US to impose additional tariffs on China and push ahead with Canada and Mexico levies

Good morning and glad Friday. In as we speak’s e-newsletter:

• US to lift tariffs on China

• Bangladesh pupil protesters launch a brand new get together

• How DeepSeek ‘modified the whole lot’ for Chinese language AI

Donald Trump stated yesterday he would impose a further 10 per cent tariff on imports from China and press forward with levies on Mexico and Canada from subsequent week, elevating the spectre of a world commerce battle.

The president had halted his proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada earlier this month, simply hours earlier than they have been attributable to start, giving the US’s two largest buying and selling companions a month-long reprieve.

However in a publish on Fact Social yesterday, Trump wrote that the proposed tariffs would “go into impact, as scheduled” on March 4. The president added that he additionally deliberate to hit China with a further 10 per cent levy on the identical day, on prime of 10 per cent tariffs that he imposed this month.

The Chinese language embassy in Washington criticised the brand new tariffs, saying there have been “no winners” in a commerce battle.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated his nation would reply to any “unjustified tariffs” with a “sturdy, fast and sure reply”.

Trump’s newest push for tariffs is prone to set off a diplomatic rush to attempt to cease the measures over the following few days. Read the full story.

• Trump-Starmer assembly: The US president stated his administration is engaged on a commerce cope with the UK, suggesting that Britain could escape tariffs if such an settlement have been struck.

• What nearer US-Russia ties imply for China: Trump’s rapprochement with Moscow over the battle in Ukraine serves Beijing’s goal of a multipolar world order, but additionally raises dangers for Xi Jinping, analysts stated.

Right here’s what else we’re protecting tabs on as we speak:

• Financial information: India reviews its third-quarter GDP estimate whereas Japan publishes industrial manufacturing figures for January.

• India-Europe relations: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

• Ukraine: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to fulfill Trump in Washington to signal a deal on crucial minerals.

How nicely did you retain up with the information this week? Take our quiz.

5 extra prime tales

1. Pupil protesters in Bangladesh who led a revolt that toppled former chief Sheikh Hasina final 12 months are set to type a brand new political get together, difficult the nation’s entrenched political duopoly. The brand new “National Citizen party” plans to launch today and might be led by Nahid Islam, a distinguished pupil chief.

2. The founding household of 7-Eleven’s dad or mum group has deserted a $58bn buyout try, elevating the chance that Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard will succeed with its unsolicited bid for the Japanese comfort retailer firm. Shares of Seven & i plunged after it stated a gaggle led by the Ito household was unable to secure financing.

3. Microsoft has warned Donald Trump’s administration it dangers making a “strategic mis-step” if it pushes forward with export controls on synthetic intelligence chips. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, warned they would push allies to use Chinese technology instead whereas adversely impacting allies similar to Israel, India and Singapore.

4. China’s securities regulator has clamped down on small firms itemizing on New York inventory exchanges, viewing them as vulnerable to market manipulation. Analysts stated the crackdown was Beijing’s newest effort to reduce financial ties with the US.

5. Indonesia is about to elevate its ban on iPhone 16 gross sales after hanging a cope with Apple to convey funding of about $320mn to south-east Asia’s largest economic system. The ultimate determine is considerably less than Apple’s $1bn offer last month to fabricate equipment within the nation, which was rejected by Jakarta.

Information in-depth

DeepSeek’s advances have sparked a nationwide push in China to deploy its expertise in every single place from hospitals to native governments, with even probably the most historically conservative establishments throwing their weight behind the brand new nationwide AI champion. Today’s deep dive looks at how the start-up “changed everything” for Chinese AI.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

• Japan’s child boomers: The sensible impression of mass ageing has abruptly develop into more dramatic and potent, writes Leo Lewis.

• The top of hanging out?: Current traits have mixed to worsen public areas. Fortunately, we can do better, writes Simon Kuper.

• US housing: As we speak’s Huge Learn explores how builders are tackling the twin challenges of extreme climate and a housing scarcity.

Chart of the day

The variety of infants born in Japan final 12 months fell to the lowest level since records began 125 years in the past because the nation’s demographic disaster deepens and authorities efforts to reverse the decline proceed to fail.

Take a break from the information . . . 

Get on board Tanzania’s 33-hour sluggish practice with Sophy Roberts to expertise one of the last old world trains on its 800-mile journey west throughout the nation earlier than it’s eclipsed by its electrified high-speed substitute.