President Donald Trump stepped back—slightly. On Tuesday, he signed a new order softening his auto tariffs just days before fresh 25% duties were set to hit imported car parts.
The move offers temporary relief. U.S. carmakers will be able to claim credits worth up to 15% of the value of vehicles assembled domestically, using them to offset import costs. It’s a narrow path to stability in an industry still caught in a whirlwind.
The White House framed it as a measure of support. “We didn’t want to penalise them,” Trump said before heading to Michigan, home of the U.S. auto legacy. But behind the words lies a deeper tension—between protectionist ambition and economic disruption.
Auto firms had been lobbying hard. The tariffs threatened a production model that spans borders—integrating U.S., Mexican, and Canadian supply chains. General Motors, facing the uncertainty head-on, withdrew its annual forecast and delayed its investor call.
Others followed. UPS announced 20,000 job cuts. Electrolux and Kraft Heinz warned that chaotic trade policies are making long-term planning almost impossible. In total, more than 40 companies have adjusted their earnings guidance in just two weeks.
Markets, for now, responded with optimism. A vague signal from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—claiming a deal with a foreign partner, pending local approval—helped lift stocks. The S&P 500 closed higher for a sixth straight session.
But the fundamentals are softening. U.S. GDP is expected to have grown by just 0.3% in the first quarter, dragged down by import surges and consumer stockpiling. Trump’s 90-day pause on broader tariffs has done little to calm broader fears.
His administration hopes to finalise 90 trade deals in the same 90 days. But for most businesses, the clock is ticking louder than the promises.
“Every single prediction has been proved wrong,” said Electrolux CEO Yannick Fierling. At this point, markets aren’t asking for precision—they’re asking for clarity.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 23rd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed at bolstering the Scandinavian nation’s air defence capabilities, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Mark Wiseman, a former global investment banker and head of Canada’s largest pension fund, as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty gaming franchise, has died in a car crash involving a Ferrari crash on Monday in Los Angeles, United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The European Union stands at a crossroads: to receive new members and accelerate the enlargement process in order to strengthen its role in the international arena, or to risk strategic stagnation by delaying expansion in favor of internal reform.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the release of photographs linking former President Bill Clinton to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the move a political distraction by Democrats.
A massive Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least three people, including a four-year-old, as air raids and power outages hit cities nationwide. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack, urging greater pressure on Moscow.
Negotiations conducted with the United States and European nations, aimed at ending the nearly four-year war with Russia, were "very close to a real result," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 23rd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed at bolstering the Scandinavian nation’s air defence capabilities, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday.
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