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Escalating a global trade war, US President Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of reciprocal tariffs to match duties put on US goods by other countries. The American commander-in-chief said he would impose a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports to the United States and higher duties on some of the country’s biggest trading partners.

“It’s our declaration of independence,” Trump said at an event in the White House Rose Garden. “We will establish a minimum baseline tariff of 10 per cent.”

China’s rates would be set at 34 per cent, while the European Union and Japan would face 20 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively. India would be charged an import duty of 26 per cent. 

US trading partners reacted to the development and vowed swift retribution, while also trying to persuade Trump to reach deals to avoid tariffs in the first place. 

Also Read: Donald Trump Announces 26% “Discounted Reciprocal Tariff” On India

Reacting to Trump’s announcement of tougher barriers for Aussie beef, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the American people will pay the bigger price for the unjustified move. 

“It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs. This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs. We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth,” he said. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed to “fight” against Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which he said will “fundamentally change the global trading system.”

The impact of Trump’s latest tariff announcement for Canada was limited compared to other major US trading partners, but Carney said American levies on steel, aluminum and automobiles will “directly affect millions of Canadians.”

“We are going to fight these tariffs with counter measures,” Carney said in Ottawa. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who made intense comments, said a “trade war is in nobody’s interests.” 

“We have prepared for all eventualities — and we will rule nothing out,” he told parliament.

Germany warned that trade wars hurt “both sides.”

Also Read: Trump Unveils Reciprocal Tariffs On Countries. See Full List

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country would “protect its companies and workers and will continue to be committed to an open world.”

Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that his nation doesn’t want growing trade barriers. “We don’t want a trade war … We want to find our way back to a path of trade and cooperation together with the US, so that people in our countries can enjoy a better life,” he said.

Irish Trade Minister Simon Harris said Ireland and the European Union (EU) were ready to find a negotiated solution with the US. “Negotiation and dialogue are always the best way forward,” said Harris.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, also vowed to work with President Trump to find an agreement to avoid the “trade war that would inevitably weaken the West”

“We will do everything we can to work towards an agreement with the United States, with the goal of avoiding a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favor of other global players,” she said. 

The European Union will react to new Trump tariffs “before the end of April,” said a French government spokeswoman.

The 27-nation bloc’s initial salvo would counter US actions on steel and aluminum, followed by sector-by-sector measures.

Meanwhile, Latin America’s biggest economy, Brazil, approved a law on Wednesday to counter the 10 per cent tariff imposed by Trump. There was no immediate reaction from the president, but last week, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country “cannot stand still” in the face of the tariffs.

US Tariff Announcement Live Updates: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a raft of tariffs, targeting countries around the world, in a move that could spark a global trade war. The tariffs threaten various sectors like the automobile, dairy, steel, and electronics.

The 78-year-old President imposed new tariffs of 34 percent on imports from China and 20 percent on imports from the European Union – two of the main US trade partners. He declared a 26 per cent “discounted reciprocal tariff” on India.

“For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” the US President said. “This is Liberation Day,” he said, adding that it would “forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.”

Mr Trump for weeks, has said his reciprocal tariff plans are a move to equalise generally lower US tariff rates with those charged by other countries and counteract their non-tariff barriers that disadvantage US exports. Global markets remained jittery for days ahead of the announcement, as various countries called for talks in this regard.

Here are the Live Updates:

KATHMANDU: They were still in the womb or a crib when Narayanhiti Palace became a crime scene. On the night of June 1, 2001, gunfire echoed through the marble halls, leaving nearly the entire royal family, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, dead. Gyanendra Shah, the king no one expected, took the throne days later. But by 2008, amid a peace deal with Maoists and end of a decade-long civil war that left more than 17,000 dead, monarchy was abolished. For Nepal’s post- 2000 generation, the palace is more museum than memory.
And yet, the past is back. Not as nostalgia whispered in old homes, but as chants – ‘Raja aau, desh bachau’ – rising from TikTok and Facebook feeds, protest portals, and campuses. In private institutes, youngsters are asking hard questions of the republic. What has it delivered, besides a carousel of prime ministers and a nation in drift? Since becoming a republic in 2008, Nepal has had 13 different PMs, often through fragile coalitions. A school administrator said, “They’ve come of age amid rolling blackouts, political instability, and a broken job market. It’s not just the changing faces. It’s the lack of direction. Every few months, there’s a new education policy… a different entrance exam.”
In classrooms where teachers once prepped students for exams and jobs, conversations now veer into who should lead the country – elected politicians or a king – and whether their votes would matter at all. “We’re supposed to be teaching maths and science,” said Sagar Acharya, a principal in Chitwan. “But these days, it feels like we’re moderating parliament.” Smriti Acharya, a 20-year-old student, never imagined she’d attend a protest rally. “I didn’t live through the monarchy… But I’ve lived through this system – and it’s not working.” Her friend added, “When every year brings a new PM, what future are we supposed to plan for?”
The churn isn’t just political – it’s personal. Students watch classmates vanish abroad in search of something better. According to International Organisation for Migration, over 3,00,000 students have left the country for higher education in past five years. Nepal’s department of foreign employment said over 1,10,000 student visa recommendations were issued in 2022. Student absenteeism has spiked since the March 28 crackdown on protests. Even in schools that avoid overt political discussion, the tensions are palpable. “There’s a strange energy right now – a hunger to belong to something larger than themselves,” said a teacher. Sociologist Tara Rai said the protests are more than just a royalist revival. “This is a generation that has only known chaos. The generation’s activism is rooted in disillusionment, not nostalgia. For them, the king is less a figure than a symbol – of order, identity, something to rally around.”
For many, though, monarchy is not the solution. “Given the choice, I’d still opt for a democracy,” said another student. “It may be messy, but it gives us rights and a chance to participate. I just want a system that works.” Despite rising tensions, education ministry has issued no formal advisory. But insiders say informal instructions have been sent to “avoid sensitive political discussion” in classrooms. Still, it’s hard to silence what students are already debating online. Hashtags and remixed protest chants continue to spread across Instagram and TikTok. “That’s how students engage now,” said a digital media analyst.

After weeks of anticipation, US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on trading partners Wednesday, calling it a “declaration of economic independence.”

A fresh “baseline tariff” of 10 percent will apply to economies around the world, with steeper rates tailored to those that Washington deemed as bad actors.

What are the details of Trump’s latest announcement?

– New tariffs –

A 10 percent “baseline tariff” kicks in at 12:01am (0401 GMT) on April 5, while elevated rates for those the White House deemed “the worst offenders” take effect at 12:01am on April 9.

The steeper additional tariffs impact major US trading partners, with the European Union facing a 20 percent rate and China a 34 percent figure.

For China, the number stacks on an added 20 percent levy Trump imposed earlier this year over its alleged role in the supply chain of illicit fentanyl, taking the new additional figure to 54 percent.

Other key partners include India with a 26 percent added rate, South Korea at 25 percent and Japan at 24 percent.

Trump said: “For nations that treat us badly, we will calculate the combined rate of all their tariffs, non-monetary barriers and other forms of cheating.”

The numbers, he said, are “approximately half of what they are and have been charging us.”

– Exclusions –

Major US partners Canada and Mexico, however, are not subject to the new tariffs, White House officials said Wednesday.

Trump earlier imposed 25 percent tariffs on imports from both countries, with a lower rate on Canadian energy, and they will continue to face these duties.

But goods entering the world’s biggest economy under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will continue to be exempted.

Should Canada and Mexico reach deals on the levies, however, they will still come up against Trump’s latest baseline rate.

The White House also said that the latest country-based tariffs do not stack atop of sector-specific ones, like those already applied to imports of steel and aluminum.

Cuba, Belarus, North Korea, and Russia are not subject to Trump’s new “reciprocal tariffs” as they are already facing sanctions which “preclude any meaningful trade,” the White House said.

– Other tariffs –

On Thursday, new 25 percent tariffs on imported autos and certain parts will also kick in, bringing fresh challenges to the industry.

Trump earlier imposed 25 percent charges on steel and aluminum imports too, which will now be expanded to impact canned beer and aluminum cans.

He has ordered probes into imports of copper and lumber as well, which could lead to further duties.

White House officials said Wednesday that the president is mulling similar moves on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and possibly critical minerals.

Separately, a 25 percent levy on goods from countries importing Venezuelan oil can take place from April 2. Trump has threatened a similar “secondary tariff” on Russian oil.

– Small parcels –

On Wednesday, Trump ordered an end to a duty-free exemption for small parcels from China too, a move likely to severely disrupt the import of popular low-cost products.

The rule has faced heavy scrutiny as US officials pointed to the growth of Chinese-founded online retailers Shein and Temu as a factor behind a surge of shipments using the exemption.

Products imported under the “loophole” from China would now be subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or $25 per item, increasing to $50 per item after June 1.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

 India’s apex exporters’ body, FIEO, stated on Thursday that the 26 per cent tariffs or import duties announced by US President Donald Trump on India will undoubtedly affect domestic players.

However, India is much better placed than many other countries, said Ajay Sahai, Director General and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

He expressed hope that the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), currently being negotiated between the two countries, would be concluded at the earliest, as it would provide relief from these reciprocal tariffs.

“We have to assess the impact, but looking at the reciprocal tariffs imposed on other countries, we are in a lower band. We are much better placed compared to our key competitors such as Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, etc. We will definitely be affected by the tariffs, but we are much better placed than many others,” Sahai told PTI.

The US President highlighted the high tariffs charged by India on American products as he announced reciprocal tariffs on countries worldwide, declaring a 26 per cent “discounted reciprocal tariff” on India.

As he made the announcement, he held up a chart that showed the tariffs that countries like India, China, the UK, and the European Union charge, along with the reciprocal tariffs these countries will now have to pay.

The chart indicated that India imposed 56 per cent tariffs, “including currency manipulation and trade barriers,” and that America would now charge India a “discounted reciprocal tariff” of 26 per cent.

“India, very, very tough. Very, very tough. The Prime Minister just left. He’s a great friend of mine, but I said, ‘You’re a friend of mine, but you’re not treating us right. They charge us 52 per cent…,” Trump said.

From 2021-22 to 2023-24, the US was India’s largest trading partner. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India’s total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade.

With America, India has a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of USD 35.32 billion in goods in 2023-24. This was USD 27.7 billion in 2022-23, USD 32.85 billion in 2021-22, USD 22.73 billion in 2020-21, and USD 17.26 billion in 2019-20.

In 2024, India’s main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel (USD 2.7 billion).

Imports included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal, coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes several changes to laws governing central and state boards, which decide how Muslim charitable properties are administered. The bill had been first tabled in the Lower House in August last year, after which it was sent to a joint parliamentary committee for scrutiny. The JPC submitted its report in February.

Eventually, 66 changes were proposed, of which all 44 from the opposition were rejected while the 23 from BJP and allied parties were accepted. After a vote, 14 of the 23 were cleared.

The JPC had 16 MPs from the BJP and allied parties, and 10 from the opposition.

The original draft of the Waqf Amendment Bill had proposed 44 changes.

These included nominating non-Muslim and (at least two) women members to each Waqf board, as well as a Union Minister, three MPs and persons of ‘national repute’. There was also a proposal to limit donations from Muslims practicing their religion for at least five years.

The proposals were fiercely criticised by the opposition; senior Congress leader KC Venugopal said it amounted to a “direct attack on the freedom of religion”.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and the DMK’s Kanimozhi also spoke out, arguing the bill violated multiple sections of the Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one’s choice) and Article 30 (the right to minority communities to establish and administer educational institutions).

(Images via Getty and Wikipedia)

The 2025 NFL Draft is locked in for April 24-26, with Green Bay hosting the event for the first time in league history. Free agency is in the rearview. Now, all eyes are on the draft—the last big shot for teams to fix what’s broken.

The 2025 NFL Draft date, time, and full schedule

The 2025 NFL Draft will run for three days, with all seven rounds split across the weekend.

257 players will hear their names called. Some teams will gamble. Some will reach. Some will hit the jackpot.

The 2025 NFL Draft location: Green Bay gets its moment

Lambeau Field and the Titletown District will serve as the backdrop for this year’s draft. It’s the first time Green Bay has hosted. It’s also the second consecutive draft held in NFC North territory—Detroit ran the show in 2024. Pittsburgh is on deck for 2026.

The full 2025 NFL Draft order (as of April 1)

No trades yet. But that won’t last long. Here’s how the first round looks:

2025 NFL Draft fan experience: Free entry at Lambeau Field

Fans attending in Green Bay can enjoy free entry to the NFL Draft Experience—an interactive festival with immersive sponsor activations, photo ops with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, exclusive NFL Shop merch, and autograph sessions featuring NFL stars.
Event schedule at Lambeau Field’s NFL Draft Experience:

Spotlight: Derrick Harmon is the defensive tackle nobody should ignore

Derrick Harmon bet on himself—and won. After two solid years at Michigan State, the Detroit native transferred to Oregon, hoping to prove he belonged at the next level.
“Talked to my family, talked to my village,” Harmon said at the NFL Combine. “They told me to just pray on it, and that’s what I did… That was probably the hardest decision that I’ve had to make, but I had to make it for my future.”
Oregon let Harmon shine. In 14 games, he led all FBS defensive tackles in quarterback pressures (55). He also recorded 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. His pass rush win rate? 17.6%.
Read More: Could the tush push be banned next season? Roger Goodell’s comments suggest big changes ahead

Lok Sabha is set to witness a marathon debate today as Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has sparked heated political exchanges over the past few weeks