FBI asked to "flag" Epstein files that mention Trump, senator says
Why it matters: In multiple letters sent to top Justice and FBI officials, Durbin sought to press for more answers from the Department of Justice that is engulfed by the Epstein investigation fallout.
Zoom In: Durbin said that the FBI agents were pressured to review about 100,000 Epstein-related records from March 14 to the end of March.
Many of the agents "lacked the expertise to identify statutorily-protected information regarding child victims and child witnesses," Durbin added.
Durbin pointed out that Attorney General Pam Bondi's previous past statements that she would release additional documents directly contradicted the DOJ's about-face earlier this month when the department said no additional releases would happen.
What they're saying: The letters asked Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino if they personally reviewed all of the files in the DOJ's possession that relate to Epstein.
Durbin also questioned why personnel were told to flag records in which Trump was mentioned, and what happened to the records mentioning the president once they were flagged.
What we're watching: Durbin letter concluded with a request for top DOJ officials to provide information and materials to a range of questions by August 1.
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Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump strikes deal with Japan as EU, US reportedly close in on pact
The US and European Union are closing in on a trade and tariff deal, multiple reports said Wednesday, even as the EU prepared a possible retaliatory package on over $100 billion worth of US goods. The Financial Times reported that the deal would see US tariffs on EU imports dip to 15%, instead of the 30% President Trump has threatened from Aug. 1. Bloomberg reported the 15% tariff rate would apply to "most products." Such a deal would be similar to one Trump announced with Japan on Tuesday, which includes a 15% tariff on imported goods, while the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump also said the US had also struck a trade deal with the Philippines, which will see the country's imports face a 19% tariff into the US. Trump said US exports will face no import tax in the Philippines as part of the deal. The White House also unveiled new details of a confirmed trade agreement with Indonesia too. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reported that a 19% tariff will apply to Indonesian goods, as well as a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. US officials said no tax would apply to "99%" of US imports. The deal developments come as prospects for larger pacts with India and Canada remain in question. Trump has threatened 25% to 35% tariffs on those larger trade partners. Trump has also said he would soon send letters to over 150 smaller US trade partners, setting blanket tariff rates for that large group. Trump has already sent letters to over 20 trade partners outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said he expected many deals to take shape over the next several days. 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. EU, US reportedly close in on trade deal The Financial Times reports: And more from Bloomberg: Read more here. Trump says he will trade 'Tariff points' for open markets to the US President Trump pushed one of his priorities in negotiating trade deals on Wednesday, and it wasn't exactly trade deficits. He suggested the US would reduce tariffs in exchange for countries opening their markets, i.e., putting zero tariffs on American-made products. "I will always give up Tariff points if I can get major countries to OPEN THEIR MARKETS TO THE USA," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Another great power of Tariffs. Without them, it would be impossible to get countries to OPEN UP!!! ALWAYS, ZERO TARIFFS TO AMERICA!!!" Trump's social media post came after the European Union announced it was preparing countermeasures against US tariffs, including a 30% tariff on over $100 billion worth of goods. Meanwhile, Indonesia agreed to drop its tariffs on US goods to 0% for 99% of trade. Detroit Three automakers raise concerns about Japan trade deal A group representing General Motors (GM) Ford (F) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLA) raised concerns on Tuesday about the US-Japan trade deal, which could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%. Reuters reports: Read more here. SAP falls as trade war concerns temper strong cloud growth Bloomberg News: Read more here. EU readies over $100B no-deal plan to match US 30% tariff The European Union announced on Wednesday it plans to hit the US with 30% tariffs on over $100 billion worth of goods in the event that no deal is made and if President Trump decides to follow through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug. 1. A European Commission spokesman said that the first part of countermeasures would combine an already approved list of tariffs on $24 billion of US goods and a previously proposed list on an additional on $83 billion of American products into one package. The US exports, which would include goods such as Boeing (BA) aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whiskey would all face heavy tariffs that match Trump's 30% threat. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. European auto shares rally after US-Japan trade deal Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of Trump's 50% tariffs At least four ships are rushing to reach US ports before August to avoid new import tariffs, a report from Bloomberg News claimed on Wednesday. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Enphase falls on downbeat outlook as Trump policies hit Enphase Energy (ENPH) said on Tuesday that steep import tariffs had impacted its gross margin, causing the solar panel maker's shares to fall 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday. Enphase forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates on Tuesday and said President Donald Trump's import tariffs had impacted its earnings. Reuters reports: Read more here. Taiwan aims to strike deal with US in new round of talks Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Japanese auto stocks surge as US announces lower-than-expected tariffs Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Trump: 'I've just signed the largest trade deal in history with Japan' President Trump announced overnight that his team and Japan have finally reached a trade deal, which includes a 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Trump, who made the announcement during a White House reception with members of Congress and later on Truth Social, called it the "largest trade deal in history" in reference to Japan. The deal wasn't easy to achieve. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had hoped to speak with Trump at the G-7 meeting back in June, but earlier this month Trump said Japan was "spoiled" and doubted a deal would happen. The two sides have come a long way, with Ishiba remaining stoic yet firm to maintain his country's trust while trying to reach an agreement with the US. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump announces new details on trade pact with Indonesia President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' Trump says US has reached trade deal with the Philippines President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of tariffs Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Coca-Cola CFO on tariffs: 'We think we can manage' Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Bessent says he will meet Chinese officials, discuss tariff deadline extension US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. RTX cuts 2025 profit forecast as tariff costs weigh US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. GM's core profit slides in second quarter as Trump's tariffs bite Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canadian boycott of US spirits hurts broader alcohol sales: Trade group American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. AstraZeneca announces $50B US manufacturing investment, matching its big pharma peers Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here EU, US reportedly close in on trade deal The Financial Times reports: And more from Bloomberg: Read more here. The Financial Times reports: And more from Bloomberg: Read more here. Trump says he will trade 'Tariff points' for open markets to the US President Trump pushed one of his priorities in negotiating trade deals on Wednesday, and it wasn't exactly trade deficits. He suggested the US would reduce tariffs in exchange for countries opening their markets, i.e., putting zero tariffs on American-made products. "I will always give up Tariff points if I can get major countries to OPEN THEIR MARKETS TO THE USA," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Another great power of Tariffs. Without them, it would be impossible to get countries to OPEN UP!!! ALWAYS, ZERO TARIFFS TO AMERICA!!!" Trump's social media post came after the European Union announced it was preparing countermeasures against US tariffs, including a 30% tariff on over $100 billion worth of goods. Meanwhile, Indonesia agreed to drop its tariffs on US goods to 0% for 99% of trade. President Trump pushed one of his priorities in negotiating trade deals on Wednesday, and it wasn't exactly trade deficits. He suggested the US would reduce tariffs in exchange for countries opening their markets, i.e., putting zero tariffs on American-made products. "I will always give up Tariff points if I can get major countries to OPEN THEIR MARKETS TO THE USA," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Another great power of Tariffs. Without them, it would be impossible to get countries to OPEN UP!!! ALWAYS, ZERO TARIFFS TO AMERICA!!!" Trump's social media post came after the European Union announced it was preparing countermeasures against US tariffs, including a 30% tariff on over $100 billion worth of goods. Meanwhile, Indonesia agreed to drop its tariffs on US goods to 0% for 99% of trade. Detroit Three automakers raise concerns about Japan trade deal A group representing General Motors (GM) Ford (F) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLA) raised concerns on Tuesday about the US-Japan trade deal, which could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%. Reuters reports: Read more here. A group representing General Motors (GM) Ford (F) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLA) raised concerns on Tuesday about the US-Japan trade deal, which could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%. Reuters reports: Read more here. SAP falls as trade war concerns temper strong cloud growth Bloomberg News: Read more here. Bloomberg News: Read more here. EU readies over $100B no-deal plan to match US 30% tariff The European Union announced on Wednesday it plans to hit the US with 30% tariffs on over $100 billion worth of goods in the event that no deal is made and if President Trump decides to follow through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug. 1. A European Commission spokesman said that the first part of countermeasures would combine an already approved list of tariffs on $24 billion of US goods and a previously proposed list on an additional on $83 billion of American products into one package. The US exports, which would include goods such as Boeing (BA) aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whiskey would all face heavy tariffs that match Trump's 30% threat. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The European Union announced on Wednesday it plans to hit the US with 30% tariffs on over $100 billion worth of goods in the event that no deal is made and if President Trump decides to follow through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug. 1. A European Commission spokesman said that the first part of countermeasures would combine an already approved list of tariffs on $24 billion of US goods and a previously proposed list on an additional on $83 billion of American products into one package. The US exports, which would include goods such as Boeing (BA) aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whiskey would all face heavy tariffs that match Trump's 30% threat. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. European auto shares rally after US-Japan trade deal Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of Trump's 50% tariffs At least four ships are rushing to reach US ports before August to avoid new import tariffs, a report from Bloomberg News claimed on Wednesday. Bloomberg News: Read more here. At least four ships are rushing to reach US ports before August to avoid new import tariffs, a report from Bloomberg News claimed on Wednesday. Bloomberg News: Read more here. Enphase falls on downbeat outlook as Trump policies hit Enphase Energy (ENPH) said on Tuesday that steep import tariffs had impacted its gross margin, causing the solar panel maker's shares to fall 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday. Enphase forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates on Tuesday and said President Donald Trump's import tariffs had impacted its earnings. Reuters reports: Read more here. Enphase Energy (ENPH) said on Tuesday that steep import tariffs had impacted its gross margin, causing the solar panel maker's shares to fall 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday. Enphase forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates on Tuesday and said President Donald Trump's import tariffs had impacted its earnings. Reuters reports: Read more here. Taiwan aims to strike deal with US in new round of talks Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Japanese auto stocks surge as US announces lower-than-expected tariffs Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Shares of Japanese automakers pumped after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, lowering the previously discussed 25% auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%. Trump hailed the deal as the 'largest Deal ever,' claiming Japan would invest $550 billion in the US and allow greater access to its markets, including for American autos, trucks, and agricultural goods. Honda (HMC) surged 9.8%, Toyota (TM) jumped 13.9%, Nissan (7222.T) gained over 5%, and Mazda (7261.T) soared 17.7%. Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) rose over 12%. According to Japan's NHK, the revised tariff structure includes a 12.5% cut plus a 2.5% 'Most Favored Nation' base rate. The move comes as Japanese auto exports to the US have suffered, plunging 26.7% in June. Read more here. Trump: 'I've just signed the largest trade deal in history with Japan' President Trump announced overnight that his team and Japan have finally reached a trade deal, which includes a 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Trump, who made the announcement during a White House reception with members of Congress and later on Truth Social, called it the "largest trade deal in history" in reference to Japan. The deal wasn't easy to achieve. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had hoped to speak with Trump at the G-7 meeting back in June, but earlier this month Trump said Japan was "spoiled" and doubted a deal would happen. The two sides have come a long way, with Ishiba remaining stoic yet firm to maintain his country's trust while trying to reach an agreement with the US. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump announced overnight that his team and Japan have finally reached a trade deal, which includes a 15% tariff on imported goods from Japan, and the country will invest $550 billion into the US. Trump, who made the announcement during a White House reception with members of Congress and later on Truth Social, called it the "largest trade deal in history" in reference to Japan. The deal wasn't easy to achieve. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had hoped to speak with Trump at the G-7 meeting back in June, but earlier this month Trump said Japan was "spoiled" and doubted a deal would happen. The two sides have come a long way, with Ishiba remaining stoic yet firm to maintain his country's trust while trying to reach an agreement with the US. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump announces new details on trade pact with Indonesia President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' President Trump and his team released new details of a pact announced last week with Indonesia, confirming plans for a 19% tariff on the country and adding a 40% rate on any 'transhipped' goods. The more complete framework of the deal is further confirmation of an agreement with America's 23rd largest trading partner that will avert 32% tariffs that Trump threatened previously. It also stipulates that 'Indonesia is going to drop its tariffs to 0% on over 99% of its trade,' a senior White House official said Tuesday. The official added that the deal includes the elimination of non-tariff barriers that Trump's team say hinders American companies, including in areas like pre-shipment inspection requirements, motor vehicle safety standards, and restrictions around US medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The exact definition of how Trump defines transshipped goods has been a matter of some debate in recent weeks. The deal with Indonesia includes goods not just re-labeled but made with a significant portion of components from a third country and then assembled in Indonesia. It's a provision also included in a recent deal with Vietnam and is clearly aimed at China. Indonesian negotiators previously confirmed that a deal had been struck but not all details, with the country president's spokesperson telling Reuters the negotiations had been 'an extraordinary struggle.' Trump says US has reached trade deal with the Philippines President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. President Trump said Tuesday the US had reached a trade deal with the Philippines following its president's visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social: This doesn't seem to move the needle much for the Philippines, whose imports to the US will see a 19% tariff instead of the 20% Trump had threatened from Aug. 1. The Philippines is the US's 29th-largest trade partner. Copper-laden ships race to reach US ahead of tariffs Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Fascinating angle from Bloomberg: Read more here. Coca-Cola CFO on tariffs: 'We think we can manage' Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Coca-Cola's (KO) CFO said the company is managing President Trump's tariffs. "June turned out to be a disappointing month," Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday. He noted that tariffs continue to create uncertainty heading into the second half of the year. "We think we can manage absorbing any of the impacts with the various levers that we have at our disposal. It's always a local decision as to how to utilize those levers, but right now, it's something that we factored into our rest of year guidance." Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that Coca-Cola reported earnings for its second quarter that topped forecasts. Read more here. Bessent says he will meet Chinese officials, discuss tariff deadline extension US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Both China and the US reached a trade truce in London last month to prevent escalating tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. RTX cuts 2025 profit forecast as tariff costs weigh US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. US aerospace and defense giant RTX (RTX) cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday, citing President Trump's trade war as the major reason. Shares of the company fell 3% in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. GM's core profit slides in second quarter as Trump's tariffs bite Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Tariffs have started to hit US automaker General Motors (GM), who reported a fall in second quarter core profit of 32% to $3 billion on Tuesday. The automaker said tariffs have sapped $1.1 billion from results as it continues to grapple with President Trump's challenging trade war. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canadian boycott of US spirits hurts broader alcohol sales: Trade group American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. American imports to Canada have dropped sharply due to Canadian provinces' boycott of US spirits amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, according to a Canadian liquor trade group. Reuters reports: Read more here. AstraZeneca announces $50B US manufacturing investment, matching its big pharma peers Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced it plans to invest $50 billion in US manufacturing by 2030, in the hopes it will avoid steep tariffs on imported components manufactured abroad. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Anjalee Khemlani looks at how AstraZeneca's latest US investment keeps pace with its big pharma rivals. Read more here
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coke's New Cane-Sweetened Soda Risks Upending Sugar Supplies
(Bloomberg) -- After four decades drinking Coca-Cola sweetened with corn syrup, Americans are going to get the chance to buy the soda made from domestic cane sugar. But whether US farmers can meet that demand is unclear. Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US Why the Federal Reserve's Building Renovation Costs $2.5 Billion Salt Lake City Turns Winter Olympic Bid Into Statewide Bond Boom Milan Corruption Probe Casts Shadow Over Property Boom The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Coca-Cola Co. said Tuesday it will launch the new Coke variety this fall, a week after President Donald Trump said the company had agreed to start using the sweetener. The move is hardly an outlandish idea. In fact, Coke sold in other countries like Mexico is sweetened with cane sugar. And the company relied on cane sugar before switching to high fructose corn syrup around 1980. While the company will still be using corn syrup for original Coke, the addition of a domestic cane-based soda could help growers in Louisiana and Florida at a time when demand has been slow. However, a sustained bump in demand — especially if other companies follow Coca-Cola's lead — risks outstripping homegrown availability. US cane only makes up about 30% of overall domestic sugar supplies, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The rest comes from imports, which were about 2.2 million metric tons for the 2025-26 season, and American-grown sugar beets that perform better in colder climates. 'We have ways of trying to assist in new product launches, but mass usage — it would be very difficult for our industry to absorb that,' said Craig Ruffolo, a vice president at McKeany-Flavell, a broker of ingredients including sugar. A sugar supply shortfall would likely mean more cane imports from Mexico and Brazil, exposing American companies and consumers to higher prices just as they are facing market upheaval from Trump's tariffs. Cane sugar is more expensive than high-fructose corn syrup. On top of that, long-standing import tariffs mean US raw cane sugar futures are already more than double what the rest of the world pays. That price gap widened to a record on Tuesday. Foreign shipments can be costly, as decades-old US government policies limit how much sweetener can be cheaply shipped from other countries. That has long kept US sugar prices above that of the global market, even when lower-taxed imports under the US's limits and preferential shipments from Mexico were enough to keep the country amply supplied. In recent years though, the US has become even more reliant on record amounts of high-taxed imports after droughts impacted Mexican supplies. Trump's threat of a 50% tariff on Brazil also risks raising prices. If cane-sweetened Cokes are a success, higher demand would add to the pressure. Refined cane sugar cost more than 52 cents a pound in June, about 12% more than the high-fructose corn syrup used in Coke and nearly 50% more than beet sugar, according to the USDA. US refiners have some spare capacity to process more raw cane, but that will depend on imports and is still 'not going to be able to go on the scale of a mass distribution like a classic Coke,' said Ruffolo. Expansions to cane acreage are also limited. Louisiana's growth could be capped at 10%, while Florida doesn't have much more land for cane, he added. Coke has been working with cane sugar suppliers, and believes they will be able to bring enough supply to market if there is demand from consumers, Chief Executive Officer James Quincey said on Fox Business. RFK Jr.'s Push The new Coke product comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has railed against the prevalence of ultra-processed foods, which are generally more likely to use high-fructose corn syrup. The company's move, while an incremental shift away from corn, could open the door for other companies to follow suit. PepsiCo Inc. Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta said last week that it would follow consumer preferences on sugar and other natural ingredients. Coca-Cola uses cane in other US products like lemonades and teas, and is looking to use 'the whole toolkit of available sweetening options to some extent where there are consumer preferences,' Quincey said on a Tuesday earnings call. The new Coke with US cane sugar is expected to be 'an enduring option for consumers,' he added. It is still unclear how much sugar these new products will require, said Claudiu Covrig, the lead analyst at Covrig Analytics. It could end up being a tiny segment with 'more publicity than real volume,' he said. But if US beverage companies shift significantly toward cane instead of high-fructose corn syrup, additional imports could range from 300,000 to 800,000 metric tons. (Adds analyst quote beginning in fifth paragraph.) Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China's Border What the Tough Job Market for New College Grads Says About the Economy How Starbucks' CEO Plans to Tame the Rush-Hour Free-for-All ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
10 minutes ago
- New York Post
FCC Chair rips Stephen Colbert after his show's abruptly canceled: He ‘clearly doesn't have it anymore'
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ripped comedian Stephen Colbert after his late-night show was abruptly canceled, claiming that the veteran TV host 'clearly doesn't have 'it' anymore.' The head of the Federal Communications Commission is currently weighing a long-awaited deal between Skydance and CBS owner Paramount, which axed 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' and blamed it on purely 'financial reasons.' Oliver Darcy, the reporter behind the Status newsletter, said he texted Carr about rumors that he will approve the merger this Friday and received a late response from the chairman: 'Sorry. Missed your message. I was too emotional over the whole Colbert thing.' FCC Chairman Brendan Carr testifying before Congress. Getty Images When asked whether Colbert telling President Trump to 'go f–k yourself' during his show threatened the future of the deal, Carr reportedly replied: 'lol, no.' 'I think it's just sad. Colbert clearly doesn't have 'it' anymore – if he ever did. I don't know if it's from TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) or something else,' Carr told Darcy. 'He's paid millions of dollars to be funny and entertaining, and he's just not able to make it work. He's gotta feel bad about how the end is playing out.' CBS nodded to 'a challenging backdrop in late night,' but there's been speculation that the end of Colbert's 'Late Show' was part of the network's recent $16 million settlement with Trump over a heavily-edited '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris. There had been concerns that not settling Trump's lawsuit could halt the Skydance merger. Trump said Tuesday that he expects to receive a total of $36 million, including an additional $20 million from Skydance once it takes control of Paramount, confirming an exclusive report by The Post. Skydance did not immediately respond to requests seeking confirmation of this figure. Stephen Colbert on CBS' 'The Late Show.' CBS via Getty Images Celebrities and late-night hosts, including Jon Stewart, were quick to accuse CBS executives of capitulating to political pressure from Trump. 'The partisan left's ritualist wailing and gnashing of teeth over Colbert is quite revealing,' Carr wrote in a post on X Tuesday. 'They're acting like they're losing a loyal DNC spokesperson that was entitled to an exemption from the laws of economics.' Paramount and CBS News did not immediately respond to The Post's requests for comment. News of the cancellation seems to have boosted Colbert's appeal for the time being, as last Thursday's episode drew 3.08 million viewers – making it the show's most-watched so far this year, according to LateNighter, a news site covering late-night television.
