President Donald Trump said he talked to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday shortly after a report claimed that the e-commerce giant was going to show the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hostile-white-house-sounds-off-after-amazon-says-it-will-display-tariff-costs-for-consumers?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98Hostile%E2%80%99%3A+White+House+Sounds+Off+On+Amazon+Reportedly+Displaying+Tariff+Costs+For+Consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost of tariffs</a> next to the total price of products on its site.
Trump said that Bezos &#8220;solved the problem very quickly&#8221; after Punchbowl News reported that Amazon was planning to display tariff costs. Shortly after the Punchbowl News report was published, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted Amazon, calling its reported move &#8220;hostile and political.&#8221; Amazon <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-denies-that-it-considered-listing-tariff-costs-on-main-site-after-trump-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the report Tuesday morning, denying that it was planning to show tariff costs on its main website.
&#8220;Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly, and he did the right thing,&#8221; Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One Tuesday afternoon. &#8220;He&#8217;s a good guy.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Amazon: &#8220;Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly and he did the right thing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/AGrFLA9u1X">pic.twitter.com/AGrFLA9u1X</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1917288272344055882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bezos has grown warmer toward Trump after the 2024 presidential election, attending his inauguration and meeting him at Mar-a-Lago. Leavitt didn&#8217;t pull any punches in her comments about Amazon, however, and said that its reported decision was “not a surprise,” pointing to a 2021 Reuters report about the tech and e-commerce giant partnering with a Chinese propaganda arm and complying with some of communist China’s wishes for the website. A senior White House official told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/29/business/white-house-calls-report-that-amazon-is-adding-a-tariff-charge-a-hostile-action/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> that Trump &#8220;was pissed&#8221; after learning of Amazon&#8217;s reported plan to add a tariff charge.
After Leavitt blasted Amazon, a spokesman for the company said that the plan was only discussed for the “ultra low cost Amazon Haul store,” which “considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” ABC News reported. The spokesman added, “Teams discuss ideas all the time. This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.”
Amazon, an American company that sources over 70% of its products from China, is facing the brunt of Trump&#8217;s 145% tariff on China. Chinese clothing stores Temu and Shein have added tariff surcharges, showing an additional 145% &#8220;import charge&#8221; for each item that they sell, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/29/white-house-blasts-amazon-over-tariff-cost-report-hostile-and-political-act.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Donald Trump

Trump Called Jeff Bezos After Report Claimed Amazon Was Planning To Show Tariff Costs

Amazon

China

Economy

Jeff Bezos

Politics

Tariffs

A deal with India is &#8220;very close,&#8221; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday, signaling what could be a major breakthrough in negotiations with a significant trade partner.
Many foreign countries, including India, face a 10% baseline tariff after President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause for harsher &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs he unveiled at the beginning of April. The tariffs for India could rise to 26%, which was the initial rate, if a deal is not reached.
At a White House press briefing, a reporter asked Bessent if he had anything to share on whether &#8220;something could happen&#8221; this week or the next. He <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/04/29/bessent_trade_talks_with_india_korea_japan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chose</a> to focus on India.
&#8220;I think we’re very close on India,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;India — just a little inside baseball. India, in a funny way, is easier to negotiate with than many other countries because they have very high tariffs and lots of tariffs.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;So, it’s much easier to confront the direct tariffs when, as we go through these unfair trade deals that have been put in over decades, that the non-tariff trade barriers can be much more insidious and also harder to detect. So, a country like India, which has the posted and ready tariffs, it’s much easier to negotiate with them. I think the India negotiations will move well.&#8221;
Last week, Vice President JD Vance travelled to India and met with the country&#8217;s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
Vance <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1914650218940805207" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the United States and India finalized the “terms of reference” for a trade negotiation, adding that he believed it was a &#8220;vital step toward realizing President Trump&#8217;s and Prime Minister Modi&#8217;s vision because it sets a roadmap toward a final deal.&#8221;
India, along with Japan and South Korea, seem to be making the greatest amount of headway in talks with the United States.
These &#8220;Asian trading partners and allies,&#8221; Bessent said, &#8220;have been the most forthcoming in terms of doing the deals &#8230; Vice President Vance was in India last week. I think that he and President Modi made very good progress, so I could see some announcements on India. I could see the contours of a deal with the Republic of Korea coming together, and then we&#8217;ve had substantial talks with the Japanese.&#8221;
Because Japan and South Korea have elections coming up in the months ahead, Bessent sees an opportunity to reach agreements with them sooner rather than later.
&#8220;I think from our talks that these governments actually want to have the framework of a trade deal done before they go into the elections to show that they have successfully negotiated with the United States,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;So, we’re finding that they’re actually much more keen to come to the table, get this done, and then go home and campaign on it.&#8221;
Trump implemented the &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs by declaring a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national emergency</a> to combat what his administration says are unfair trade practices, protect American workers, and strengthen national security. While most countries received a 90-day reprieve, the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> the overall tariff level on China to 145%. Beijing responded by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/china-strikes-back-with-125percent-tariffs-on-us-goods-starting-april-12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raising</a> tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
Bessent would not say during the briefing whether Trump administration officials have been talking with their counterparts from China about tariffs, but he did <a href="https://grabien.com/story?id=525096" target="_blank" rel="noopener">express</a> the view that, &#8220;over time, we will see that the Chinese tariffs are unsustainable for China.&#8221;

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Sorry, China: Bessent Says Deal With Massive Trade Partner ‘Very Close’

Executive

Global Politics

India

Japan

Scott Bessent

South Korea

Trade War

World

Amazon will begin displaying the cost that President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs are adding to the price of products, according to Punchbowl News, irking the Trump administration, which on Tuesday described Amazon&#8217;s move as &#8220;hostile and political.&#8221;
Punchbowl News <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/tech/amazon-display-tariff-costs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the massive e-commerce company will show the cost that tariffs add to each product next to the total price. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/PhilipWegmann/status/1917201780687135018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> Amazon during a press briefing on Tuesday morning, saying she &#8220;just got off the phone with the president,&#8221; who discussed Amazon&#8217;s decision.
&#8220;This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?&#8221;
Amazon denied that it was planning to show the cost of tariffs next to products shortly after Leavitt&#8217;s comments. An Amazon spokesman said that the plan was only discussed for the “ultra low cost Amazon Haul store,” which “considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-admin-live-updates-border-czar-brief-securing/?id=121230740&amp;entryId=121277073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The spokesman added, “Teams discuss ideas all the time. This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.”
Leavitt said that Amazon&#8217;s reported decision is &#8220;not a surprise,&#8221; pointing to a 2021 Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/amazon-partnered-with-china-propaganda-arm-win-beijings-favor-document-shows-2021-12-17/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> about the tech and e-commerce giant partnering with a Chinese propaganda arm and complying with some of communist China&#8217;s wishes for the website.
&#8220;This is another reason why Americans should buy American. It&#8217;s another reason why we are onshoring critical supply chains here at home to shore up our own critical supply chain and boost our own manufacturing,&#8221; Leavitt said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> reacts to Amazon&#39;s announcement on tariffs: &quot;This is a hostile and political act by Amazon&#8230; It&#39;s not a surprise because, as Reuters recently wrote, Amazon has partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm&#8230; This is another reason Americans should buy American.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/jtXZYfR8rH">pic.twitter.com/jtXZYfR8rH</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1917203919521882362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some economists express concerns that the president&#8217;s tariffs on China will mostly hurt American consumers. More than <a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/33376/share-of-items-sold-on-amazon-by-country-of-origin/#:~:text=More%20than%2070%20percent%20of,above%20the%20100%20percent%20mark." target="_blank" rel="noopener">70%</a> of Amazon&#8217;s products are sourced in China and subject to Trump&#8217;s 145% tariff on the country. The president hinted at an end to the escalating trade war with China soon, saying last week that the tariff on China &#8220;will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.&#8221; China has retaliated with a 125% tariff on American goods.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has grown warmer toward Trump in recent months. After Trump&#8217;s election victory, Bezos dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and Amazon donated $1 million to the president&#8217;s inauguration. Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, has also been hit by the Left for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wapo-opinion-editor-quits-after-jeff-bezos-announces-significant-shift-in-opinion-section" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dialing back</a> the newspaper&#8217;s opinion section and reportedly urging the Post to hire more conservative columnists.
This article has been updated with additional information.

White House Press Briefing

‘Hostile’: White House Sounds Off On Amazon Reportedly Displaying Tariff Costs For Consumers

Business

Karoline Leavitt

Foreign donations to American universities surged during the Biden administration, with Qatar, the largest source of such funding in the past 40 years, and China, the second-largest, significantly ramping up their donations.
According to a new report from the Network Contagion Research Institute shared exclusively with <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/explosion-in-foreign-funding-for-american-universities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Free Press</a>, the amount of foreign funding for American universities during the Biden administration — $29 million —  equaled the total over the last forty years.
“The floodgates opened during the Biden era,” NCRI’s co-founder Joel Finkelstein told The Free Press. &#8220;This isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a national security crisis. Hostile powers are buying influence on American campuses at an industrial scale.”
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/transparency-regarding-foreign-influence-at-american-universities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executive order</a> that required institutions of higher education to “report significant sources of foreign funding,” while noting, “But, because section 117 has not been robustly enforced, the true amounts, sources, and purposes of foreign money flowing to American campuses are unknown. From 2010 to 2016, according to one study, universities failed to disclose more than half of reportable foreign gifts. Even when foreign funding is reported, its true sources are often hidden.”
Trump pointed out that during his first term, “the Department of Education opened investigations on 19 campuses from 2019-2021, which led universities to report $6.5 billion in previously undisclosed foreign funds. Yet the prior administration undid this work, moving the Department of Education’s specialized investigatory work on foreign funds to a unit ill-equipped to perform it, undermining investigations, and hindering public access to information on foreign gifts and contracts.”
The order authorized the Secretary of Education to “take appropriate steps to require universities to more specifically disclose details about foreign funding, including the true source and purpose of the funds,” while adding that the “Secretary and the Attorney General shall hold accountable higher education institutions that fail to comply with the law concerning disclosure of foreign funding.”
“<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/10/american-universities-continue-to-underreport-foreign-money/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 2024 study</a> published by the National Association of Scholars found that universities failed to disclose at least $1 billion in foreign funding since Biden took office, the majority of which came from authoritarian countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey,” The Free Press reported, adding, “While Qatar holds the designation of a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2917336/major-non-nato-ally-designation-will-enhance-us-qatar-relationship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major non-NATO ally</a> of the United States, the country is also known for <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/12/19/10-things-to-know-about-hamas-and-qatar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harboring the leaders</a> of Hamas and <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/qataris-are-exporting-political-islam-to-west-vgcs9fnsv?region=global" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exporting political Islamism</a>, including by supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, across the Middle East.”
The NCRI analysis examined donations disclosed to the federal government, as required by law for donations of more than $250,000. This means that a significant amount of undisclosed funds may also be being donated. The Free Press <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/campus-rage-middle-eastern-roots-qatar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously reported</a> that 200 or more American colleges and universities illegally withheld information regarding an estimated $13 billion in undisclosed contributions from foreign countries.
“An official on Trump’s antisemitism task force told The Free Press that they are actively investigating ‘alleged connections between foreign malign actors and student groups on campus.’” The Free Press revealed. “The official said the task force was scrutinizing connections between both student groups and faculty who have ties to universities such as Birzeit in the West Bank, which Israeli officials have <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-arrests-8-palestinian-students-suspected-of-planning-terror-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously accused</a> of having <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjhksv5o0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ties to Hamas</a>.”
Last year, an NCRI <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/social-psychology/articles/10.3389/frsps.2024.1408913/full">study</a> in Frontiers of Social Psychology found “providing massive financial support to campuses with ascendant illiberalism serves the interests of foreign actors hostile to the U.S. in particular or liberal democracy in general.”
“It is notable that the universities exploding with anti-Israel protests have the strongest relationships with governments whose national interests are at direct odds with the United States,” The Free Press concluded.

five hundred riyal qatari banknotes stacks isolated on white background, 3d render, qatar money 500 riyal

Foreign Funding Of U.S. Universities Surged During Biden Admin, New Report Says

American Universities

Education

Foreign Funding

Qatar

On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that he interacted with his Chinese counterpart this past week, a contact that comes as the United States and China are engaged in a trade war.
Beijing has denied there were trade talks with the United States, but President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/china-says-no-talks-with-the-us-on-trade-calls-for-canceling-unilateral-tariffs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted</a> to reporters that there were meetings with China.
On ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week,&#8221; Bessent told anchor Martha Raddatz, &#8220;This was IMF World Bank week in D.C., as you know, and I had interaction with my Chinese counterpart, but it was more on traditional things like financial stability, global economic early warnings.&#8221;
The United States has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> tariffs on China to 145% in bid to stop what the Trump administration says are unfair trade practices. China responded by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/china-strikes-back-with-125percent-tariffs-on-us-goods-starting-april-12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raising</a> tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
Trump indicated last week that tensions could be easing, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-tariff-on-china-will-drop-substantially-after-bessent-warns-against-trade-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> the tariffs against China come down &#8220;substantially&#8221; — but not to &#8220;zero.&#8221; He also said that he has spoken <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-chinas-xi-called-him-amid-ongoing-confusion-over-trade-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;many times&#8221;</a> with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although he did not clarify if those discussions happened after escalating tariffs.
Bessent said he was unaware of any conversations, although he stressed that he knows there is a &#8220;very good relationship&#8221; and &#8220;a lot of respect&#8221; between the two world leaders, and emphasized that he believes &#8220;the Chinese will see this high tariff level is unsustainable for their business.&#8221;
As companies that rely on Chinese imports feel the pinch, Bessent contended that Beijing&#8217;s &#8220;business model is predicated on cheap, subsidized goods to the U.S., and if there is a sudden stop in that, they will have a sudden stop in the economy, so they will negotiate.&#8221;
Raddatz pressed Bessent to provide a timeline for when a comprehensive deal could be reached, noting how Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/bessent-sees-de-escalation-with-china-situation-unsustainable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the Treasury secretary told an investor summit that it could take two to three years.
Bessent said the first priority will be &#8220;de-escalation,&#8221; followed by reaching an &#8220;agreement in principle&#8221; with China and other important trade partners who have seen the &#8220;Liberation Tariffs&#8221; slapped against them reduced to a 10% base rate during a 90-day pause.
&#8220;A trade deal can take months, but an agreement in principle and the good behavior and staying within the parameter of the deal by our trading partners can keep the tariffs there from ratcheting back to the maximum level, sure,&#8221; Bessent said.

Treasury Secretary Reveals ‘Interaction’ With Chinese Counterpart Amid Trade War

U.S.

A former intelligence officer with the U.S. Army was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison for selling critical military documents to an individual believed to be tied to the Chinese government.
Korbein Schultz, 25, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/army-intelligence-officer-pleads-guilty-to-selling-defense-information-to-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pled guilty</a> last year to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive government information. The sale of the documents, which included information on American military technology, took place over a three-year period from May 2022 to March 2024, according to the Justice Department. 
“This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout and put America’s military and service members at risk,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-army-intelligence-analyst-sentenced-selling-sensitive-military-information">said</a> Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department remains vigilant against China’s efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars.”
He could have faced 65 years in prison if given the maximum on all counts.
Schultz was paid $42,000 for sending the information to an unidentified foreign national living in Hong Kong believed to be connected to the Chinese government.
The information that he provided included his unit&#8217;s operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe, information applying lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war to Taiwan, technical manuals for the Army&#8217;s HH-60 helicopter and F-22A fighter aircraft, manuals on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems, American intelligence on the Chinese military and the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, details on American military exercises in South Korea and the Philippines, and documents on American military satellites and missile defense systems.
Schultz was first contacted to sell the secrets over a freelance web-based work platform by an individual pretending to work for a geopolitical consulting firm, according to the Justice Department. The department added that Schultz attempted to recruit a friend who worked for the Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Command to take part in the scheme as well.
The FBI&#8217;s Nashville office led the investigation, with assistance from the Department of Defense and the Army Counterintelligence Command.
“This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The People’s Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.”

ASIAD-2025-CHN-OPENING

Former Army Intel Officer Sentenced After Selling U.S. Military Secrets To China

Communist China

Crime

Department of Justice

Hong Kong

kash patel

Pam Bondi

Spying

U.S. Army

President Donald Trump mocked China on Tuesday for its pollution, which represents a sizable share of the world’s waste.
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114372346621591852" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> a series of photos to his Truth Social account that showed islands of floating bottles, plastics, and other waste in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The president called the mess “A Gift from China.”
China is one of the foremost polluting countries, commonly ranking near the top on lists of nations that produce the most waste that finds its way into the natural environment. China was number four on a list of “highest ocean plastic waste polluters in 2025” put together by the United Kingdom’s <a href="https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/ocean-pollution-facts">GreenMatch</a>.
China produces 71,000 metric tons of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean, according to GreenMatch. China ranked just behind Malaysia, which produces 73,000 metric tons. The Philippines and India took the top two spots at 360,000 metric tons and 130,000 metric tons, respectively.
China’s plastic manufacturing sector is the largest in the world and contributes to its chronic appearance at the top of pollution lists.
“China is responsible for 32% of global plastic materials production in 2021, making it the world number one plastic producer by far. China is followed by the world’s second largest plastic producing region: North-America, they are responsible for 18% of the plastic production. In Europe, the plastic footprint is 15%,” according to hydration company <a href="https://www.aquablu.com/stories/world-8217-s-biggest-plastic-polluters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aquablue</a>.
The International Trade Administration <a href="https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/china-environmental-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> in 2023 that “China discharged 55.7 billion cubic meters of wastewater in 2021, 28.7% of which originated from industrial sources.”
“The PRC’s sludge volume could reach 90 million tons by 2025, according to the PRC’s National Development of Reform and Commission. … China’s sludge has low organic matter but possesses high silt and heavy metal content levels,” the Trade Administration said.
The evidence of China’s substantial waste is obvious. In 2022, the world’s largest buildup of plastic waste in the ocean floated between California and Hawaii. A study of the plastic island <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3192204/fishers-japan-and-china-among-biggest-contributors-plastic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that China was a top contributor. Waste from China was estimated to make up 32% of the plastic in the floating mound. Japan was the largest contributor to the monstrosity, responsible for an estimated 34% of the plastic waste.

floating garbage

Trump Is Right: China Is Literally Building An Island Made Of Trash

Earth Day

United States

Once again, the Islamic Republic of Iran is drawing the United States into talks through the Sultanate of Oman. Some Western officials and analysts frame this as an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-us-start-talks-oman-under-shadow-regional-conflict-2025-04-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opportunity</a> for de-escalation, but the evidence suggests otherwise. The regime’s decision to engage is a tactical maneuver aimed at delaying pressure, repositioning itself diplomatically, and benefiting from potential external shifts. If not met with firm containment, this round of diplomacy will mirror past failures.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran’s</a> current position is fragile. The <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/06/us-will-collapse-irans-economy-by-shutting-down-its-oil-industry-treasury-secretary-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a> is deteriorating rapidly, with persistent inflation and currency depreciation undermining basic economic stability. Domestically, the regime continues to face discontent that, while suppressed by force, has not been resolved through legitimacy. 
Regionally, its power projection has eroded. Hamas has been severely degraded, Hezbollah has suffered significant military setbacks, and Iran’s network of militias faces growing pressure from Israel and Western-aligned actors. The regime is seeking time for political dynamics in Washington to shift, for global energy markets to realign, and for Persian Gulf partners to return focus to short-term economic stabilization over long-term isolation strategies. None of this signals readiness to change course — it signals a regime buying time, again.
Engagement with Iran does not support the Iranian people. Every round of diplomacy has ended with the IRGC stronger, dissidents more isolated, and Tehran more defiant. Historically, sanctions relief and renewed <a href="https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/how-the-iranian-regime-seeks-to-build-its-power-upon-american-naivete" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diplomatic engagement</a> have bolstered the regime’s internal security networks. Resources gained through these openings are funneled to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), intelligence services, and patronage systems that reinforce regime control. The October 7 massacre was the price of appeasement. Billions flowed to Iran under Biden — and blood flowed in Israel.
The coalition pushing for a deal does not have American interests in mind. China and Russia want breathing room for their ally. The Europeans want to claim progress ahead of their own elections. And some in the Persian Gulf would rather appease Tehran than risk direct confrontation. 
<div id="attachment_911379" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911379" class="size-large wp-image-911379" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-864x576.jpg" alt="Italian police officers outside the entrance of the Omani embassy, in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Iran and the US on Saturday began a second round of talks aimed at reaching a deal over Tehran's nuclear program, according to Iranian state television. Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Italian police officers outside the entrance of the Omani embassy, in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
President Donald Trump has an opportunity to break this cycle of failure. His administration must recognize that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not a rational actor. He does not negotiate in good faith, he does not reform, and he does not seek peace. Like Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar, Khamenei sees both survival and martyrdom as victory — an outlook rooted in radical Islamist ideology that glorifies death over compromise. As Gaza burned, Sinwar sat gripping a stick, waiting for the drone that would kill him — convinced he had already won. Khamenei would do the same to Iran. He would rather watch cities collapse and millions suffer than compromise with the West. 
Some argue that if Tehran <a href="https://allisrael.com/is-the-libyan-disarmament-a-viable-model-for-iran-understanding-the-option-netanyahu-would-like-to-see" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismantles</a> its nuclear program and allows missile inspections, a deal might be acceptable — similar to the Libya model. But that view misunderstands the nature of the Islamic Republic. Its nuclear ambitions are a symptom, not the root of the threat. The regime’s hostility toward the U.S. and Israel is ideological, rooted in its identity. That identity cannot be negotiated away. A deal now would prolong the regime’s survival and empower the institutions behind its repression and aggression. 
Tehran’s use of calibrated escalation further underscores the risks of engagement without parallel containment. In 2019, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/14/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-refineries-drone-attack.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regime</a> struck Saudi oil infrastructure expecting a restrained U.S. response. Israeli <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr0yvrx4qpo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strikes</a> on IRGC-affiliated targets have been met with limited, symbolic responses rather than strategic confrontation. This behavior is consistent with a <a href="https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/images/comment/analysis/2017/december/2-mcinnis2125.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctrine</a> of calculated, limited escalation designed to generate leverage and delay decisive retaliation. It is not evidence of de-escalation.
While indirect negotiations may appear diplomatically useful, they allow Tehran to manipulate outcomes while avoiding direct commitments. Engagement becomes a form of enablement. The danger is not the act of negotiation itself, but the repetition of a failed process in which pressure is relieved while Tehran stabilizes, regroups, and continues regional destabilization.
To protect U.S. and allied interests, the correct response to the regime’s current posture is neither renewed engagement nor war, but the full activation of isolation mechanisms. This includes triggering the UN snapback sanctions mechanism under <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/sres81/BILLS-119sres81is.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNSCR 2231</a>, designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization at the <a href="https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-838780" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU level</a>, freezing <a href="https://financialpost.com/pmn/us-imposes-sanctions-on-a-chinese-refinery-accused-of-buying-iranian-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assets</a> linked to Chinese and Malaysian brokers facilitating regime oil exports, and exposing the logistical infrastructure that allows the IRGC to operate regionally. European banks and Persian Gulf financial institutions still transacting with regime-linked entities should face coordinated diplomatic and financial pressure. Isolation must be operational and enforced.
<div id="attachment_911393" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911393" class="wp-image-911393 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-864x576.jpg" alt="An Iranian driver sits in his vehicle, which is parked under an anti-U.S. mural in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025, during the day of the Iran-U.S. nuclear discussions. According to Iranian officials, indirect nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States begin in Muscat, Oman, on April 12. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />An Iranian driver sits in his vehicle, which is parked under an anti-U.S. mural in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025, during the day of the Iran-U.S. nuclear discussions. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</div>
In the likely event of further regime degradation, the United States and its allies must be prepared for a leadership vacuum. Any transition scenario must include support for figures with broad-based legitimacy, cross-generational appeal, and a clear public commitment to secular democratic governance. The <a href="https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/the-u-s-must-engage-with-reza-pahlavi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">son of the late Shah</a> is uniquely positioned as a unifying figure with broad-based legitimacy and recognition required to facilitate a post-regime transition. He consistently advocates a referendum-based process to empower Iranians in determining their political future, explicitly refraining from promoting any particular system, including monarchy. His value lies in providing political continuity, grounded solely in his national stature and widespread public recognition during a potentially volatile transition period. During recent national celebrations — including Nowruz and Chaharshanbe Suri — <a href="https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-847541" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranians</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUrz6uoeRXc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chanted</a> his name in cities across the country. These were not isolated incidents or orchestrated campaigns; they were widespread, public expressions of recognition. No other figure inside or outside Iran has generated this level of organic visibility. 
There are additional risks that must be managed. Steve Witkoff, appointed as special envoy by the Trump administration, currently leads the Iran talks. His extensive <a href="https://jewishinsider.com/2024/11/steve-witkoff-middle-east-envoy-real-estate-mogul-donald-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/us/politics/witkoff-trump-middle-east-envoy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connections</a> with investors in Persian Gulf states, notably Qatar and Saudi Arabia, raise legitimate concerns about regional influence over U.S. policy direction. Some regional partners could advocate for a &#8216;stability-focused&#8217; agreement that sustains a weakened yet intact Islamic Republic, rather than supporting a genuinely secular and democratic alternative beyond their sphere of influence. This scenario would replicate the strategic failures of the JCPOA, entrenching regime survival without accountability, and directly compromising U.S. and Israeli national security interests.
If negotiations stall, Tehran’s fallback is limited, survivable conflict. The regime has long embraced a strategy of controlled escalation — not to win wars, but to provoke just enough confrontation to shift global focus, fracture internal dissent, and reset its legitimacy. In its calculus, limited war is safer than isolation. That’s why containment must be decisive. If neither diplomacy nor confrontation offer the regime an exit, internal collapse becomes inevitable.
The current diplomatic track with Iran is not designed to prevent conflict or nuclear escalation. It is designed to create space for the regime to survive. That calculation must be reversed. The United States and its allies must pursue containment and isolation as the strategic baseline — not the fallback. That’s how you flip the script — and how you make Tehran fear American resolve again.
* * *
Dr. Aidin Panahi is an Iranian-American research professor, energy expert, and political activist. He is the cofounder of the “From Boston to Iran” initiative and his analyses on security and policy issues have appeared in outlets including The Jerusalem Post, Washington Times, Middle East Forum, Homeland Security Today, and Visegrád24. X: @Aidin_FreeIran 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Iran and US Begin Second Round of Mediated Nuclear Talks in Rome

A Tactical Trap. Why It’s Time To Flip The Script On Iran.

Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran

Iran Nuclear Deal

Middle East

Nuclear Weapons

Oman

President Trump

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Steve Witkoff

Over 90% of all Chinese vape products imported to the United States in 2024 were not recorded in American import data, and experts warn that the Chinese products are being deliberately mislabeled to avoid duties and regulations.
Export data from the Chinese Communist Party reveals that Chinese companies sent just over $3.7 billion worth of vapes and e-cigarettes to the United States in 2024. But American import data from the country only recorded roughly $317,792,868 worth of products coming in throughout 2024. Experts say that the massive discrepancy is due to widespread, fraudulent mislabeling that the Chinese use to evade regulations.
This mislabeling could allow Chinese companies to dodge duties, FDA regulations, and the <a href="https://vaping360.com/vape-news/8392/tariffs-on-chinese-vapes-will-hit-79-percent/">170 percent tariff</a> placed on vapes from China.
Evan Swarztrauber, a senior fellow at Foundation for American Innovation, told The Daily Wire that &#8220;lax enforcement&#8221; has allowed these Chinese products to circumvent American laws.
“The Chinese government is smuggling billions of dollars worth of unsafe, illegal e-cigarettes into the U.S. For too long, lax enforcement has enabled these unauthorized vapes to evade customs and tariffs while targeting American kids,” Swarztrauber charged. “Parents and policymakers are demanding a crackdown, and it&#8217;s past time to ramp up enforcement.”
Some Chinese shipping companies openly advertise that their shipments of vapes and e-cigarettes into the United States are seldom inspected. Hosto, a company specializing in shipping e-cigarettes from China to the United States, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=123980194055592&amp;set=pb.100093308365485.-2207520000&amp;type=3">boasted</a> at the 2023 World Vape show that it enjoys a “low inspection rate” when importing products.
The company’s CEO, Qian Liqun, <a href="https://www.2firsts.com/news/the-rising-competition-among-e-cigarette-freight-forwarding-companies">said</a> in 2023 that an increase in inspections presents a challenge for Chinese freightliners like hers.
“Qian Liqun said that a major challenge in the United States this year is inspections. By 2023, inspection rates in Europe and America are increasing,” 2Firsts, a vape industry trade publication, reported. “Faced with a challenging inspection situation, companies need to withstand the pressure and become flexible and powerful. This is what entrepreneurship is about, it requires persistence.”
Another Chinese company, Tiptop International Freight Forwarder, similarly assuaged the concerns of vape manufacturers on their Instagram profile. The company boasted in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvb7v9_OSZj/">one post</a> that its vape shipments are “safe” and not expected to face inspection. It told vape manufacturers in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT2Kso5lggU/">another post</a> that it will provide compensation if their products are seized.
Some shipping companies have been caught attempting to smuggle the products into the United States by mislabeling them as other goods. In one <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecigarettes-elf-bar-fda-teen-vaping-434dc600866cf2a626aa8c7a0063ac43">incident</a> in late 2023, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents seized $18 million worth of illegal vapes, including some from the Chinese manufacturer behind the popular Elf Bar product. The vapes, authorities said, were mislabeled as shoes, toys, and other items in an attempt to dodge customs restrictions.
The makers behind the Elf Bar and other Chinese vape manufacturers have reportedly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaping-elf-bar-ecigarettes-china-teens-77033584983ad47fc5795baa46b4705e">smuggled</a> hundreds of millions of dollars worth of e-cigarettes into the United States by labeling their products as battery chargers and flashlights.
Another 53,700 vape products from China were <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/53700-electronic-nicotine-delivery-systems-seized-chicago-cbp">intercepted</a> by CBP agents in Chicago last year. The 179 boxes were labeled as electronic atomizers, which CBP explained is a “common practice used to smuggle unapproved goods into the U.S.”
Attorneys General from 27 different states recently <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/IACIO/2025/04/10/file_attachments/3226671/2025.04.09%20-%20Letter%20on%20Chinese%20E-Cigarettes.pdf">wrote a letter</a> to the Trump administration asking for help “combating the flood of illegal Chinese products — including illegal Chinese e-cigarettes marketed to minors” coming into the country.
“Illegal, flavored Chinese e-cigarettes are flooding the U.S. market in flagrant disregard of State and federal laws. The products have never been approved by the FDA and target America’s youth,” the Attorneys General wrote. “They are often brought into the country in mislabeled packaging or shipped in a manner specifically designed to evade detection by the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
The Attorneys General are now asking for the Trump administration to double down on its efforts to curtail the smuggling of these products, including by “prosecuting identified violators and implementing penalties,” a move that they say would “fundamentally alter the risk-reward calculus for both current and prospective participants in the illegal Chinese e-cigarette supply chain.”

Elf Bar

China Is Flooding America With Illegal Vapes — And More Than 90% Fly Under the Radar

trade

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that the United States is focused on developing deeper trade relationships with nations around the globe as the Trump administration seeks to bring countries to the negotiating table through tariffs.
Bessent spoke at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning, addressing President Donald Trump&#8217;s global trade strategy. The meetings come a day after Bessent said in a closed-door meeting that a prolonged trade war against China is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-tariff-on-china-will-drop-substantially-after-bessent-warns-against-trade-war?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Says+Tariff+On+China+Will+Drop+%E2%80%98Substantially%E2%80%99+After+Bessent+Warns+Against+Trade+War" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unsustainable</a>.
&#8220;I wish to be clear: &#8216;America First&#8217; does not mean America alone,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;To the contrary, it is a call for deeper collaboration and mutual respect among trade partners. Far from stepping back, &#8216;America First&#8217; seeks to expand U.S. leadership and international institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. By embracing a stronger leadership role, &#8216;America First&#8217; seeks to restore fairness to the international economic system.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &quot;I wish to be clear: America first does not mean America alone. To the contrary, it is a call for deeper collaboration and mutual respect among trade partners.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Nes9sPK993">pic.twitter.com/Nes9sPK993</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1915046107115352346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump administration officials said that more than 100 countries are ready to negotiate with the United States on trade, and the president&#8217;s trade team is set to meet with 34 nations this week. China, however, remains a major hurdle for the administration&#8217;s trade agenda as Trump and his team still seek to bring China to the table to work out a deal. After Bessent warned against a trade war with China on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that the 145% tariff on Chinese goods would drop.
“It will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero,” Trump added.
Stocks rose on Tuesday following Bessent&#8217;s remarks and continue to climb on Wednesday morning. Bessent also addressed trade with China during his speech at the IMF and World Bank conference, saying the country &#8220;needs to change&#8221; its strategy.
&#8220;China, in particular, is in need of a rebalancing,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;Recent data shows the Chinese economy tilting even further away from consumption toward manufacturing. China&#8217;s economic system, with growth driven by manufacturing exports, will continue to create even more serious imbalances with its trading partners if the status quo is allowed to continue.&#8221;
&#8220;China&#8217;s current economic model is built on exporting its way out of its economic troubles. It&#8217;s an unsustainable model that is not only harming China, but the entire world,&#8221; he added. &#8220;China needs to change. The country knows it needs to change.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &quot;China, in particular, is in need of a rebalancing&#8230; China&#39;s current economic model is built on exporting its way out of its economic troubles. It&#39;s an unsustainable model that is not only harming China, but the entire world. China needs to change.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/uKcUkhc22r">pic.twitter.com/uKcUkhc22r</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1915046948484288659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

‘America First Does Not Mean America Alone’: Bessent Calls For ‘Deeper’ Trade Relationships

America First

Trump Administration

Washington D.C.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the 145% tariff on China won&#8217;t stay that high, signaling a potential easing of tensions after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned against a prolonged trade war with the communist country.
During a press conference at the White House, Trump acknowledged that the 145% tax on Chinese imports &#8220;is very high,&#8221; adding, &#8220;It won&#8217;t be anywhere near that high.&#8221; The president did not say when the tariff rate could drop or if he is waiting for China to agree to any deal in return for a lower tariff.
&#8220;It will come down substantially, but it won&#8217;t be zero,&#8221; Trump added.
Trump&#8217;s comments come after Bessent told investors in a closed-door summit on Tuesday that a trade war against China is unsustainable, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/bessent-sees-de-escalation-with-china-situation-unsustainable?taid=6807bf63c416140001c5dc10&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Bessent reportedly added that he is hopeful the tension between the United States and China will ease in the coming months as the two countries seek to work out a deal. He urged those in attendance to remain patient as a comprehensive deal with China could still take two to three years.
The Trump administration landed on a 145% tariff on Chinese imports after multiple rounds of retaliatory moves between the two countries, and includes a 20% tariff that Trump placed on China in February, citing its role in fentanyl trafficking. China has hit back at the United States with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.
Stocks and the U.S. dollar jumped following Bessent&#8217;s remarks. Asked about the Treasury Secretary&#8217;s comments, Trump acknowledged that the stock market was up, but did not say if he agreed with Bessent that the trade war with China is unsustainable, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trade-taxes-trump-china-bessent-treasury-66668fa26957ece530a250fa8ea19faa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.
“We’re going to be very nice,” Trump added. “They’re going to be very nice, and we’ll see what happens. But ultimately, they have to make a deal, because otherwise they’re not going to be able to deal in the United States.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/moving-at-trump-speed-white-house-touts-18-trade-proposals-so-far?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Moving+At+Trump+Speed%E2%80%99%3A+White+House+Touts+18+Trade+Proposals+So+Far" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18 countries</a> have submitted trade proposals to the president following Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs, which affected nearly every country in the world. This week alone, Trump&#8217;s trade team — which includes Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — has meetings with 34 countries, according to Leavitt.
On Monday, China <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-vows-to-punish-countries-that-agree-to-trump-trade-deals?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=China+Vows+To+Punish+Countries+That+Agree+To+Trump+Trade+Deals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> that it would punish countries that agree to trade deals with the Trump administration, saying the United States “has abused tariffs on all its trading partners under the banner of so-called ‘reciprocity,’ while at the same time forcing all parties to start so-called ‘reciprocal tariff negotiations’ with it.”

Trump White House

Trump Says Tariff On China Will Drop ‘Substantially’ After Bessent Warns Against Trade War

The Trump administration has received 18 trade proposals from foreign governments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday, indicating advancements in negotiations following President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-unleashes-liberation-day-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction</a> of &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs earlier this month.
&#8220;I spoke to our entire trade team this morning. There is a lot of progress being made. We now have 18 proposals on paper that have been brought to the trade team,&#8221; Leavitt told reporters during a White House press briefing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> says the administration has received 18 trade proposals from foreign countries so far — and that officials have trade meetings with 34 countries this week alone. <a href="https://t.co/XyK2LCgoB0">pic.twitter.com/XyK2LCgoB0</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1914733472066785619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Leavitt said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro have meetings with representatives from 34 countries this week.
&#8220;We are moving at Trump speed to ensure these deals are made on behalf of the American worker and the American people,&#8221; Leavitt said.
Leavitt said an underreported news story from this week, in which much of the media&#8217;s coverage has been on the death of Pope Francis, was Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1914649244318703818" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> that the United States and India have finalized the &#8220;terms of reference&#8221; for a trade negotiation between the two countries.
Vance shared the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jd-vance-champions-roadmap-toward-us-india-trade-deal-says-partnership-critical-deterring-dark-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news</a> during a trip to India, during which he met with the country&#8217;s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
&#8220;That is a big deal,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;We know, when we look at the numbers, the monetary trade barriers and the non-monetary trade barriers from India — they have been ripping off the United States and American workers for a very long time.&#8221;
She added: &#8220;So the fact that the vice president, with Prime Minister Modi on that trip to India, announced these terms of reference, which is essentially a framework to move the ball forward to sign a good trade deal between our two nations is great progress and it speaks to the work ethic and the real labor that&#8217;s being put into this effort by the president&#8217;s trade team.&#8221;
A little more than a week after &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; on April 2, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs for most countries, reverting to a 10% rate, while <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increasing</a> levies on China to 145%.
Pressed on whether the new trade proposals were sufficient to extend the pause, Leavitt said, &#8220;Ask me in July when the deadline hits.&#8221;
Leavitt also provided an update in regard to China, which has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/china-strikes-back-with-125percent-tariffs-on-us-goods-starting-april-12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% and vowed to implement <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-vows-to-punish-countries-that-agree-to-trump-trade-deals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;countermeasures&#8221;</a> against countries that agree to trade deals with Trump &#8220;at the expense&#8221; of its interests.
&#8220;I asked the president about this before coming out here. And he wanted me to share with all of you that we are doing very well in respect to a potential trade deal with China,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;As I mentioned, there have now been 18 proposals and more than 100 countries around the world who are wanting to make a deal with the United States of America, and the president and the administration are setting the stage for a deal with China.&#8221;
She continued: &#8220;So we feel everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen, and the ball is moving in the right direction.&#8221;

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

‘Moving At Trump Speed’: White House Touts 18 Trade Proposals So Far

White House

Menu