Trump will explain tariffs on electronics on Monday
The administration announced late Friday that some electronics were exempt.
President Donald Trump on Sunday said there will be no exceptions for tariffs on electronics and that he would clarify his administration's policy on Monday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced late Friday that some smartphones, computers, chips and other electronics would be exempted from tariffs, but Trump's top economic advisers hit the Sunday talk shows to explain the policy, saying that tariffs against electronics would be coming in the next month or two.
“There was no Tariff ‘exemption’ announced on Friday," Trump posted Sunday afternoon, and that semiconductor tariffs will “just be moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”
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Trump trade representative testifies again amid tariff fallout
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is again tasked with defending President Donald Trump's tariff policy as he testifies for the second time in as many days on Capitol Hill. He is currently appearing before the House Ways and Means Committee.
"This adjustment might be challenging at times," Greer said in his opening statement. "This is a moment of drastic and overdue change but I'm confident that the American people will rise to the occasion as they have before. I trust them. I trust that they can do this."
Russia criticizes Trump on tariffs, is 'closely monitoring' situation
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday criticized President Donald Trump's tariffs, saying they "go against the basic rules" of the World Trade Organization and expressed concern about the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.
"All the more serious concerns are raised when it comes to the two main economies of the world, one of which is the PRC, our many-year-old largest foreign trade partner. We are closely monitoring the development of the events, we will analyze the possible consequences, of course, and take measures to minimize potential damage to our country," the spokesperson said.
Trump works to quell nerves as stocks open mixed
With stocks mixed at the start of trading on Wednesday as Trump's trade war intensified, the president posted on his social media platform that "everything is going to work out well."
"BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before!," Trump wrote in a post Wednesday morning.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down 315 points, or 0.8%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq ticked up 0.03%.
European Union countries vote to introduce countermeasures to Trump tariffs
European Union countries have backed the European Commission’s proposal to push back on President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum with a set of countermeasures.
“The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy,” the commission said in a statement. “The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the US, which would be balanced and mutually beneficial.”
“Today's vote of approval by Member States means that —once the Commission's internal procedures are concluded, and the implementing act published — countermeasures will enter into force. Duties will start being collected as of 15 April,” it added.