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’

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India

Japan

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President Donald Trump will meet with Japan on Wednesday to negotiate over tariffs and American military support.
The meeting comes after Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on countries worldwide, including a 24% tariff on Japanese goods. That tariff was later paused after Trump hit China with a 125% tariff and lowered reciprocal tariffs for all other countries across the board to 10% for 90 days to allow for negotiations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will attend Trump’s meeting with Japan.
“Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS.’ I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury &amp; Commerce Secretaries,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114347128422370864" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> Wednesday on Truth Social. “Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”
Japan has also been impacted by a 25% tariff on auto imports imposed by Trump, which the country hopes to see ended. 
Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa said that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba “has a strong desire to help the U.S. achieve its goals in a win-win way, through investments rather than tariffs,” <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/japan-economy-minister-urges-win-win-solutions-ahead-of-u-s-trade-talks-d5397df3?mod=e2twe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Wall Street Journal. 
At the same time, Ishiba recently told Japan’s parliament that he doesn’t want to rush negotiations.  
&#8220;I&#8217;m not of the view that we should make big concessions for the sake of wrapping up negotiations quickly,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-says-cost-military-support-table-japan-talks-hell-attend-2060372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;In negotiating with the United States, we need to understand what&#8217;s behind Trump&#8217;s argument both in terms of the logic and the emotional elements behind his views.&#8221;
Trump has defended tariffs, saying it has brought in billions of dollars in revenue to the United States. 
“The United States is taking in RECORD NUMBERS in Tariffs, with the cost of almost all products going down, including gasoline, groceries, and just about everything else,” he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114345526663892197" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on Truth Social Wednesday. “Likewise, INFLATION is down.”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/from-tariffs-to-talks-trump-adviser-reports-130-countries-now-seek-a-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Sunday that 130 nations have reached out to negotiate trade with Trump after the “Liberation Day” tariffs were announced. 
“If you come to the table and negotiate with us and treat us the same way we treat you, then we will get your rate really low,” he said. “So, right now, 130 countries, 130 countries have responded, and we’re negotiating with them, and they have got their rate down to 10%.”

TOPSHOT-US-JAPAN-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP

Trump To Discuss ‘Cost Of Military Support’ In High-Stakes Tariff Meeting With Japan

Donald Trump

Economy

Howard Lutnick

Politics

Japan&#8217;s population plummeted for the 14th year in a row in 2024, declining by nearly 900,000 people despite massive government spending aimed at encouraging childbirth.
New data <a href="https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/2024np/index.html">released</a> on Monday by Japan&#8217;s Internal Affairs Ministry shows the number of Japanese nationals declining by 898,000, marking the steepest annual decline since authorities began keeping records in the 1950s.
Roughly a quarter of the decline came in the 15-64 age demographic, which fell by 224,000 in a severe blow to the nation’s tax base, according to Bloomberg.
The country&#8217;s fertility rate in 2023 stood at just 1.2 expected births per woman over her lifetime, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/japan-s-population-falls-by-half-million-as-birth-rate-stays-low">reflected</a> in Japan’s child population declining to a record-low 11.2% of the population, 13.8 million, after a decline of 343,000 last year.
The sharp demographic downturn comes despite the Japanese government <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/japan-s-population-falls-by-half-million-as-birth-rate-stays-low">approving</a> a $25 billion package in late 2023 to expand child allowances, improve childcare, and increase education support, only for birth rates to plummet further.
Former Health Minister Keizo Takemi described Japan&#8217;s demographic outlook as &#8220;critical,&#8221; warning the country only has until the 2030s to reverse course, per Newsweek.
Surveys show many younger Japanese are reluctant to marry or have families, discouraged by bleak job prospects, rising living costs outpacing salary growth, and corporate cultures incompatible with dual-income parenting.
The nation&#8217;s population is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-birth-rate-declining-population-82662ea061286cb907fd7d071e5b0b9b">projected</a> to shrink by approximately 30% to 87 million by 2070, when four out of every ten Japanese will be 65 or older, potentially placing a crippling strain on Japan’s extensive welfare state, according to the Associated Press.
Experts like Ekaterina Hertog, an associate professor at the Oxford Internet Institute and Institute for Ethics in AI who researches the societal impact of Japanese labor practices, are concerned that monetary incentives simply won’t be enough to increase fertility simply due to how Japanese culture has developed in the modern era.
&#8220;Marriage trends in Japan and South Korea are significantly shaped by economic conditions and their intersection with gender roles,&#8221; she told Newsweek.
The number of annual marriages on the island nation dipped below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years in 2023.
Hertog explained that Japanese women still have the expectation of prospective husbands fulfilling the &#8220;traditional male breadwinner” role, causing many lower-paid men to postpone marriage or skip it entirely.
&#8220;Another important set of factors are family norms, that prescribe children&#8217;s support of elderly parents and the difficulty of negotiating them in societies which have had low fertility rates for decades,&#8221; she added.
Ryuichi Kaneko, demographer and professor at Meiji University, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper: &#8220;I believe one of the reasons Japan&#8217;s declining birthrate has become especially severe is that, in the postwar period, the country built a society that prioritized economic activity to an extreme degree.”
&#8220;We believe the declining births has not been effectively controlled,&#8221; Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters regarding the new demographic data, according to the Associated Press.
This trend has been reflected in other Southeast Asian countries post-World War II, with China, South Korea, and Taiwan all experiencing similar if not more severe declines in fertility following mass urbanization, demanding work cultures, and changing attitudes toward marriage.
Similar trends are emerging in the United States, where fertility rates have dropped to 1.67 births per woman — also below the 2.1 replacement level — despite various government incentives for families.
Both nations are discovering that financial packages alone may be insufficient to overcome deeper cultural and economic factors affecting family formation decisions.
With fewer working-age citizens supporting a growing elderly population, Japan&#8217;s traditional social welfare systems face unprecedented strain — creating economic challenges that many other developed nations may soon confront.

Elderly people seen during the concert at Ikebukuro

Marriage Crisis: Japan’s Birth Rate Falls To Record Low Despite $25 Billion Gov Intervention

Culture

Health

Marriage

The Supreme Court hands President Donald Trump two wins – one on deportation and another on downsizing the government. The stock market sees another turbulent day, leading to China increasing its reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports to 84%. And, Trump is set for nuclear negotiations with Iran but warns that the regime might be in jeopardy if talks go south.
It’s Wednesday, April 9, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scotus-trump-wins-stock-market-tariff-turbulence-4-9-25/id1576594336?i=1000702839221" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
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<h2>Supreme Court Clears The Way For Deportations &amp; DOGE</h2>
<div id="attachment_905039" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-905039" class="size-large wp-image-905039" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/SCOTUS-Facade-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport alleged illegal alien gang members under a 1798 law. 
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that President Trump may use the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected gang members –  but the court also said those potential deportees have a right to due process. The decision had both sides of the case claiming victory.
“Today is a bad day to be a terrorist in the United States of America,&#8221; Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said on Monday. “Today, the Supreme Court came out with a decision that reaffirmed that President Trump was correct in using his authority on using the Alien Enemies Act to deport terrorists out of this country. Thank you President Trump for your leadership in making America safe again.”
However: The justices unanimously agreed that in each case, the alien has a right to have his deportation order reviewed by a judge. 
The case was brought by a group of Venezuelan nationals. They filed suit in the D.C. District Court and the case fell to Judge James Boasberg – who has frequently ruled against the administration. Boasberg put a freeze on not only the deportations. The Supreme Court said the lawsuit should have been filed in Texas, where the deportees were being held.
The illegal immigration case was related to a lower court judge’s deadline for the administration to return a mistakenly deported Salvadoran national to the United States. Kilmer Abrego Garcia, 29, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador – he had previously said he would face violence if deported back to his home. A judge had given the Trump administration until midnight on Monday to get him back to the United States. The administration said that timeline was impractical, and the Supreme Court agreed.
In other news: The Supreme Court knocked down a lower court order that blocked Trump from cutting 16,000 probationary workers from the federal government
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<h2>The Trade War Continues: Allies Seek Detente, Rivals Escalate</h2>
<div id="attachment_905041" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-905041" class="size-large wp-image-905041" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-864x576.jpg 864w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trade-War-NYSE-Floor-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Topline: One week after Liberation Day, President Trump says he is gearing up for formal tariff negotiations with trade partners, offering optimism for consumers and markets as China raises its reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods to 84%. 
On Tuesday, the president announced major developments on a trade deal with South Korea, America’s sixth-largest trading partner. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he’d just finished a “great call” with acting President Han Duck-soo, <a href="https://x.com/annmarie/status/1909597238260625410">adding,</a> “We have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries. Their top TEAM is on a plane heading to the U.S., and things are looking good.” 
According to the South Korean government, they’re willing to import more American products, particularly natural gas, in exchange for reduced tariffs. Likewise, the president said <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-spoke-ishiba-set-tough-141853292.html">Japan</a>, our fourth-largest trade partner, is sending a negotiating team to Washington to meet directly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
In the coming days, the Trump administration will host representatives from Vietnam, our tenth-largest trading partner. And on April 17, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit the White House to negotiate on behalf of the European Union. All told, the White House says nearly 70 countries have expressed a desire to negotiate.
“To countries around the world, bring us your best offers and [President Trump] will listen,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1909660284568109505">told</a> reporters on Tuesday. “Deals will only be made if they benefit American workers and address our nation’s crippling trade deficits. America does not need other countries as much as other countries need us and President Trump knows this.”
However: Beijing appears to be digging its heels in for a drawn-out trade war. On Wednesday, China, America’s largest trading partner, said it would increase its reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports to 84%. This was after China had doubled down, saying it would “never accept such treatment” before slapping additional 34% tariffs on U.S. imports. China accused the White House of economic “blackmail,” and Trump responded with a 50% tariff on top of those already in place — starting at midnight on April 9, when the Chinese began facing 104% tariffs on all goods coming to America. It’s not exactly breaking news that the U.S. imports a lot of stuff from China — the expected price increases on those goods are clearly spooking investors.
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<h2>Trump Announces “Top Level” Talks With Iran</h2>
<div id="attachment_905047" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-905047" class="size-large wp-image-905047" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Trump-with-Netanyahu-Co-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
Topline: On Monday, President Trump announced that his administration will have “top-level” direct talks with Iran.
During a meeting in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump announced that he would be open to negotiations with Iran on Saturday. If these talks do not go well, Trump said that the Iranian regime will be in “great danger.”
“It’s not a complicated formula,” Trump <a href="https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/1909339143026663769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1909339143026663769%7Ctwgr%5E7d8fe0700f7a5f78c5fbe98930a68e6e11b7c20f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Ftrump-says-iran-will-be-in-great-danger-if-saturdays-nuclear-talks-fail">said</a>. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, that’s all there is. Right now we have countries that have nuclear power that shouldn’t have it but I’m sure we will be able to negotiate out of that too as part of this later and down the line. But Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren’t successful, I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran.”
President Trump said the talks would be high-level and direct but declined to say where they would occur. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later said the talks would take place in Oman and be indirect. In a post on <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/1909381747709546786">X</a>, Araqchi wrote, “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.” Iranian state-run media gave some more <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx25e5rd2v9o">purported details</a> – they reported that the talks would be between Araqchi and U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, with Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi as a mediator.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks.
It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America&#39;s court.
&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi/status/1909381747709546786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Remember: Trump was an outspoken critic of former President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with the Iranian regime, calling it “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into” and withdrew from it in 2018. Throughout his entire first term, Trump waged a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran in hopes of curbing both its nuclear program and its support of terror around the world. Under President Joe Biden, Iran’s various proxy groups in the Middle East ramped up their aggression: in Yemen, the Houthis began attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea, and in Gaza, Hamas launched the October 7 terror attacks, killing roughly 1,200 people in Israel. 
Trump is pursuing a deal now because Iran is reportedly <a href="https://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/the-iran-threat-geiger-counter-extreme-danger-grows">weeks away</a> from producing a nuclear weapon. The Trump administration has taken<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-shares-footage-of-military-strike-on-houthis-they-will-never-sink-our-ships-again"> extensive military action</a> against the Houthis, which could be construed as a show of force against their Iranian backers, and American military assets have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/irans-military-commanders-locked-and-loaded-for-preemptive-strike-on-u-s-bombers-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surged</a> to the region in preparation for a possible strike.

Gavel And U.S. Supreme Court Building

Morning Brief: Trump SCOTUS Wins, Trade War & Nuclear Talks With Iran

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Marines Attacking on Okinawa

OKINAWA, THE FINAL BATTLE, Part Four: Conquering ‘Hell’s Cesspool’

OKINAWA, THE FINAL BATTLE, Part Four: Conquering 'Hell's Cesspool'

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USS Bunker Hill hit by two kamikaze pilots.

OKINAWA, THE FINAL BATTLE, Part Three: ‘Floating Chrysanthemums’

OKINAWA, THE FINAL BATTLE, Part Three: 'Floating Chrysanthemums'

airplanes

Stock trading appeared to stabilize late Monday after days of volatility on the heels of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement.
The opening of trade negotiations between the United States and Japan appeared to buoy stock prices on the hope that the tariffs, announced last week by Trump in a “Liberation Day” Rose Garden event, may be avoided, according to Reuters. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Dow Jones was trending back down after a 3.5% jump in the morning hours. The S&amp;P 500 was also up 3.6% Tuesday morning before it dipped in the afternoon. The Nasdaq jumped by 4.5% before it also dropped later in the day. 
Shares in Japan showed strength as the Nikkei stock index closed up 6% on Monday. Trump announced on Monday morning that he had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba about beginning negotiations over trade.
“Countries from all over the World are talking to us. Tough but fair parameters are being set. Spoke to the Japanese Prime Minister this morning. He is sending a top team to negotiate!” Trump posted on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114296909356614075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Truth Social</a> on Monday morning.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to lead negotiations with Japan over tariffs.
“Importantly, a little ray of sunshine is starting to emerge that gives hope that the U.S. is genuinely open to trade negotiations, [with] the most significant being Japan with Treasury Secretary Bessent,” Tapas Strickland, the head of market economics at National Australia Bank, told Reuters.
Stock indexes across Asia, Europe, and the United States also showed some positive signs alongside hopes that the White House is open to negotiations.
Japan received other welcome news after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-revives-possible-sale-of-u-s-steel-to-japans-nippon-steel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an executive action on Monday reopening the potential purchase of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel. Trump’s order gives the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment 45 days to review the agreement and submit a recommendation.
“I direct the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to conduct a review of the acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Purchasers to assist me in determining whether further action in this matter may be appropriate,” the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/review-of-proposed-united-states-steel-corporation-acquisition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> says in part.
Former President Joe Biden previously blocked the nearly $15 billion deal in January. At the time, Trump agreed with the decision. He had previously pledged to block the deal and stop U.S. Steel from being “bought by a foreign company.”
Trump appeared to warm to a potential deal in February when he said he would be open to Nippon Steel investing in U.S. Steel, though the president said he still opposed foreign ownership.

Donald Trump, Shigeru Ishiba

Stocks Rebound Ahead Of U.S.-Japan Trade Negotiations

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American Assault On Okinawa

OKINAWA, THE LAST BATTLE, Part Two: Facing The Shuri Line 

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Marine Charging During Battle of Okinawa

OKINAWA, THE LAST BATTLE, Part One: Operation Iceberg

American History

For the third consecutive day of trading following President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariff rollout, U.S. stock indexes dipped as Wall Street anxiously awaits the result of the president&#8217;s aggressive move.
The Dow Jones ended Monday down 349 points (0.9%) while the S&amp;P 500 dropped 0.2%, which was a big recovery from earlier in the day when it was down 4.7% at its low. The Nasdaq was down 3% earlier on Monday, but ended the day up 0.1% thanks to investors going in on tech stocks, such as Nvidia and Palantir.
Trading was a rollercoaster ride early in the day as stocks suddenly skyrocketed following a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-shoots-down-reports-claiming-trump-considering-tariff-pause?row=0&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=White+House+Shoots+Down+Reports+Claiming+Trump+Considering+Tariff+Pause&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">false report</a> that spread on social media claiming that President Donald Trump was considering a 90-day tariff reprieve. The Dow Jones saw a record swing, dropping by more than 1,700 points in the morning before going up 2,595 points. The S&amp;P 500 swung from down 4.7% to up 3.4% during morning trading.
After the dramatic swing on Wall Street Monday morning, investors became uneasy again when Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-gives-china-deadline-to-remove-retaliatory-tariff-or-face-additional-50?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;row=1&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=Trump+Gives+China+Deadline+To+Remove+Retaliatory+Tariff+Or+Face+Additional+50%25&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> to hit China with an additional 50% tariff after the communist country levied a 34% retaliatory tariff on the United States on Friday. Trump gave China a deadline of Tuesday “to withdraw” its retaliatory tariff on the United States before he moves forward with more tariffs. If the additional 50% tariff goes into effect, it would be added onto the 34% tariff imposed by Trump last week, which was put in place on top of a 20% levy the president imposed on China shortly after taking office.
Apple shares fell by over 5% in response to increased trade tensions with China and ended the day down <a href="https://www.cnn.com/markets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.7%</a>. Tesla was also down 2.6%, and Amazon climbed 2.5%.
While Wall Street remains wary of the impending global trade war, many countries appear willing to come to the negotiating table to avoid Trump&#8217;s hefty tariffs. On Monday, the European Union <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/e-u-ready-to-negotiate-with-trump-offers-zero-for-zero-tariffs-on-industrial-goods?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;row=1&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=E.U.+%E2%80%98Ready+To+Negotiate%E2%80%99+With+Trump%2C+Offers+%E2%80%98Zero-For-Zero+Tariffs+On+Industrial+Goods%E2%80%99&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it offered the United States &#8220;zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods,&#8221; and Trump held &#8220;a very constructive phone discussion&#8221; with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Following Trump&#8217;s call with Ishiba, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-golden-age-of-global-trade-bessent-opens-negotiations-with-japan-following-trumps-tariffs?row=3&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=%E2%80%98New+Golden+Age+Of+Global+Trade%E2%80%99%3A+Bessent+Opens+Negotiations+With+Japan+Following+Trump%E2%80%99s+Tariffs&amp;category=News&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he will meet with Japanese leaders to seek out a new trade agreement. Trump also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-revives-possible-sale-of-u-s-steel-to-japans-nippon-steel?row=3&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;author=Tim+Pearce&amp;title=Trump+Revives+Possible+Sale+Of+U.S.+Steel+To+Japan%E2%80%99s+Nippon+Steel&amp;category=News&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordered</a> a new review of the possible sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel.
“Japan remains among America’s closest allies, and I look forward to our upcoming productive engagement regarding tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, currency issues, and government subsidies,” Bessent said. “I appreciate the Japanese government’s outreach and measured approach to this process.”
On Monday afternoon, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/netanyahu-pledges-to-eliminate-israels-trade-deficit-with-u-s-in-hopes-of-avoiding-tariffs?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;row=1&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;title=Netanyahu+Pledges+To+Eliminate+Israel%E2%80%99s+Trade+Deficit+With+U.S.+In+Hopes+Of+Avoiding+Tariffs&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where Netanyahu pledged to &#8220;eliminate the trade deficit with the United States &#8230; very quickly.&#8221; The meeting took place after Trump hit Israel with a 17% tariff.
According to Treasury Secretary Bessent, &#8220;Over 50 countries have responded both openly and positively to @POTUS @realDonaldTrump’s historic action to create a fairer, more prosperous system of global trade.&#8221;
&#8220;We look forward to meaningful negotiations with them over the coming weeks,&#8221; Bessent added.

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Stocks Fall For Third Straight Day As Trump Barrels Through Tariff Fight

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President Donald Trump has ordered a new review of the possible sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, a deal previously blocked by former President Joe Biden.
Trump signed an executive action on Monday ordering his administration to take a new look at the deal and assess the risks the deal may pose to United States national security after U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel offered some changes to the deal. Trump&#8217;s order gives the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment 45 days to submit a recommendation.
“I direct the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to conduct a review of the acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Purchasers to assist me in determining whether further action in this matter may be appropriate,” the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/review-of-proposed-united-states-steel-corporation-acquisition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> says in part.
Biden blocked the proposed $14.9 billion deal in January, citing risks to United States supply chains. Trump also opposed the deal at the time and pledged to block it.
“I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buyer-beware-trump-promises-to-block-sale-of-u-s-steel-to-japanese-company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Truth Social in December.
“Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST! As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” he said.
Trump’s order to reopen discussions on the sale of U.S. Steel comes after the president spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a Monday morning phone call over tariffs. The call between the two leaders took place as dozens of countries are attempting to negotiate with the White House to avoid wide-ranging tariffs announced by the president last week.
“Countries from all over the World are talking to us. Tough but fair parameters are being set. Spoke to the Japanese Prime Minister this morning. He is sending a top team to negotiate!” Trump posted on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114296909356614075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Truth Social</a> on Monday morning. “They have treated the U.S. very poorly on Trade. They don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs. Likewise Agriculture, and many other ‘things.’ It all has to change, but especially with CHINA!!!”
Trump appeared to soften his opposition to a deal between U.S. Steel and Nippon in February after a meeting with Shigeru. Trump said at the time he would be open to an investment in U.S. Steel from Nippon.
“I don’t want U.S. Steel being owned by a foreign country. All they can have is an investment,” Trump <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/28/business/us-steel-trump-future/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.

Trump Revives Possible Sale Of U.S. Steel To Japan’s Nippon Steel

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was tapped by President Donald Trump on Monday to begin negotiations with Japan after Trump imposed a 24% tariff on the United States trading partner.
Bessent wrote on X that Trump had &#8220;a very constructive phone discussion&#8221; with Japanese leaders, and the two countries will continue negotiations &#8220;to implement the President’s vision for the new Golden Age of Global Trade.&#8221; Bessent added that he, along with the U.S. Trade Representative, will seek to come to an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba &#8220;and his Cabinet.&#8221;
&#8220;Japan remains among America’s closest allies, and I look forward to our upcoming productive engagement regarding tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, currency issues, and government subsidies,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I appreciate the Japanese government’s outreach and measured approach to this process.&#8221;
Bessent&#8217;s post came after Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114296909356614075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Truth Social that Ishiba &#8220;is sending a top team to negotiate,&#8221; adding that Japan has &#8220;treated the U.S. very poorly on Trade.&#8221;
&#8220;They don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Likewise Agriculture, and many other &#8216;things.&#8217; It all has to change, but especially with CHINA!!!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Following a very constructive phone discussion with the Government of Japan, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> has tasked me and <a href="https://twitter.com/USTradeRep?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USTradeRep</a> to open negotiations to implement the President’s vision for the new Golden Age of Global Trade with <a href="https://twitter.com/JPN_PMO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JPN_PMO</a> Shigeru Ishiba and his Cabinet. <a href="https://t.co/oSXTh5ONOe">https://t.co/oSXTh5ONOe</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/1909309381289869363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ishiba said on Monday that during the phone call with Trump, he urged the president to rethink his tariff policies.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve told the President that Japan has been the biggest investor in the United States for five straight years and the tariff policies could hurt our Japanese companies&#8217; investment capabilities,&#8221; Ishiba said.
Along with the 24% tariff on Japanese imports that Trump announced last week, the Asian country&#8217;s large auto manufacturing industry will also be affected by Trump&#8217;s 25% tariff on auto imports. Japan is one of the world&#8217;s largest auto manufacturers and is home to major car companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Mazda.
In his social media post, Bessent said numerous countries are seeking to negotiate with the Trump administration and blasted China for choosing &#8220;to isolate itself by retaliating and doubling down on previous negative behavior.&#8221; The Treasury Secretary said that negotiations with over 50 countries will take place &#8220;over the coming weeks.&#8221; Trump&#8217;s so-called reciprocal tariffs are set to go into effect on Wednesday.
Among those interested in discussing a new trade deal, the European Union <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/e-u-ready-to-negotiate-with-trump-offers-zero-for-zero-tariffs-on-industrial-goods?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;row=1&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=E.U.+%E2%80%98Ready+To+Negotiate%E2%80%99+With+Trump%2C+Offers+%E2%80%98Zero-For-Zero+Tariffs+On+Industrial+Goods%E2%80%99&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday that it offered the United States &#8220;zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods.&#8221; Vietnam also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-holds-productive-call-with-vietnam-says-country-wants-to-cut-their-tariffs-down-to-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> that it wants to cut tariffs to zero, according to Trump.

‘New Golden Age Of Global Trade’: Bessent Opens Negotiations With Japan Following Trump’s Tariffs

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