Tom Barrack, a veteran businessman and longtime Trump associate, highlighted Türkiye's strategic importance in regional security during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. Türkiye maintains one of NATO's largest militaries and naval fleets, and has been a valued partner in the fight against ISIS. The country supports Ukraine through drone supplies and mediation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, while managing the Istanbul and Canakkale Straits under the Montreux Convention to block warship passage during times of war. Barrack expressed confidence in reaching a $100 billion trade target with Türkiye, citing energy partnerships as a counterbalance to China's Belt and Road Initiative. However, he also acknowledged the YPG's designation as a terror group by the US and Türkiye, which has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths during its 40-year campaign against Türkiye.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/trumps-pick-for-envoy-to-turkiye-stresses-countrys-strategic-role-207582Russian envoy to meet Donald Trump, amid efforts for an unconditional ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness for a ceasefire, while US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian envoy to discuss possible peace talks.
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/russiaukraine-war-russian-envoy-to-meet-donald-trump-zelensky-ready-for-unconditional-ceasefire-10-updates-11743559136382.htmlUS Ambassador to NATO, Jane Harman, has been praised by former US President Donald Trump as a "strong warrior and loyal patriot". The praise comes after Harman's efforts to strengthen the alliance with NATO in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Harman, who was nominated for the position by President Biden, has been working closely with European leaders to address security concerns and promote cooperation between the US and its allies.
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/who-is-matt-whitaker-us-ambassador-to-nato-praised-by-donald-trump-as-strong-warrior-and-loyal-patriot-11743561480619.htmlA US diplomat complained that key roles in the White House and State Department responsible for dealing with Europe remained unfilled weeks after the inauguration, hindering communication with EU capitals. The Trump administration preferred direct communication with individual EU countries, bypassing Brussels, which is crucial for trade policy among its 27 members. Two officials from France, Germany, and Italy expressed willingness to buy more American LNG, but were met with unclear terms and no reciprocal offers from the US.
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-thought-it-had-a-way-past-trumps-tariffs-he-didnt-care/The Trump administration's trade policies, including tariffs and free trade agreements, have led to a significant increase in the national debt and budget deficit. The US-China trade war, initiated by President Donald Trump, resulted in higher tariffs on Chinese goods, causing a sharp decline in US exports to China. This has contributed to a widening budget deficit, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating a $1 trillion increase in the national debt between 2018 and 2020. The administration's fiscal policies have also been criticized for exacerbating income inequality and reducing economic growth.
https://reason.com/2025/04/02/the-logical-contradictions-of-trumps-case-for-tariffs/US President Donald Trump plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, aiming to slash the country's global trade deficit. The move is part of "Liberation Day" and will be unveiled at an event in the Rose Garden at the White House. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the lack of reciprocity contributes to the large annual trade deficit, which has gutted US industries and workforces. Trump's tariffs on foreign imports are expected to take effect immediately, with rates potentially lower than initially announced by other countries.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250402/p2g/00m/0in/001000cUAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi announced that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Costa Rica and Mauritius mark a significant step forward in the country's foreign trade program, aiming to establish stronger trading relationships with dynamic markets. The agreements have contributed to record non-oil trade in 2024, reaching US$817 billion, a 14.6% increase over 2023, and have concluded 27 deals, expanding access for UAE businesses to over a quarter of the world's population.
https://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/uae-s-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreements-with-costa-rica-and-mauritius-come-into-force-2025-04-02-1.738471Kazuo Ueda, a parliament member, warned that US tariffs could significantly impact trade activities in affected nations depending on their size and area. He also highlighted the potential effect of tariffs on household and business sentiment, which could influence overall spending. Ueda's comments come as US President Donald Trump unveiled a 25% auto tariff last week, with Ueda continuing to monitor developments without offering hints about the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) rate hike path.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/04/02/economy/boj-ueda-tariffs-impact/British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson announced that British, French and Ukrainian military leaders will meet to boost Ukraine's security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the US to increase sanctions on Russia for violating the ceasefire on energy infrastructure. The US proposed a minerals deal with Ukraine, which would require Ukraine to nominate a legal company to work on the draft.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/zelenskyy-ukraine-to-negotiate-foreign-troop-deployment-for-security-assurances-13876471.html