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Source: Canadian Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom Thursday in grandiose terms, but with only limited details about what it will achieve.

The agreement will open up the British market to American beef, ethanol, and other agricultural products, the White House said. It will also allow British cars and steel better access to U.S. consumers.

President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office Thursday that additional details will be worked out in the “coming weeks.” But in a fact sheet the administration said the deal is “historic” and “a great deal for America.”

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the deal would protect thousands of auto jobs and stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries.

Here are some elements of the agreement announced by the two countries:

—The United States will maintain the 10% duty on nearly all imports from the U.K., which Trump imposed April 2. Many economists had hoped that the tariff would be dropped as part of any trade deal, but Trump suggested that the 10% universal duty was likely to be a floor in any talks.

—The U.K. will be able to export 100,000 cars to the U.S. annually that will pay a 10% tariff, down from its current 27.5%, according to the U.K. government. The UK exported 92,000 cars to the U.S. in 2024.

—U.K. steel imports will enter the U.S. duty-free, rather than face the 25% tariff the White House has placed on all steel imports.

—The two countries have agreed to greater market access for each other’s beef, with the U.K. able to export 13,000 metric tons of beef to the U.S. tariff-free.

—The U.K. will eliminate its tariff on ethanol from the U.S.

—The U.K. will “reduce or eliminate” non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports, the White House said, though it did not provide details. The agreement creates opportunities for $5 billion in new exports of U.S. agricultural and other goods, according to the administration’s fact sheet.

Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press


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NEW YORK (AP) —

Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into trade wars abroad — all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty.

Trump is no stranger to tariffs. He launched a trade war during his first term, taking particular aim at China by putting taxes on most of its goods. Beijing responded with its own retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. products. Meanwhile, Trump also used the threat of more tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate a North American trade pact, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in 2020.

When President Joe Biden took office, he preserved most of the tariffs Trump previously enacted against China, in addition to imposing some new restrictions. But his administration claimed to take a more targeted approach.

Fast-forward to today, and economists stress there could be greater consequences on businesses and economies worldwide under Trump’s more sweeping tariffs this time around — and that higher prices will likely leave consumers footing the bill. There’s also been a sense of whiplash from Trump’s back-and-forth tariff threats and responding retaliation seen over the last few months.

Here’s a timeline of how we got here:

January 20

Trump is sworn into office. In his inaugural address, he again promises to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.” And he reiterates plans to create an agency called the External Revenue Service, which has yet to be established.

On his first day in office, Trump also says he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on Feb. 1, while declining to immediately flesh out plans for taxing Chinese imports.

January 26

Trump threatens 25% tariffs on all Colombia imports and other retaliatory measures after President Gustavo Petro’s rejects two U.S. military aircraft carrying migrants to the country, accusing Trump of not treating immigrants with dignity during deportation.

In response, Petro also announces a retaliatory 25% increase in Colombian tariffs on U.S. goods. But Colombia later reversed its decision and accepted the flights carrying migrants. The two countries soon signaled a halt in the trade dispute.

February 1

Trump signs an executive order to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China — 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada starting Feb. 4. Trump invoked this power by declaring a national emergency — ostensibly over undocumented immigration and drug trafficking.

The action prompts swift outrage from all three countries, with promises of retaliatory measures.

February 3

Trump agrees to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada, as both trading partners take steps to appease Trump’s concerns about border security and drug trafficking.

February 4

Trump’s new 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports to the U.S. still go into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a flurry of countermeasures, including new duties on a variety of American goods and an anti-monopoly investigation into Google.

China’s 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10% levy on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the U.S., take effect Feb. 10.

February 10

Trump announces plans to hike steel and aluminum tariffs starting March 12. He removes the exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on steel, meaning that all steel imports will be taxed at a minimum of 25%, and also raises his 2018 aluminum tariffs from 10% to 25%.

February 13

Trump announces a plan for “reciprocal” tariffs — promising to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that countries worldwide charge on imports “for purposes of fairness.” Economists warn that the reciprocal tariffs, set to overturn decades of trade policy, could create chaos for global businesses.

February 25

Trump signs an executive order instructing the Commerce Department to consider whether a tariff on imported copper is needed to protect national security. He cites the material’s use in U.S. defense, infrastructure and emerging technologies.

March 1

Trump signs an additional executive order instructing the Commerce Department to consider whether tariffs on lumber and timber are also needed to protect national security, arguing that the construction industry and military depend on a strong supply of wooden products in the U.S.

March 4

Trump’s 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico go into effect, though he limits the levy to 10% on Canadian energy. He also doubles the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20%.

All three countries promise retaliatory measures. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days. And Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country would respond with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods without specifying the targeted products immediately, signaling hopes to de-escalate.

China, meanwhile, imposes tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of key U.S. farm exports, set to take effect March 10. It also expands the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen.

March 5

Trump grants a one-month exemption on his new tariffs impacting goods from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. The pause arrives after the president spoke with leaders of the “Big 3” automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

March 6

In a wider extension, Trump postpones 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month.

Trump credited Sheinbaum with making progress on border security and drug smuggling as a reason for again pausing tariffs. His actions also thaw relations with Canada somewhat, although outrage and uncertainty remains. Still, after its initial retaliatory tariffs of $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) on U.S. goods, the government says it’s suspended a second wave of retaliatory tariffs worth $125 billion Canadian (US$87 billion).

March 10

China’s retaliatory 15% tariffs on key American farm products — including chicken, pork, soybeans and beef — take effect. Goods already in transit are set to be exempt through April 12, per China’s Commerce Ministry previous announcement.

March 12

Trump’s new tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports go into effect. Both metals are now taxed at 25% across the board — with Trump’s order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminum’s levy from his previously-imposed 2018 import taxes.

The European Union takes retaliatory trade action promising new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products. The measures will cover goods from the United States worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion), and not just steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances and agricultural goods. Motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans will be hit, as they were during Trump’s first term. The 27-member bloc later says it will delay this retaliatory action until mid-April.

Canada, meanwhile, announces plans to impose more retaliatory tariffs worth Canadian $29.8 billion ($20.7 billion) on U.S. imports, set to go into effect March 13.

March 13

Trump threatens a 200% tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union goes forward with its previously-announced plans for a 50% tariff on American whiskey.

March 24

Trump says he will place a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, in addition to imposing new tariffs on the South American country itself, starting April 2.

The tariffs would most likely add to the taxes facing China, which in 2023 bought 68% of the oil exported by Venezuela, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But a number of countries also receive oil from Venezuela — including the United States itself.

March 26

Trump says he is placing 25% tariffs on auto imports. These auto imports will start being collected April 3 — beginning with taxes on fully-imported cars. The tariffs are set to then expand to applicable auto parts in the following weeks, through May 3.

April 2

Trump announces his long-promised “reciprocal” tariffs — declaring a 10% baseline tax on imports across the board starting April 5, as well as higher rates for dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the U.S. to take effect April 9.

Among those steeper levies, Trump says the U.S. will now charge a 34% tax on imports from China, a 20% tax on imports from the European Union, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan and 32% on Taiwan. The new tariffs come on top of previously-imposed levies, including the 20% tax Trump announced on all Chinese imports earlier this year.

Meanwhile, for Canada and Mexico, the White House says USMCA-compliant imports can continue to enter the U.S. duty-free. Once the two countries have satisfied Trump’s demands on immigration and drug trafficking, the White House adds, the tariff on the rest of their imports may drop from 25% to 12%.

April 3

Trump’s previously-announced auto tariffs begin. Prime Minister Mark Carney says that Canada will match the 25% levies with a tariff on vehicles imported from the U.S.

April 4

China announces plans to impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10, matching Trump’s new “reciprocal” tariff on Chinese goods, as part of a flurry of retaliatory measures.

The Commerce Ministry in Beijing says it will also impose more export controls on rare earths, which are materials used in high-tech products like computer chips and electric vehicle batteries. And the government adds 27 firms to lists of companies subject to trade sanctions or export controls.

April 5

Trump’s 10% minimum tariff on nearly all countries and territories takes effect.

April 9

Trump’s higher “reciprocal” rates go into effect, hiking taxes on imports from dozens of countries just after midnight. But hours later, his administration says it will suspend most of these higher rates for 90 days, while maintaining the recently-imposed 10% levy on nearly all global imports.

China is the exception. After following through on a threat to raise levies against China to a total of 104%, Trump says he will now raise those import taxes to 125% “effective immediately” — escalating tit-for-tat duties that have piled up between the two countries. The White House later clarifies that total tariffs against China are actually now 145%, once his previous 20% fentanyl tariffs are accounted for.

China upped its retaliation prior to this announcement — vowing to tax American goods at 84% starting April 10. Also earlier, EU member states vote to approve their own retaliatory levies on 20.9 billion euros ($23 billion) of U.S. goods in response to Trump’s previously-imposed steel and aluminum tariffs. The EU’s executive commission doesn’t immediately specify which imports it will tax, but notes its counter tariffs will come in stages — with some set to arrive on April 15, and others May 15 and Dec. 1.

Separately, Canada’s counter tariffs on auto imports take effect. The country implements a 25% levy on auto imports from the U.S. that do not comply with the 2020 USMCA pact.

April 10

The EU puts its steel and aluminum tariff retaliation on hold for 90 days, to match Trump’s pause on steeper “reciprocal” levies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the commission wants to give negotiations with the U.S. a chance — but warns countermeasures will kick in if talks “are not satisfactory.”

April 11

China says it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125%, in response to Trump’s heightened levies. The new rate is set to begin April 12.

Later, the Trump administration unveils that electronics, including smartphones and laptops, will be exempt from so-called “reciprocal” tariffs. But in the days following, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signals that this is only a temporary reprieve, saying that sector-specific levies on semiconductors will arrive in “probably a month or two.” And other, non-“reciprocal” tariffs that tax some electronics, notably from China, remain.

April 14

Trump says he might temporarily exempt the auto industry from tariffs he previously imposed on the sector, to give carmakers time to adjust their supply chains.

The Trump administration also launches investigations into imports of computer chips, chipmaking equipment and pharmaceuticals — signaling next steps toward imposing tariffs on these sectors. The U.S. Commerce Department posts notices about these probes, seeking public comment within the next three weeks.

Separately, the Commerce Department says it’s withdrawing from a 2019 agreement that had suspended an antidumping investigation into fresh tomato imports from Mexico. That termination, set to take effect July 14, means most tomatoes from Mexico will be subject to a 20.91% tariff.

April 29

Trump signs executive orders to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts — aimed at easing import taxes for vehicles that are made with foreign parts, but assembled in the U.S.

For one year, the administration says it will provide a rebate of 3.75% relative to the sales prices of a domestically-assembled car — a figure reached by putting the previously-imposed 25% import tax on parts that make up 15% of that price. And for the second year, the rebate would equal 2.5% of the sales price, applying to a smaller share of the vehicle’s parts.

May 3

The latest round of Trump’s auto tariffs takes effect. The previously-announced 25% levies now apply to a range of imported auto parts.

May 4

Trump threatens a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, while claiming that the movie industry in the U.S. is dying. It isn’t immediately clear how such a tariff on international productions could be implemented, but Trump says he’s authorized the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to “immediately begin the process.”

May 6

The U.S. trade deficit soared to a record $140.5 billion in March as consumers and businesses tried to get ahead of Trump’stariffs. Federal data showed an enormous stockpiling of pharmaceutical products. The deficit — which measures the gap between the value of goods and services the U.S. sells abroad against what it buys — has roughly doubled during the past year.

Also, the U.S. government announced that top officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation over the weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since President Trump sparked a trade war. No country has been hit harder by Trump’s trade war than China, the world’s biggest exporter and second largest economy. U.S. tariffs against China are set at 145% and China tariffs on the U.S. at 125%.

May 7

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged at 4.3%, saying that the risks of both higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen due to uncertainty about how and when Trump’s tariffs might impact the U.S. economy. Chair Jerome Powell underscored that the tariffs have dampened consumer and business sentiment and that there’s currently too many unknowns to be able to predict how the Fed might adjust its monetary policy going forward.

May 8

The United States and Britain announced a trade deal, potentially lowering the financial burden from tariffs while creating greater access abroad for American goods. The president said the agreement would lead to more beef and ethanol exports to the U.K., which would also streamline the processing of U.S. goods though customs. Trump said final details were being written up. “In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive,” Trump said.

Britain said the deal will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from 27.5% to 10%, with a quota of 100,000 U.K. vehicles that can be imported to the U.S. at a 10% tariff. It also eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Separately, the European Union published a list of U.S. imports that it would target with retaliatory duties if no solution is found to end U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, also said it would begin legal action at the World Trade Organization over the “reciprocal tariffs” that Trump imposed on countries around the world a month ago.

Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press




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NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Joe Biden says he’s responsible for Donald Trump’s victory last fall, but he attributed Kamala Harris ‘ loss, at least in part, to sexism and racism.

Biden, who left office in January, addressed the Democrats’ disastrous 2024 election, concerns about his age and Trump’s divisive leadership during a Thursday interview on ABC’s “The View.” The 82-year-old Democrat said he has intentionally avoided speaking out publicly until this week to give Trump more than 100 days in office without his interference, as is typically the tradition following a change in the White House.

Asked about the last election, Biden said he was surprised by the role that he gender and race played in the contest.

“They went the sexist route,” Biden said of criticism that “a woman couldn’t lead the country and a woman of mixed race.”

He added: “I was in charge and he won, so I take responsibility.”

Biden has largely stepped away from national politics since leaving the White House.

He’s not expected to play a central role in Democratic affairs as the party turns to a new generation of leadership, although he acknowledged on Thursday that he has maintained regular contact with Harris and has offered his guidance on her political future.

“She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do. I hope she stays engaged,” Biden said, declining to share his specific advice.

Biden rejected concerns about his cognitive decline prompted by a disastrous debate performance last June. He also declined to criticize the Democratic leaders who privately pressed him to abandon his campaign.

“The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” he said, adding that the broader party didn’t buy into concerns about his age following the “terrible” debate performance, “but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did.”

Thursday’s appearance also marked Biden’s first joint interview with former first lady Jill Biden since leaving Washington. She rejected those who believe she created a protective cocoon around her husband while in office to protect him from scrutiny about his age.

“It was very hurtful especially from some of our so-called friends,” she said of the criticism.

“I was with Joe day and night … and I did not create a cocoon around him,” she continued. “You saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding somewhere.”

Meanwhile, the former president did not hold back when the conversation turned to Trump’s job performance.

“He’s had the worst 100 days any president has ever had,” Biden said.

Steve Peoples, The Associated Press


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HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is moving to speed up its environmental review process for a number of clean energy projects.

Under the new changes larger biomass, biogas and clean fuel projects have been reclassified to the quicker Class 1 assessment process.

Small modular reactor projects, previously not covered by regulations, have also been added as Class 1 projects.

Meanwhile, the consultation period for the public and the Mi’kmaq under Class 1 has been extended by 10 days for a total of 40 days, while the entire assessment period remains at 50 days.

The more rigorous Class 2 assessment, which can take more than two years, is now reserved for projects such as pulp mills, cement plants, incinerators and large energy plants.

Environment Minister Tim Halman says without the ability to build clean energy projects faster, the province will not be able to meet environmental commitments such as reaching net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Under the changes, smaller wood biomass projects will be exempt from the environmental review process and will be managed through the Environment Department’s industrial approval process.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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U.S. President Donald Trump said from the White House on Thursday that his government has reached a trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

Trump said the deal increases access for U.S. agricultural products, though he added that the final details were still being written up. Britain says the deal will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from 27.5% to 10% and eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Here’s the latest:

Starmer says the UK didn’t lower food standards

He said the U.K. hasn’t lowered its food or animal-welfare standards to secure a trade deal with the U.S.

The deal includes increased access for U.S. beef, ethanol and other agricultural products to the British market.

There is strong public opposition in Britain to allowing in chlorine-rinsed American chicken or hormone-treated beef.

Starmer said “we said we had red lines on standards, particularly in agriculture. We’ve kept to those standards. The SPS (santitary and phytosanitary) red line is a red line that is written into the agreement.”

Biden says Pope Francis would call him ‘frequently’

“I trusted him,” Biden said, saying the late pope often called to talk to him about world events.

Both Bidens attended Francis’ recent funeral, and both were referenced as “devout Catholics” by “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin as she led into a question.

“And by the way, Jill’s a devout Presbyterian,” Biden said, gripping his wife’s hand as she laughed.

Trump says he’ll pull the nomination of Ed Martin, who defended Jan. 6 rioters, for DC US Attorney

That comes after a key Republican senator said he couldn’t support him for the job due to his defense of Jan. 6 rioters.

“We have somebody else that will be great,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday when asked about the status of Martin’s confirmation. He said it was disappointing, but “that’s the way it works sometime.”

Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump’s first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background, including his support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol over four years ago.

▶ Read more about Ed Martin’s nomination for U.S. Attorney

Trump surprised Starmer with a phone call during Arsenal game

The U.K. and U.S. have been negotiating a trade deal for months, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the timing of Thursday’s announcement came as a surprise.

Starmer, a huge fan of Premier League soccer team Arsenal, said Trump phoned him to finalize the deal Wednesday evening “halfway through the second half” of the team’s Champion’s League semi-final against Paris Saint Germain. Arsenal lost 2-1.

President Trump’s declaration on Truth Social that the U.S. and U.K. had struck a deal left the British government scrambling to arrange a short-notice announcement by Starmer.

Starmer’s office invited journalists to a speech by the prime minister at a car factory in central England — but sent them to the wrong city. Reporters were told to go to a Jaguar Land Rover plant in Coventry instead of one in Solihull, about 20 miles and a half-hour drive away. Once the mistake was realized, reporters had to rush to get to the real location in time for the announcement.

Biden says ‘yes’ when asked if he bears any responsibility for Trump’s win

“I was in charge, and he won,” Biden said on “The View” in response to a question of his role in Trump’s return to the White House. “I take responsibility.”

Biden went on to note that some of what he accomplished during his four years in office took a long time to implement and get the word out to the Americans whose lives would be affected positively.

Trump praises Rolls Royce and says his comments would make a ‘good commercial’

Trump says U.S. auto tariffs won’t force the iconic British automaker Rolls Royce to make its cars elsewhere.

But he also said similar exemptions won’t be offered to other foreign automakers “unless somebody shows me that there’s another kind of a car that’s comparable to a Rolls Royce.”

The president then added with a laugh that his comments were “a good commercial for Rolls Royce.”

That prompted a suggestion that Trump could perhaps buy a Rolls, and that even a “very modest discount” could be available.

“I’ve had many of them, actually,” Trump responded.

The president recently announced buying a Tesla to support the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, who has faced criticism for leading the Trump administration’s government-cutting efforts. He even held an event with new Teslas lined up outside the White House.

Trump says other deals will have higher than 10% on tariffs

Asked whether the baseline 10% tariff on U.K. products would be a template for future trade deals with other nations, the U.S. president said “no.”

“That’s a low number” Trump says of the 10%. He added that the U.K. “made a good deal. Many, some will be much higher.”

Trump says port slowdown is ‘good’

Trump says it’s “good” that U.S. ports are seeing slowdowns amid his steep tariffs on Chinese imports.

Speaking to reporters as he announced a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, Trump dismissed concerns about the slowdown’s effects on dockworkers and truckers.

“That’s good,” Trump said, adding, “That means we lose less money.”

Trump is trying to close U.S. trade deficits but has acknowledged his tariffs can result in higher consumer prices and empty shelves.

Trump says of UK trade deal, ‘James Bond has nothing to worry about’

Trump is suggesting that James Bond will benefit from the U.S.-U.K. trade deal he’s announcing.

The agreement is set to ease tariffs on cars, and Trump was asked if that was a positive development for the movie hero who drives British-made Aston Martins.

Trump referenced his previous threats to possibly impose tariffs on foreign movie-making interests but added, “James Bond has noting to worry about, that I can tell you.”

He also noted that Sean Connery — who played the first film version of James Bond in 1962’s “Dr. No” — was a friend.

He didn’t mention Bond’s penchant for Aston Martins, but said later that another famed British automaker, Rolls Royce, would continue to be made in Britain and “I wouldn’t even ask” the company to move its operations elsewhere.

Starmer says the deal will protect UK auto jobs

The British prime minister has told autoworkers a trade deal with the U.S. will protect thousands of jobs in the sector.

Starmer said he chose to announce the agreement at a Jaguar Land Rover plant “as soon as I knew this deal was coming in today” because it was so important to the industry.

He told the workers “this is just the start,” saying “we are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States and across the world.”

‘A very good weekend’

Trump expressed optimism about upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and China. Officials from both countries are slated to meet in Switzerland for an initial round of conversations.

“I think we’re going to have a very good weekend,” the president said.

Trump left in place high tariffs on China, leading to a trade confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

Biden says he ‘did not advise’ Harris not to differentiate from him

Asked if he’d encouraged Harris to mirror his priorities in her own campaign, Biden responded: “I did not advise her to say that.”

When she appeared on “The View” during her run last year, Harris said nothing “comes to mind” when asked what she would do differently than Biden.

“She was part of every success we had,” Biden said, adding that he and his vice president had differences of opinion on various issues.

“We argued like hell, by the way,” he said. “We worked it out.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praises Trump as the ‘best dealmaker’

Lutnick, who helped negotiate the framework of the trade agreement with the UK, poured on praise for his boss. He said it would have taken him and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer up to three years to close such a deal without Trump.

“So he’s the closer he gets deals done that we could never get done because he understands business,” Lutnick said. “He understands deals. That’s why we’re here today.”

UK says deal slashes tariffs on cars and steel

Britain says its new trade deal with the United States will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from 27.5% to 10% and eliminates tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The British government says deal sets a quota of 100,000 U.K. vehicles that can be imported to the U.S. at a 10% tariff.

It says the Trump-imposed 25% tariff on British steel will fall to nothing.

The U.K. says the agreement includes new reciprocal market access on beef, and removes the tariff on ethanol — which is used to produce beer — coming into the U.K. from the US, down to zero.

Biden says he ‘wasn’t surprised’ at Kamala Harris’ loss

The former president said he was “very disappointed but I wasn’t surprised” at his party’s loss after he quit the ticket, particularly because Trump’s campaign “went the sexist route” in attacking Harris’ candidacy.

“I’ve never seen quite as successful and consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman could lead the country,” Biden said, adding that he talks to Harris “frequently” and that she had sought his opinion, but “I’m not going to tell you what it is.”

Biden said he hopes Harris “stays fully engaged” and didn’t speculate about what her next political move would be.

Former President Joe Biden appears on ‘The View’ for an interview

While he was still president, Biden appeared on the show ahead of last year’s election.

Biden playfully jogged onto the set for Thursday’s show, taking the center seat at the U-shaped table facing cameras and the audience.

“I miss being here,” Biden said as hosts said the audience’s reaction indicated he had been missed.

Biden said he and his family were trying to figure out “the most significant and consequential role” he could be playing, and that he was also writing a book.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer: It’s fitting that a UK-US trade deal has been sealed on VE Day

VE Day is the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

In a phone call with President Trump, Starmer said “it was about this time of day 80 years ago that Winston Churchill announced victory in Europe.”

He said Thursday is a “fantastic, historic day” that will bring the two countries closer together.

Trump to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later Thursday

The president says he’ll be talking with Zelenskyy after Ukraine’s parliament voted to ratify a landmark mineral deal with the U.S.

Trump disclosed that he’d be speaking with Zelenskyy after noting “we just concluded the rare earth deal with Ukraine.”

The agreement, seen as a key step before a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, gives the U.S. access to a “massive amount” of “high-quality” rare earth material in Ukraine, Trump says.

‘Final details’ still to come

Although Trump has touted the trade deal with the U.K., he also conceded there’s more work to do.

“The final details are being written up,” he said in the Oval Office. “In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive.”

Trade agreements are notoriously complex and can be time consuming to finalize. However, Trump has been racing to reach deals as he tries to fulfill his promises since launching his tariff agenda last month.

Trump announces a trade agreement with the UK

The deal affirms that “reciprocity and fairness is a vital principle of international trade,” Trump said from the Oval Office. It increases access for U.S. beef, ethanol, and other agricultural products, Trump added.

It also fast tracks American goods through the U.K.’s customs process, Trump said. He cautioned that final details will come in the “coming weeks.”

“They’re opening up the country,” Trump said. “The country is a little closed.”

House follows Trump’s lead with a vote to change the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’

The Republican-led House passed the bill Thursday that would direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.

Trump already signed an executive order during his first day in office to rename the Gulf. House Republicans are looking to show their support, though it’s unclear whether the Senate will go along. The bill passed by a vote of 211-206.

The body of water has shared borders between the United States and Mexico. Trump’s order only carries authority within the U.S. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, don’t have to recognize the name change.

Democrats said the vote demonstrated that Republicans aren’t focusing on the priorities of most Americans. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House’s top Democrat, asked Democrats to vote against this “silly, small-minded and sycophantic piece of legislation.”

▶ Read more about the name change

Trump says release of Jimmy Lai could be part of trade talks with Beijing

In a podcast, President Trump said he would make the release of the prominent Hong Kong businessman a part of his administration’s trade talks with China.

In an interview with Hugh Hewitt that was aired Wednesday, Trump was asked about his promise to get Jimmy Lai out and said: “I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea. We’ll put it down, and we’ll put it down as part of the negotiation.”

Lai is 77 and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper known for its anti-Beijing stance. He’s standing trial in Hong Kong on national security charges and could be jailed for life. Before he was elected, Trump had said he would “100 percent” get Lai out.

First lady Melania Trump will host event commemorating Barbara Bush at the White House

She’ll unveil a U.S postage stamp Thursday afternoon featuring Bush, who was married to former President George H. W. Bush, and is the mother of former President George W. Bush.

Barbara Bush died in 2018.

Members of the Bush family are expected to be in attendance.

Melania Trump’s spokesperson says the first lady and her staff and looking forward to paying tribute to the legacy of Barbara Bush.

Trump gets his first trade deal

When the president retreated from his tariff plans in April, he announced that he would seek individual deals with various countries over the next few months.

The process has been shrouded in mystery since then, and administration officials have said they’re hard at work behind the scenes.

Now Trump gets to announce the first of what he says will be may trade deals. The agreement with the U.K. will likely be limited in scope to specific sectors, such as car manufacturing.

However, the president says it’s a sign of things to come. He wrote on Truth Social that there are “many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”

President Trump renews attack on Fed chair, calling him a ‘FOOL’

Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell early Thursday, a day after Powell said the Fed would keep its key interest rate unchanged for the third straight meeting.

Yet Trump did not suggest he would seek to remove Powell as chair. On Sunday, he said he would let Powell serve out his term, which lasts until next May.

Powell said Wednesday that Trump’s tariffs, if they remained in place at their current level, could weaken the economy, raise inflation and increase unemployment. Powell emphasized that the Fed is still in “wait-and-see” mode as it evaluates the tariffs’ effect on the economy.

Trump said “almost all costs” are down, including groceries and eggs, and added that there’s “virtually NO INFLATION.”

Consumer prices did fall in March, on a monthly basis, for the first time in nearly five years. Yet grocery costs jumped 0.5% just from February to March. The Fed considers inflation in check when it falls to 2%. It was 2.4% in March.

The US-UK trade deal was sought for years

When then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was campaigning for Brexit, he told voters that leaving the European Union would allow Britain to negotiate its own trade agreement with the United States. But although talks began at the end of Trump’s first term, they never came to fruition.

Negotiations languished under President Joe Biden, a Democrat and a critic of Brexit.

Now with Trump back in office, the U.S. and the U.K. are poised to announce a trade deal. Although it’s unlikely to be as “full and comprehensive” as the Republican president has claimed, it’s expected to ease the burden of his tariffs.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that it will “cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.”

▶ Read more about the trade deal between the U.S. and the U.K.

Ukraine’s parliament ratifies a minerals deal with the US

Ukraine’s Parliament unanimously voted in favor of ratifying of a landmark minerals deal with the U.S. on Thursday afternoon, a lawmaker said.

The ratification is a key step in setting the deal in motion. It calls for the creation of a joint investment fund with the U.S.

Parliament approved the agreement with 338 members voting in favor out of the required 226 votes, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote on his Telegram account. No lawmaker voted against it or abstained.

Trump’s Thursday schedule, according to the White House

10 a.m.: Trump will deliver his anticipated trade announcement, likely announcing the deal between the U.S. and the United Kingdom

12 p.m.: Trump and the first lady will participate in a celebration of military mothers at the White House

Trump campaign architects are now training their sights on Albania’s upcoming election

Some of the architects of Trump’s presidential campaigns have reunited in Albania as they try to help a Trumpian candidate prevail in this weekend’s elections.

They include Chris LaCivita, who served as co-campaign manager of Trump’s successful 2024 effort, Trump’s longtime pollster Tony Fabrizio, and Paul Manafort, who served as chairman of Trump’s 2016 campaign before he was convicted in 2018 of crimes that included secretly lobbying for Ukraine’s former pro-Russian president.

The trio is working for former prime minister and president Sali Berisha, the head of Albania’s opposition Democratic Party, who is challenging Prime Minister Edi Rama to return the Democrats to power, even as he awaits trial on corruption charges.

▶ Read more about the upcoming Albanian election

Trump taps wellness influencer close to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for surgeon general

Trump is tapping Dr. Casey Means, a physician-turned-wellness influencer with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as his nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post.

Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that Means has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials” – referring to the “ Make America Healthy Again ” slogan – and that she will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans.

In doing so, Trump withdrew former Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat from consideration for the job, marking at least the second health-related pick from Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday for her confirmation hearing.

Means and her brother, former lobbyist Calley Means, served as key advisers to Kennedy’s longshot 2024 presidential bid and helped broker his endorsement of Trump last summer.

▶ Read more about Trump’s new pick for surgeon general

States sue the Trump administration for blocking funds for electric vehicle charging

Seventeen states are suing the Trump administration for withholding billions of dollars for building more electric vehicle chargers, according to a federal lawsuit announced Wednesday.

The Trump administration in February directed states to stop spending money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure that was allocated under President Joe Biden — part of a broader push by the Republican president to roll back environmental policies advanced by his Democratic predecessor. The EV charger program was set to allocate $5 billion over five years to various states, of which an estimated $3.3 billion had already been made available.

The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from California, Colorado and Washington, and challenges the Federal Highway Administration’s authority to halt the funding. They argue Congress, which approved the money in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, holds that authority.

▶ Read more about the lawsuit

US and UK expected to announce a trade deal that Trump says will cement their relationship

The United States and Britain are expected to announce a trade deal on Thursday that will lower the burden of Trump’s sweeping tariffs and deliver a political victory for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that a deal due to be announced at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) will be a “full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.”

It’s the first bilateral trade deal announced since Trump began slapping tariffs on U.S. trading partners. He said: “Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”

Starmer’s office said the prime minister would give an “update” about U.S. trade talks later Thursday.

▶ Read more about the expected announcement

The Associated Press



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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would pull the nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, after a key Republican senator said he could not support him for the job due to his defense of Jan. 6 rioters.

“We have somebody else that will be great,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the status of Martin’s confirmation. He said it was disappointing, but “that’s the way it works sometime.”

A spokesperson for Ed Martin didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump’s first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background, including his support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol over four years ago.

Martin stirred up a chorus of critics during his brief but tumultuous tenure leading the nation’s largest U.S. Attorney’s office. He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases. He posted on social media about potential targets of investigations. And he forced the chief of the office’s criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration.

Martin’s temporary appointment is due to expire on May 20.

Seung Min Kim And Michael Knuzelman, The Associated Press

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OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal request that sought to halt construction of a massive rail-and-truck hub in the Greater Toronto Area, paving the way for the project to proceed.

The justices gave no reasons for their decision, as is typical when parties ask permission to appeal to the top court.

The $250-million project aims to double Canadian National Railway Co.’s existing line of tracks in Milton, Ont., and construct a hub for containers to be transferred between trucks and trains.

In a unanimous ruling last October, a three-judge panel found a decision by the federal government to let CN build the terminal despite “significant adverse environmental effects” was reasonable.

The court case pitted CN and the government against Halton Region and its four municipalities as well as the Halton Region Conservation Authority.

A lower court decision in March 2024 had highlighted health concerns around air quality, noting the 800 diesel-powered trucks that would make daily round trips to the hub.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR)

The Canadian Press

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EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s willing to risk a separation referendum to avert the growth of a political rival.

Smith has said she doesn’t support separating her province from Canada, but Albertans have genuine grievances with the federal government, and she wants concessions from Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Speaking to CTV News Channel, Smith was asked if it wasn’t easier to quell separatism by taking it off the table.

Smith says, “if there isn’t an outlet, it creates a new party.”

Smith cites the high popularity of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois in Quebec, saying she doesn’t want to see that happen in her home province.

Her United Conservative Party is the amalgamation of two right-wing parties that joined in 2017 to win power from then-New Democrat premier Rachel Notley in 2019.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A mid-level appeals court in New York has upheld a law that shifts many local elections to even-numbered years — a policy meant to align county and town elections with statewide and federal races but that has led to pushback from Republicans.

Democrats argue that the law, which was approved two years ago, would result in increased turnout in local races. Republicans sued to block it, saying it violates the state constitution and that it could give Democrats a partisan advantage in higher-turnout election years.

On Wednesday, a panel of appeals court judges ruled that the law can take effect and that there is no need to delay its implementation until the 2027 election cycle. The decision overturned a lower court’s ruling last year that struck down the law.

New York City elections aren’t affected by the law.

The Associated Press

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ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter on Thursday became the first Republican to jump into the race to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026, as other hopefuls maneuver following Gov. Brian Kemp’s announcement that he won’t seek the seat.

Carter, who has long had his eye on statewide office, released a video ad proclaiming that President Donald Trump “has a warrior in Buddy Carter” and attacking Ossoff.

At least six other Georgia Republicans have said they’re considering a run for Senate. Best known among them is U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Also included are two other Georgia Republicans in Congress — Mike Collins and Rich McCormick. Other potential candidates include Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, state Insurance Commissioner John King and state Sen. Greg Dolezal.

Though not well-known statewide, Carter has been a political fixture along Georgia’s coast for nearly three decades. The 67-year-old pharmacist served as mayor of Pooler just outside Savannah and was a lawmaker in the state House and Senate before being elected to Congress in 2014.

Eric Johnson, who served as the top Republican in the Georgia Senate before making an unsuccessful run for governor in 2010, said he’s backing Carter.

“He’s known for good constituent service, and he’s accessible and visible, some of the things other candidates overlook,” said Johnson, a retired architect who lives in Effingham County west of Savannah.

He said Carter should also have plenty of money, which he’ll need to increase his name-recognition across Georgia’s 159 counties. As of March 31, Carter reported having nearly $3.5 million cash on hand to defend his House seat next fall. He could transfer that money to kickstart a Senate race.

Any Republican primary will not only be a race for voters, but for Trump’s endorsement. Whoever gets the Trump nod would be stamped as the frontrunner, and an early endorsement could push others away from the race.

Carter, while still touting bipartisan legislative efforts, particularly around prescription drugs, has sought to move closer to Trump, casting himself as a “MAGA Warrior” in Thursday’s announcement.

In 2017, the first year of Trump’s first term, Carter told constituents at a town hall in Savannah that “I am not here to tell you Donald Trump is perfect.” Adding that “God has used imperfect people to do great things.”

He’s been much more bullish on Trump lately. In February, Carter introduced a House bill that would authorize Trump to acquire Greenland and rename it “Red, White and Blueland.”

No serious Democratic challengers have emerged to Ossoff, who launched his reelection campaign in March with sharp attacks on Trump. But Ossoff also says he’ll work with Trump to help Georgia and says working with Republicans is the best way to get things done in Washington.

National Republicans have already been advertising against Ossoff’s opposition to a bill barring schools from allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports. Ossoff calls that an obsession most voters don’t share. They’ve also attacked Ossoff for saying in a town hall two weeks ago that he believed Trump had committed impeachable offenses in his second term.

Like the earlier national Republican ad, Carter on Thursday targeted Ossoff on transgender women in women’s sports.

“He fought against President Trump securing our border and voted for men in girls’ sports. Jon Ossoff is on the wrong side.”

Any race will be expensive. Ossoff raised more than $11 million just in the first three months of 2025. The twin Senate races in 2020, when Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrowly won and flipped control of the body to Democrats, cost more than $900 million combined, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks political spending. Warnock’s 2022 reelection over Republican Herschel Walker cost more than $470 million, OpenSecrets found.

——

Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.

Jeff Amy And Russ Bynum, The Associated Press

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