April 18, 2025
The Trump administration is setting the stage in a bid to impose tariffs on both sectors over extensive reliance and national security threats
The president's pledge means that the exclusion of smartphones and computers from his reciprocal tariffs on China likely will be short-lived
Balance of payments also shows signs of improvement during the same period
The initial 10% "baseline" tariff paid by US importers took effect, ushering in Trump's full rejection of the post-World War Two system of mutually agreed tariff rates.
Canada and others prepare retaliation as Trump’s tariffs rattle global markets
Trump has for weeks trumpeted Apr 2 as a "Liberation Day" that will see dramatic new duties that could upend the global trade system
Export growth outpaces import, reducing deficit to $11.75 billion in July to January
Exports from the largest manufacturing nation rose just 2.3% year-on-year, customs data showed on Friday, missing the 5% growth forecast
