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Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

Feb 13, 2025 | 10:22pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports. The Republican is possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances. Trump said Thursday: “I’ve decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff.’ The prospect of a dramatic hike on tariffs could send shockwaves through the world economy, possibly depressing growth while also causing inflation to intensify. Most economists say the tariffs would effectively be a tax increase on U.S. consumers. Trump says he’s decided “for purposes of fairness” that he’ll charge reciprocal tariffs.
Brooke Rollins confirmed as Trump’s agriculture secretary as tariff fights loom

Brooke Rollins confirmed as Trump’s agriculture secretary as tariff fights loom

Feb 13, 2025 | 4:24pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brooke Rollins has been confirmed as secretary of agriculture. The Senate confirmed Rollins in a vote Thursday, placing a close ally of President Donald Trump into a key Cabinet position at a time when mass deportation plans could lead to farm labor shortages and tariffs could hit agricultural exports. Rollins acknowledged that Trump’s plans for the mass deportation of people in the country illegally could led to labor shortages on arms. But Rollins said Americans support Trump’s plans and she would work to help the president while also trying to protect farmers. Rollins also promised to “modernize” USDA in line with Trump’s vision for the department.
Could Canada really become the 51st US state? Here’s what it would take

Could Canada really become the 51st US state? Here’s what it would take

Feb 13, 2025 | 9:45am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, erasing the 5,525-mile border the nations share and alleviating the need for tariffs he’s threatened against one of America’s top allies. Adding a new state usually requires an act of Congress, which means clearing the Senate’s 60-vote support bar. The U.S. hasn’t added a state since Hawaii in 1959. Adding Canada would dramatically reshape presidential elections since it would instantly become the largest U.S. state. Plus, it’s not even clear if Canada would want to become a U.S. state, though technically it would be possible without its buy-in.
US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

Feb 12, 2025 | 2:11pm
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Egg prices have reached a record high in the U.S. The consumer price index released on Wednesday confirmed what consumers, bakers and food companies already knew: an ongoing bird flu outbreak that began in 2022 are making eggs terribly expensive right now. The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set in January 2023. Of course, that is only the nationwide average. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places. And specialized varieties, such as organic and cage-free eggs, are even more expensive.
Senate confirms Gabbard as Trump’s director of national intelligence after Republicans fall in line

Senate confirms Gabbard as Trump’s director of national intelligence after Republicans fall in line

Feb 12, 2025 | 1:28pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence. The vote Wednesday came after Republicans who had initially questioned her experience and judgment fell in line behind her nomination. Gabbard was an unconventional pick to oversee and coordinate the country’s 18 different intelligence agencies. She had made past comments sympathetic to Russia, she once met with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad and had expressed previous support for government leaker Edward Snowden. Gabbard is a military veteran and a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii. She has no formal intelligence experience and has never run a government agency or department.
Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, but import taxes still in place for Canada and China

Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, but import taxes still in place for Canada and China

Feb 3, 2025 | 11:09am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that after a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that the planned tariffs are on hold for a month, a statement confirmed by the White House. Sheinbaum says on X, “Mexico will reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard immediately, to stop drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, in particular fentanyl.” She says the U.S. committed to stopping high powered weapons from reaching Mexico. The pause added to the drama as Trump’s tariffs against Canada and China are still slated to go into effect on Tuesday.
Trump says Americans could feel ‘some pain’ from his new tariffs that are triggering a trade war

Trump says Americans could feel ‘some pain’ from his new tariffs that are triggering a trade war

Feb 3, 2025 | 10:03am
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump says Americans could feel “some pain” from the emerging trade war triggered by his tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China. He’s also claiming that Canada would “cease to exist” without its trade surplus with the United States. The trade penalties that Trump signed Saturday at his Florida resort are causing a mix of panic, anger and uncertainty. And they’re threatening to rupture a decades-old partnership on trade in North America while further straining relations with China. But by following through on a campaign pledge, Trump may have simultaneously broken his promise to voters in last year’s election that his administration could quickly reduce inflation. The tariffs are set to launch on Tuesday.
Trump puts tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, spurring trade war as North American allies respond

Trump puts tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, spurring trade war as North American allies respond

Feb 2, 2025 | 5:54am
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, fulfilling a campaign promise but raising the prospect of trade conflict and increased prices for American consumers. Trump is declaring an economic emergency to put duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada — America’s largest trading partners — except for a 10% rate on Canadian oil. The White House said Trump’s order also includes a mechanism to escalate the rates if the countries retaliate against the U.S., as they have threatened. Trump says the tariffs are to force the countries to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
Farming and wildfire tech is on display at CES as companies showcase their green innovations and initiatives

Farming and wildfire tech is on display at CES as companies showcase their green innovations and initiatives

Jan 9, 2025 | 10:23am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sustainability is a key theme this year at the annual CES tech trade show in Las Vegas. Agriculture tech is on full display on the show floor while companies big and small also showcase their green innovations and initiatives. That includes Volvo CEO Martin Lundstedt’s vow to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and Wisconsin-based OshKosh Corporation’s electric fire engines and garbage trucks. John Deere also unveiled a fleet of fully autonomous equipment like tractors that are already in use on some farms and orchards. Some experts say AI is key to the industry’s future as climate change makes farming more unpredictable.
The world population will be 8.09 billion on New Year’s Day after a 71 million increase in 2024

The world population will be 8.09 billion on New Year’s Day after a 71 million increase in 2024

Dec 31, 2024 | 1:32am
The world population increased by more than 71 million people in 2024 and will be 8.09 billion people on New Year’s Day. Estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Monday show that the world population increased by almost 0.9% in 2024. That’s a slight slowdown from 2023, when it increased by 75 million people. In January 2025, 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths were expected worldwide every second, according to the estimates. The Census Bureau says the United States grew by 2.6 million people in 2024. The U.S. population will be 341 million people on New Year’s Day.