Politics

Trump tariffs: 50 nations seek new US trade talks — official

Published

5 days ago

April 6, 2025

Some Trump officials are claiming that the tariffs are intended to get other world leaders to contact the president on potential new trade deals © Alex Brandon/AP/picture alliance

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A senior advisor to US President Donald Trump said dozens of countries have contacted the White House seeking to renegotiate new US tariffs. Chip-making Taiwan says it wants to cut tariffs to zero.

Trump adviser: White House inundated with calls seeking fresh trade talks EU ready with “proportionate countermeasures,” says von der Leyen Netanyahu will urge Trump to cut tariffs on Israel during talks next week Chip leader Taiwan says it will seek zero-tariff deal with US

Here are the latest developments following the new round of Trump tariffs on Sunday, April 6:

EU’s von der Leyen warns bloc will ‘defend its interests’

European Union chief Ursula Von der Leyen said the bloc is prepared to “defend its interests with proportionate countermeasures” against Trump’s tariffs and will work with partners towards this end.

Von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, issued a statement following a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose country has been hit by 10% tariffs.

The president also reaffirmed the EU’s “commitment to engaging in negotiations with the US.”

The Commission, which also coordinates the bloc’s trade policy, is due to propose to EU states on Monday a list of US products, worth $28 billion (€25.6 billion), to hit with extra duties.

The imports targeted include US meat, cereals, wine, wood and clothing, among other goods.

Those retaliatory measures are in response to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs rather than the broader reciprocal levies announced last week.

The 27-nation EU faces 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and car exports and “reciprocal” tariffs of 20% from Wednesday for almost all other goods.

The new US tariffs will cover more than two-thirds of EU exports to the US.

On Monday, Luxembourg will host the first meeting of EU trade ministers since Trump’s sweeping tariffs were announced, where ministers are expected to push for a unified response.

Trump adviser: More than 50 countries want to renegotiate trade

Dozens of countries have so far reached out to renegotiate tariffs with the United States, a senior economic advisor to US President Donald Trump said.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told ABC News that Trump’s tariffs had so far driven “more than 50” countries to contact the White House to begin trade talks.

Hassett also denied that Trump hoped the new tariffs would crash financial markets to pressure the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

He insisted there would be no “political coercion” of the US central bank.

In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump shared a video that suggested his tariffs aimed to hammer the stock market on purpose in a bid to force lower interest rates.

US stocks tumbled by around 10% on Thursday and Friday, after Trump announced a new global tariff regime that was more aggressive than investors had been anticipating.

Welcome to our coverage

Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest developments on US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan, that has sent shockwaves around the world.

As nations digest the impact of the punitive new levies, several leaders have spoken about the desire to cut their own tariffs on imports from the US.

Investors, meanwhile, are nervously awaiting the opening of financial markets on Monday, after large falls in stock prices late last week, following the announcement.

Politics

Kano deputy gov reports back after peace-building mission in Edo

Published

2 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has reassured northerners living in Edo State about their safety, following the recent violence that led to the deaths of several Kano indigenes.

He made these remarks shortly after returning from a fact-finding and peace-building mission to Edo.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Gwarzo led a high-powered delegation to the South-South state. The delegation included the Emir of Rano, Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umar, four commissioners, the Chairman of Bunkure Local Government (the area most affected by the incident), and the representative of the Edo community in Kano.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Gwarzo revealed that the visit followed an earlier condolence mission by Governor Monday Okpebholo to the Torankawa Community in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano, where seven of the victims hailed from.

Gwarzo noted that the delegation visited the scene of the incident in Uromi, Edo State, where they were warmly received by both political and traditional leaders.

He described the reception as overwhelming, with a massive crowd, largely consisting of northerners, showing solidarity and appreciation.

“We met with the king of Uromi Kingdom and his senior chiefs. The Edo State governor personally accompanied us to the scene. It was a long journey nearly two hours from Benin but the turnout was incredible,” he said.

He commended the Edo State leadership for its proactive actions, including the disbandment of the vigilante group allegedly involved in the killings, the arrest of 14 suspects, and ongoing efforts by security agencies to apprehend those still at large.

“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State was transferred due to the incident, which shows the seriousness with which the state government is handling the situation,” the deputy governor stated.

He further disclosed that Kano had compiled a comprehensive report, documenting the victims and the extent of losses suffered, including properties destroyed.

He said the report has been formally submitted to Governor Okpebholo, who promised compensation for the victims and their families.

Gwarzo emphasized that justice remains the core demand from the Kano State Government and reiterated the constitutional right of every Nigerian to live and work peacefully in any part of the country.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to reside and earn a living anywhere in the country.”

“The governor of Edo has assured us that those responsible will be brought to book and that compensation will be provided. He made it clear that there is no animosity toward northerners in Edo. From what we witnessed, I can confidently say our people are very safe there,” he said.

He also confirmed that 26 individuals survived the attack, primarily from five local government areas in Kano.

Politics

Atiku, El-Rufai, Tambuwal visit Buhari in Kaduna

Published

3 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.

The visit, which also included former governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Nasir El-Rufa’i (Kaduna), was captured in a video sighted on the Facebook page of Atiku Abubakar.

Although the specific purpose of the visit was not disclosed, Atiku described it as a “post-Sallah visit.”

In the post, Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour. -AA”

The visit comes after governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a similar visit to Buhari in Kaduna last week, amid growing speculation about political realignments and possible coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Politics

Rivers govt debunks civil service recruitment announcement

Published

3 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Rivers State Government has refuted a widely circulated social media announcement alleging that the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, approved the recruitment of 10,000 “graduates and non-graduates” into the Rivers State civil service.

On Thursday, social media platform “Facebook”, was flooded with the purported government notice, which falsely claimed that the recruitment exercise had been sanctioned.

The statement was reported to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

However, in a statement issued by Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, the government described the information as entirely untrue and urged the public to disregard it.

The statement also clarified that any official communication on civil service recruitment would come from the Rivers State Civil Service Commission at the appropriate time.

The statement read, “The Office of the Administrator of Rivers State wishes to disclaim a purported Special Government Announcement spreading round on social media and other platforms stating that His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 qualified graduates and non graduates into the Rivers State civil service and that the recruitment portal shall be opened for application midnight of Sunday 13/04/2025.

“The statement is claimed to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

“We wish to categorically inform the people of Rivers State and the general public that this is false and ask that this fake announcement be ignored.

“Appropriate information will be released by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission in due time.”