Beef, but make it British
Rollins (right) speaking as Trump announced a trade agreement with Britain, at the White House in Washington. — Eric Lee/The New York Times
JUST a few days after the United States and Britain announced to much fanfare that they had agreed to lower some tariffs and create a US$5bil export opportunity for American beef, ethanol and other agricultural products in Britain, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins touched down in London.
She came with a clear message for her British counterparts: the agreement was just the first step.
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The Star
37 minutes ago
- The Star
China urges US to ‘look at the whole picture' on tariffs to see true trade ties
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'If one is reluctant to sell others what they want, how can it ever get its deficit reduced by exporting only products like soybeans and beef?' Since 2022, the US has steadily tightened restrictions on China's access to American technology over concerns it could fuel military advancements. These curbs intensified under US President Donald Trump's second term. However, earlier this month, the US agreed to ease some restrictions and allow Chinese students unhindered access to American universities in exchange for increased exports of critical minerals from China. Talks between the two sides in London produced a framework to implement the trade consensus reached in May in Geneva regarding Trump's new tariffs on Chinese imports – now reduced from 125 per cent to 55 per cent. Xie said the current US tariffs on China were 'still unreasonably high, will severely constrain and undercut bilateral trade and should be removed completely'. 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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Trump says US 'obliterates' Iran nuclear sites, Tehran reserves 'all options' to defend itself
ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters): US President Donald Trump said he had "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself. Trump, in a televised address to the US people, called the strikes a "spectacular military success" and warned Tehran against retaliation, saying it would face more devastating attacks if it did not agree to peace. Iran, which has responded to Israel's sudden blitz on its nuclear and military apparatus since June 13 with missile fire on Israeli cities, called the US attack a grave violation of international law that would have "everlasting consequences". "Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest and people," wrote Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in a social media post, noting that the Israeli and US attacks on Iran came despite ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran. 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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on a "bold decision". Iranian missile fire on Israel appeared heavier overnight, witnesses in the country said, with the health ministry reporting 86 people injured. Gulf Arab states, which have in recent years tried to cool long-time rivalries with Iran and fear their crucial energy exports could be targeted in any expanded conflict, expressed concern at the escalation. Iranians contacted by Reuters described their fear at the prospect of an enlarged war involving the United States. "Our future is dark. We have nowhere to go - it's like living in a horror movie," Bita, 36, a teacher from the central city of Kashan, said before the phone line was cut. Nuclear sites Trump's decision is the biggest foreign policy gamble of his two presidencies and he was flanked during the announcement by Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 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Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. Israel launched its attacks on June 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes only. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies. Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to defuse the hostilities have so far failed. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the US strikes a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge - and a direct threat to international peace and security." US ally Britain said the United States had taken action to alleviate the threat of Iran developing a nuclear weapon. It and Germany urged Iran to sit down for more negotiations on the future of its atomic programme. Iran's Araqchi accused the United States of blowing up the diplomatic process. In the United States, Democratic lawmakers and some from Trump's Republican Party have argued that he must receive permission from Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran. At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, the Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed and 1,272 people injured, according to local authorities.- Reuters
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Bahrain, Kuwait prepare for possible Iran conflict spread
FILE PHOTO: A general downtown view is seen with heat haze over the skyline during the afternoon hours in Manama, Bahrain, August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo DUBAI (Reuters) -Bahrain and Kuwait, home to U.S. bases, made preparations on Sunday for the possibility the Iran conflict might spread to their territory, with Bahrain urging drivers to avoid main roads and Kuwait establishing shelters in a ministries complex after U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. U.S. forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites late on Saturday, and President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace. Tehran had previously warned if it was attacked by the United States, it could target American assets in the region, including U.S. military bases. Bahrain is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and there are several U.S. bases in Kuwait. "In light of recent developments in the regional security situation, we urge citizens and residents to use main roads only when necessary, to maintain public safety and to allow the relevant authorities to use the roads efficiently," Bahrain's interior ministry said in a post on X. Bahrain also told 70% of government employees to work from home on Sunday until further notice, citing escalating tensions, according the Civil Service Bureau. Kuwait set up shelters in the country's ministries complex, an extensive compound of buildings that houses several government departments, including the ministries of justice and finance, the finance ministry said. Bahraini authorities earlier this week said they had activated a national plan and a national civil emergency centre to prepare in case of emergencies and proceeded to test warning sirens across the country. Regional media also reported the country had set up 33 shelters. (Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Writing by Federico Maccioni in Dubai, Editing by Hugh Lawson, Andrew Mills and Clelia Oziel)
