The former president, Donald Trump, stated he will enact levies of 30% on the European Union and Mexico starting August 1st, cautioning Europe that it would suffer consequences if it responded in kind and informing Mexico it had not done enough to prevent North America from becoming a “Drug-Trafficking Zone”.
“Should you opt to increase your Levies and retaliate for any reason, then, the amount by which you choose to raise them, will be added to the 30% that we impose,” he penned in a communication to the EU.
EU commerce ministers are scheduled to convene on Monday for a previously arranged meeting and will face pressure from certain nations to demonstrate a firm response by putting into effect €21bn ($24.6bn) in counteractive actions, which they had suspended until midnight of that day.
Here are the main US politics headlines at a glance:
Donald Trump declares 30% levies on items from EU and Mexico
Donald Trump made known on Saturday that merchandise brought in from both the European Union and Mexico will be subject to a 30% US tariff rate commencing August 1st, in messages shared on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The tariff onslaught on the EU was a surprise to European capitals as the European Commission and the US trade representative Jamieson Greer had devoted months working out an agreement they thought was satisfactory to both parties.
Trump empowers Ice personnel to defend themselves using ‘any means’ required
Donald Trump has granted “complete authorization” to federal immigration officers to safeguard themselves following a string of altercations with demonstrators, including during enforcement operations on two California cannabis farms.
“I am granting Full Authorization for Ice to protect itself, just as they protect the Public,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday, adding that he was instructing the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, and border czar, Tom Homan, to detain anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) protesters who obstruct immigration enforcement activities.
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Trump’s reductions to Fema questioned as Texas flood recovery proceeds
Recently departed officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) state the organization is dangerously underfunded and overextended in the case of further natural disasters, as the recovery continues from this month’s heavy rainstorms and flooding in Texas that resulted in over 120 fatalities.
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Kash Patel refutes claims he’s resigning from the FBI over DoJ ruling on Epstein files
FBI director Kash Patel has denied widespread resignation claims over alleged discontent at a justice department choice to finalize the case on Jeffrey Epstein after administration figures hinted at a major revelation earlier in the year.
In a Saturday social media message, the agency head stated: “the conspiracy theories simply aren’t accurate, never have been. It’s an honor to serve the President of the United States – and I’ll continue to do so for as long as he requests it.”
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What else transpired today:
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David Gergen, a seasoned figure in Washington politics and an advisor to four presidents, Republican and Democrat, has passed away at the age of 83.
Catching up? Here’s what occurred on Friday 11 July.
