Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump orders up 50% tariff on copper, says levies on Big Pharma are coming
President Trump said Tuesday he would issue a 50% tariff on copper brought into the U.S. and signaled he was queuing up high levies on pharmaceutical imports after a grace period that would let drugmakers move operations back here. Published July 8, 2025
Trump to impose 50% tariff on copper
President Trump said he plans to impose a 50% tariff Tuesday on copper that is brought into the U.S. and, eventually, slap high levies on pharmaceutical imports after a grace period that lets drugmakers onshore operations. Published July 8, 2025
Trump says he’s keeping Aug. 1 deadline to collect big tariffs
President Trump said Tuesday he will not budge from his decision to impose tariffs on goods from dozens of trading partners starting Aug. 1, pushing back on the idea he isn't committed to collecting the duties. Published July 8, 2025
Trump hits South Korea, Japan and others with 25% tariffs
President Trump on Monday sent letters to Japan, South Korea and a dozen other nations announcing heavy tariffs on goods they send to the U.S., making critical Asian allies the first targets of his summer round of levies. Published July 7, 2025
Trump says he is poised to assign tariffs, announce new trade deals
President Trump will begin to announce nation-by-nation tariff levels and trade deals on Monday, ahead of a midweek deadline, and he threatened new levies on a multicountry bloc he labeled as "anti-American." Published July 7, 2025
Trump’s mission to end DEI spurs companies to retreat from woke corporate culture
President Trump's effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in government is ripping through the private sector, forcing companies to scrub their websites and overhaul hiring practices or risk federal scrutiny and retribution. Published July 6, 2025
U.S. added a higher-than-expected 147,000 jobs in June
Job growth was higher than expected in June, according to a federal report Thursday that showed the labor market beating milder forecasts. Published July 3, 2025
Trump says trade deal clinched with Vietnam
President Trump said Wednesday he struck a trade deal with Vietnam, a key Asian trading partner that American companies rely on as an alternative to Chinese-made goods. Published July 2, 2025
Stocks wobble after disappointing private-sector payroll report
U.S. stocks faced a mixed day on Wall Street after a report from processing firm ADP said hiring suddenly contracted in June, the first decrease in two years. Published July 2, 2025
Bessent says U.S. nearing trade deal with India
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. is "very close" to a trade deal with India as the White House juggles negotiations with multiple trading partners ahead of a fast-approaching deadline to set tariff amounts. Published July 1, 2025
Fed Chair Powell: Size of Trump tariffs forced bank to pause rate cuts
Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell said Tuesday the magnitude of President Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs forced the central bank to take its time instead of bowing to the White House and cutting interest rates sooner. Published July 1, 2025
Canada caves on tech tax, eyes deal during Trump’s July trade scramble
Canada bowed to White House demands and decided not to collect a tax on U.S. tech companies as planned Monday, a sign that President Trump's hardball tactics are paying off as he cajoles dozens of trading partners to strike deals or face stiff tariffs on goods they send to U.S. markets. Published June 30, 2025
Canada rescinds digital services tax after Trump’s trade threat
Canada says it plans to rescind a digital services tax that would have hit U.S. tech companies. Published June 30, 2025
Trump cancels trade talks with Canada over digital tax
President Trump said he is cutting off trade talks with Canada because Ottawa is imposing a digital services tax on U.S. tech companies. Published June 27, 2025
Trump ready to assign tariff levels ahead of July deadline
President Trump says he's optimistic about a trade deal with India, but many countries will be "disappointed" because he plans to assign tariff amounts to them ahead of a July 8 deadline to strike trade deals. Published June 27, 2025
China, U.S. signal steps to implement trade deal
The U.S. and China are taking steps to implement a London trade framework that compels the Chinese side to release rare earth minerals while the American side lifts some tech restrictions. Published June 27, 2025
House Democrats to Trump: Exempt car seats, strollers and other infant products from tariffs
Rep. Ayanna Pressley and other House Democrats pushed the Trump administration on Thursday to exempt car seats and other essential infant products from recently imposed tariffs. Published June 26, 2025
Japanese trade official says U.S. auto tariffs are ‘not something we can accept’
Japan's leading trade negotiator said Thursday that President Trump's 25% tariff on foreign-made cars is unacceptable Published June 26, 2025
Trump cheers GOP effort to expand spectrum, the invisible highway fueling wireless networks
Senate Republicans are using President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act to establish a robust pipeline of wireless spectrum, an obscure but critical part of U.S. efforts to meet consumer demand and compete with China on 6G networks and artificial intelligence. Published June 25, 2025
Powell says Fed ‘can’t ignore’ inflation potential under shifting tariffs
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told Congress on Tuesday the central bank is rebuffing President Trump's strident calls to cut interest rates because it has a responsibility to keep inflation in check in the face of tariff-related price increases. Published June 24, 2025
