Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump claims Japan trade deal, imposes 15% tariff on goods from Asian superpower
President Trump on Tuesday said he struck a trade deal with Japan, a surprise development after the U.S. leader described the Asian country as "spoiled" by years of favorable trade terms with the American market. Published July 22, 2025
Philippine goods face 19% tariff under new deal with Trump
President Trump said Tuesday he will impose a 19% tariff on goods sent from the Philippines to the U.S. while American products entering the Asian island nation won't be taxed. Published July 22, 2025
AstraZeneca announces $50B investment in U.S., including Virginia facility
President Trump said Tuesday that pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will invest $50 billion in pharmaceutical manufacturing by 2030, a development he attributed to his threat to impose tariffs on drugs made outside the U.S. Published July 22, 2025
Senate bill would require businesses to accept cash
A bipartisan Senate duo is pushing legislation that would require brick-and-mortar businesses to accept cash payments from customers, saying paper money remains legal tender despite a general transition to electronic payments. Published July 22, 2025
Pay dirt: Trump goes after critical minerals in his global dealmaking
President Trump is positioning himself as a tough trade negotiator, peacemaker and champion for U.S. workers during the first six months of his second term. There is a common thread stitching them together: precious metals, minerals and other valuable stuff that can be pulled from the earth. Published July 21, 2025
Bessent wants a full review of the Federal Reserve operations
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday he would like to see a top-to-bottom review of the Federal Reserve to ensure if it is doing a good job for the American people. Published July 21, 2025
Firing Powell could ‘crash’ markets, says Sen. Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts warned Thursday that the stock market might "crash" if President Trump tries to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Published July 17, 2025
Trump cracks down on fentanyl substances with bill signing
President Trump signed a bill Wednesday that permanently places illicit fentanyl and its chemical cousins on the most restrictive list of drugs in the U.S. Published July 16, 2025
Trump says he doesn’t plan to fire Fed Chairman Powell, despite buzz
President Trump on Wednesday said he has no plans to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as rumors swirl about a move against the central bank boss. Published July 16, 2025
Canada mulling limits on lumber exports to help U.S. trade talks
A top Canadian official says the country is considering cutting back on sending lumber to the U.S. to win over President Trump during trade negotiations. Published July 16, 2025
Former Sen. Joe Manchin says U.S. better wake up and reduce rare earth reliance on China
Former Sen. Joe Manchin III said Tuesday the U.S. must find new ways to increase production of rare earths, warning China is consolidating its monopoly on the global market for critical minerals that drive semiconductor and military technologies. Published July 15, 2025
Trump says U.S. will get market access in Indonesia, island country knocks down tariff
President Trump said Tuesday he struck a trade agreement with Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous country, as his team assigns nation-by-nation tariff amounts alongside negotiations. Published July 15, 2025
Inflation rises in June, in line with economic forecasts
Inflation ticked upward in June, rising 0.3% in June compared to 0.1% in May, according to a government report. Published July 15, 2025
Trump tests limits of tariff power as high-stakes court case forges ahead
President Trump's decision to link tariff rates to Brazil's prosecution of ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro is testing the bounds of White House tariff powers and could complicate the president's defense against a high-stakes legal case over his sweeping levies. Published July 14, 2025
European Union trade chief says 30% tariff would ‘prohibit’ trade, pursues U.S. deal
The European Union's trade chief said Monday that trade will be "heavily impacted" if President Trump follows through on his threat to impose a 30% tariff on EU goods. Published July 14, 2025
Canada says it will defend workers, stop fentanyl ahead of Aug. 1 tariff deadline
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country is making progress in stopping fentanyl and will continue to work with the U.S. on trafficking and other matters ahead of the Aug. 1 tariff deadline set by President Trump. Published July 11, 2025
Trump whacks Canada with a 35% tariff
President Trump said Thursday he will impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, a major development in the U.S. trade relationship with its northern neighbor. Published July 10, 2025
Trump, in unusual move, ties tariff rate for Brazil to domestic prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro
President Trump whacked Brazil on Wednesday with a 50% tariff on goods its producers send into the U.S., linking the levy in part to the prosecution of former Brazilian president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro. Published July 9, 2025
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
