Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Inflation was steady in April, meaning no sign of tariff shock yet
Consumer prices rose in April but not as badly as expected, according to a federal inflation report Tuesday that shows President Trump's tariffs have not taken a major toll on prices so far. Published May 13, 2025
Trump expects China to strike wider trade pact, says ‘they want it very badly’
President Trump said Monday that he expects China to "follow through" and agree to a full trade deal that opens its markets to U.S. producers during a negotiated pause in sky-high tariffs. Published May 12, 2025
Global markets rally after U.S. and China cool trade tensions; Dow jumps more than 1,000 points
Global stocks surged Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to de-escalate tariffs that had effectively frozen trade between the world's largest economies. Published May 12, 2025
New normal: Trump committed to a 10% tariff baseline for all nations
The White House says President Trump is "determined" to maintain at least a 10% tariff on all imports, meaning all nations should expect a baseline tax on their goods even if they negotiate trade pacts. Published May 9, 2025
Trump floats 80% tariff on China
President Trump says an 80% tariff "seems right," setting a potential guidepost ahead of weekend talks in Switzerland between the U.S. and Chinese sides. Published May 9, 2025
Trump praises U.K. trade deal that opens British market to farm products, other goods
President Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. had struck a trade deal that will open the British market to plenty of American farm products, chemicals and machinery, a major development in the White House's attempt to rebalance global trade, even if bigger challenges lie ahead. Published May 8, 2025
Trump says U.K. is first trade deal under his tariff plan
President Trump said Thursday the U.S. struck a trade deal with the U.K. that would "cement" the countries' relationship for years to come. Published May 8, 2025
Federal Reserve keeps rates steady, defies pressure from Trump
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, defying President Trump's demands to lower rates to ease the economy's transition under his aggressive trade agenda. Published May 7, 2025
Treasury secretary, U.S. trade rep to talk trade with Chinese in Switzerland
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet this weekend with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland, a sign of a potential thaw in the debilitating trade war between Washington and Beijing. Published May 7, 2025
Trump strikes defiant tone on trade talks: ‘We don’t have to sign deals’
President Trump on Tuesday said the onus is on other countries to strike trade pacts with the U.S. and not the other way around, pushing back against anxious investors and others who've grown impatient for deals. Published May 6, 2025
Trump signals he will press Canadian leader on trade deficit
President Trump teed up a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday by saying he plans to press his northern neighbor on why the U.S. has a big trade deficit with Canada and supplies benefits such as military protection. Published May 6, 2025
Bessent: Trade deals could be done this week but no formal talks yet with China
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said trade negotiations with 17 of America's 18 largest trading partners are proceeding well and could result in formal deals before the weekend. Published May 6, 2025
Trump’s economy is one big power play, not just the pieces, Bessent says urging investor patience
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told investors Monday that President Trump's economic agenda is "more than the sum of its parts," pointing to deregulation and tax cuts as companions to the White House tariff plan that is making Wall Street anxious. Published May 5, 2025
Wall Street slumps over Trump’s latest tariff threat on films
President Trump's proposal to slap a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S. reverberated across Wall Street markets Monday. Published May 5, 2025
Trump rejects China’s request for a tariff pause as a prerequisite for trade talks
President Trump says he will not drop the tariffs he has imposed on China to jump-start trade negotiations. Published May 4, 2025
China signals it is open to trade talks, demands ‘sincerity’
Markets are cheering a possible thaw in the U.S.-China trade war as Beijing signals it is open to talks with the American side. Published May 2, 2025
U.S. added 177K jobs in April; strong report buoys markets
The U.S. added 177,000 in April and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, the government said in a stronger-than-expected report. Published May 2, 2025
GM says tariffs will cost it up to $5B, but car buyers won’t see big price changes
Major automakers tabulated the cost of tariffs and announced moves to increase U.S. production of certain vehicles Thursday, underscoring the market-moving power of President Trump's trade actions. Published May 1, 2025
U.S. Chamber of Commerce begs Trump for tariff relief for small businesses
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce pleaded with President Trump on Thursday to grant tariff relief to small businesses and help "stave off a recession." Published May 1, 2025
Bipartisan Senate effort to nullify Trump tariff powers narrowly defeated by GOP leaders
The Senate GOP on Wednesday narrowly defeated a bipartisan effort to nullify the national emergency that President Trump used to justify his across-the-board tariffs, helped in part by senators' absences from the vote. Published April 30, 2025
