President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on US trading partners on Wednesday, as world leaders prepared to impose retaliatory actions, setting the stage for possible trade wars that could upend the global economy.
The minimum 10 per cent tariffs on all imports were established through an executive order on what Mr Trump called “Liberation Day”, an event attended by supporters at the White House's Rose Garden.
He said the action will be imposed on “friend and foe alike” because, “in many cases, the friend is worse than the foe in terms of trade”.
“April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again,” Mr Trump said.
China and Vietnam were the targets of some of the harshest tariffs, at 34 per cent and 46 per cent. India will be hit with a 26 per cent tariff while the EU will receive a 20 per cent levy.
Pakistan (29 per cent) and Israel (17 per cent) were also on a list of more than a dozen countries hit by the reciprocal tariffs.
Mr Trump also announced a minimum baseline tariff of 10 per cent for remaining countries, with rates going even higher for countries deemed the “worst offenders”.
The baseline 10 per cent tariff will go into effect on April 5, a senior administration official told journalists, while the higher reciprocal rates would go into effect on April 9.
The President also bemoaned non-finance barriers, claiming those were more harmful to the US than monetary barriers.
“They manipulated their currency, subsidised their exports, stole our intellectual property, imposed exorbitant VAT taxes to disadvantage our products, adopted unfair rules and technical standards and created filthy pollution havens,” he said.
Mr Trump also announced a 25 per cent tariff on all foreign-made cars, which will go into effect at midnight on Wednesday.
“This is one of the most ambitious economic realignments the American people have ever seen,” a senior administration official said before Mr Trump's announcement. “The goal is to restore American greatness and prosperity for everyday American workers and their communities.”
After the announcement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned countries against responding with their own levies.
“I wouldn’t try to retaliate,” he told Bloomberg Television. “As long as you don’t retaliate, this is the high end of the number … As far as negotiations go, we’ll see.”
The Middle East has so far not been a focus of Mr Trump's tariff plans. Member states in the Gulf Co-operation Council apply a common external tariff of 5 per cent on most goods.
But in one exchange last month, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Kuwait of not being thankful enough to the US after it had liberated the emirate from Iraq in 1991. Kuwait’s ambassador to the US, Sheikha Al Zain Al Sabah, met Mr Lutnick in Washington last week, assuring him that US taxpayers had no financial burden from the war to liberate Kuwait.
Countries in the region whose currencies are pegged to the US dollar could face stricter monetary policy, with the US Federal Reserve likely to keep interest rates elevated, which could also lead to smaller economic growth and investment.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump's aluminium and steel tariffs are expected to have a limited impact on Gulf exports.
Mr Trump has most of his tariff focus on America's three largest trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China. Together, they make up 38.7 per cent of total US trade, according to the Census Bureau.
However, those countries also make up a list of nations with whom the US has the highest goods trading deficits. At about $270 billion, the US has its largest goods trade deficit with China, followed by Mexico at $157.2 billion. Data from the US Commerce Department showed the US had a large trade deficit with the EU and India.
And in February, the US Trade Representative also listed a group of countries it is “particularly interested in” as part of a review on supposed unfair trading practices including Saudi Arabia, G20 countries and “economies that have the largest trade deficits in goods with the United States”.
While Mr Trump has argued his tariffs would improve US industrial competitiveness and reduce the nation's trade deficits, trading partners have responded by threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs of their own.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc has a strong plan to retaliate, while Canada and Mexico are preparing their own measures.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Napoleon
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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