US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to trigger a "snapback" mechanism that would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran due to its non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. US real estate magnate Donald Trump's counterpart, Robert Witkoff, is involved in talks with Iranian officials, including Araghchi and Khamenei, over Iran's nuclear program and missile capabilities. Iran has insisted that its right to enrich uranium is "non-negotiable" and warned it could withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered. The US and Iran are at a critical stage in talks, with analysts expecting discussions on Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militants in the Middle East.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/04/19/us-and-iran-resume-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-rome-amid-looming-deadlines/173730U.S. Senator Glass has vowed to have tough conversations on tariffs with Japan, aiming to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and increase Tokyo's defense role in the region. He expressed confidence that a deal can be reached due to the involvement of top officials from both countries, including President Trump. The U.S.-Japan negotiations are closely watched by other American allies, who may take note of the outcome. Glass also highlighted America's $40 trillion national debt as a pressing issue, stating it could lead to economic instability if left unchecked.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/nation-world/us-japan-ambassador-optimistic-tariffs-deal/507-07199e54-74d8-40c4-92ff-2d0cb60bf1cfUS President Trump has criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over his interest rate decisions, which could impact the economy. Powell warned that tariffs are creating a challenging scenario for the Fed to balance maximum employment and stable prices. Legal experts agree that the president lacks authority to fire Powell due to policy disagreements. Williams, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, expressed concern that replacing Powell with a 'yes' person would undermine the integrity of capital markets globally.
https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/president-donald-trumps-threats-to-fire-jerome-powell-put-the-feds-independence-into-question-federal-reserve-central-bank-interest-rates-economy#Japan is considering increasing soybean and rice imports as part of trade negotiations with the US, following President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Japanese exports. The US has demanded that Japan import more meat, fish products, and potatoes, citing market barriers in these areas. Japan's Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa was unexpectedly brought into the Oval Office by Trump, who touted "big progress" after their talks. Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato is set to resume bilateral talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent next week in Washington.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/04/19/amid-tariff-threats-japan-weighs-increasing-soybean-on-top-of-rice-imports-to-placate-us/173701US President Trump's tariffs have forced China to take action, mirroring a similar move in 2010 when Beijing halted rare-earth exports to Japan during a territorial dispute. However, mining and processing rare earth materials in the US is hindered by steep regulatory and environmental hurdles, making it difficult for China to be displaced in the short term. In contrast, Chinese President Xi has a political advantage to frame the conflict as part of China's struggle against Western interference, using nationalism to deflect domestic dissatisfaction and strengthen his grip on power.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/going-off-the-rails-will-trumps-trade-war-with-china-backfire-on-the-us-economy-13881347.htmlUS President Trump hinted at a planned state visit to Britain in September, amid efforts to strike a trade deal with the UK. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to meet with White House officials next week to discuss a potential agreement that could help mitigate the impact of tariffs imposed by Trump on April 2. Trump stated he has no rush to reach deals, as new tariffs are generating significant revenue, and any agreements would come at a later point.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/starmer-trump-discuss-trade-security-over-phone/The US has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies this, claiming its program is for civilian purposes. The two countries have no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. After taking office in January, President Trump revived sanctions against Iran and sent a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March, urging renewed nuclear talks with a warning of military action if diplomacy fails.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/iran-us-hold-second-round-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-romeThe US and Iran concluded a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program in Rome, with Iranian Foreign Minister Esmail Baghaei stating that the discussions took place in a "constructive atmosphere". The next round of talks is set for April 26 in Oman, where US envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with experts. Iranian officials described the negotiations as indirect, similar to previous talks held in Muscat, Oman, where Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi acted as an intermediary.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/iran-us-wrap-up-second-round-of-nuclear-talks-in-rome-amid-constructive-atmosphere-13881324.htmlThe second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran began in Rome, Italy on April 19, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff leading the discussions. The talks aim to address Tehran's civilian nuclear programme and the termination of American sanctions against the country.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/second-round-of-us-iran-nuclear-talks-begin-in-rome/