Articles in this Cluster
24-05-2025
The EU vowed to pursue a US trade deal based on mutual respect after President Trump threatened 50% tariffs on all EU goods, citing frustration with negotiations. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the bloc is ready to defend its interests and remains committed to a balanced agreement. European leaders urged de-escalation but warned they are prepared to respond. Trump, who recently imposed and then partially delayed new tariffs, argues the EU’s trade surplus reflects unfair policies, particularly in autos and agriculture, and also threatened tariffs on iPhones made outside the US. Markets in the US and Europe fell on the heightened tensions.
Entities: European Union, United States, Donald Trump, Maros Sefcovic, tariffs • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
Tech firms are deploying AI to help companies adapt to U.S. President Trump’s new reciprocal tariffs by rapidly analyzing tariff changes, simulating supply-chain adjustments, and optimizing sourcing and logistics. Salesforce built an AI “tariff agent” that processes all 20,000 U.S. customs categories using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to automate responses. Kinaxis uses machine learning and external signals to model impacts of switching parts or suppliers. Wipro’s agentic AI helps clients pivot suppliers, adjust trade lanes, and manage duties, while FourKites applies AI on network data to gauge logistics trade-offs. Experts say tariff uncertainty is spurring AI adoption, enabling faster, proactive decisions—but outcomes hinge on data quality, and AI augments rather than replaces trade strategy, with cost, lead-time, and capacity trade-offs still critical.
Entities: U.S. reciprocal tariffs, Harmonized Tariff Schedule, Salesforce, Kinaxis, Wipro • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
Jim Cramer argues that President Trump is increasingly exerting direct influence over Big Tech, particularly Nvidia and Apple, through trade and tariff policies. He says export restrictions on AI chips to China have severely hurt Nvidia—slashing its China share and accelerating Chinese chip development—while new 25% tariffs on iPhones made outside the U.S. punish Apple despite its diversification efforts. Cramer contends these moves add a new layer of political risk for investors and resemble a shift toward a “command economy,” with the president effectively overruling corporate decisions. He contrasts this with past presidential interventions tied to clear national crises, suggesting today’s actions are more about control than necessity.
Entities: Jim Cramer, Donald Trump, Nvidia, Apple, China • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: analyze
24-05-2025
CNN reports that President Trump’s new tariffs—a 10% baseline on most imports, 30% on most Chinese goods, and higher rates on items like steel, aluminum, cars, and parts—are prompting major companies to raise prices rather than absorb costs. Walmart will begin hikes by late May, with larger increases in June. Mattel plans price increases, though aims to keep 40%–50% of products at $20 or less. Best Buy expects vendors to pass on costs, making consumer price hikes “highly likely.” Sony may pass through costs; Nintendo kept its Switch 2 at $450 but raised accessory prices. Shein and Temu ended de minimis advantages and have already raised prices on various items. Automakers: Ford expects up to 1.5% US price increases in H2 2025 and a $1.5 billion tariff hit; Subaru will raise prices to offset costs. Procter & Gamble anticipates targeted increases, calling tariffs inflationary. Stanley Black & Decker implemented high single-digit increases with more to come. Adidas warned higher US costs will eventually lead to price increases. Overall, consumers should expect higher prices across groceries, toys, electronics, apparel, and cars.
Entities: Donald Trump, CNN Business, Walmart, Mattel, Best Buy • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
Fears of a US-EU trade war resurfaced after President Trump threatened a 50% tariff on EU goods and a 25% levy on Apple, pressuring iPhone production to move to the U.S. The European Commission and several EU ministers rejected the threats, signaling readiness to defend EU interests while seeking de-escalation. Trade talks have stalled, with the U.S. pushing for EU adoption of U.S. food safety standards and removal of digital services taxes; the EU proposed buying more U.S. LNG and soybeans and cooperating on steel overcapacity. Markets fell on the rhetoric: Apple shares dropped 3%, the dollar weakened against the yen, and the euro rose.
Entities: Donald Trump, European Commission, Apple, European Union, US-EU trade war • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
President Trump announced he will recommend a 50% tariff on European imports starting June 1, upending months of EU–U.S. talks and surpassing the tariff levels Europe expected after a 90-day pause. The Trump administration is treating negotiations as leverage for unilateral concessions, seeking changes the EU deems nonstarter—such as scrapping the Value-Added Tax, loosening food safety standards to accept more U.S. beef, and rolling back digital regulations. The EU has offered zero tariffs on industrial goods and more U.S. gas purchases, and prepared retaliatory measures targeting up to €95 billion in U.S. goods, but U.S. officials have dismissed these as insufficient. With trans-Atlantic trade among the world’s largest, a sustained 50% tariff would severely hit Europe. Analysts view the move as a pressure tactic, but resolution remains uncertain as the U.S. signals no return to pre-2024 tariff norms.
Entities: Donald Trump, European Union, United States, 50% tariff, Value-Added Tax (VAT) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
The U.S. is pressing Vietnam to curb transshipment—Chinese goods routed through Vietnam to evade tariffs—as both sides race to reach a deal before a 90-day tariff pause ends in early July. While Vietnam has formed a task force and engaged U.S. Customs to crack down on fraud and false “Made in Vietnam” labels, the Trump administration is taking a broader stance that targets deep reliance on Chinese inputs across supply chains. China’s heavy role in Vietnam’s manufacturing—supplying around 60% of textiles and much of the intermediate materials—complicates proof of origin and makes full decoupling impractical. Chinese firms like Shein and Alibaba are rapidly expanding logistics and hiring in Vietnam, blurring lines between legitimate supply-chain shifts and illegal rerouting. Vietnam, whose U.S. trade surplus surged after earlier China tariffs, is offering to buy more U.S. goods and limit Chinese shipments, but balancing its dependence on Chinese materials with U.S. demands remains its biggest obstacle to avoiding steep tariffs.
Entities: United States, Vietnam, China, Trump administration, U.S. Customs • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
24-05-2025
After House Republicans passed costly tax cuts, President Trump escalated tariff threats—proposing 50% duties on the EU and 25% on Apple—alarming investors and raising the risk of higher consumer prices. Markets and bond investors signaled concern about rising debt, inflation, and slower growth, pushing up government borrowing costs and keeping credit expensive for households. Independent analyses, including from the Joint Committee on Taxation and Penn Wharton, project the tax plan would add roughly $3–4 trillion to the debt, deliver minimal growth, and disproportionately benefit the wealthy while hurting low-income Americans through reduced safety-net support. While the White House predicts strong short-term gains and argues growth will offset costs, economists warn tariffs and fiscal strain increase the odds of an economic slowdown despite an otherwise solid starting economy. Trump allies say the agenda aims for 3% growth, but data so far undercuts those claims.
Entities: Donald Trump, House Republicans, European Union, Apple, Joint Committee on Taxation • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: analyze
24-05-2025
President Trump threatened a 50% tariff on all E.U. goods, stunning markets and raising fears of global economic fallout. Economists warn the move could spur higher inflation and slower growth in the U.S., push Europe into recession, and cut U.S. growth by about 1.5%. The abrupt, shifting tariff strategy—amid rising U.S. deficits and a recent credit downgrade—has shaken investor confidence. Europe is preparing broad retaliation, including tariffs on U.S. services, a major American export strength. Ireland would be hit hardest, with projected GDP down 4%, while Germany, Italy, France, and Spain would also contract. Analysts note Trump has previously backed down after market turmoil, but say unclear demands and E.U. consensus requirements complicate negotiations.
Entities: Donald Trump, European Union, United States, tariffs, inflation • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: warn
24-05-2025
Experts say Trump’s plan to force US-made iPhones via a 25% tariff on imported smartphones faces serious legal, economic, and technical hurdles. Trump vowed tariffs on all non-US-made smartphones, including Apple and Samsung, by end of June, citing reshoring goals and claiming Apple’s Tim Cook planned India production. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested automating tasks like inserting tiny screws to bring work to the US, but later acknowledged Cook said the necessary technology isn’t yet available.
Entities: Donald Trump, Apple, iPhone, Tim Cook, Samsung • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
