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Trump Ignites a Groundbreaking Global Trade Battle

On April 3, 2025, former President Donald Trump rolled out an ambitious set of tariffs, shaking up both domestic and global trade landscapes. Announced with his signature flair, these measures signal a aggressive push to reshape America’s economic relationships as he gears up for his next chapter in leadership. It’s a move that’s got everyone—from […]

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Trump Ignites a Groundbreaking Global Trade Battle

On April 3, 2025, former President Donald Trump rolled out an ambitious set of tariffs, shaking up both domestic and global trade landscapes. Announced with his signature flair, these measures signal a aggressive push to reshape America’s economic relationships as he gears up for his next chapter in leadership. It’s a move that’s got everyone—from everyday shoppers to international leaders—paying close attention.

Trump’s latest tariff strategy isn’t holding back. He’s slapped a hefty 25% tariff on goods coming from countries outside the U.S. free trade agreements, but there’s a twist: Canada and Mexico, two of America’s biggest trading buddies, dodged the steepest hikes. Instead, they’ll stick with an earlier 25% rate on items not covered by existing deals. Meanwhile, other nations face what Trump calls “reciprocal” tariffs—higher rates designed to mirror what they charge U.S. goods. It’s a tit-for-tat approach aimed at leveling the playing field.

The timing couldn’t be more telling. Earlier that same day, the National Retail Federation (NRF) dropped its 2025 sales forecast, predicting a modest growth of 2.7% to 3.7%, landing between $5.42 trillion and $5.48 trillion. That’s a slight dip from last year’s 3.6% jump, hinting at a cautious outlook for retail. With Trump’s tariffs now in the mix, questions are swirling about how these new costs might ripple through stores and hit consumers’ wallets.

This isn’t just policy wonk stuff—it’s personal. Higher tariffs could mean pricier goods on shelves, especially for imports that don’t get a pass. But Trump’s betting big that protecting American industries will spark a homegrown economic boom. Whether that gamble pays off is the million-dollar question, and it’s one we’ll all be watching unfold as his administration takes shape.

Business

Fed holds rates steady, flags rising risks of inflation and unemployment

Fed holds rates steady, flags rising risks of inflation and unemployment
The Fed said it would continue to shrink its balance sheet at the reduced pace announced at the March meeting. The monthly cap on the amount of Treasury securities that can mature without being reinvested held at billion, while the cap for mortgage-backed securities was also unchanged at billion.
Economists say it will take time for the full effect of the new tariffs to work through the economy. So far, the impact has mainly included a sharp decline in sentiment and a surge in imports. The US economy contracted at the start of the year for the first time since 2022, but a gauge of underlying demand stayed firm.But the president has since insisted that he does not intend to fire Powell.The central bank announced Tuesday that Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid would miss the May meeting due to the recent death of his wife. Kansas City was represented by First Vice President Kim Robbins. Schmid’s vote passed to alternate member Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Fed.“Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace,” the statement said.Officials voted unanimously to keep the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25 per cent to 4.5 per cent, where it has been since December.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comRecession concerns have grown, and some businesses have reported pausing investment decisions given the uncertainty. Still, the labor market remains resilient, with employers adding 177,000 jobs in April. Fed officials described labor market conditions as “solid,” according to the statement.President Donald Trump‘s trade policy has unleashed a wave of uncertainty across the economy. While the levies are still being negotiated, economists widely expect the expansive tariffs to boost inflation and weigh on growth. That would pit policymakers’ two goals – price stability and maximum employment – against one another.

Economic picture

With unemployment still low and demand steady, Fed officials have said they are comfortable keeping rates unchanged until they have a better understanding of where the economy is headed. Trump, however, has repeatedly said the central bank should lower borrowing costs.Trump, meanwhile, has ramped up his criticism of Powell in recent weeks. At one point, Trump said in a social media post that “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady for a third-straight meeting and emphasised they see a growing risk of both higher inflation and rising unemployment.Companies scrambled in the first quarter to import merchandise ahead of the tariffs, and a surge in consumer spending in March suggested households also sought to frontload purchases. Key inflation gauges cooled in the month.Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference with reporters at 2:30 p.m. in Washington.Powell and his colleagues are determined to keep tariffs from sparking a persistent rise in inflation, and several officials have signaled they would not support lowering interest rates preemptively to protect against a slowing economy.The S&P 500 index of US stocks and Treasury yields fell following the announcement, while the dollar pared gains.“Uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased further,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement Wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Washington. “The committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.”US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Published on May 8, 2025

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Fed holds rates steady, flags rising risks of inflation and unemployment

Fed holds rates steady, flags rising risks of inflation and unemployment
Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady for a third-straight meeting and emphasised they see a growing risk of both higher inflation and rising unemployment.
Published on May 8, 2025 With unemployment still low and demand steady, Fed officials have said they are comfortable keeping rates unchanged until they have a better understanding of where the economy is headed. Trump, however, has repeatedly said the central bank should lower borrowing costs.Recession concerns have grown, and some businesses have reported pausing investment decisions given the uncertainty. Still, the labor market remains resilient, with employers adding 177,000 jobs in April. Fed officials described labor market conditions as “solid,” according to the statement.Powell and his colleagues are determined to keep tariffs from sparking a persistent rise in inflation, and several officials have signaled they would not support lowering interest rates preemptively to protect against a slowing economy.Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference with reporters at 2:30 p.m. in Washington.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com“Uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased further,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement Wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Washington. “The committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.”The Fed said it would continue to shrink its balance sheet at the reduced pace announced at the March meeting. The monthly cap on the amount of Treasury securities that can mature without being reinvested held at billion, while the cap for mortgage-backed securities was also unchanged at billion.

Economic picture

The central bank announced Tuesday that Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid would miss the May meeting due to the recent death of his wife. Kansas City was represented by First Vice President Kim Robbins. Schmid’s vote passed to alternate member Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Fed.“Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace,” the statement said.President Donald Trump‘s trade policy has unleashed a wave of uncertainty across the economy. While the levies are still being negotiated, economists widely expect the expansive tariffs to boost inflation and weigh on growth. That would pit policymakers’ two goals – price stability and maximum employment – against one another.Trump, meanwhile, has ramped up his criticism of Powell in recent weeks. At one point, Trump said in a social media post that “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” Companies scrambled in the first quarter to import merchandise ahead of the tariffs, and a surge in consumer spending in March suggested households also sought to frontload purchases. Key inflation gauges cooled in the month.Officials voted unanimously to keep the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25 per cent to 4.5 per cent, where it has been since December.US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Economists say it will take time for the full effect of the new tariffs to work through the economy. So far, the impact has mainly included a sharp decline in sentiment and a surge in imports. The US economy contracted at the start of the year for the first time since 2022, but a gauge of underlying demand stayed firm.The S&P 500 index of US stocks and Treasury yields fell following the announcement, while the dollar pared gains.But the president has since insisted that he does not intend to fire Powell.

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Berkshire’s Geico sees turnaround after tech upgrades and job cuts

Berkshire’s Geico sees turnaround after tech upgrades and job cuts
Geico posted substantially improved results in 2024, as it curbed its appetite to issue new policies while reducing the percentage of premiums it used to pay accident claims.
Then at Berkshire’s 2024 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was “still behind” but hoped by the end of 2025 to catch rivals in data analytics including pricing for risk, although Geico still enjoyed lower operating costs than “virtually anybody.”Insurers can then reward safe drivers with discounts, and price policies appropriately for other drivers.The vice chairman said Geico has made “rapid strides in telematics” and now “is as good as anyone.” Jain praised Geico’s CEO Todd Combs for reducing the company’s workforce. Geico cut more than 2,300 jobs last year.Published on May 3, 2025 “All this has allowed Geico to become a more focused competitor,” he said, adding it is too soon yet to say “mission accomplished. We have achieved a lot, but we have to do a lot more.”At Berkshire’s 2023 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was behind the curve in telematics, where devices installed in vehicles let insurers monitor behavior including speed, braking, mileage and distracted driving including cellphone use. Berkshire Hathaway’s Geico car insurance unit has made progress in upgrading its technology to better match rates with risk, Berkshire Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said on Saturday.Jain, who has day-to-day oversight of Berkshire’s insurance operations, spoke at the conglomerate’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska where he, Chairman Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Greg Abel fielded shareholder questions.At Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting, Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said the insurer is now “as good as anyone” in telematics but cautioned that it’s still too early to declare full success, noting continued progress is needed.

At Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting, Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said the insurer is now “as good as anyone” in telematics but cautioned that it’s still too early to declare full success, noting continued progress is needed.

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Berkshire’s Geico sees turnaround after tech upgrades and job cuts

Berkshire’s Geico sees turnaround after tech upgrades and job cuts
Insurers can then reward safe drivers with discounts, and price policies appropriately for other drivers.
At Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting, Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said the insurer is now “as good as anyone” in telematics but cautioned that it’s still too early to declare full success, noting continued progress is needed.

The vice chairman said Geico has made “rapid strides in telematics” and now “is as good as anyone.” Jain praised Geico’s CEO Todd Combs for reducing the company’s workforce. Geico cut more than 2,300 jobs last year.”All this has allowed Geico to become a more focused competitor,” he said, adding it is too soon yet to say “mission accomplished. We have achieved a lot, but we have to do a lot more.”Then at Berkshire’s 2024 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was “still behind” but hoped by the end of 2025 to catch rivals in data analytics including pricing for risk, although Geico still enjoyed lower operating costs than “virtually anybody.”Geico posted substantially improved results in 2024, as it curbed its appetite to issue new policies while reducing the percentage of premiums it used to pay accident claims.Published on May 3, 2025 Jain, who has day-to-day oversight of Berkshire’s insurance operations, spoke at the conglomerate’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska where he, Chairman Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Greg Abel fielded shareholder questions. Berkshire Hathaway’s Geico car insurance unit has made progress in upgrading its technology to better match rates with risk, Berkshire Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said on Saturday.At Berkshire’s 2023 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was behind the curve in telematics, where devices installed in vehicles let insurers monitor behavior including speed, braking, mileage and distracted driving including cellphone use.

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Wisconsin judge arrested for aiding immigration evasion; DOJ charges obstruction

Wisconsin judge arrested for aiding immigration evasion; DOJ charges obstruction
Dugan ordered the immigration officials to go and speak with the chief judge and then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a door which led to a non-public area of the courthouse, the complaint said.
In a criminal complaint, the U.S. Justice Department said Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, refused to turn over the man after immigration agents showed up to arrest him in her courtroom on April 18, and that she tried to help him evade arrest by allowing him to exit through a jury door.Trump launched a sweeping immigration crackdown after taking office in January, declaring a national emergency and surging resources in a bid to arrest and deport record numbers of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.Wisconsin court records show that a man by that name who faced misdemeanor battery charges related to domestic abuse appeared in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18.Dugan is charged with obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest.The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, citing sources it did not identify, said Dugan steered Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to a private hallway and into a public area but did not hide the pair in a jury deliberation room as some have accused her of doing.Carl Ashley, chief judge of the Milwaukee court, declined to comment.The arrest comes as the Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against local government officials who interfere with the administration’s immigration crackdown. Such resistance was widespread during Trump’s first 2017-2021 term in office.A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service said Dugan was arrested at the courthouse where she works on Friday morning. She was due to appear in federal court in Milwaukee later on Friday. A crowd formed outside the courthouse, chanting “free the judge now.”Published on April 25, 2025 Dugan was first elected as a county judge in 2016 and before that served as head of the local branch of Catholic Charities, which provides refugee resettlement programs among other services. She spent much of her early career as a lawyer at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, which serves poor people. According to the complaint, Dugan became “visibly angry” and commented that the situation was “absurd” when she discovered that immigration officials were there to arrest Flores-Ruiz.FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that the FBI had arrested Dugan for interfering with the attempted arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, whom he described as an “illegal alien” now in custody. He later deleted that post, which he made before the case against Dugan was unsealed in federal court. U.S. officials arrested a Wisconsin judge on Friday and charged her with helping a man evade immigration authorities in what appeared to be a dispute between President Donald Trump’s administration and local officials over immigration enforcement.A spokesperson for the FBI could not be immediately reached for comment.Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge

Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge
| Photo Credit:
MIKE DE SISTI/Reuters

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Wisconsin judge arrested for aiding immigration evasion; DOJ charges obstruction

Wisconsin judge arrested for aiding immigration evasion; DOJ charges obstruction
Dugan was first elected as a county judge in 2016 and before that served as head of the local branch of Catholic Charities, which provides refugee resettlement programs among other services. She spent much of her early career as a lawyer at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, which serves poor people.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, citing sources it did not identify, said Dugan steered Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to a private hallway and into a public area but did not hide the pair in a jury deliberation room as some have accused her of doing.Published on April 25, 2025 Carl Ashley, chief judge of the Milwaukee court, declined to comment. U.S. officials arrested a Wisconsin judge on Friday and charged her with helping a man evade immigration authorities in what appeared to be a dispute between President Donald Trump’s administration and local officials over immigration enforcement.Trump launched a sweeping immigration crackdown after taking office in January, declaring a national emergency and surging resources in a bid to arrest and deport record numbers of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.Dugan is charged with obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest.Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge

A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service said Dugan was arrested at the courthouse where she works on Friday morning. She was due to appear in federal court in Milwaukee later on Friday. A crowd formed outside the courthouse, chanting “free the judge now.”Wisconsin court records show that a man by that name who faced misdemeanor battery charges related to domestic abuse appeared in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18.According to the complaint, Dugan became “visibly angry” and commented that the situation was “absurd” when she discovered that immigration officials were there to arrest Flores-Ruiz.The arrest comes as the Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against local government officials who interfere with the administration’s immigration crackdown. Such resistance was widespread during Trump’s first 2017-2021 term in office.Dugan ordered the immigration officials to go and speak with the chief judge and then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a door which led to a non-public area of the courthouse, the complaint said.A spokesperson for the FBI could not be immediately reached for comment.FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that the FBI had arrested Dugan for interfering with the attempted arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, whom he described as an “illegal alien” now in custody. He later deleted that post, which he made before the case against Dugan was unsealed in federal court.In a criminal complaint, the U.S. Justice Department said Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, refused to turn over the man after immigration agents showed up to arrest him in her courtroom on April 18, and that she tried to help him evade arrest by allowing him to exit through a jury door.

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