US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on US partners on Wednesday, with an aim to boost domestic manufacturing and protect local industries.
The world’s largest economy will impose a minimum of 10 per cent levies on all imports. However, the tariff rates are higher for some trading partners including China, India and the EU.
The baseline 10 per cent tariff will go into effect on April 5, while the higher reciprocal rates will start on April 9.
“April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again,” Mr Trump said while announcing the new tariffs in Washington on Wednesday.
What are reciprocal tariffs and how do they work?
The US will impose the same tax on imports that other countries charge on American exports on a product-by-product basis.
For example, if a country imposes a 2 per cent tax on certain US products that are exported, the US will levy the same amount of import tax on that category. The tit-for-tat tariffs are expected to disrupt trade around the world and make goods costlier for US consumers and businesses.
Which countries are facing higher tariffs?
Some of the biggest economies in the world are being charged higher tariffs, including 34 per cent for China, 26 per cent for India and 20 per cent for the EU. Countries including Vietnam, Pakistan, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and South Africa are also facing higher tariffs as part of the new trade policy.
Lesotho as well as Saint Pierre Miquelon are subject to a 50 per cent tariff, the highest of the charges announced, followed by Cambodia at 49 per cent, Laos at 48 per cent, Madagascar (47 per cent), Vietnam (46 per cent), Sri Lanka and Myanmar (both 44 per cent), Syria (41 per cent), Mauritius (40 per cent) and Iraq (39 per cent).
Serbia, Botswana, Taiwan and Indonesia are also facing higher tariff charges.
China has been hit particularly hard by the new tariffs, with the total levy on imports reaching more than 50 per cent after the world’s second largest economy was slapped with 20 per cent duties earlier this year.
Meanwhile, countries in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Morocco will have a tariff rate of 10 per cent. Syria and Iraq are subject to tariffs of 41 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively.
A group of islands near Antarctica including Heard Island and McDonald Islands have also been levied with a 10 per cent tariff.
Canada and Mexico, the two largest US trading partners, already face 25 per cent tariffs on many goods and will not face additional levies from Wednesday's announcement.
Russia, North Korea, Cuba and Belarus are not included in the list as they already face extensive sanctions and trade is minimal with the US.
How are countries responding?
China has firmly opposed the tariffs and will adopt countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a representative of the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.
“There is no winner in a trade war, and protectionism leads nowhere,” the representative said. The approach by the US disregards the balance of interests achieved through many years of multilateral trade negotiations and ignores the fact that the US has long benefited from international trade, the representative added.
The tariffs are “a major blow to businesses and consumers worldwide. Europe is prepared to respond”, warned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Tariffs are taxes, paid by the people. But Europe has everything to protect our people and our prosperity. We will always promote and defend our interests and values,” she said in a post on social media platform X on Thursday.
Ajay Sahai, chief executive of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, told AFP the tariffs will “hurt demand” for its exports.
“The tariffs slapped on India are definitely both high and higher than expected,” he said.
But he said rival nations like China and Vietnam had been hit harder, which opened up space for India to gain a market share.
What comes next?
The new tariffs are likely to cause a global trade war that threatens to stoke inflation and stall economic growth. Oil and global stocks have already dropped following the announcement on concerns related to global growth.
The International Monetary Find will probably lower the economic outlook slightly in its next World Economic Outlook update in about three weeks, but “we don't see recession on the horizon”, its managing director Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters this week.
The IMF in January raised its global economic growth estimate for this year to 3.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent, with a half percentage-point upgrade to the US outlook – to 2.7 per cent – accounting for most of that increase.
Honeymoonish
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A%20MAN%20FROM%20MOTIHARI
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Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
More on Quran memorisation:
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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Kill%20
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
