Month: February 2025

China struck back at the United States on Tuesday by announcing tariffs on select American goods, as they rolled out a series of retaliatory measures to counteract the 10% U.S. tariffs on all Chinese goods that went into effect on Tuesday.

The move came as the deadline passed for Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States. In the days since Trump’s announcement, China had said the tariffs on their exports amounted to a serious violation of World Trade Organization rules, with officials adding that the tariffs were “of a bad nature.” The Beijing’s commerce officials said Tuesday that The U.S. tariffs were “typical unilateralism and trade protectionism. The U.S. practice seriously undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, undermines the foundation of economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States and disrupts the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain.”

China announced a series of measures including its own levies of 10% to 15% on some U.S. products, with some U.S. goods imported into China subject to tariffs of up to 15%. Chinese officials said they would on Feb. 10 impose a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas, along with a 10% tariff on other products, including crude oil, agricultural machinery and pickup trucks. The Chinese announcement came minutes after the U.S. tariff took effect at 12:01 a.m. ET.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in the week that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to talk in “the next couple days,” though it was unclear whether that discussion would happen prior to the Chinese tariffs going into effect next week.

Trump on Feb. 1 announced tariffs against the United States’ three largest trading partners — China, Mexico, and Canada — saying he would put in place 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, along with 10% tariffs on those from China. Trump and the leaders of Canada and Mexico announced on Monday that Trump’s administration had paused plans for both North American trading partners for a month.

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An anonymous group of FBI agents who assisted on the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol have filed a lawsuit in an effort to block the Justice Department’s plans to review the FBI’s workforce and scrutinize agents who may have worked on the sensitive investigations. The nine agents are suing the Justice Department and its interim head, Acting Attorney General James McHenry, in a class action lawsuit on behalf of all affected FBI agents. They are asking a federal judge to prevent the public release of the names of the agents who could face scrutiny.

According to a memo reviewed by CBS News, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll to compile a list of all current and former FBI employees who were assigned “at any time” to the Jan. 6 investigation “to determine whether any additional personnel actions are necessary.”

More than 1,000 FBI agents across the country on Sunday were asked to complete questionnaires about their involvement in the Jan. 6 and Trump probes as part of a Justice Department evaluation of the workforce.   There is no indication yet about what actions the Justice Department may take against anyone on the compiled lists and so far, a handful of senior career officials have been fired, while rank-and-file agents remain on the job.

According to the class-action lawsuit, filed Tuesday afternoon in D.C. federal court: “Plaintiffs are employees of the FBI who worked on Jan. 6 and/or Mar-a-Lago cases, and who have been informed that they are likely to be terminated in the very near future (the week of February 3-9, 2025) for such activity. They intend to represent a class of at least 6,000 current and former FBI agents and employees who participated in some manner in the investigation and prosecution of crimes and abuses of power by Donald Trump, or by those acting at his behest.”

The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the DOJ from “aggregation, storage, reporting, publication or dissemination of any list or compilation of information that would identify FBI agents and other personnel, and tie them directly to Jan. 6 and Mar-a-Lago case activities,” referring to the Capitol attack and the probe into President Trump’s retention of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021.

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President Trump and the leaders of Canada and Mexico has agreed to a one-month pause on 25% of tariffs on goods entering the United States from those countries.  The announcement came two days after Trump slapped tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on goods imported from China (per THE HILL). Trump said there will be Mexican officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will negotiate on tariffs.

After Trump’s talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico agreed to immediately send 10,000 soldiers to her country’s border to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs. Sheinbaum posted on social media that Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the its National Guard to address drug trafficking from Mexico into the U.S., particularly fentanyl: “We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and our sovereignty. We reached a series of agreements.”  Trump also added on Truth Social: “I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country. We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a “deal” between our two Countries.”

Later on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media that Canada would be spending $1.3 billion on a plan to reinforce its border with new helicopters, technology and personnel, as well as additional resources to stop the flow of fentanyl:  “I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.  In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.   Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

Shortly thereafter, Trump also posted about the deal with Trudeau, writing: “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country … Canada will implement their $1.3 Billion Border plan, and as per Prime Minister Trudeau, will be, “reinforcing the Border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are, and will be, working on protecting the Border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the Border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million …As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”

Despite Mexico and Canada’s decision, China’s Ministry of Commerce filed legal action with the World Trade Commission against the United States over the 10% tariffs placed on all Chinese imports.  The White House also has taken steps to close a loophole that allows Chinese e-commerce companies (like Temu and Shein) to avoid tariffs by shipping packages worth less than $800 into the U.S. duty free.  China said it will challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization and take unspecified “countermeasures” in response; those tariffs remain on track to go into affect on Tuesday.

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