Page 6 - index
P. 6
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025
06
Canada pauses some UK to strike new deal with EU
in coming days: PM’s office
counter tariffs against US
Tariffs relief was provided for six months to give cos more time to adjust
• The US president has suppliers,” Champagne spokes-
person Audrey Milette said.
Canada continues to charge
slapped general tariffs tariffs on roughly Can$43 bil-
of 25% on Canada lion (US$31 billion) of US goods,
she added. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is welcomed by European Commission
AFP | Ottawa, Canada The US president has slapped president Ursula Von der Leyen ahead of their meeting during the European
general tariffs of 25% on Canada Political Community (EPC) summit, in Tirana
as well as sector-specific levies
anada has temporarily on autos, steel and aluminum, European Union will deliver
paused some counter but he has suspended some of • Starmer will meet for working people and lead
Ctariffs against the Unit- them pending negotiations. to more money in pockets,” the
ed States, but Finance Minister on Monday with EU statement said.
Francois-Philippe Champagne chiefs for the first post- Talks looked set however
on Sunday pushed back against Brexit EU-UK summit to go down to the wire due to
claims they have all been quietly last-minute squabbling over
lifted. AFP | London, United Kingdom long-standing issues, such as
The government of Prime Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney fishing rights and food checks.
Minister Mark Carney, who But negotiators were hope-
won Canada’s April 28 election erage processing and packaging, Champagne called those as- KNOW WHAT K Prime Minister Keir ful of at least signing a defence
on a pledge to stand up to US health, manufacturing, national sertions “falsehoods.” UStarmer is set to sign a and security partnership.
President Donald Trump, had security and public safety. “To retaliate against US tariffs, new deal with the EU seeking Starmer, elected Labour
slapped counter tariffs on bil- Oxford Economics said in a Canada launched largest-ever to reset ties after Brexit, his prime minister last July, wants
lions of dollars of imports from report this week that the ex- response -- including $60B of The nation of 41 office said Saturday ahead of a deeper relationship with the
the United States in response emptions covered so many tariffs on end-use goods. 70% million people sends landmark talks. European Union than the
to US tariffs on Canadian goods. categories of products that the of those tariffs are still in place,” three-quarters of its Starmer will meet on one negotiated by the pre-
During the election campaign, tariffs rate against the United he said on X. exports to the United Monday with EU chiefs vious Conservative gov-
automakers were offered a re- States was effectively dropped Canada’s tariffs response, his States, and the latest for the first post-Brexit ernment.
prieve, provided they main - to “nearly zero.” office told AFP, “was calibrated EU-UK summit aimed That deal “isn’ t
tained production and invest- Opposition leader Pierre to respond to the US while limit- jobs report shows tar- at agreeing steps to - w orking for an y -
ment in Canada. Poilievre pounced on the claim, ing economic harm to Canada.” iffs imposed by Trump wards a closer relation- one”, Starmer’s office
This was outlined on May 7 widely cited in the media, to Tariffs relief was provided for are already damaging ship between Brit- said.
in the Canada Gazette, the gov- accuse Carney of having “qui- six months to give some Cana- the Canadian econo- ain and the The move is
ernment’s official newspaper, etly dropped retaliatory tariffs dian companies “more time to my. 27-country aimed at open-
along with a pause on tariffs on to ‘nearly zero’ without telling adjust their supply chains and bloc which ing the door
products used in food and bev- anyone.” become less dependent on US it left five to closer co-
years ago operation
after an as both the
acrimo- EU and
US House speaker says Trump mega-bill still ‘on track’ nious Britain
and
race to
knife - rearm in
AFP | Washington, United States
aid program that helps provide Ralph Norman of South Caro- edge ref - the face of the
health insurance for more than lina, told reporters. “We want erendum. threat from Russia
top US Republican said 70 million lower-income Amer- real cuts.” “This week, and fears the Unit-
A yesterday that a mega-bill icans. Speaker Johnson has been the prime min- ed States under
meant to advance President The policy change would re- spending the weekend work- ister will strike President Don-
Donald Trump’s domestic agen- sult in over 10 million people ing to persuade the holdouts. yet another deal ald Trump will
da remains “on track” despite losing coverage under the pro- Republicans have a very slim that will deliv - no longer help
a recent failure to advance in gram, according to estimates by majority in the House, meaning er in the nation- protect Europe.
committee. the independent Congressional the bill needs almost unanimous al interest of this That should
Trump has been pressing the Budget Office. support to pass. country,” Down- mean more regular
Republican-controlled Con- But sharp divisions within the “This is the largest spending ing Street said in security talks, Brit-
gress to move quickly on the party threaten at least to slow reduction in at least three dec- a statement, also ain considering join-
“big, beautiful bill,” which -- the legislative process. ades, probably longer,” he told pointing to recent ing EU military mis-
among many other provisions Moderate Republicans fear the Fox program. “It’s historic.” trade deals with the sions and the potential
-- extends tax cuts passed in overly large cuts in the popular The Budget Committee is set United States and for London to fully tap
his first term while imposing program could upset the party’s to continue debating the bill India. into a 150-billion-euro
new restrictions on welfare pro- prospects in the midterm elec- into late Sunday, in hopes this Starmer will wel - ($167-billion) defence
grams. tions of November 2026. time of securing passage. come EU bosses Ursula fund being set up by the
House Speaker Mike Johnson But deficit hawks on the par- But even if it passes in the von der Leyen and An- bloc.
told “Fox News Sunday” that ty’s far right insist the projected House, it will face challenges in tonio Costa as well as top But Starmer has sev-
he plans for a floor vote on the US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson cuts don’t go far enough. the Senate. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas eral red lines he has said
package by the end of the week, add more than $4.8 trillion to A handful of Republican leg- Republicans in the upper for Monday’s talks at the he will not cross, while
despite its failure to advance the federal deficit over the com- islators on Friday voted against chamber, who have a similarly storied Lancaster House sticking points remain
in the Budget Committee on ing decade. the bill’s passage out of the narrow majority, are demanding venue in London. over some EU demands
Thursday. To partially offset that, Re- Budget Committee, derailing major changes in the sweeping “The prime minister will that threaten to stall the
Independent congressional publicans plan significant cuts its progress at least temporarily. bill -- which Trump is eager to set out how a strength - rapprochement.
analysts calculate that the me- in spending -- notably by adding “We don’t like smoke and mir- present as a signal accomplish- ened, forward-looking Vice-President of the
ga-bill’s tax provisions would new restrictions on the Medic- rors,” one of those legislators, ment early in his second term. partnership with the European Commission
Kaja Kallas
Bessent calls Walmart CEO after Trump lashes out over price hikes
AFP | Washington, United States weeks. “We will do our best to he said, with the warning: “I’ll hikes stemming from his tariffs,
keep our prices as low as possi- be watching.” On Sunday, US particularly the steep levies on
he US Treasury chief said ble, but given the magnitude of Treasury Secretary Scott Bes- major trading partner China.
TSunday he had called Wal- the tariffs, even at the reduced sent told CNN that he had called Earlier this month, he dis -
mart’s CEO, a day after Presi- levels, we aren’t able to absorb McMillon the previous day “to missed concerns about shortag-
dent Donald Trump blasted the all the pressure,” Chief Execu- understand what he had to say.” es by saying that children could
company for hiking prices over tive Doug McMillon said. “So Walmart will be absorbing have “two dolls instead of 30,”
his tariffs and urged it to “eat” That prompted Trump on some of the tariffs. Some may and that maybe the “two dolls
the costs. Saturday to lash out on social get passed on to consumers,” he will cost a couple bucks more
The massive American retail- media, saying Walmart “should said, while arguing that decreas- than they normally would.”
er on Thursday warned as it STOP trying to blame Tariffs as es in inflation and Trump’s pro- Since then, Washington and
reported quarterly earnings that the reason for raising prices.” posed tax cuts would provide Beijing have agreed to lower
at least some of Trump’s tariffs “Between Walmart and Chi- relief to consumers. their tariffs while continuing
would be passed onto consum- na they should, as is said, ‘EAT Trump’s outburst at Wal - to negotiate, though they still
ers, with price hikes becoming THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge mart stood in contrast to his remain well above the levels
more noticeable in the coming People shop at a Walmart in Rosemead, California valued customers ANYTHING,” recent commentary on price from when Trump took office.

