Trump orders investigation into potential new tariffs on essential minerals
President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into potential new tariffs on all essential mineral imports to the U.S.
The transfer, on high of tariffs on metal, aluminum and baseline 10 per cent duties on most US commerce companions, could be a serious escalation within the international commerce conflict and would add strain on China, which is a high essential mineral producer.
Trump signed an order on Tuesday directing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to start out a nationwide safety overview underneath the Commerce Enlargement Act.
Requested on Wednesday to react to the order, China’s international ministry stated: “Synthetic interference within the provide chain violates the legal guidelines of the market economic system and worldwide commerce guidelines.”

Rachel Clun, Reuters16 April 2025 11:59
China urges U.S. to ‘cease threatening and blackmailing’ over obvious 245% tariff menace
China’s international ministry has urged journalists to query the White Home over a brand new truth sheet claiming China faces 245 p.c tariffs from the U.S.
The very fact sheet revealed by the White Home on Tuesday stated that China “now faces as much as a 245 p.c tariff on imports to the US” due to its retaliatory actions. The very fact sheet didn’t element the place the additional one hundred pc would come from.
When requested concerning the truth sheet, China’s international ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated “you’ll be able to take this quantity to the U.S. facet for a solution,” based on Chinese language state media.
Lin reiterated that the commerce conflict was began by the U.S. and China has merely taken motion to guard its pursuits.
“If the US genuinely desires to resolve the issue via dialogue and negotiation, it ought to hand over its method of imposing excessive strain, cease threatening and blackmailing, and have interaction in dialogue with the Chinese language facet on the idea of equality, respect and mutual profit,” he stated, based on China Day by day.
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 11:48
Trump says Japan negotiations starting at the moment
Donald Trump says commerce negotiations with Japan will begin at the moment, and he’ll personally attend the assembly.
“Japan is coming in at the moment to barter Tariffs, the price of army help, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS.’” he wrote on social media.
“I’ll attend the assembly, together with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully one thing may be labored out which is nice (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”
The president imposed “reciprocal” tariffs of 24 per cent on Japan, which have since been paused for 90 days.
Nevertheless, the broad-based 10 per cent tariff stays, as does a 25 per cent tariff on automobiles exported to the U.S.
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 11:25
What further income may increased U.S. tariffs generate?
Earlier at the moment President Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. was “taking in RECORD NUMBERS in Tariffs”. However what are some estimates of how a lot the tariffs will generate in income?
In accordance with the nonprofit Tax Basis, the common efficient tariff weight – that’s, how a lot the mixed tariffs will increase after accounting for altering behaviour – will rise to 11.5 per cent.
It estimates {that a} 10 p.c common tariff, which stays in place regardless of the pause on increased tariffs, may increase $2.2 trillion over the next decade.
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 11:16
Gold costs rise to new excessive
Traders have continued to flock to the secure wager of gold, with bullion costs rising to a contemporary highGold costs have risen to a contemporary excessive of $3,318.
Uncertainties round Donald Trump’s tariff plans left gold in an unstoppable place, with the bullion hitting one other report excessive of $3,318 per ounce, up practically 3 p.c and surpassing the earlier excessive set on Monday.
Asian and European shares fell on Wednesday, whereas U.S chip maker Nvidia additionally took successful as a result of U.S. restrictions on chip gross sales to China amid the continuing international commerce conflict.
Australian financial institution ANZ up to date its forecast for gold to hit $3,600 an oz by the top of the 12 months, arguing on Wednesday that safe-haven demand for the asset would decide up.

Rachel Clun16 April 2025 11:11
In footage: Chinese language president visits Malaysia
Chinese language President Xi Jinping is on a state go to to a few nations in South East Asia, amid international uncertainty and turmoil over new U.S tariffs on buying and selling companions.
Xi arrived in Malaysia at the moment after visiting Vietnam, and can go to Cambodia subsequent.
Donald Trump impose reciprocal tariffs of 49 p.c on Cambodia, 26 p.c on Vietnam and 24 p.c on Malaysia earlier than pausing these steep will increase for 90 days late final week.
Xi is utilizing the visits to strengthen bilateral relations with the South East Asian nations.



Rachel Clun16 April 2025 11:05
Why do tariffs on Taiwan matter?
Donald Trump slapped “reciprocal” tariffs on Taiwan of 32 per cent earlier than pausing that obligation hike, however he stated tariffs on semiconductors could be elevated this week.
Taiwan is among the world’s largest producers of semiconductors, accounting for about 20 per cent of the worldwide business.
Semiconductors are key elements in laptop chips, and Taiwan additionally dominates that market as properly, manufacturing 92 p.c of the worlds’ most superior chips based on a report by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Chips are the spine of contemporary society, and are in every part from iPhones and computer systems to vehicles.
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 10:54
U.S. senators go to Taiwan as 32 p.c tariffs loom
Three U.S. senators are visiting Taiwain to debate U.S-Taiwan relations and commerce, as tariffs of 32 p.c on Taiwanese items exported to America loom.
Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, who chairs the Senate Overseas Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on East Asia, is main the delegation that shall be in Taiwan till April 19, the American Institute in Taiwan stated in a press release.
Additionally occurring the go to is Republican senator Ted Budd and Democrat senator Chris Coons.
“The delegation will have interaction in a collection of high-level conferences with senior Taiwan leaders to debate U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional safety, commerce and funding, and different important problems with mutual curiosity,” the institute stated.
“Their go to underscores the US’ dedication to its partnership with Taiwan and reaffirms our shared dedication to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 10:42
U.S. desires buying and selling companions to maneuver away from China, based on experiences
The U.S. plans to make use of tariff negotiations to strain different nations to restrict their commerce relationships with China, based on experiences.
The U.S. desires commitments from dozens of nations dealing with increased tariffs on their items exported to America that they won’t enable Chinese language firms to ascertain services on their territory, individuals with information of the plan instructed the Wall Street Journal.
Negotiations may also be used to strain buying and selling companions to now enable the cargo of Chinese language items via their territory and to keep away from bringing low-cost industrial items from China into their nations.
Neither the White Home nor Treasury responded to the WSJ’s request for remark.
Rachel Clun16 April 2025 10:31
‘Ball is in China’s court docket’ on commerce, White Home says
The highest White Home spokesperson stated it was as much as China to make a take care of America to resoved the continuing commerce conflict.
President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of as much as 145 p.c on Chinese language items to spice up tax income and pressure China to make concessions, however to this point the Chinese language authorities has responded by elevating tariffs on U.S. items to 125 p.c.
China has stated repeatedly that whereas it doesn’t need to battle commerce wars, it was not terrified of them.
China’s official media outlet the China Day by day stated in a single day that the U.S. “ought to cease whining about itself being a sufferer in international commerce”.
At a information briefing on Tuesday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that “the ball is in China’s court docket.”
“China must make a take care of us. We do not have to make a take care of them. There isn’t any distinction between China and every other nation besides they’re much bigger,” she stated.
“And China desires what we’ve, what each nation desires … the American client. Or to place it one other method, they want our cash.”

Rachel Clun16 April 2025 10:20