Lesotho has been placed on the US tariffs list, with only Chinese goods facing higher tariffs than exports from Lesotho. This move was announced by President Trump on April 3. Kenya has downplayed the impact of these tariffs, stating it remains among nations with the lowest tariff rates.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2025-04-05-worst-week-for-us-stocks-since-covid-crash-as-china-hits-back-on-tariffs-1Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot discussed a planned visit by French President Macron to Indonesia in May 2025, with cooperation expected in areas such as energy transition, food security, defense, digital transformation, and cultural relations. The meeting took place at the Pancasila Building in Central Jakarta on March 26, 2025, where Sugiono outlined priority steps for enhancing bilateral relations and capitalizing on the visit's outcomes.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1993651/emmanuel-macron-and-prabowo-plan-joint-conference-on-gazaNATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte plans to strengthen Japan's partnership by increasing information-sharing and defense-industrial cooperation. He aims to expand ties with Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, known as the Indo-Pacific four (IP4), to enhance collaboration in areas like industrial production, innovation, and data exchanges on shared concerns.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/05/japan/politics/japan-nato-rutte-interview/Sir Keir Starmer is urging world leaders to cut trade barriers in response to US President Donald Trump's tariff war, which has triggered market meltdowns globally. He discussed the crisis with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Australian leader Anthony Albanese, agreeing that an all-out trade war would be damaging and in nobody's interests. The UK Prime Minister is expected to continue diplomatic calls over the weekend, urging European, Commonwealth, and Gulf leaders to delay retaliating with tit-for-tat tariffs and work on lifting trade barriers to offset the impact of US President Trump's tariff policy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14573441/Starmer-embarks-diplomatic-mission-tariffs.htmlSyria welcomed a UN resolution to investigate human-rights violations following its 13-year civil war led by former President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The resolution, which passed without opposition at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, calls for Syria's new government to support inquiries into crimes committed during the conflict that started in 2011.
https://www.asiaone.com/asia/syria-welcomes-un-resolution-investigate-human-rights-violationsUS President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Vietnamese products may inadvertently create an opportunity for China to strengthen ties with Vietnam ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to Hanoi. Vietnam, which faces a 46% tariff, is expected to suffer a significant economic blow, potentially eroding trust between the US and Hanoi. However, some analysts believe that this could prompt Vietnam to shift its focus towards China economically, as it seeks to hedge its bets between the two superpowers.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3305261/could-trump-tariffs-open-window-opportunity-china-improve-ties-vietnam?module=top_story&pgtype=section#commentsUS President Donald Trump's tariffs have sparked controversy and confusion worldwide, particularly among remote island nations. The tariffs on exports from Heard Island, a barren Australian territory inhabited by four species of penguins, have raised eyebrows due to the lack of human population. Former communications chief Anthony Scaramucci joked that penguins were "ripping us off" for years. Trump's 10% tariff on Norfolk Island, with a population of over 2,000 humans, has also been questioned by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as not being a significant trade competitor to the US. The tariffs have had a significant impact on global markets, causing US stocks to suffer their worst day since the Covid pandemic in 2020.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/04/05/trump-slaps-tariffs-on-empty-island-internet-sends-in-the-penguins/171860The US has limited options in its trade war with President Donald Trump, as most trading partners lack the ability to retaliate or the political will to engage in a prolonged conflict. Despite facing tariffs of 10-50% on their exports, many countries are open to negotiating a compromise with Trump, indicating a readiness to avoid escalation and maintain economic ties.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/04/05/economy/trump-trade-tariffs-allies/UK Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed concerns about the economic outlook after meeting with business leaders in Downing Street, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged that the UK may not escape a global recession even if it secures exemptions from US tariffs. The market is pricing in a recession, according to Deutsche Bank's George Saravelos, who cited the sharp decline of Asian shares following the imposition of high levies by Donald Trump on China and other countries.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14573479/Donald-Trump-tariffs-market-meltdown-global-recession.html