China and Ecuador vow to deepen trade and investment ties
China and Ecuador mark a key step in strengthening bilateral ties by agreeing to expand and deepen cooperation in trade, investment and economic development.
Markets tumbled Monday, with losses accelerating in the afternoon after President Donald Trump confirmed that 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will take effect. Earlier in the session, stocks were already under pressure following a weaker-than-expected February report on a key manufact
Stocks tumbled Monday as investors prepared for the midnight deadline on President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 650 points, or 1.48%, at 43,191. The index had plunged nearly 900 points in afternoon trading before recovering some losses. The broader S&P 500 fell 1.76%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.64%, bringing its total decline since Trump took office to approximately 6.5%.
Trump Defends Tariffs
"Tomorrow, tariffs—25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico," Trump declared during a White House press conference. "What they have to do is build their car plants and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs."
Trump stated that both countries had "no room left" for negotiations, emphasizing that the tariffs were a necessary response to economic imbalances. "They're all set. They go into effect tomorrow," he confirmed.
Market Volatility and Investor Concerns
Following Trump’s remarks, Wall Street’s fear gauge, the VIX index, surged to its highest level this year.
“The uncertainty surrounding the tariffs has wiped out the gains from the ‘Trump bump’ following the presidential election,” said Gustavo Flores-Macias, a professor of government and public policy at Cornell University.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, speaking alongside Trump, suggested that global companies could avoid tariffs by investing in U.S. production. He pointed to Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, which announced a $100 billion U.S. investment earlier Monday.
Economic and Business Impact
Analysts at Goldman Sachs warned that while tariffs might increase demand for American-made goods by making imports more expensive, they could also raise costs for U.S. businesses and trigger foreign retaliatory measures.
“Tariff increases will raise production costs for domestic producers and could lead to countermeasures against U.S. exports, both of which could hurt economic growth,” Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a note.
The stock market selloff coincided with the latest Institute for Supply Management (ISM) survey, which showed that while manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory, it had slowed—with tariff concerns dominating business responses.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
In a televised address on Saturday night, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces, in coordination with Israel, had conducted precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, aiming to dismantle Tehran’s enrichment capabilities.
The US stock market closed at record highs Friday, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rebounding from late-session losses triggered by trade tensions with Canada.
The European Commission has warned Meta that it may face daily fines starting 27 June if its modified pay-or-consent advertising model fails to meet EU antitrust requirements under the Digital Markets Act.
Nike plans to reduce its reliance on China for U.S.-bound products to offset the financial blow from President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, as the sportswear giant posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and a milder revenue forecast.
Nike is stepping back from China-based production for its U.S. market to dodge tariff-related costs, aiming to shift its sourcing strategy by 2026.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
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