AFP USA

Ukraine endorsed an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and agreed to immediate negotiations with Russia in crunch talks in Jeddah on Tuesday after three years of grinding war.The positive response from Ukraine prompted President Donald Trump’s administration to lift a freeze on military aid and to predict the beginning to an end of the conflict.With Trump stunning allies by applying intense pressure on Kyiv and reaching out to Moscow, Ukrainian officials came to talks in Saudi Arabia eager to make up and had proposed a partial truce on air and sea attacks.Trump’s advisors pressed for more and said Ukraine agreed to their proposal for a full month-long ceasefire in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.”Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after around nine hours of talks in an ornate hotel in Jeddah.”We’ll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.”If they say no then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here,” Rubio said of Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022.Rubio said the United States would immediately resume military assistance and intelligence sharing it had cut off to pressure its wartime partner following a disastrous February 28 meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.In Washington, Trump said he was ready to welcome Zelensky back to the White House and may speak to President Vladimir Putin this week.Asked by a reporter about the prospects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump answered: “Well, I hope it will be over the next few days, I’d like to see.”I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow and some great conversations hopefully will ensue.” In a joint statement, Ukraine and the United States said they would conclude “as soon as possible” a deal securing US access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth, which Trump demanded as compensation for billions of dollars in US weapons under his predecessor Joe Biden.Zelensky was supposed to sign the deal at the White House before the dramatic on-camera showdown, in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance dressed down the wartime leader and accused him of ingratitude.Zelensky quickly thanked Trump over the “positive” ceasefire proposal made in Jeddah and said the United States must now work to persuade Russia.”The American side understands our arguments, perceives our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams,” Zelensky said in his evening address.- Russia must respond ‘clearly’ -Since the US cutoff of aid and intelligence sharing, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and seized back land in Russia’s Kursk region which Ukrainian forces had infiltrated.Hours before the Jeddah talks, Ukraine staged a major direct attack on Moscow, with hundreds of drones slamming into the capital and other areas, leaving three people dead.Top Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak said in Jeddah that Ukraine had made clear that its desire is peace.”Russia needs to say, very clearly, they want peace or not, they want to end this war, which they started, or no,” Yermak told reporters.Trump’s abrupt shift on Ukraine following Biden’s strong support has rattled European allies, with France and Germany increasingly speaking of developing common European defence if the United States no longer offers its security guarantees through NATO.But Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, countered that the brash president has “literally moved the entire global conversation” in support of peace.”We’ve gone from if the war is going to end to how the war is going to end,” Waltz told reporters alongside Rubio.Waltz, who said he would speak in the coming days with his Russian counterpart, credited the Ukrainians with agreeing on the need to “end the killing, to end the tragic meat-grinder of people and national treasure”.- Allies cautious -Rubio will head on Wednesday to Canada — another country with which Trump is feuding — to meet fellow foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrial democracies.Rubio has said he will push the G7 to avoid “antagonistic” language about Russia for fear of scuttling diplomacy.French President Emmanuel Macron, who has mulled European forces in Ukraine as part of any deal, on Tuesday hailed the “progress” made in the Jeddah talks but insisted that Kyiv needs “robust” security guarantees in any ceasefire.Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal a “remarkable breakthrough” while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni said now the ceasefire “decision is up to Russia”.In Poland, a top supporter of Ukraine and where historical memories of Russia run deep, Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the “important step towards peace” by the United States and Ukraine.Even if Russia agrees to a ceasefire, much remains uncertain in negotiations. Ukraine has pressed for security guarantees, but Trump, in another shift from Biden, has ruled out NATO membership.burs-sct/kir/bc/bfm

The US House of Representatives approved a stopgap plan Tuesday to avert a government shutdown that would pile more pain on the economic chaos marring President Donald Trump’s early weeks in office.The Republican-led chamber agreed in a largely party-line vote to keep the government funded through September 30 — giving Trump the summer months to steer his agenda of tax cuts, mass deportations and boosted energy production through Congress.The drama now moves to the Senate, which will still need to provide its own rubber stamp before Friday night’s midnight shutdown deadline, but the bill’s prospects in the upper chamber are on a knife edge.Republicans were nevertheless jubilant, praising Speaker Mike Johnson, who had to sell the package to backbenchers skeptical of stopgaps — known as continuing resolutions (CRs) — which mostly freeze spending rather than making cuts.The threat of a weekend shutdown comes with Wall Street reeling under Trump’s trade war and radical cuts to federal spending that have seen tens of thousands of layoffs.Traders had initially reacted with optimism to the Republican billionaire’s election, but growing fears that his tariffs will reignite inflation and spark a recession have led to a three-week market sell-off. If the Senate fails to follow the House, there will be more economic misery as the government grinds to a halt, potentially leading to tens of thousands of public employees being sent home without pay as federal agencies shutter.Democrats are mostly opposed to the 99-page CR, which would drop domestic spending by about $13 billion while increasing defense spending by about $6 billion.Republicans call it a “clean” CR but Democrats counter that it is full of partisan ideological add-ons that make it a non-starter.Among the most contentious is a provision surrendering congressional authority to block Trump’s tariffs, which were imposed under emergency economic powers, meaning any member can force a vote to terminate them.- ‘Mad king’ -There are cuts totaling billions of dollars from a program for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and toxic burn pits, as well as from research into medical conditions from cancer and Alzheimer’s to heart disease. There are also economies running to hundreds of millions of dollars in nuclear non-proliferation programs, rural broadband, food inspections, rent subsidies and election security funding.Illinois Democrat Sean Casten accused Republicans of “strapping on the ball gag (and) climbing into Trump’s dungeon.””This is what you do to cower before a mad king,” he posted on X. “It is not what you do if you are defending a constitutional democracy.”The latest funding fight comes with Trump pushing unprecedented federal firings as he begins unilaterally shrinking or shuttering agencies from USAID to the Department of Education.   The drive is being spearheaded by Trump aide Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, who has enraged much of the country and Congress — including Republican lawmakers — with his seemingly haphazard approach.While Musk enjoys Trump’s confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular with voters, and his cuts have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.The White House marshalled its big guns — from Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance to Trump himself — to work the phones and meet would-be dissidents ahead of the House vote. Congress needs a CR because it is so evenly split that it has been unable to approve the 12 separate bills that allocate full 2025 budgets for various federal agencies.In the Senate, Democrats are under pressure to offer strong opposition to Trump’s agenda but are wary of blocking the CR, fearing that they would be blamed for the resulting shutdown.Republicans have to clear anything the House passes by a 60-vote threshold, and one conservative has indicated he will be a no, meaning Majority Leader John Thune needs the support of at least eight Democrats.

Global stock markets extended losses on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump waffled on the size of tariffs he will levy on Canadian steel, aggravating concerns his trade policies could push the United States toward recession.In New York, the Dow index of blue-chip stocks closed down 1.1 percent while the broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.8 percent.The tech-heavy Nasdaq dipped 0.2 percent, though Tesla and Amazon staged rebounds a day after the index closed four percent lower in its worst session since 2022.Europe’s main indices ended the day in the red, as did most in Asia.”Markets are jittery and volatility seems like the only certainty while the White House pushes hard to usher in a new era, seemingly happy for stock markets to be collateral damage,” said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.Traders had initially welcomed Trump’s election win in late 2024, optimistic that his promised tax cuts and deregulation would boost the world’s biggest economy and help equities push to further record highs.But there is growing concern that tariffs against key trading partners will reignite inflation, forcing the Federal Reserve to again start raising interest rates and triggering a recession.Since taking office in January, Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, though he had allowed a partial and temporary rollback for the two US neighbors.Tariffs on steel and aluminum are due to take effect on Wednesday, affecting a wide range of producers from Brazil to South Korea and the European Union.Trump announced earlier in the day that he was doubling the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 percent, in response to the Canadian province of Ontario imposing of a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to three US states.But by the afternoon, the plan had been binned, with Canada facing only a 25 percent tariff after midnight as originally planned.Analysts said investors were also concerned that Trump appears more willing to see stock markets fall than during his first term in office, after he said the economy was facing “a period of transition” and refused to rule out the risk of recession.”The problem for markets is that this is a man-made crisis,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at the trading platform XTB.Trump’s “‘bull in a china shop’ approach to economic policy has spooked investors. The question is, will it continue to spook consumers, the life blood of the US economy,” she said.- Oil sees slight rebound -Investors will also keep a close eye on US consumer inflation data on Wednesday, as it could influence the Fed’s next move.Oil prices began a slight rebound after dropping more than one percent Monday on worries about demand as US recession speculation builds. However, both main contracts remain down around eight percent for the year so far.In company news, shares in Volkswagen dipped 0.1 percent as the German auto giant geared up for another tricky year after posting a sharp loss in annual profits for 2024.Tesla was up 3.8 percent and Amazon gained 1.1 percent after plunging the previous day, but tech heavyweight Apple extended its losses as it fell 2.9 percent.- Key figures around 2100 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN 1.1 percent at 41,433.48 points (close)New York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.8 percent at 5,572.07 (close)New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 0.2 percent at 17,436.10 (close)London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.2 percent at 8,495.99 (close)Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.3 percent at 7,941.91 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 1.3 percent at 22,328.77 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 percent at 36,793.11 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 23,782.14 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,379.83 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0915 from $1.0836 on MondayPound/dollar: UP at $1.2954 from $1.2878Dollar/yen: UP at 147.70 yen from 147.26 yenEuro/pound: UP at 84.26 pence from 84.13 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $66.25 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.4 percent at $69.56 per barrelburs-rl-bfm/st

The United States and Canada traded angry tariff warnings Tuesday, as trade tensions soared and President Donald Trump doubled down on provocative plans to annex his country’s northern neighbor.Despite a compromise arising after a day of threats and counter-threats, Canada and other US trading partners will still be hit at midnight by a blanket 25 percent levy imposed on all steel and aluminum imports.The move comes with “no exceptions or exemptions,” a White House spokesperson told AFP.The steel and aluminum levies threaten to affect everything from electronics to vehicles and construction equipment — and have manufacturers scrambling to find cost-effective domestic suppliers.Early Tuesday, Trump threatened to double the rate on imports of both metals from Canada, after its province of Ontario imposed an electricity surcharge on three US states.Canadian Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney, in turn, vowed that his incoming administration would hit back with “maximum impact.”But Ontario has since halted the surcharge after talks with Washington.Wall Street stocks slumped for a second straight day after major indexes fluctuated over Trump’s tariff threats.Ontario Premier Doug Ford, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet in Washington Thursday “to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline,” according to a US-Canada joint statement.This refers to a North American trade pact that also includes Mexico.Canada, historically among the closest US allies, had been facing aggressive rhetoric and found itself the target of Trump’s ire on trade — alongside unprecedented questioning of and threats to its sovereignty.Canada supplies half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of US steel imports, says industry consultant EY-Parthenon.- Electricity, autos -On Tuesday, Trump said on Truth Social that if Canada uses electricity as a bargaining chip “they will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!”He also threatened to boost tariffs on cars from April 2, saying this would “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”Trump has vowed reciprocal levies as soon as April 2 to remedy trade practices Washington deems unfair, raising the potential for more products and trading partners to be specifically targeted.Reacting to Trump’s announcement on MSNBC, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the US president made “an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs.”Trump, meanwhile, backed up his tariff threats by saying again that Canada should be absorbed.The “only thing that makes sense” is for Canada to join the United States as a 51st state, he said. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”- Costs and opportunities -Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said on X that Trump’s tariff threats on Canada would be “a self-inflicted wound to the US economy that we cannot afford, at a moment when recession risks are rising.”Trump, however, played down fears over the economy, saying he does not see a recession coming while dismissing losses on Wall Street.If some companies were bracing for a damaging period of higher production costs, others sensed an opportunity.Drew Greenblatt, owner of Baltimore-based metal product manufacturer Marlin Steel, said incoming levies on imported steel have already boosted his new orders.”We only use American steel, so we’re thrilled with the tariffs,” he told AFP, adding that these helped him gain an edge over a competitor.For Robert Actis, whose firm makes stucco netting used in construction, the expanded scope of incoming levies is a relief.Currently, a business like his imports wire for manufacturing, facing added tariff costs. But foreign-made finished products could enter the US market.With incoming levies covering a range of finished metal products too, Actis said this levels the playing field.But higher import costs will likely ripple through the economy.A major US maker of steel products warned American steel prices would surge to match the elevated costs of foreign goods.Supply constraints nudge prices up too, making items like nails, for example, more expensive as much of their cost is in original steel.Purchasers in industries like homebuilding would therefore end up spending more and could pass costs to consumers, making homes less affordable.

Re-runs of “The Apprentice” reality show that propelled Donald Trump into the US national consciousness, are showing on Prime Video, the latest indication of warming relations between the US president and Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. Following a frosty few years between tech titans and the US president, the move is another sign of a rapprochment that  saw key figures from Apple, Amazon, Google and Meta bag front-row seats at Trump’s January inauguration after making hefty donations.Bezos has also sought to make his Washington Post newspaper less hostile to the president, ordering its opinion section not to run columns opposed to “personal liberties and free markets,” and quashing its planned endorsement of Democrat Kamala Harris before the US election.Amazon’s announcement comes after its streaming arm said it would also air a behind-the-scenes documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.The first season of “The Apprentice” became available on the platform on Monday and by Tuesday was being advertised on the landing page, where it was showing as “#6 in the US.”Amazon said new seasons would become available every week until the seventh season, which will be released in April.In a statement released by Amazon, Trump welcomed the return of the show — of which he was a producer, and therefore likely to gain revenue from re-runs.”I look forward to watching this show myself — such great memories, and so much fun, but most importantly, it was a learning experience for all of us!” he said.Mark Burnett, the British-American producer considered the brains behind the format, said he hoped the show would attract a new generation of viewers, two decades after it first aired.”The Apprentice is one of the best shows that I ever produced,” he said in a statement.”The charismatic onscreen presence of President Donald J. Trump made it a bona fide hit! Now, thanks to Prime Video, a whole new audience will experience a new season every Monday.”While Trump was already a celebrity figure in New York in the 1980s and 1990s, “The Apprentice” catapulted him to broader national fame when it launched in 2004.Producers cast the real estate mogul as an archly successful businessman, who oversaw a cut-throat competition between budding entrepreneurs.Contestants would vie for Trump’s approval, allowing them to progress to the following installment, with those who failed summarily dismissed by Trump’s now-famous catchphrase “You’re fired!”The ultimate winner of the series was given a six-figure salary to work within the Trump empire.”The Apprentice” was a huge network television hit for several years and is credited with creating the public persona that Trump leveraged to run for the White House in 2016.It also spawned dozens of international off-shoots including some that outlasted the US progenitor. While Trump was fired from the US show in 2015 over remarks he made about Mexican immigrants, the British version is still shown on the BBC.”The Apprentice” is owned by MGM Alternative, whose parent company was bought by Amazon three years ago.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would “probably” reconsider doubling planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, hours after announcing the sharp hike.Trump’s step up to 50 percent levies initially came after the Canadian province of Ontario imposed an electricity surcharge on three US states who buy it — but Ontario has suspended this decision after talks with Washington.Asked if the change would influence his decision on Canada tariffs, Trump told reporters: “I’m looking at that, but probably so.”Trump’s threats came shortly before a midnight deadline for ramping up a globe-spanning trade offensive with 25 percent levies on steel and aluminum imports.The US dollar fell sharply on Tuesday, particularly against the euro, while markets fluctuated in volatile trading.Canadian Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney earlier vowed that his incoming administration would hit back with “maximum impact.”But Ontario has since agreed to halt the 25 percent fee on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York after premier Doug Ford said he held “productive” talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Ford, Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet in Washington on Thursday “to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline,” said a US-Canada joint statement, referring to the North American trade pact.The upcoming steel and aluminum levies, which currently contain no exceptions, threaten to affect everything from electronics to vehicles and construction equipment — and have manufacturers scrambling to find cost-effective domestic suppliers.Canada, historically among the closest US allies, had been facing the most aggressive action and has been the target of Trump’s ire on trade — and unprecedented questioning of and threats to its sovereignty.Canada supplies half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of US steel imports, says industry consultant EY-Parthenon.- Electricity, autos -Trump said his supercharged tariffs were in response to Ontario’s electricity surcharge.He added on Truth Social that if Canada uses electricity as a bargaining chip “they will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!”He also threatened to boost tariffs on cars from April 2, saying this would “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”Trump has vowed reciprocal levies as soon as April 2 to remedy trade practices Washington deems unfair, raising the potential for more products and trading partners to be specifically targeted.Reacting to Trump’s announcement on MSNBC, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the US president made “an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs.”Trump, meanwhile, backed up his tariff threats by saying again that Canada should be absorbed.The “only thing that makes sense” is for Canada to join the United States as a 51st state, he said. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”- Costs and opportunities -Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said on X that Trump’s tariff threats on Canada would be “a self-inflicted wound to the US economy that we cannot afford, at a moment when recession risks are rising.”Trump on Tuesday played down fears over the economy, saying he does not see a recession coming while dismissing losses on Wall Street.If some companies were bracing for a damaging period of higher production costs, others sensed an opportunity.Drew Greenblatt, owner of Baltimore-based metal product manufacturer Marlin Steel, said incoming levies on imported steel have already boosted his new orders.”We only use American steel, so we’re thrilled with the tariffs,” he told AFP, adding that these helped him gain an edge over a competitor.For Robert Actis, whose firm makes stucco netting used in construction, the expanded scope of incoming levies is a relief.Currently, a business like his imports wire for manufacturing, facing added tariff costs. But foreign-made finished products could enter the US market.With incoming levies covering a range of finished metal products too, Actis said this levels the playing field.But higher import costs will likely ripple through the economy.A major US maker of steel products warned American steel prices would surge to match the elevated costs of foreign goods.Supply constraints nudge prices up too, making items like nails, for example, more expensive as much of their cost is in original steel.Purchasers in industries like homebuilding would therefore end up spending more and could pass costs to consumers, making homes less affordable.

Ukraine endorsed an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and agreed to immediate negotiations with Russia in pivotal talks in Jeddah on Tuesday after three years of grinding war.In the first high-level US-Ukraine meeting since President Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House dressing down, the Americans agreed to restore military aid and they pledged to conclude a deal on Ukrainian minerals “as soon as possible”, a joint statement said.”Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.”We’ll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court,” he added.The joint statement said that “Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties”.The ceasefire is “subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation,” it added.”The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.”National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said he would now speak to Russia about the proposal, adding it was now a question of “how” not “if” the war would end.The talks in western Saudi Arabia took place after Ukraine launched its biggest direct attack on Moscow overnight, with hundreds of drones slamming into the capital and other areas, leaving three people dead.The Ukrainians were hoping to restore the US military aid, intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery that was cut off after Zelensky’s public row with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.They entered the meeting with a proposal for a sea and sky ceasefire that had been cautiously welcomed by Rubio.”We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters as he entered Tuesday’s meeting at a luxury hotel.Kyiv said the “largest drone attack in history” was intended to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to the aerial and naval ceasefire.”This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air,” said Andriy Kovalenko, a national security council official responsible for countering disinformation.- Minerals deal -Zelensky, who met Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in Jeddah on Monday, left the White House late last month without signing an agreement pushed by Trump that would give the US control over Ukrainian mineral resources.Asked whether the overnight drone attack could derail peace talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said: “There are no (peace) negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here.” He also declined earlier to comment on Russia’s stance on the proposed partial ceasefire.”It is absolutely impossible to talk about positions yet,” he said. “The Americans will find out only today, as they themselves say, from Ukraine to what extent Ukraine is ready for peace.”For its part, Russia has escalated strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, and said it had retaken 12 settlements in its Kursk region that Ukraine had captured in a bid for bargaining leverage.- Rubio seeks ‘concessions’ -In the infamous White House meeting last month, Zelensky refused to bite his tongue in the face of criticism from Vice President JD Vance, with the Ukrainian leader questioning why his country should trust promises from Russia.He has since written a repentant letter to Trump.Rubio had signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by the Ukrainian proposal of a partial ceasefire.”I’m not saying that alone is enough, but it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,” he told reporters.Rubio said he did not expect to be “drawing lines on a map” towards a final deal in the Jeddah meeting, but that he would bring ideas back to Russia.Rubio and Waltz met last month with counterparts from Russia, also in Saudi Arabia, ending a freeze in high-level contacts imposed by former president Joe Biden after Russia defied Western warnings and launched its invasion.Trump last week also threatened further sanctions against Russia to force it to the table as it carried out strikes on Ukraine.But Trump’s abrupt shift in US policy — including suggesting Ukraine was to blame for the war, and recently siding with Russia at the UN — has stunned many allies. Rubio said Monday that the United States would also object to “antagonistic” language on Russia from a forthcoming meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers.burs-sct/th/kir

US lawmakers geared up Tuesday for a crunch vote on a stopgap plan to avert a government shutdown that would pile more pain on the economic chaos marring President Donald Trump’s early weeks in office.Republicans have released a bill to keep the government funded through September 30 that would give Trump the summer months to steer his agenda of tax cuts, mass deportations and boosted energy production through Congress.House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to advance the legislation through the lower chamber in a late afternoon vote, with Senate approval envisioned before Friday night’s midnight shutdown deadline. It is a high-wire act for Johnson, who has to corral backbenchers who reliably vote against stopgaps — known as continuing resolutions (CRs) — because they mostly freeze spending rather than making cuts.”We’ll have the votes. We’re going to pass the CR. We can do it on our own,” a defiant Johnson told reporters at the US Capitol.The threat of a weekend shutdown comes with Wall Street reeling under Trump’s trade war and radical cuts to federal spending that have seen tens of thousands of layoffs.Traders had initially reacted with optimism to the Republican billionaire’s election, but growing fears that his tariffs will reignite inflation and spark a recession have led to a three-week market sell-off. If Congress fails to act, there will be more economic misery as the government grinds to a halt, potentially leading to tens of thousands of public employees being sent home without pay as federal agencies shutter.House Democratic leadership is whipping against the 99-page CR, which would drop domestic spending by about $13 billion from 2024 levels, while increasing defense spending by about $6 billion.Republicans call the bill a “clean” CR but Democrats counter that it is full of partisan ideological add-ons that make it a non-starter.Among the most contentious is a provision surrendering congressional authority to block Trump’s tariffs, which were imposed under emergency economic powers, meaning any member can force a vote to terminate them.- ‘Mad king’ -There are cuts totaling billions of dollars from a program for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and toxic burn pits, as well as from research into medical conditions from cancer and Alzheimer’s to heart disease. There are also huge economies running to hundreds of millions of dollars in nuclear non-proliferation programs, rural broadband, food inspections, rent subsidies and election security funding.Illinois Democrat Sean Casten accused Republicans of “strapping on the ball gag (and) climbing into Trump’s dungeon.””This is what you do to cower before a mad king,” he posted on X. “It is not what you do if you are defending a constitutional democracy,” he posted on X. The latest funding fight comes with Trump pushing unprecedented federal firings as he begins unilaterally shrinking or shuttering agencies from USAID to the Department of Education.   The drive is being spearheaded by Trump aide Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, who has enraged much of the country and Congress — including Republican lawmakers — with his seemingly haphazard approach.While Musk enjoys Trump’s confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans, and his cuts have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.The White House has been marshaling its top officials — from Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance to Trump himself — to work the phones and meet would-be dissidents in person. Congress needs a CR because it is so evenly split that it has been unable to approve the 12 separate bills that allocate full 2025 budgets for various federal agencies.But Johnson’s tiny 218-214 majority means he cannot afford much dissent — two of his lawmakers switching sides would tank the bill if Democrats put up a united front. He is already dealing with one confirmed “no” vote — fiscal conservative Thomas Massie — and Trump vowed Monday to unseat the Kentucky congressman in the midterm elections.In the Senate, Republicans look likely to need help from around eight Democrats, with Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman already indicating he is willing to cross the aisle.

US President Donald Trump announced sharply higher tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum Tuesday, while threatening to “shut down” its auto industry and saying the best way to end the trade war was for Washington’s ally to be absorbed into the United States.Trump’s shock new threats came hours before a midnight deadline for ramping up the Republican’s increasingly global trade offensive with levies on both metals.On his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would double planned 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent for imports of the metals from Canada.A 25-percent levy is still due to kick in Wednesday for US trading partners, hitting Brazil, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.The upcoming tariffs, which currently allow for no exceptions, threaten to affect everything from electronics to vehicles and construction equipment — and have manufacturers scrambling to find cost-effective domestic suppliers.The country facing the most aggressive action is Canada, historically one of the United States’ closest allies and top trading partners.Ottawa is locked in an extraordinarily bitter war of words with the Republican, facing constant threats over its sovereignty.Canada’s incoming prime minister Mark Carney struck a defiant note Sunday, saying Canadians are “always ready” for a fight if one is needed.A Canadian government source told AFP Tuesday that Ottawa will “have to respond” in kind if Trump hiked tariffs further on its goods.Canada supplies half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of US steel imports, noted industry consultant EY-Parthenon.- Electricity emergency? -Trump said his supercharged tariffs were in response to Canadian province Ontario’s 25-percent surcharge on electricity exports to three US states.Trump said he would announce an electricity national emergency in the area hit by the price increases.He also ramped up threats, warning that if what he called “egregious” Canadian tariffs are not dropped, he would boost tariffs on cars from April 2.This would “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada,” he said.Trump has vowed reciprocal levies as soon as April 2 to remedy trade practices Washington deems unfair.Reacting to Trump’s announcement on MSNBC, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the US president made “an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs,” promising an appropriate response.In his social media post Tuesday, Trump said the “only thing that makes sense” is for Canada to join the United States as a 51st state.”This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear,” Trump said.- Costs and opportunities -Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said on X that Trump’s tariff threats on Canada would be “a self-inflicted wound to the US economy that we cannot afford, at a moment when recession risks are rising.”But if some companies were bracing for a damaging period of higher production costs, others sensed an opportunity.Drew Greenblatt, owner of Baltimore-based metal product manufacturer Marlin Steel, said incoming levies on imported steel have already boosted his new orders.”We only use American steel, so we’re thrilled with the tariffs,” he told AFP, adding that these helped him gain an edge over a competitor that was using Chinese metal imports.For Robert Actis, whose firm makes stucco netting used in construction, the expanded scope of incoming levies is a relief.Currently, a business like his imports wire for manufacturing, facing added tariff costs. But foreign-made finished products could enter the US market.With incoming levies covering a range of finished metal products too, Actis said this levels the playing field.But higher import costs will likely ripple through the economy.A major US maker of steel products warned American steel prices would surge to match the elevated costs of foreign goods.Supply constraints nudge prices up too, making items like nails, for example, more expensive as much of their cost is in original steel.Purchasers in industries like homebuilding would therefore end up spending more and could pass costs to consumers, making homes less affordable.

Ukraine said talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia were progressing “constructively” on Tuesday, with a partial ceasefire with Russia on the table hours after Kyiv conducted its largest drone attack on Moscow in three years of war.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga attended the meeting in Jeddah — which Russia was not participating in — as President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on Ukraine to end the war that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion.The talks follow President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public dressing-down at the White House, after which the United States cut off military aid, intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery. Ukraine is hoping the offer of a partial ceasefire in the sky and at sea will persuade Washington to restore the assistance.”We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” Ukrainian presidency chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters as he entered Tuesday’s meeting at a luxury hotel.A Ukrainian official, who requested anonymity, later told AFP the talks were “going OK, a lot of questions have been discussed”.Kyiv said the “largest drone attack in history”, in which hundreds of drones slammed into Moscow and other areas overnight, was intended to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to the aerial and naval ceasefire.”This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air,” said Andriy Kovalenko, a national security council official responsible for countering disinformation.Three people were killed in the attack, which both sides said was the biggest so far on Moscow. Russia’s army said it intercepted 337 drones around the country.- Minerals deal -Zelensky, who met Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in Jeddah on Monday, left the White House late last month without signing an agreement pushed by Trump that would give the US control over Ukrainian mineral resources.Zelensky has said he is still willing to sign, although Rubio said it would not be the focus of Tuesday’s meeting.Rubio, who is accompanied by national security advisor Mike Waltz, said the aid suspension was “something I hope we can resolve” in the talks.”Hopefully, we’ll have a good meeting and good news to report,” Rubio said.Rubio said the United States had not cut off intelligence for defensive operations.”The meeting with the US team started very constructively, we continue our work,” Yermak said on social media Tuesday. Asked whether the overnight drone attack could derail peace talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said: “There are no (peace) negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here.” He also declined earlier to comment on Russia’s stance on the proposed partial ceasefire.”It is absolutely impossible to talk about positions yet,” he said. “The Americans will find out only today, as they themselves say, from Ukraine to what extent Ukraine is ready for peace.”For its part, Russia has escalated strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, and said it had retaken 12 settlements in its Kursk region that Ukraine had captured in a bid for bargaining leverage.- Rubio seeks ‘concessions’ -In the infamous White House meeting last month, Zelensky refused to bite his tongue in the face of criticism from Vice President JD Vance, with the Ukrainian leader questioning why his country should trust promises from Russia.He has since written a repentant letter to Trump.Faced with Washington’s pressure, Ukraine will lay out its support for a limited ceasefire in the sky and at sea, a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday.Rubio signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.”I’m not saying that alone is enough, but it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,” he told reporters.”You’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.”Rubio said he did not expect to be “drawing lines on a map” towards a final deal in the Jeddah meeting, but said he would bring ideas back to Russia.Rubio and Waltz met last month with counterparts from Russia, also in Saudi Arabia, ending a freeze in high-level contacts imposed by former president Joe Biden after Russia defied Western warnings and launched its invasion.Trump last week also threatened further sanctions against Russia to force it to the table as it carried out strikes on Ukraine.But Trump’s abrupt shift in US policy — including suggesting Ukraine was to blame for the war, and recently siding with Russia at the UN — has stunned many allies. Rubio said Monday that the United States would also object to “antagonistic” language on Russia at an upcoming gathering of Group of Seven foreign ministers.burs-sct/th/smw