U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on UK and EU imports, warning foreign “cheaters” as he promises to restore American jobs and economic dominance.
President Donald Trump has launched a new trade offensive, unveiling reciprocal tariffs on key trading partners including the United Kingdom and the European Union. Speaking at the White House during an event titled “Make America Wealthy Again,” Trump declared the day as America’s “Liberation Day.”
“This is Liberation Day,” he told a cheering crowd, accusing foreign governments of rigging global trade rules. “Our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered.”
Trump claimed the new levies would return “trillions” of dollars to the U.S. economy, offer relief to taxpayers, and bring factories and jobs back home.
The first tariff to take effect is a 25% duty on all car imports, starting from midnight Eastern Time (5am UK time Thursday). A separate 10% tariff was confirmed on all other UK imports, possibly in response to Britain’s 20% VAT rate on foreign goods.
The European Union will face an even steeper 20% tariff on its non-auto exports, triggering promises of retaliation from Brussels. By contrast, the UK government has said it will not respond with “knee-jerk” tariffs, according to No.10 sources.
Trade talks between London and Washington are still ongoing. The prime minister insists “rapid progress” is being made and remains committed to dialogue.
The UK’s car manufacturing sector is expected to suffer the brunt of the measures. A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns that over 25,000 jobs could be at risk if tariffs persist.
Tariffs on steel and aluminium remain in force, compounding pressure on British exporters. UK businesses are also facing uncertainty about which goods will be targeted next, as the White House’s full tariff list is yet to be released.
The situation is especially sensitive in Northern Ireland, where post-Brexit trade rules tie imports to EU regulatory frameworks. If the EU retaliates against U.S. goods, it could affect U.S. shipments entering Northern Ireland — potentially creating an unexpected trade chokepoint.
Markets have responded with unease. Trump’s tariffs come at a time of global fragility, threatening to unwind trade arrangements in place since 1947. Analysts warn of rising prices, disrupted supply chains, and slower growth.
According to David Miles, a member of the Office for Budget Responsibility, if US tariffs on the UK remain at 20–25% for five years, it would “knock out all the headroom the government currently has.” That would mean renewed spending cuts or tax increases, especially as Chancellor Rachel Reeves had only just restored limited fiscal space in the recent spring statement.
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U.S. has become a central outside power in the south caucasus, shaping diplomacy, security and energy flows. Its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia have evolved from similar beginnings into two distinct partnerships that now define Washington’s role in the region.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
France and Canada opened new consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Friday, stepping up their Arctic presence in a show of support for Denmark, a NATO ally, amid renewed demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the strategically located territory.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy system early on Saturday (7 January), hitting power generation and distribution facilities with more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles, Ukrainian officials have said.
Winter weather has brought air travel in the German capital to a complete halt, stranding thousands of passengers as severe icing conditions make runways and aircraft unsafe for operation and force authorities to shut down one of Europe’s key transport hubs.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb that killed at least 31 people in the deadliest assault of its kind in the capital in more than a decade.
Alphabet is emerging as a frontrunner in the global artificial intelligence race, as analysts and executives say Google has overtaken OpenAI, marking a sharp reversal from a year ago when the company was widely seen as lagging.
Iran and the United States opened nuclear talks in Oman on Friday, with Tehran calling the meeting a good start and both sides agreeing to continue discussions after returning to their capitals for consultations.
France and Canada opened new consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Friday, stepping up their Arctic presence in a show of support for Denmark, a NATO ally, amid renewed demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the strategically located territory.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy system early on Saturday (7 January), hitting power generation and distribution facilities with more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles, Ukrainian officials have said.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
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