Trump says Hamas ‘want to have that ceasefire' in Gaza
'They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,' Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if clashes involving Israeli soldiers would derail talks.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Trump says new tariff deadline ‘not 100 percent firm'
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reignited his trade war by threatening more than a dozen countries with higher tariffs Monday – but then said he may be flexible on his new August deadline to reach sent letters to trading partners including key US allies Japan and South Korea, announcing that duties he had suspended in April would snap back even more steeply in three and Seoul would be hit with 25 percent tariffs on their goods, he wrote. Countries including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, South Africa and Malaysia were slapped with duties ranging from 25 percent to 40 in a move that will cause fresh uncertainty in a global economy already unsettled by his tariffs, the 79-year-old once again left the countries room to negotiate a deal.'I would say firm, but not 100 percent firm,' Trump told reporters at a dinner with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when asked if August 1 deadline was on whether the letters were his final offer, Trump replied: 'I would say final – but if they call with a different offer, and I like it, then we'll do it.'The US president had unveiled sweeping tariffs on imports on what he called 'Liberation Day' on April 2, including a baseline 10 percent tariff on all he quickly suspended all tariffs above 10 percent for 90 days following turmoil in the were due to kick back in on Wednesday and Trump sent the letters in advance of that near-identically worded letters to Japanese and South Korean leaders said he would impose 25 percent tariffs as their trading relationships with Washington were 'unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.'He warned of further escalation if there was retaliation against the Trump on Monday also signed an order formally extending the Wednesday deadline, postponing it to August new August date effectively marks a further delay – and Trump's latest comments threaten to compound the uncertainty over when the deadline really to letters posted to Trump's Truth Social platform, products from Indonesia will face a 32 percent tariff, while the level for Bangladesh is 35 percent and Thailand, 36 countries receiving letters so far had duties similar or unchanged from rates threatened in April, although some like Laos and Cambodia saw notably lower Trump administration is under pressure to show results after promising '90 deals in 90 days.'So far only two firm deals have emerged, with Britain and Vietnam, plus an agreement to dial back super-high tit-for-tat tariffs with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at a cabinet meeting Monday that the announcement of the 25 percent tariffs is 'genuinely regrettable,' local media Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac meanwhile met with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington, expressing hope that a bilateral summit could soon be held to achieve 'mutually beneficial outcomes across key pending issues.'Asked why Trump opted to start with Japan and South Korea, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'It's the president's prerogative, and those are the countries he chose.'Thailand's acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Tuesday he wanted a 'better deal' than the 36 percent tariff Trump threatened to impose, adding: 'The most important thing is that we maintain good relations with the US.'Malaysia said it was 'committed to continuing engagement with the US toward a balanced, mutually beneficial, and comprehensive trade agreement,' its trade ministry said in a statement, after Washington imposed a 25 percent tariff on the Southeast Asian Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that there would be more deals coming up: 'We are going to have several announcements in the next 48 hours.'Trump has also threatened an extra 10 percent tariff on countries aligning themselves with the emerging BRICS nations, accusing them of 'Anti-American policies' after they slammed his duties at a partners are still rushing to avert Trump's tariffs European Commission said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had a 'good exchange' with Trump on trade when the pair spoke Sunday.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza: military
JERUSALEM: Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip, Israel's military said on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas held indirect talks in Qatar on an elusive of the soldiers 'fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip,' the Israeli military said in a statement, adding that three others were killed and two severely wounded in the same wounded soldiers were 'evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment and their families have been notified,' the military latest round of negotiations on the nearly two-year war in Gaza began on Sunday in Doha, with representatives of Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas seated in different rooms in the same talks ended with 'no breakthrough,' a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations Hamas and Israeli delegations were due to resume talks, with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also set to join them this week in an effort to secure a US proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages, taken during its October 2023 attack on Israel, and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel, two Palestinian sources close to the discussions earlier was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system, they said.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Asia number one target of Trump's tariff letters
Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, mainly in Asia, informing them that higher import tariffs will come into effect on August 1 unless they reach a deal with the United States. It is the second time the US president has set a deadline after he postponed tariffs on almost all countries in April for 90 days. Countries that have large trade imbalances with the United States have been key targets, including Japan ($68.5 billion surplus in 2024), South Korea ($66 billion), Thailand ($45.6 billion) and Indonesia ($17.9 billion). Here is a summary of what Trump's letters mean for these countries: South Korea: Optimistic for a deal South Korea, already burdened by sector-specific levies on steel and automobiles, is facing a 25 percent tariff hike on its remaining exports to the United States, but is cautiously optimistic of brokering a deal. Washington 'expressed agreement' and 'hoped the two sides could reach an agreement before then (August 1) through close communication', South Korea's national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. South Korea, one of the world's biggest shipbuilders, agreed to 'coordinate closely' with Washington on the industry to achieve 'tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes', he said. Japan: Elections, rice and autos A close US ally and the largest source of foreign investment in the country, Japan also has to deal with a 25 percent levy on its key auto industry. It is now facing similar tolls on other goods, up from 24 percent announced in April, but better than the '30 percent, 35 percent or whatever the number is that we determine' threatened by the president last week. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at a cabinet meeting Monday that the tariff set out in the letter was 'genuinely regrettable', according to local media reports. The reason for not making a deal, he said, was 'the Japanese government has avoided making easy compromises, firmly demanding what should be demanded, protecting what should be protected, and has conducted rigorous negotiations.' Trump has criticized Japan for not opening its market to American rice and vehicles enough. Rice imports is a taboo topic for the Japanese government, which claims to defend local farmers' interests and has taken a hardline approach to talks ahead of an upper house parliamentary election on July 20. Indonesia: Boost US wheat imports Jakarta, facing 32 percent tariffs, plans to increase its agricultural and energy imports from the United States to finalize an agreement, Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto recently told AFP. Indonesia had already announced Monday it had signed an agreement to import at least one million tons of American wheat annually for the next five years, worth $1.25 billion. Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos: China allies face heavy levies Trump announced 49 percent tariffs on Cambodia in April, representing one of the highest in his blitz. Monday's letter to the country that hosts many Chinese owned factories, reduces this rate to 36 percent. Prime Minister Hun Manet assured the White House of Phnom Penh's 'good faith' in negotiating, with reduced tariffs on 19 categories of American products. Myanmar and Laos, which both face 40 percent tolls, rely heavily on Chinese investments, while their supply chains are closely intertwined with Asia's largest economy. Washington has repeatedly highlighted the risk of Chinese products passing through other Southeast Asian countries to avoid US tariffs targeting China, a concern mentioned in Trump's letters. Thailand, Malaysia: Making pledges Thailand was told it faces 36 percent levies in its letter. Bangkok is offering more access to its market for American agricultural and industrial products, increasing its energy purchases, and boosting orders for Boeing airplanes. Acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters Tuesday he wanted a 'better deal', adding that 'the most important thing is that we maintain good relations with the US.' Bangkok's latest proposal aims to grow bilateral trade volumes and reduce its US trade surplus by 70 percent within five years, achieving balance in seven to eight years, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira recently told Bloomberg News. Thai Airways could commit to purchasing up to 80 Boeing planes in the coming years, according to Bloomberg. Malaysia faces a 25 percent tariff and the trade ministry said Tuesday it will continue negotiations to reach a 'a balanced, mutually beneficial, and comprehensive trade agreement.' Bangladesh: Textiles at risk The world's second-largest textile manufacturer is looking at a 35 percent tariff on its goods but was hoping to sign an agreement by early July. Textile and garment production accounts for about 80 percent of the country's exports, and US firms that source products from there include Fruit of the Loom, Levi Strauss and VF Corp -- whose brands include Vans, Timberland and The North Face. Dhaka has proposed to buy Boeing planes and boost imports of US wheat, cotton and oil. 'We have finalized the terms,' Commerce Ministry Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told AFP, adding that negotiators were set to meet Tuesday to finalize their work. Other targeted countries Kazakhstan (25 percent), South Africa (30 percent), Tunisia (25 percent), Serbia (35 percent), and Bosnia (30 percent) are among the other recipients of the letters made public by Trump on Monday.
