Trump's Trade Deals and Global Diplomacy Efforts

President Trump's trade policies have yielded unexpected wins, defying the predictions of economists who favor free trade. Despite being in office for only six months, Trump's tariffs have generated $27 billion in revenue, resulting in a federal budget surplus in June. The US has negotiated trade deals with various countries, with the European Union agreeing to a 15% tariff on most EU goods in exchange for access to the US market. The deal also requires new European investments of $600 billion in America and increased purchases of US energy and military equipment. Trump's approach to trade as a negotiation, leveraging the US's enormous trade deficit and vast consumer market, has allowed him to secure favorable terms for American workers and industry while maintaining competition and keeping prices low for consumers.

European leaders, particularly from France and Germany, have reacted negatively to a trade deal between the EU and the US, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating it would "substantially damage" his nation's finances and French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou describing it as "submission". The deal, reached between EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, will see a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the US in return for Europe buying more American energy and reducing taxes on some imports. While some EU member states acknowledged the deal was necessary to avoid a trade war, others expressed disappointment and several leaders described it as a necessary evil. The deal still needs to be approved by all 27 EU member states.

The new US-EU trade deal will impose a 15% US tariff on most EU imports, while American goods exported to the EU will face no tariffs. Experts say the deal is "asymmetric and unbalanced" and will hurt the EU's economic growth, with the average tariff on US imports from the EU surging from 1.2% to 17.5%. The EU will still benefit from reduced uncertainty and increased US energy purchases, with the EU pledging to buy $750 billion worth of energy from the US. The deal is seen as a win for the US, with the Trump administration claiming it will boost American exports and reduce the goods trade deficit with the EU.

President Trump stated the baseline tariff rate for countries that don't have individual trade agreements will be between 15-20%, down from the 15-50% range he floated previously, and is aiming for a flat rate for "most" countries as the August 1 deadline approaches.

President Trump announced that he is shortening the deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine to 10 or 12 days, down from 50 days, citing a lack of progress in negotiations. Trump expressed disappointment in Putin, citing continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. The US had previously threatened to impose secondary tariffs on countries that continue to do business with Russia if a ceasefire was not reached within the original 50-day timeframe. Meanwhile, Trump also announced a trade deal with the European Union, with the EU agreeing to purchase US military hardware and energy, and to increase investment in the US.

U.S. and European stock markets had a muted response to the U.S.-EU trade deal, with the S&P 500 barely rising and the Stoxx Europe 600 falling. Investors appear to be moving on from tariffs as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a potential blanket tariff of 15-20% on countries without trade agreements, a level that economists expect many duties to settle around, reducing uncertainty. As a result, investors are shifting their focus to upcoming earnings reports from the "Magnificent Seven" and U.S. economic data, which could provide a market boost.

Stock markets in the US and Europe had a muted response to the US-EU trade deal reached over the weekend, with the S&P 500 ticking up slightly and the Stoxx Europe 600 falling. European leaders expressed disappointment with the deal, which imposes a 15% tariff on most EU goods exported to the US. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a global baseline tariff of 15-20% on countries without trade agreements, but investors seem less concerned about tariffs, and economists are revising down their expectations of the impact on the US economy. The focus is now on earnings reports from tech giants Meta Platforms and Microsoft.

CNBC's Jim Cramer believes that Trump's trade deals, including a recent agreement with the EU, haven't moved the market because investors are focused on other factors such as earnings reports from Big Tech companies, the Federal Reserve's meeting, and employment data. Cramer suggests that investors have "tariff ennui" due to the repetitive nature of Trump's trade deals and the anticipation of more negotiations with countries like China, Canada, and Mexico. He also expects Trump's criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell to continue, potentially affecting the market.

U.S. stock futures rose on Monday evening as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite notched record highs earlier in the day, despite a lackluster market rally. The gains followed President Donald Trump's announcement of a U.S.-EU trade deal with 15% tariffs on most European imports. Investors are awaiting potential further trade deals and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday. This week is a busy one for earnings season, with over 150 S&P 500 companies set to report, including Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple. The unemployment rate and nonfarm payrolls report are also expected to be key events for traders. Some companies, such as Cadence Design Systems, Nucor, and Whirlpool, made moves in extended trading after reporting their quarterly results.

US President Donald Trump has given Russian President Vladimir Putin a new deadline of 10 to 12 days to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, warning that Russia will face severe tariffs if it fails to comply. Trump made the statement at a news conference in Scotland, saying he was "disappointed" with Putin and that there was "no reason" to wait any longer for progress towards peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the intervention, calling it "extremely significant" and praising Trump's "clear stance and expressed determination" to stop the war. Russia has not commented on the new deadline, with a Russian MP saying Trump's ultimatums "didn't work anymore" on Moscow.

President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin after a recent attack on Ukraine and announced he is shortening a 50-day deadline for a peace deal to 10-12 days, citing a lack of progress. The attack involved over 300 drones and missiles across Ukraine, killing an unspecified number of people and wounding at least five, including a 2-year-old girl. Trump's comments came after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, where he also expressed frustration with past discussions with Putin that have yielded little result.

President Trump's strategy to end the war in Ukraine by sanctioning Russia may take "a couple of years" to be effective, according to security expert Fred Fleitz. Trump's approach involves pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine by threatening stiff international sanctions on Russia's oil sales. Fleitz believes that Trump's strategy will work, but it will require continued pressure on Putin to negotiate in good faith. The expert notes that conflicts like this take time to resolve and predicts that an armistice agreement will be reached, potentially with Ukraine agreeing not to join NATO for a certain period.

Former US President Trump shortened the deadline for Russian President Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine to 10-12 days, down from 50 days, and warned of severe sanctions, including 100% tariffs on countries importing Russian goods, if Russia fails to comply, a decision that is justified given Putin's history of bad faith and the severe economic strain on Russia.

Donald Trump's lawyers have asked a US court to order a swift deposition of Rupert Murdoch in a $10bn lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, citing Murdoch's advanced age and poor health. Trump's lawsuit claims the Journal's article alleging he wrote a "bawdy" letter to Jeffrey Epstein was defamatory. Murdoch, 94, is expected to respond to the deposition request by August 4.

Donald Trump sued Rupert Murdoch and the newspaper over a story claiming Trump sent a birthday greeting to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, calling it a "scam" and a "third rate" publication, sparking a public feud between the two influential men.

Donald Trump once lamented that as president he was "not supposed to be involved" with the Justice Department and FBI, preventing him from pursuing his enemies, including Hillary Clinton. Now, a partisan Justice Department has brought him under scrutiny, a development he may see as a form of poetic justice stemming from his own frustration with the independence of the Justice Department, highlighted by the Epstein scandal's implications for Trump and his allies.

Donald Trump's recent actions and statements during his trip to Scotland have raised questions about his leadership style and whether he is a true leader or just a bully. On one hand, he has been getting what he wants on many fronts, including destroying the global free trading system, bullying Congress into submission, and imposing his ideology on universities. However, his "wins" are often more theater than substance, and his coercive power over allies and smaller states is a sign of strength that is being tested. The true test of Trump's power will come in his handling of three critical issues: the famine in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and trade. Trump has made surprising tonal shifts on Gaza and Ukraine, promising to alleviate the famine and rebuking Russian President Vladimir Putin for not accepting his peace deal. However, it remains to be seen whether he will follow through on his commitments, particularly if it means taking on powers like India and China. Trump's trade deal with the EU may also be less significant than it seems, as it may be a pragmatic decision to avoid a trade war rather than a genuine victory. Ultimately, Trump's actions on these issues will determine whether he is a true leader or just a bully.

Sir Keir Starmer emerged relatively intact after a tense and televised meeting with Donald Trump, despite being put through nearly 90 minutes of questioning on a range of issues. While there were awkward moments, including Trump's criticism of Labour colleague Sir Sadiq Khan, Starmer managed to paper over the cracks and secure some policy wins, including Trump's announcement of extra pressure on Vladimir Putin to negotiate a ceasefire. The meeting highlighted the significant political differences between the two leaders on issues such as green energy, immigration, and taxation, but Starmer's calm and measured responses helped to avoid a major confrontation.

Donald Trump has reignited a row with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him a "nasty person" who has done a "terrible job" during a news conference with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Khan's spokesperson responded, stating that the mayor is "delighted" Trump plans to visit London and highlighting Khan's electoral successes. The comments come after a previous exchange of insults between Trump and Khan during Trump's first presidential term, although Khan had attempted to take a more conciliatory tone after Trump's second inauguration.