Treasury secretary says China commerce warfare not ‘sustainable’
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the present commerce warfare with China was unsustainable, however warned negotiations could be “a slog”.
Bissent, delivering a personal speech for JPMorgan Chase, stated formal talks between Beijing and Washington have been but to begin.
“I do say China is going to be a slog in terms of the negotiations,” Bessent stated in keeping with a transcript obtained by The Associated Press. “Neither side thinks the status quo is sustainable.”

Rachel Clun23 April 2025 11:32
Just 37% approve Trump’s financial dealing with, ballot finds
The majority of Americans now concern a recession, new polling reveals, whereas greater than half agree Donald Trump’s insurance policies would make a snug retirement harder.
A Reuters/Ipsos ballot discovered 76 p.c of Americans have been involved a few recession, whereas 52 p.c agreed with an announcement that the president’s actions would make it exhausting to retire comfortably.
Just 37 p.c accredited of Trump’s financial dealing with, the ballot discovered, because the president conceded ultra-high tariffs on China would fall.
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 11:18
Milk high quality management exams halted amid workforce cuts
The Food and Drug Administration is halting a high quality management program used to check ingesting milk following President Trump’s federal workforce cuts.

It’s one more disruption to the nation’s meals security applications after the termination and departure of 20,000 workers of the Department of Health and Human Services, which incorporates the FDA, as a part of President Donald Trump’s effort to shrink the federal workforce.
From Monday, the company will droop its proficiency program for grade “A” uncooked milk and completed merchandise – the class that meets the very best sanitation customary – in keeping with an inside electronic mail seen by Reuters.
Madeline Sherratt23 April 2025 10:56
Emerging markets additionally buoyed by Trump’s softer stance on China
Emerging market currencies and shares additionally lifted on Wednesday, buoyed by feedback from Donald Trump that U.S. tariffs on China would fall.
A variety of rising shares have been buying and selling at greater than a two-week excessive, led by Asian markets together with Taiwan’s benchmark and South Korea’s Kospi.
A regional inventory index for central and japanese Europe additionally rose 1.1 p.c.
Investors have been optimistic that tensions between China and the U.S. have been easing after Trump indicated tariffs would find yourself “nowhere near” the present 145 p.c.
Global markets have been additionally bolstered by assurance from the president that he wouldn’t fireplace Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
Rachel Clun, Reuters23 April 2025 10:40
Financial markets elevate in reduction after Trump says he received’t fireplace Fed Reserve chair
Global share markets principally rose on Wednesday, exhibiting indicators of reduction after President Donald Trump indicated he had “no intention” of firing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
In early buying and selling, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 1.6 p.c to eight,461.24 whereas Germany’s DAX jumped 2.5 p.c to 21,820.14 and France’s CAC lifted 2.1 p.c to 7,480.99.
Asian markets additionally gained, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.9 p.c to complete at 34,868.63, Hong Kong’s Hang Send surged 2.4 p.c to 222,072.62 and Australia’s S&P/ASX rose 1.3 p.c to 7,920.50.
U.S. shares have been additionally set to elevate additional, with Dow futures up 1.5 p.c and S&P 500 futures up by 2 p.c.
Trump had beforehand stated Powell could possibly be “terminated” quickly, however on Tuesday he advised reporters: “I have no intention of firing him”.
Rachel Clun, AP23 April 2025 10:21
Trump praises $5,000 child bonus a “good idea”
Donald Trump was pressed by reporters on Tuesday on concepts ot increase beginning charges, together with the $5,000 child bonus.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Trump stated when requested concerning the money incentive.
In 2024, there have been just below 55 births for each 1,000 girls of reproductive age – a slight 1 p.c improve on the report low from 2023, however properly under earlier beginning charges.
Trump final month referred to himself because the “fertilization president”, and in February he signed an government order aimed toward increasing inexpensive entry to IVF.
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 10:07
China says U.S. ought to stop threats if it desires a commerce deal
China’s international ministry stated Beijing doesn’t desire a commerce warfare however added the U.S. ought to cease making threats if it desires a deal.
Asked about president Donald Trump’s feedback that work was progressing on a deal to decrease tariffs, Chinese international ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused the U.S. of continuous to exert “extreme pressure” because it tried to barter a deal.
“We don’t want a trade war, but we are not afraid of it. If the US truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop threatening and blackmailing, and engage in dialogue with China based on equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit,” he stated, in keeping with Chinese state media outlet the Global Times.
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 09:52
Why is Musk stepping again from DOGE?
Billionaire Elon Musk stated that from subsequent month, he’ll “significantly” scale back his time on the Department of Government Efficiency to at least one to 2 days every week.
There are just a few key causes as to why he’s stepping again.
Firstly, his 130 days as a particular authorities worker is ready to run out on the finish of subsequent month. Musk stated the main work in establishing the cost-cutting division was principally achieved.
He has additionally clashed with different key advisors to Donald Trump, notably attacking commerce advisor and tariff plan architect Peter Navarro.
Another necessary cause for his pivot away from discovering public service financial savings is to concentrate on his companies.
Tesla earnings plunged within the first quarter of the yr, the corporate reported on Tuesday, with income falling to its lowest degree for the reason that third quarter of 2021. Tesla inventory can also be down about 40 per cent to this point this yr.
“Starting next month, I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla,” he stated.
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 09:37
President has ‘no intention’ of firing Federal Reserve chair
Donald Trump appeared to stroll again his suggestion he may fireplace Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
“I have no intention of firing him,” Trump advised reporters on Tuesday.
Trump has beforehand insinuated he may fireplace the central financial institution chair, threatening final week that Powell confronted “termination” quickly.
The feedback got here after Powell stated in a speech that the Federal Reserve would take a wait-and-see strategy to rates of interest within the face of ongoing uncertainty brought on by the president’s tariffs.
Trump’s assaults on Powell have been seen as a menace to the Federal Reserve’s independence and triggered a monetary market selloff.
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 09:22
Donald Trump admits China tariffs will drop – however to not zero
The president has admitted the present 145 p.c levy on items imported from China will fall, however he warned they won’t hit zero.
Donald Trump stated talks between Washington and Beijing have been “doing fine” as a result of “everybody wants to have involvement” however he maintained that China will finally be compelled to succeed in an settlement to get the tariffs down.
“Ultimately, they have to make a deal, because otherwise they’re not going to be able to deal in the United States, and we want them involved, but they have to, and other countries have to make a deal, and if they don’t make a deal, we’ll set the deal,” he stated on Tuesday.
“We’re going to be setting the deal, and it’ll be a fair deal for everybody and it’ll be — I think it’s a process that’s going to go pretty quickly.”
Asked whether or not he would drop the tariffs, Trump stated: “It’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero.”
Rachel Clun23 April 2025 09:09
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-musk-doge-tariffs-china-stocks-live-updates-b2737788.html