Trump Vows to Impose Additional Tariffs as EU and Canada Respond to Existing Measures – Live Updates on US Politics

Donald Trump’s new tariffs are “double-trouble” for the UK steel and aluminium sector, according to a British minister.

As reported by the PA news agency, the chair of the business and trade select committee, Liam Byrne, stated:

President Trump’s new tariffs pose double trouble for Britain’s steel and aluminium exports, potentially leading to a £350m loss in sales and also risking a flood of over-subsidized Chinese steel re-routed from America.

What is the secretary of state’s strategy to bolster protections for our UK metal producers?

The UK’s business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, responded:

He is correct in stating that the challenge is not solely related to direct trade with the US, but also about the effects of trade diversion.

We already have 16 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures against 14 different product categories, and once the annual tariff quota is met, a 25% tariff will be imposed on those.

I can assure him and the House today that I will advocate for UK Steel’s application to the Trade Remedies Authority to reconsider the steel protections, and we must also contemplate creating a new framework for the aluminium sector as well.

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday to temporarily block a significant portion of Donald Trump’s executive order targeting a law firm, citing that the president utilized national security concerns as a pretext to punish the firm, Perkins Coie, for its previous work with Hillary Clinton.

The executive order issued by Trump last week revoked security clearances for Perkins Coie attorneys, mandated the end of any contracts, and prohibited federal employees from engaging with its attorneys or granting them access to government premises.

Trump labeled Perkins Coie a national security threat mainly due to its hiring of Fusion GPS for the Clinton campaign in 2016, which resulted in the creation of the controversial “dossier” discussing alleged Trump connections to Russia.

US district judge Beryl Howell dismissed Trump’s claims and has granted a temporary restraining order halting most aspects of the executive order, while not extending to the clearance revocations as Perkins Coie did not seek that in their request.

“It sends chills down my spine,” Howell remarked regarding Trump’s use of national security to exact punishment on Perkins Coie, likening the executive order to a “bill of attainder” – a legislative act that imposes punishment without a trial, which is expressly prohibited by the US constitution.

The justice department contended that Perkins Coie’s lawsuit lacked merit since the executive order had not inflicted any harm such as prohibiting its lawyers from entering federal facilities, asserting that the concerns raised were speculative.

Reuters provides further details on remarks made by Olli Rehn, a policymaker at the European Central Bank (ECB), stating that the US administration must be encouraged to refrain from imposing “unnecessary and very harmful” tariffs on Europe through a solution based on negotiations.

“The simple conclusion is that we should strive for a negotiated solution,” the Finnish central bank governor expressed at a policy panel in Berlin on Thursday.

The EU plans to enforce counter tariffs on €26bn ($28bn) worth of US goods starting next month, further escalating a global trade war in response to sweeping US tariffs on steel and aluminum, while remaining receptive to negotiations.

Rehn also mentioned that the ECB is closely monitoring the Trump administration’s treatment of the US Federal Reserve and expressed hope that the US Congress would uphold its checks and balances on this matter.

Furthermore, Trump’s perspective on cryptocurrencies is under scrutiny by the ECB, as Rehn indicated, citing potential involvement of taxpayer funds and possible connections to stablecoins and the dollar-based system. Such developments could pose serious systemic risks, he warned.

Updated at 06.39 EDT

Hugo Lowell

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected in the coming weeks to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the judge advocate general’s corps, aiming to decrease the military’s constraints concerning the laws of armed conflict, as per sources familiar with the matter.

These modifications might have widespread implications throughout the military, as Hegseth’s office considers alterations to the interpretation of US rules of engagement and the manner in which charges are brought within the military justice system.

The defense department is currently in the process of appointing new judge advocates (JAGs) for the Army, Navy, and Air Force following Hegseth’s dismissal of their predecessors during a late-night purge last month. The overhaul is not anticipated to commence until all new personnel are in place.

Revamping the JAG corps is a priority for Hegseth, who on Friday appointed Tim Parlatore, his personal attorney and former naval officer, as a navy commander with the responsibility to lead the effort, backed by the authority of the defense secretary’s office.

Parlatore will be granted a commission as a reservist in the JAG corps while continuing his private law practice. He has previously represented Donald Trump concerning classified documents mishandling and defended former Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher on war crimes allegations.

The JAG corps overhaul aims to retrain military lawyers to offer more comprehensive legal counsel to commanders, enabling more aggressive strategies and adopting a lenient stance regarding charging soldiers with battlefield offenses.

This approach reflects Parlatore’s views that JAG officers have tended to overstep by involving themselves in decision-making processes and lacking discretion in determining which charges to include in military prosecutions.

Concerns have been raised that JAG officers have been excessively cautious when interpreting engagement rules, with misunderstandings leading soldiers to believe they must positively identify an enemy combatant before engaging, necessitating a visible weapon for identification.

The Pentagon did not provide an immediate comment on this matter.

Trump threatens further tariffs as EU, Canada retaliate for those already in place

Donald Trump issued a warning on Wednesday that the global trade war could intensify with additional tariffs targeting European Union goods, as significant US trading partners announced retaliatory measures against existing tariffs enacted by the president.

Just a short time after Trump’s 25% tariffs on all US steel and aluminum imports were implemented, he indicated that he would impose further penalties if the EU moves forward with its counter-tariffs on selected US goods next month. “Whatever they charge us, we’re charging them,” Trump stated to reporters at the White House, as reported by Reuters.

Trump’s intense focus on tariffs has unsettled investor, consumer, and business confidence, sparking concerns of a potential recession. Additionally, his comments have strained relations with Canada, a key ally and major trading partner, as he repeatedly hinted at the annexation of its territory.

Canada, which is the largest foreign supplier of steel and aluminum to the US, has implemented 25% retaliatory tariffs on those metals as well as computers, sports equipment, and other products valued at $20 billion. This follows similarly sized tariffs Canada has already enacted on US goods in response to Trump’s broader tariff measures.

The European Union intends to announce an increase in tariffs on US beef, poultry, bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter, and jeans, according to reports from Associated Press (AP).

At a press conference, foreign minister Mélanie Joly characterized the US’s trade actions as “unjustified and unjustifiable,” and indicated that she would address her grievances with secretary of state Marco Rubio at a meeting of top G7 diplomats.

Further updates are as follows:

China has called for “dialogue” with Washington to resolve escalating trade tensions resulting in numerous tariffs imposed on each other’s imports. “China has consistently advocated for a cooperative approach towards economic and trade differences,” stated commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian during a weekly news briefing.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has arrived in Canada for two days of discussions with G7 foreign ministers. Rubio will likely encounter complaints from G7 nations concerning Trump’s policies, particularly from Canada, which has been at the receiving end of Trump’s fractious remarks and threatening tariffs.

Donald Trump accused Ireland of appropriating the US pharmaceutical industry and tax revenues owed to the US treasury, causing discomfort for Irish premier, Micheál Martin, during his St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House. Trump exhibited mixed responses to Martin, shifting between jabs and commendations amidst his broader critiques of the EU.

Chuck Schumer, leader of the Senate’s Democratic minority, announced that Democrats would not support a partisan funding bill approved by House Republicans, which includes cuts to essential services. To avert a Friday government shutdown, Schumer proposed passing a temporary funding measure to facilitate bipartisan negotiations on a longer-term deal. Republicans, however, are launching a communications strategy blaming Schumer for any potential shutdown due to his refusal to cooperate.

US district judge Tanya Chutkan has granted a request from 14 state attorneys general for discovery in a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his “department of government efficiency” (Doge) to discern the boundaries of Musk’s authority and reveal the identities of Doge personnel.

Federal judge Beryl Howell has obstructed an executive order from Donald Trump which aimed to terminate contracts with Perkins Coie, a law firm that supported the Democrats in previous presidential campaigns.

The Trump administration discreetly cleared all remaining migrants from the military facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba this past week.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident who participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, claiming without evidence that the Columbia graduate was “a major supporter of Hamas.”

Amid efforts to drastically reduce the Department of Education, Trump accused federal agency employees of slothfulness.