuters reported: Read more here. Not even the Oracle of Omaha can avoid the pinch of President Trump's trade war, it seems. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday its consumer goods businesses felt the impact of Trump's trade policy, which raised tariffs on imported goods, Reuters reported: Read more here. US has 'makings of a deal' with China, Bessent says Treasury Secretary said on X that the US has "makings of a deal" with China. Reuters reports: Read more here. Treasury Secretary said on X that the US has "makings of a deal" with China. Reuters reports: Read more here. Nike, Deckers, On Running among footwear stocks under pressure as Trump outlines latest tariff plans Footwear companies like Deckers (DECK), Nike (NKE), and On Holding (ONON) are under pressure from President Trump's tariff plans, including new rates released Thursday evening that range from 10% to 40%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Footwear companies like Deckers (DECK), Nike (NKE), and On Holding (ONON) are under pressure from President Trump's tariff plans, including new rates released Thursday evening that range from 10% to 40%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Stocks sink after Trump's latest tariff blitz Stocks came under pressure Friday after President Trump unveiled his plan for sweeping tariffs on almost all trading partners. Also weighing on sentiment were further signs of cracks in the labor market, punctuated by a weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday morning. You can check out the latest action and updates in our markets live blog. Stocks came under pressure Friday after President Trump unveiled his plan for sweeping tariffs on almost all trading partners. Also weighing on sentiment were further signs of cracks in the labor market, punctuated by a weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday morning. You can check out the latest action and updates in our markets live blog. Trump's 40% penalty for tariff dodging missing key details President Trump's tariff surprises are far from over. The US president has threatened to slap an extra 40% tariff on any product that Washington determines to be transshipped via another country. Its believed that this may be punishment, aimed at stopping goods mainly from China dodging US duties. The penalty for transshipping, which is when goods are moved from one type of transport to another, while on the way to where they're going, was included within the White house announcement on Thursday. But countries still do not have all the details. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's tariff surprises are far from over. The US president has threatened to slap an extra 40% tariff on any product that Washington determines to be transshipped via another country. Its believed that this may be punishment, aimed at stopping goods mainly from China dodging US duties. The penalty for transshipping, which is when goods are moved from one type of transport to another, while on the way to where they're going, was included within the White house announcement on Thursday. But countries still do not have all the details. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump unleashes massive tariffs on Swiss watches, pharma firms Switzerland's exporters are bracing for financial fallout from President Trump's 39% tariffs, one of the steepest rates globally in his escalating trade war. From watch makers to pharmaceutical companies the knock on effect of Trump's new tariffs will be felt. The new tariffs on Switzerland are part of a broader package announced by Trump on Thursday. But Swiss manufacturers warned on Friday that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk due to Trump's tariff hit. Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports do exclude the country's drug sector, but pharmaceutical companies Novartis AG (NVS) and Roche Holding (RHHBY) were one of the 17 global pharma firms to receive a letter from Trump demanding lower prices. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Switzerland's exporters are bracing for financial fallout from President Trump's 39% tariffs, one of the steepest rates globally in his escalating trade war. From watch makers to pharmaceutical companies the knock on effect of Trump's new tariffs will be felt. The new tariffs on Switzerland are part of a broader package announced by Trump on Thursday. But Swiss manufacturers warned on Friday that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk due to Trump's tariff hit. Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports do exclude the country's drug sector, but pharmaceutical companies Novartis AG (NVS) and Roche Holding (RHHBY) were one of the 17 global pharma firms to receive a letter from Trump demanding lower prices. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump unleashes delayed shock for global economy Four months after Donald Trump rattled markets by revealing steep tariff plans, his latest update has drawn a quieter response from investors. Still, average tariffs now sit at 15% - some of the highest since the 1930s - with rates rising further for countries that run trade surpluses with the US. So far, the global economy has absorbed the impact better than expected, but with the new tariffs kicking in that resilience may be tested. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Four months after Donald Trump rattled markets by revealing steep tariff plans, his latest update has drawn a quieter response from investors. Still, average tariffs now sit at 15% - some of the highest since the 1930s - with rates rising further for countries that run trade surpluses with the US. So far, the global economy has absorbed the impact better than expected, but with the new tariffs kicking in that resilience may be tested. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Copper set for weekly drop on LME after Trump's tariff surprise Copper (HG=F) prices edged higher on Friday but were on track for a weekly drop in London as the market took stock of President Trump's decision to exempt refined forms of the metal from hefty US import tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Copper (HG=F) prices edged higher on Friday but were on track for a weekly drop in London as the market took stock of President Trump's decision to exempt refined forms of the metal from hefty US import tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Bangladesh secures 20% US tariff for garments, exporters relieved Bangladesh has negotiated a 20% tariff on exports to the US. This tariff rate has reduced from the initial 37% proposed by President Trump and has brought some relief to the world's second-largest garment supplier. Reuters reports: Read more here. Bangladesh has negotiated a 20% tariff on exports to the US. This tariff rate has reduced from the initial 37% proposed by President Trump and has brought some relief to the world's second-largest garment supplier. Reuters reports: Read more here. Sign in to access your portfolio
UPI
11 minutes ago
- UPI
Trump-Lee summit 2025: modernizing the South Korea-U.S. alliance
U.S. President Donald Trump has halted all Voice of America news transmissions, which includes broadcasts intended for Korea. File Photo by Shawn Thew/EPA Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Editor's Note: What follows is a work of fiction. The author imagines a conversation between the presidents of the United States and South Korea at their upcoming summit, that addresses challenging issues facing the ROK-U.S. alliance in the present and future. It highlights the shared interests of the two nations as well as the security and prosperity of their citizens, including the human rights and dignity of the Korean people in the north. It concludes with an imagined Joint Vision Statement, summarizing their discussion, which is the traditional output of Republic of Korea-United States presidential summits. Whether the two presidents will engage on all the significant issues raised here remains to be seen. A summit on the edge of history In August, President Donald J. Trump hosted President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea at the White House for a pivotal summit convened amid tectonic shifts in Northeast Asia -- and growing democratic unease within South Korea. This followed the new trade agreement concluded just two weeks earlier. While officially focused on modernizing the U.S.-ROK alliance, the summit became a consequential moment of recalibration on three critical fronts: • Strategic alignment in the face of North Korean aggression and Chinese revisionism; • Alliance tension over perceived democratic backsliding in South Korea, including the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol: • Neglect of information warfare, after both the U.S. and ROK governments shuttered key channels broadcasting truth into North Korea. What emerged was a joint commitment to defend freedom not only with force, but with truth -- by reestablishing the information and influence architecture that once sustained the front lines of ideological competition. The Yoon controversy and the politics of perception Though outwardly cordial, the private Oval Office discussions turned frank when Trump addressed the arrest of former President Yoon, who had been admired in Washington for his staunch anti-communism and pro-U.S. alignment. Trump: "Mr. President, President Yoon stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to counter communism and support liberty. Many Americans, and frankly many of my supporters, believe he's being politically persecuted. It raises serious questions about fairness in a key ally." Lee responded firmly but diplomatically: "President Yoon is entitled to due process under the law. Our judiciary is independent, and my administration does not interfere in legal proceedings. I welcome scrutiny, and I assure you democracy in Korea is strong because we adhere to the rule of law, not to protect power, but to protect justice." The discussion was intense but respectful. The leaders agreed to issue parallel statements: Trump would express concern about fairness without challenging Korea's sovereignty; Lee would emphasize institutional transparency and rule-of-law governance. The strategic blind spot: the collapse of information operations More consequential than the legal drama was the very public dismantling of information warfare infrastructure by both governments. In the United States, the Trump administration, in the name of reducing government bureaucracy and improving efficiencies, had terminated the Korea Services of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia this year, after decades of broadcasting uncensored news, U.S. policy information and human rights content into the North. In Seoul, the Lee government, under pressure from domestic political blocs, had halted the National Intelligence Service's radio broadcasts into North Korea, ending 50 years of Seoul's public engagement with northern audiences. This dual retreat from the airwaves was, in the words of one U.S. National Security Council official, "the greatest self-inflicted wound to our strategic influence since the cold war." Trump brought the issue up bluntly: "We've ceded the information battlespace to Kim Jong Un. The guy controls what 25 million people think, and we just went silent. I want VOA and RFA Korea back online. And frankly, I hope you'll restart Seoul's broadcasts, too." Lee, initially hesitant, agreed: "You are right, Mr. President. We cannot win the ideological war through silence. If we want unification and change, we must empower the people in the North with knowledge and truth. I will act." Breakthroughs and deliverables Despite early friction, the summit produced a series of landmark agreements: Information and Influence Restoration Initiative The United States will immediately reinstate Korean-language services at VOA and RFA under a new U.S. Information and Influence strategy for the Korean Peninsula. The ROK will resume strategic broadcasting into North Korea, coordinated through a new Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Unification Influence Operations. A Joint Information and Influence Coordination Group will be established to align messaging across U.S. and ROK platforms to: • Support civil society efforts, including escapees and human rights non-governmental organizations • Develop cyber-resilient digital delivery mechanisms to reach North Korean audiences. • Strategically realign military posture • Establish South Korea as a strategic agility platform to support mutual security interests throughout the Asia-Indo-Pacific in accordance with the mutual defense treaty • Determine the optimal force structure for ROK and U.S. forces to deter war, and respond to contingencies on the peninsula and throughout the Asia-Indo-Pacific • Establish Combined Multi-Domain Task Force that integrates U.S. and ROK capabilities across land, sea, air, cyber and space • Resume rotational U.S. infantry patrols along the DMZ, integrated under ROK tactical control -- marking a return to symbolic and operational resolve Commitment to human rights up front Both leaders agreed to center human rights as a strategic axis of their North Korea policy. The path to denuclearization, they affirmed, runs through internal transformation in the North -- driven by an informed, empowered population. Joint press conference: a unified message In the Rose Garden, the leaders delivered a carefully coordinated message: "We've restored something powerful today -- not just military strength, but our voice. We're bringing back VOA Korea. We're standing up for freedom in the North. And we're backing our great ally, South Korea, every step of the way." Lee: "The alliance between our two nations has always stood for freedom. That means not only deterrence, but truth. Today we recommit to broadcasting hope, information and dignity to the Korean people. This is how we build a path to unification." Strategic impact: truth as deterrence This summit marked a paradigm shift: from defense-only deterrence to comprehensive strategic engagement, blending: • Military readiness • Human rights up-front and including all diplomacy • Digital and psychological influence • The unapologetic assertion that a free and unified Korea is not just desirable, but it is achievable By restoring the tools of truth, the United States and South Korea signaled to Kim Jong Un and the world that the war of ideas is back on. Conclusion: realigning strategy with values The Trump-Lee Summit of 2025 may be remembered not for its controversies, but for its correction of course. It restored the power of narrative, reaffirmed the sanctity of information in the struggle for freedom and redefined the alliance not as a legacy of war, but as a vanguard of liberation and peace. After the press conference, the White House and the Korean Presidential Office issued this joint vision statement: Joint Vision Statement of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America, Washington, D.C., August 2025 President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea and President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America met in Washington, D.C., in August 2025 and reaffirmed the enduring strength, purpose and future trajectory of the ROK-U.S. Alliance. They affirmed their nations' shared commitment to defending liberty, promoting peace and advancing human dignity across the Korean Peninsula, the Asia-Indo-Pacific and beyond. Recognizing the evolving security landscape and internal challenges faced by both democracies, the two leaders pledged to elevate the ROK-U.S. Alliance into a Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance, one grounded in freedom, unity, strategic agility and an unshakeable commitment to the Korean people's right to self-determination. Restoring the strategic narrative: information and influence as instruments of peace President Trump and President Lee jointly recognized that information is a critical domain of strategic competition and human freedom. They expressed deep concern over recent decisions that dismantled decades of information and broadcasting efforts to the Korean people in the North, including: • The 2025 termination of the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia Korea Services by the U.S. government • The 2025 suspension of ROK National Intelligence Service-led radio broadcasts into North Korea The leaders agreed that these decisions must be reversed. To this end, they pledged to: • Reinstate the VOA and RFA Korean Services immediately, with renewed mandates to support truth, human rights, and democratic values • Resume Republic of Korea radio broadcasts into North Korea, led by a newly chartered interagency unit under the Ministry of Unification. • Establish a Joint Information and Influence Coordination Group to synchronize alliance messaging, support defectors and civil society, and modernize information delivery across digital, cyber and unconventional channels. The presidents affirmed that the human rights of the Korean people in the North are not only a moral priority but a strategic center of gravity in the pursuit of permanent peace. They committed to a human rights upfront approach that informs all alliance strategy toward North Korea. Shared vision for a free and unified Korea The two leaders reaffirmed that the unnatural division of the Korean Peninsula must be resolved. They declared that a free and unified Korea, governed under democratic principles, is the only path to permanent peace, full denuclearization and justice. President Trump expressed support for the Republic of Korea's 8.15 Unification Doctrine, which offers a Korean-led framework for unification grounded in the values of freedom, peace, and prosperity. The leaders pledged to: • Promote the right of the Korean people to self-determination as enshrined in the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights • Empower the Korean people in the North with access to truth and knowledge • Align alliance policy toward long-term unification as a strategic end state Reaffirming democratic norms and rule of law President Trump raised concerns about perceptions surrounding recent legal proceedings involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol. President Lee emphasized the independence of South Korea's judiciary and the Republic's enduring commitment to the rule of law and democratic process. The leaders agreed that democracy must never be sacrificed to expediency and that freedom and fairness are the foundation of alliance legitimacy. Modernizing the alliance for strategic agility The leaders announced major steps to optimize the alliance's defense posture in support of regional and global stability: • Designating South Korea a strategic agility platform for the defense of Korea and the projection of ROK and U.S. forces for contingencies in the Asia-Indo-Pacific region • Establishing a Combined ROK-U.S. Multi-Domain Task Force operating across land, sea, air, cyber, space and the electromagnetic spectrum. • Resumption of rotational U.S. infantry combat patrols on the DMZ, under tactical control of ROK frontline units. • Increased combined training, missile defense integration and cyber defense coordination. • Dual-apportionment of U.S. forward forces in Korea to support both Korean Peninsula and Indo-Pacific contingencies, including in the Taiwan Strait. • Korea's geostrategic location will serve as a strategic agility platform to enable rapid response, deterrence and alliance resilience across the theater. Economic and technological partnership for freedom and security The leaders reaffirmed their countries' deep economic and innovation partnership: • South Korea remains one of the largest foreign direct investors in the United States, supporting tens of thousands of U.S. jobs in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries and clean energy. • The two countries committed to strengthen supply chain security for critical technologies and rare earth minerals. • Expanded cooperation artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cybersecurity will form a critical axis of alliance modernization. Conclusion: reclaiming the front lines of freedom President Lee and President Trump concluded that the ROK-U.S. alliance is not a legacy of the past, but rather a living, evolving instrument of democratic strategy. In an age of authoritarian revisionism and disinformation, the alliance must stand for more than deterrence. It must stand for truth, for liberty and for the unalienable rights of all people. Together, they pledged: "To speak clearly, act decisively and stand boldly with the Korean people in their journey to freedom and unification." The alliance remains ironclad in commitment, modern in strategy, and unbreakable in purpose. America First. Korea Unified. Truth Forward. Again, please note this is a work of fiction. David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region. He specializes in Northeast Asian security affairs and irregular, unconventional and political warfare. He is vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a senior fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. After he retired, he became associate director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society and is the editor at large for the Small Wars Journal.
