New York State Attorney General Letitia James has joined 11 other state AGs in petitioning the U.S. Court of International Trade to rescind President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed since February, including a 25% duty on goods from Canada and Mexico, a 145% duty on Chinese goods, and at least a 10% duty on goods from nearly every other country.
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2025/04/23/12-democratic-ags-join-in-challenge-to-trumps-authority-to-impose-tariffs-/Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed concerns about the impact of tariffs and trade wars on the multilateral trading system during talks with Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Beijing. He stated that such measures "hurt" the global economic order, as they undermine the rights and interests of all countries. The tensions between China and the US have been escalating since President Donald Trump imposed a 145% tax on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% duty on US goods. Beijing's commerce ministry warned other nations against making deals that compromise China's interests, saying "appeasement will not bring peace" and "compromise will not be respected".
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/president-xi-jinping-says-tariffs-damage-global-trade-system-amid-us-tensions-8234267US President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy, General Keith Kellogg, will attend meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the funeral of Pope Francis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is no longer able to attend due to health reasons. The US had proposed recognizing Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea as part of efforts to reach a peace deal with Putin, according to the Financial Times.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/trump-envoy-heads-to-moscow-for-fresh-ukraine-peace-talks-with-putin-13882279.htmlThe Ukrainian government is concerned about the relocation of over 20,000 children to facilities in Belarus and Russia, with only 1,300 successfully returned. The US has supported Ukraine's efforts to repatriate these children, but recent budget cuts may hinder investigations into their whereabouts. Analyst Karolina Hird warns that Ukrainian teenagers forced to accept Russian citizenship may face conscription into the Russian army, violating international law.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-peace-talks-london-postponed-rubio-lammy-barrot/33394372.htmlThe US and China are locked in a diplomatic standoff, with tensions escalating further. The White House has urged Beijing to take the lead in negotiations, as stated by spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, implying that the US is waiting for China's move. A potential solution could be a neutral third-party mediator, such as Malaysia, which chairs this year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, or a public invitation from Beijing to negotiate directly with the US.
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3307267/how-find-face-saving-way-out-us-china-trade-war?module=opinion&pgtype=section#commentsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of stealing drone technology from Russia, citing evidence that Chinese citizens were working at a drone production site in Russia. This claim comes days after Ukraine said China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, a move Beijing denies. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has summoned Chinese Ambassador Ma Shengkun to express "serious concerns" over Chinese involvement in the war.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/23/world/politics/zelenskyy-chinese-russia-drones/Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has expressed opposition to an idea of supplying power to both Ukraine and Russian-controlled areas, but there may be room for compromise. The US could potentially appoint American citizens to the executive board of Enerhoatom, a state-owned power generator, as part of a potential deal. Meanwhile, rare earth minerals such as titanium and cobalt are being sought by the Trump administration to compensate for billions of dollars in weaponry supplied to Ukraine. Zelenskyy had previously signed a framework deal with Washington in February, which aimed to facilitate US investment while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty over mineral projects.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-cease-fire-talks-london-zelenskyy-trump/33392669.htmlMalaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will deliver remarks on US tariff issues during a special Dewan Rakyat sitting on May 5, with Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil confirming the event. The sitting will be followed by debates between MPs from both sides, led by ministers Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Amir Hamzah Azizan of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and Finance Ministry respectively. The US has imposed tariffs on Malaysia's solar imports, with duties as high as 3,521% announced on April 22, following a trade probe that found unfair government subsidies and low production costs.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/23/pm-to-deliver-remarks-on-us-tariff-issue-at-special-parliament-sitting-on-may-5The Bank of Korea has decided to maintain caution in response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs on South Korea, a major exporter and firm US ally. The decision not to raise interest rates reflects the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of trade talks between the two countries. With the 90-day period for suspended duties nearing its end, it remains unclear what the White House will accept or if they will uphold any agreements reached during this time.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/04/22/world/ferris-buellers-tariff-lesson/