Utah Sen. Mike Lee is hopeful that tariff negotiations with the EU, Japan, South Korea, and India will lead to lower trade barriers around the world. However, he is cautious about the risk of a trade war and its potential consequences. Lee believes the Trump administration's use of tariffs as leverage may not yield the desired outcome, citing the potential for escalation and increased protectionism.
https://www.deseret.com/politics/2025/04/21/utah-senator-mike-lee-hopes-trump-tariff-negotiations-reduce-trade-barriers/Polish diplomat Wronski expects a speech by Foreign Minister Sikorski to address Poles' concerns amid ongoing war and international uncertainty. The speech will analyze Poland's foreign policy commitments and propose measures to make the country safer. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin announced a temporary ceasefire during Easter, but Ukraine's President Zelensky reported that Russian troops violated this ceasefire 2935 times on Sunday.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3984674-polish-fm-on-easter-truce-ukraine-knows-putin-well-and-understands-the-value-of-his-declarations.htmlSouth Korea is considering a "proportional" response to China's installation of a large steel platform in the Yellow Sea, which overlaps with South Korea's maritime territory. The move has raised concerns over China's expanding maritime ambitions. Minister Kang Do-hyung stated that the government will protect its maritime territory with utmost seriousness. The structure was installed by China in 2022 within the Provisional Measures Zone, an area where South and North Korean exclusive economic zones overlap.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307352/south-korea-weighs-proportional-response-chinese-platform-contested-yellow-sea?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer is close to securing a major trade deal with the European Union that will allow British arms companies to sell billions of pounds worth of weapons to European allies. The agreement comes after months of negotiations, following Starmer's repeated statements about building a new relationship with the EU. However, concerns have been raised that this deal could jeopardize a separate agreement with the US, which has seen US President Donald Trump and Keir Starmer agree on continued pressure on Russia under President Vladimir Putin.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/965746-the-times-starmer-close-to-major-trade-deal-with-euAsian stock markets resisted decline on Tuesday as investors reassessed their portfolios amid a US asset sell-off and concerns over the Federal Reserve's independence. President Donald Trump's criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell led to Wall Street's 2.5% drop on Monday, while tariffs weighed on economic growth. Market analysts like Tapas Strickland at NAB suggested that Asian markets may see increased investment as funds reallocate from US assets.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/asia-fights-drag-wall-st-us-assets-buckle-5079821US President Donald Trump's trade measures have led to significant tariffs being imposed on countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. The US Commerce Department has slapped Cambodia with 3,521% duties after the country withdrew from a US investigation, affecting companies such as Jinko Solar and Trina Solar. In contrast, Malaysia's tariff rate is set at 34.4%, while Vietnam faces rates of up to 395.9%. Chinese-headquartered solar company Jinko Solar is also facing high tariffs on exports from Vietnam and Malaysia, with rates of approximately 245% and 40% respectively.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-levies-new-tariffs-on-solar-imports-from-southeast-asia-days-after-xis-family-unity-visit-ws-e-13882008.htmlUS President Donald Trump is holding talks with foreign leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as Europe seeks new trade deals. Trump welcomed Meloni at the White House, stating a trade deal with the EU would be "100 percent" possible. However, no concrete details have emerged from their meeting, and EU officials are skeptical about a quick fix. In contrast, senior EU officials, including von der Leyen, are increasing diplomatic outreach, with plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.
https://www.politico.eu/article/urusla-von-der-leyen-world-lining-up-work-european-union-donald-trump-trade-war/US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods have strained relations with Beijing, potentially delaying a meeting between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Analysts believe the trade tensions, which began in January, have caused significant disruption to global markets.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/22/world/asia-oceania/trump-tariffs-torch-chances-of-meeting-with-chinas-xi/2096154US President Trump believes that a clash between his administration and the Federal Reserve, led by Chairman Jerome Powell, is benefiting the Indonesian rupiah due to ongoing trade wars and geopolitical tensions. Trump warned investors that if he pushes too far, they may dump the dollar, but Fed Chairman Powell has expressed concerns that tariffs could drive up inflation while slowing economic growth. Powell stated that his administration will continue to analyze data before considering policy adjustments. The White House is exploring whether it has the authority to fire Powell, amid a heated exchange between Trump and the Fed over interest rates.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1999329/rupiah-may-gain-amid-trumps-standoff-with-fed-governor-jerome-powell