Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, announced on Wednesday a $388 million investment to develop a two-million-square-foot parts distribution facility in Wayne County, Michigan. 
This “megahub” will feature an automated storage system, called AutoStore, which utilizes robots to efficiently retrieve and deliver parts to workstations, aiming to enhance speed and accuracy in parts processing. The hub will serve as a central facility for Stellantis’ Mopar parts operations, and will support about 488 union-represented jobs, honoring the company’s commitment to support union labor.
In an X post on Thursday, the White House’s &#8220;Rapid Response&#8221; account <a href="http://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1925627671670624374" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credited</a> the “TRUMP EFFECT” for the investment. The facility, which will launch in 2027, will be located in Van Buren Township.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressured automakers to build cars and manufacture parts in America. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/both-countries-will-become-stronger-trumps-trade-deal-will-give-u-s-more-access-to-u-k-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade agreement</a> with the United Kingdom imposed a 10% tariff on U.K. exports to the United States, while keeping American automakers at a 25% tariff for vehicles and parts manufactured outside of the country. 
Stellantis said this new investment, as well as the sale of their parts distribution centers in Center Line, Marysville, and Milwaukee, is part of a “broader consolidation strategy,” CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/stellantis-388-million-investment-metro-detroit-hub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Employees from the Center Line, Warren, and Warren Sherwood, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, parts facilities will be moved to the new “megahub,” while workers from the Marysville, Michigan, center will be moved to the Warren and Warren Sherwood facilities.  
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/stellantis-388-million-investment-metro-detroit-hub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to</a> CBS News, Darren Bradshaw, senior vice president and head of Mopar North America, said in a statement that their customers are counting on them. 
“With the Metro Detroit Megahub, we&#8217;re building a faster, smarter and more reliable parts distribution network that puts their needs first,” he said. “This investment reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability and operational excellence, while also creating a modern, high-tech workplace for our employees.”

Inauguration Of Hybrid And PHEV Vehicles Stellantis Group eDCT Assembly Plant In Turin

White House Celebrates Major U.S. Car Company Developing $388 Million Metro Detroit ‘Megahub’

Auto Companies

Detroit

Donald Trump

Michigan

Tariffs

President Donald Trump floated a series of new tariffs targeting Apple and the European Union on Friday, ramping up his push for companies to make their products in the United States.
In a pair of Truth Social posts, Trump said he was pondering slapping a 50% tariff on products from the European Union and a 25% tariff on Apple products if it does not move manufacturing to the United States. Trump said that trade talks with the European Union were not going anywhere and that he was recommending his new tariff take effect on June 1.
&#8220;The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States,&#8221; Trump wrote.
Tariffs on the European Union are currently at 10% after Trump placed a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on April 9.
Andrew Bremberg, the former ambassador to Geneva and director of the Domestic Policy Institute, praised Trump&#8217;s pressuring of Europe.
“Europe must address the burdens it places on U.S. technology, telecommunications, and other important sectors,&#8221; he told The Daily Wire. &#8220;This is an important step in revitalizing our relationship, correcting systemic imbalances, and presenting a united front against the growing influence of Communist China in both Europe and the United States.”
In an earlier Friday post, Trump said Apple should move to manufacture the iPhone in the United States or face a steep tariff. Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly met with Trump on Tuesday at the White House.
&#8220;I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s (sic) that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s call on Friday for the iPhone to be made in America <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-urges-companies-like-apple-to-move-production-to-u-s-as-china-trade-war-intensifies?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Urges+Companies+‘Like+Apple’+To+Move+Production+To+U.S.+As+China+Trade+War+Intensifies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">echoed</a> his previous comments about wanting to bring production of the popular smartphone to the United States. Last month, after placing more than 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, Trump said it would be a great time for Apple to move manufacturing to the United States.
“This is a GREAT time to move your COMPANY into the United States of America, like Apple, and so many others, in record numbers, are doing,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114307832213562859">wrote</a> on Truth Social. “ZERO TARIFFS, and almost immediate Electrical/Energy hook ups and approvals. No Environmental Delays. DON’T WAIT, DO IT NOW!”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
For years, Apple has manufactured iPhones in China, relying on the country’s cheap labor costs, but it has recently moved some of its production to India as it seeks to diversify its production base. Apple is considering ramping up iPhone production in India and shipping the devices to the United States.
In an April press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that Trump wanted the iPhone made in the United States.
“Absolutely,” she said. “He believes we have the labor, we have the workforce, we have the resources to do it.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Fires Off Flurry Of Trade War Barbs, Threatens Apple

Apple

Economy

European Union

Executive

Politics

Tim Cook

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed Walmart CEO Doug McMillon’s “draconian” tariff warning on Sunday, stating the retail giant will absorb some costs and may pass other price increases on to consumers, following a direct conversation between the two.
Bessent shared the development on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; after McMillon announced last week that tariffs would lead to higher prices at Walmart, prompting President Donald Trump to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eat-the-tariffs-trump-unloads-on-walmart-ceo-for-saying-hes-raising-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warn against</a> it.
&#8220;I did speak to Doug McMillon, who I have a very good relationship [with], yesterday, just to understand what he had to say,&#8221; Bessent told anchor Jake Tapper. &#8220;And understand that came from an earnings call. On an earnings call, because of SEC requirements, they have to give the most draconian case. So Walmart will be absorbing some of the tariffs. Some may get passed on to consumers.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;But the other thing that&#8217;s happening is that inflation is down. We had the first drop in inflation in four years under President Trump. The other thing that Doug mentioned to me is, for his consumers, for his buyers, the most important thing are gasoline prices. And this administration has gotten gasoline prices down. Service prices are down. So, overall, I would expect inflation to remain in line. But I don&#8217;t blame consumers for being skittish after what happened to them four years under [President Joe] Biden. We had the worst inflation in 40 years.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bessent: &#8220;Walmart will be absorbing some of the tariffs. Some may get passed on to consumers.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/QhpOfIMsim">pic.twitter.com/QhpOfIMsim</a>
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1924092180613759120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
McMillon shared his forecast for prices during an earnings call on Thursday, alluding to a breakthrough in negotiations in which the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-china-release-details-of-agreement-to-dramatically-slash-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lowered</a> tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30% for 90 days while trade discussions continue between the world&#8217;s two largest economies.
&#8220;We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” McMillon <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/newsroom/2025/05/15/walmart-releases-q1-fy26-earnings/q1-fy26-earnings-call-transcript.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding later: &#8220;We&#8217;re positioned to manage the cost pressure from tariffs as well or better than anyone. But even at the reduced levels, the higher tariffs will result in higher prices.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114523638623110397" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> Saturday in a post on Truth Social.
&#8220;Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!&#8221;

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Bessent Speaks To Walmart CEO, Dismisses ‘Draconian’ Forecast On Tariffs

China

Scott Bessent

U.S.

Walmart

President Donald Trump on Saturday told Walmart CEO Doug McMillon not to raise prices for Americans, but to instead &#8220;eat the tariffs.&#8221;
Trump recently dropped tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%, but this week, McMillion said Walmart still could not absorb the extra costs, and will have to increase prices.
&#8220;Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,&#8221; the president posted on Truth Social. &#8220;Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.&#8221;
&#8220;Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, &#8216;EAT THE TARIFFS,&#8217; and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!&#8221;
McMillon made comments about having to raise prices, specifically over tariffs on China, during an earnings call on Thursday.
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmaqx46zq00193b6mokd0s1nm@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true" data-analytics-observe="off">“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.&#8221;
“The higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” McMillon added.
<div id="attachment_921641" style="width: 933px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-921641" class="wp-image-921641 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-923x576.jpg" alt="Walmart Inc. President and CEO Doug McMillon delivers a keynote address during CES 2024 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada." width="923" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-923x576.jpg 923w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-300x187.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-768x479.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 923px) 100vw, 923px" />Ethan Miller/Getty Images</div>
There have been mixed reactions online to Trump&#8217;s demand for Walmart to &#8220;eat&#8221; the extra costs. Some have noted that Trump had previously suggested that China would likely &#8220;eat&#8221; the extra costs themselves.
However, others, like journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, railed against Walmart for hurting Americans while she said they &#8220;brag&#8221; about being a pro-American corporation.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating,&#8221; Ungar-Sargon said on Fox News airwaves this week, following McMillon&#8217;s comments. &#8220;Walmart walks around bragging that 75% of the products that they sell are made here in the United States. Why are you raising prices?&#8221;
&#8220;Do you know what Walmart’s yearly profits were last year? 169 billion dollars,&#8221; Ungar-Sargon continued. &#8220;Don’t raise prices. Support the president, support the agenda, support the American working class.”
Ungar-Sargon added that she doesn&#8217;t see these potential price hikes as &#8220;political,&#8221; but more about &#8220;rampant greed.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warns that they will be raising prices in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Shoppers will likely see price increases toward the end of May and more in June.
Batya Ungar-Sargon: “This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating. Walmart walks around… <a href="https://t.co/JpONWTgQRE">pic.twitter.com/JpONWTgQRE</a>
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedWave_Press/status/1923354165436195059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-wholesale-prices-see-biggest-drop-in-5-years-flying-in-the-face-of-economists-predictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Wholesale Prices See Biggest Drop In 5 Years, Flying In The Face Of Economists’ Predictions</a>

‘EAT THE TARIFFS’: Trump Unloads On Walmart CEO For Saying He’s Raising Prices

Communist China

Recently, the news stories in the media have been coming so fast and furious they’re almost like a group of muscular bald men driving hot cars out of airplanes, landing them on top of other cars, and then driving away at high speed while firing a rocket launcher out the window&#8230; because they’re fast and… well, never mind.
Anyway, I began to wonder: how can the news media report all this news in a way that reflects the outlooks of Americans everywhere across this great land, from the pine forests of Vermont to the golden wheat fields of Kansas, across the vast expanses of Texas to the sun-baked beaches of the Pacific Coast? So I decided I would take a look at the headlines of news outlets from 40th Street in Manhattan all the way to 47th Street — because that’s about all of them.
So for instance, in the news, inflation slowed to its lowest rate in more than four years.
Here’s the headline from The Wall Street Journal: &#8220;Trump’s Tariffs to Cause Massive Inflation Very, Very Soon, Experts Who Predicted Massive Inflation Because of Trump’s Tariffs Very Soon Say.&#8221;
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Andrew Klavan Show</a></h3>
Here’s One From The New York Times: &#8220;Hardworking Migrant Juan Ortega May Lose His Chicken Farm as Trump’s Policies Cause the Bottom to Fall Out of Egg Prices.&#8221;
And here’s the Report from NPR: &#8220;How Lower Inflation Spurred the Rise of Hitler,&#8221; a historical report read by a person with a very soft, sleepy voice that will make you want to hurt yourself just to make it stop.
Another news story: Trump negotiated a ceasefire between hostile nuclear powers India and Pakistan.
From The Wall Street Journal: &#8220;Nuclear Devastation Averted, Leaving Millions Alive to Suffer Massive Inflation Very Soon Because of Donald Trump’s Tariffs, Experts who Predicted Massive Inflation Very Soon Because of Donald Trump’s Tariffs Say.&#8221;
Or from The New York Times: &#8220;Environmentalists Worry that Trump’s Reckless Actions on the Indian Subcontinent Will Leave Earth’s Population at Levels Sure to Cause Devastating Climate Change.&#8221;
Or the story as reported by NBC News: &#8220;Biden’s Policy of Mindlessly Prolonging Foreign Wars to No Effect Finally Pays Big Dividends by Bringing Peace Deal Between India and Pakistan.&#8221;
In other news, Trump negotiated the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage being held by vampiric Palestinian monsters.
The headline in The Wall Street Journal reads: &#8220;Released Hostage Finds Himself in a World Soon to be Wracked by Massive Inflation Caused by Trump’s Tariffs, According to Experts.&#8221;
The New York Times headline was: &#8220;Sad Little Palestinian Boy Jihad Muhammed Sharia Jihad Jihad Muhammed Sheds Sad Tears of Very Sad Sadness as Genocidal Israelis Steal the Wonderful Friend his Parents Kept Chained up for Him in the Basement.&#8221;
And of course, CNN featured an interview with a Columbia University professor who once read part of a book on Israel and says the Jews sound genocidal to him until Scott Jennings knocks him unconscious and jumps up and down on his face.
Then there was the news that Donald Trump had negotiated several trillion dollars in American investment from Saudi Arabia.
The Wall Street Journal reported the story with the headline: &#8220;Saudis Want to Invest in America but Whoa Nellie, Just Wait Till They See the Massive Inflation that’s Going to be Caused by Trump’s Tariffs Any Day Now, Experts Say.&#8221;
The Headline in The New York Times reads: &#8220;Sad Yale Historian Who Studies Fascism Says He Is Leaving America Because Trump’s Presidency Will Look Just Like Fascism as Soon as It Looks Like Fascism.&#8221;
And CBS reported: &#8220;Weak Trump Caves to Saudi Demands that he take their Money.&#8221;
In other news, Trump struck a deal with China to free us from their hammerlock on our supply lines, brought down drug prices, bombed the Houthis into submission, opened U.K. markets to American farmers, made progress on a nuclear deal with Iran, and the headlines say….. oh, screw it.
***
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
The views expressed in this satirical article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>
Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fourth installment, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613165536?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_thcv_3&amp;storeType=ebooks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Woman Underground.</a>” His most recent nonfiction release is “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Cain-Finding-Literature-Darkness/dp/0310368340/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_w=nMYjR&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_p=bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_r=133-8344803-2786917&amp;pd_rd_wg=7a8J3&amp;pd_rd_r=5791ea0f-6d96-4732-9d6a-3a4e6b348bb5&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness.</a>” (May 2025, Zondervan/HarperCollins).

Donald Trump, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Trump’s Global Triumphs Cause Inflation Apocalypse, Say Analysts Cheering For Inflation Apocalypse

Andrew Klavan

Foreign Policy

Inflation

Legacy Media

Satire

Predictions of widespread shortages from President Donald Trump’s trade wars have fallen flat as supply chains and retailers weather the uncertainty of tariff hikes.
The first quarter of 2025 came back with negative GDP growth, but economic signs are pointing toward a positive return in the Commerce Department’s next quarterly report. A positive report should tamp down severely pessimistic predictions about the state of the economy and the impact of tariffs.
“I&#8217;ve told people this is gonna be a skinned knee. This is not a broken leg,” Jim Nelles, a veteran supply chain consultant, told The Daily Wire.
“If you look at the data, we&#8217;re ahead of where we were this time in 2023 and just slightly down from where we were this time in 2024,” said Nelles regarding ships traveling between the United States and Asia.
Since the United States and China <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/tariffs-china-trump-agree-slash-levies-duties-business-markets-bessent-rcna206193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slashed</a> tariffs, shipping in the Pacific is set to pick up, according to Nelles. “The shipping companies are scrambling to redeploy ships to Chinese ports, and American companies are scrambling to secure containers to put on those ships to bring goods into the United States,” he said.
The most recent <a href="https://www.descartes.com/resources/knowledge-center/descartes-releases-may-global-shipping-report-april-us-container-imports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> on U.S. imports from the supply chain and logistics company Descartes shows that 2025’s container import volume is higher through April of 2025 than it was in either 2024 or 2023.
Trump announced sweeping new tariffs last month, threatening heavy levies on America’s trading partners. The shock sent the stock market plummeting and had media outlets and financial experts warning about an economic collapse on par with the coronavirus pandemic.
Headlines in recent weeks have catastrophized about shortages slamming Americans. Stories suggested that supply chains are breaking under Trump’s gambit to remake global trade like they broke under COVID. “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/10/business/zero-ships-china-trade-ports-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For 12 hours, zero ships left China bound for California’s top ports. That hasn’t happened since the pandemic</a>,” says one CNN headline from May 12.
Other headlines have warned of empty ports and empty shelves for Americans. “<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-05-07/empty-store-shelves-might-be-coming-sooner-than-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Empty Store Shelves Might Be Coming Sooner Than You Think</a>,” says a May 7 headline from Bloomberg. An April 29 Reuters report warned: “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/shipping-volume-will-plummet-35-next-week-la-port-official-says-cnbc-interview-2025-04-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shipping volume will plummet 35% next week, LA port official says in CNBC interview</a>.”
Major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan predicted last month that the United States was likely to fall into recession. They have since <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/jpmorgan-drops-us-recession-call-after-us-china-trade-truce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reversed</a> <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/09/goldman-forecast-a-recession-then-almost-immediately-rescinded-it-after-trump-tariff-pause.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">those</a> forecasts.
“The panic was silly and it was driven by the media because they ran out of things to talk about,” said Nelles.
Shortages that did appear would be localized, Nelles said. Generally, businesses properly read the administration’s signals and prepared before the president began slamming down tariffs. That preparation is reflected in Commerce Department data that show imports to the United States spiking in the months leading up to the tariffs falling into place. Imports to the United States in March <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-trade-deficit-hits-record-high-march" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hit</a> an all-time high.
“At the end of the day, we would&#8217;ve seen nothing like we saw during COVID,” said Nelles. “We just would never have gotten to that point.”
“If you look at what actually happened in December, January, and February, shipments were up. People were stocking their shelves and adding inventory so that they could withstand any sort of tariff action that took place,” he said.
The most pressing problem that Nelles expects has to do with container ships sitting in U.S. ports full of goods that nobody is able or wants to receive.
“Those have to be shipped back to China, unloaded, and then loaded with other goods,” he said. “So, we might have, maybe a four week period where the equipment needs to be rebalanced between North America and Asia. But that&#8217;ll sort itself out.”
The Commerce Department’s quarterly report on GDP released last month <a href="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> that the U.S. economy contracted 0.3%, at the time raising fears that the United States may hit the technical definition of a recession, two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
New economic data has since <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/15/tariffs-inflation-recession-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relieved</a> those concerns. In April, retail sales rose by 0.1%. Revised data showed that retail sales rose by 1.7% in March, a 0.2 percentage point increase. With positive signs for consumer spending, inflationary signals also came back positive. The Producer Price Index fell by 0.5% in April after holding steady in March.
“If you actually take a very hard look at the data, a lot of the shrinkage in GDP was driven by reduction in government spending, which is a good thing,” said Nelles on negative growth in the first three months of the year.
“I think that when they do the second review of GDP, it&#8217;s probably going to be zero to slightly positive,” he predicted. “I think Q2 is going to be positive as well, but it wasn&#8217;t a concern.”
The latest Consumer Price Index data on April came in cooler than expected, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/business/inflation-prices-tariffs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showing</a> a 2.3 % increase in prices from a year ago.
“That&#8217;s the third consecutive month that we&#8217;ve had cooler than expected inflation, which tells me that the economy isn’t quite sure what it wants to do yet,” said Nelles. “But it definitely it’s saying I don&#8217;t feel like I need to heat up right now. I just need to bring inflation down and we need to see what’s gonna happen.”
“What I wish the president would do is get rid of uncertainty. I wish he would talk about what the plan is because, right now, it feels like the plan changes based on what he sees on X or on Truth Social,” Nelles said. “That creates a lot of uncertainty in the economy and in the business world, and that&#8217;s why you saw the stock market go down so much in the month of April. But now we&#8217;ve actually gone back up to the point where we&#8217;ve regained everything that we&#8217;ve lost. So, you know, the market likes what we&#8217;re doing.”
Since Trump’s Liberation Day announcement, the administration has entered into negotiations with dozens of countries to rewrite the United States’ trade deals. The process could take a year if not longer to hammer out the details. In the meantime, businesses in the United States will be forced to reckon with the tariff system largely put in place by the president.
The White House could choose to lighten tariffs on countries that agree to negotiate in good faith, Nelles said, or the president may leave in place broad 10% tariffs on countries to increase revenue to the federal government until new trade agreements are signed. If the president chooses the latter option, buyers and suppliers will have to work out together how to handle the tariffs while international trade continues to flow.
Either way, “the net impact will be quite low,” said Nelles.

Apocalyptic Predictions About Trump’s Trade Wars Never Came True. Here’s Why.

United States

World

The Producer Price Index, which measures the average change over time in selling prices received by domestic producers, fell 0.5% in April, its biggest drop in five years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ppi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Thursday.
The drop marks the first time the Producer Price Index declined since October 2023. Since last April, producer prices rose 2.4%, but that&#8217;s a significant deceleration from the 3.4% year-over-year gain in March, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/producer-wholesale-prices-tariffs-83aef2863cac075143e89dc2d951eff6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>. The producer price drop defies economists&#8217; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-15/us-producer-prices-fall-unexpectedly-as-margins-decline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predictions</a>, which forecast that producer prices would rise last month.
Services prices, the prices charged by domestic producers for the services they provide, dropped 0.7% in April, which was the biggest drop since the index began in December 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wholesale food prices dropped 1% last month, including a 39% drop in egg prices.
The report is the second round of economic news being <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1923000718648041816" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> by the Trump administration this week after the Labor Department reported on Tuesday that inflation hit its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inflation-hits-lowest-point-in-over-4-years-as-april-report-better-than-expected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lowest point</a> in four years. The consumer price index was up just 2.3% from April 2024, the smallest year-over-year gain since February 2021.
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/13/trump-tariffs-inflation-trade-economy-fed-powell-00344184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Wednesday that the inflation report has surprised economists as &#8220;there was broad anticipation that Trump’s levies on Chinese imports, steel and aluminum and certain Canadian and Mexican products had caused prices for apparel, electronics and other consumer goods to spike.&#8221; The outlet noted that &#8220;the opposite has occurred&#8221; as the cost of clothing and new cars, which were supposed to take the brunt of Trump&#8217;s tariffs, both dropped.
Economists continue to predict that President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs will drive up prices, with increases likely hitting American consumers over the summer. As Trump continues to negotiate trade deals, however, those forecasts could change. Some businesses are also still expecting that consumers will feel the pinch of Trump&#8217;s tariffs soon. Walmart said it will likely raise prices as soon as this month due to tariffs, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/15/business/walmart-prices-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said on Thursday during an earnings call.
“The higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” he added.

U.S. Wholesale Prices See Biggest Drop In 5 Years, Flying In The Face Of Economists’ Predictions

Prices

Trump Administration

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump successfully cut a trade deal with China, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/us-news/us-and-china-reach-deal-to-slash-tariffs-officials-say/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> our biggest adversary has agreed to scale back tariffs on U.S. imports to just 10 percent for three months.
The announcement likely came as a shock to <a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1920878476837449764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1920878476837449764%7Ctwgr%5E2ca4dd2d76e13621845f6a6b8705bbcb9bb0d590%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fmarkets%2Ffake-news-narrative-empty-ports-empty-shelves-suffers-spectacular-implosion%3Fref%3Dbiztoc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the left-wing media</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1921669522102104360" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democrats</a> who swore it would never, ever happen. But it was a good reminder that the president understands what mainstream American media has failed to cover: China is losing this trade war. Chinese <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/30/business/chinese-factory-activity-plunges-as-trump-tariffs-hammer-bilateral-trade/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">factory floors</a> are deserted, and cargo bookings between the United States and China are <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/29/business/shipments-from-china-to-drop-by-35-due-to-trump-tariffs-port-of-la-chief/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down</a> by nearly 50%.
And it’s not just China. Trump also recently announced a trade agreement with the <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-announces-his-first-trade-deal-with-the-uk-heres-whats-in-it-120417143.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Kingdom</a> and is closing in on deals with India, Japan, and South Korea.
Back at home, American manufacturers are seeing a <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/05/american-business-returns-trump-tariffs-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surge in demand</a>, ramping up production, preparing to hire new workers, and announcing <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/gilead-announces-11-billion-new-investments-us-2025-05-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions</a> of dollars in new investments. Meanwhile, President Trump is determined to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/12/trump-tax-bill/83584926007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut taxes</a>, red tape, and regulations, all of which are sure to help American consumers and businesses alike.
You might think this success would change how American businesses think about Trump. Too often, big companies substitute their core values for the zero-sum game of appealing to one side of the political spectrum, costing them public trust and hurting their bottom line.
(Two words: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/19/dylan-mulvaney-bud-light-boycott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bud Light</a>.)
Simply put, corporate America has a long track record of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/news/walmart-doug-mcmillon-charlottesville-trump/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor decision-making</a> and choosing the wrong hills to die on. After initially embracing Trump, many big businesses have now turned on him, thanks to tariffs. They may want to reconsider.
After Donald Trump’s resounding victory last November, big retailers from Walmart to Amazon to Target were quick to <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reach out</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">applaud</a>, and align themselves with the new president, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/target-donated-1-million-to-trump-vance-inauguration-tariffs-dei-2025-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donating millions</a> for inaugural ceremonies and even <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-inauguration-president-2025/card/why-walmart-s-ceo-is-at-the-inauguration-8NmecvA3oo7tG8dPdI8F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attending themselves</a> in person, <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">congratulating</a> President Trump on his victory, and generally making nice with the White House’s newest occupant.
&#8220;Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities,” wrote <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-victory-business-leaders-react/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on X</a>.
“<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/03/25/walmart-heiress-christy-walton-nonparitsan-advert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The dignity of our country is not for sale</a>,” reads an ad by Walmart heiress Christy Walton placed in the New York Times shortly after President Trump’s win.
But the honeymoon ended as soon as it began.
&#8220;These tariffs may be aimed at China, but the bill will be charged to American consumers who will pay more at the checkout,&#8221; <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/03/22/big-retailers-push-back-on-trump-tarriffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> the vice president of international trade for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Target and Best Buy, among other major retailers.
Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said on <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/06/mattel-ceo-toy-manufacturing-trump-tariffs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a> that manufacturing won’t come to America, but price hikes will.
Unfortunately for these businesses, gaslighting families into blaming Trump for the high prices won’t work. A recent focus group in Pennsylvania <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/11/focus-groups-pennsylvania-swing-voters-voice-tariff-confusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that, even though voters didn’t fully understand tariffs, they still supported Trump.
Bottom line: Big retail would do well to sit tight and stick with the president on this one.
The payoff will be more than just dollars and profits. They’ll have earned the trust of the public, demonstrating they take seriously the principles and pride of being an American, and in the long run, consumers will thank them with their wallets for years to come.
Carly Bird is a Republican strategist and founder and president of Bird’s Eye Consulting. She previously served as the national spokeswoman for Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

A Walmart Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures

A Warning To Big Retail: Stick With America First

Bud Light

Corporations

The annual inflation rate was lower than experts expected in April, coming in at 2.3%, its lowest point since February 2021.
The Labor Department on Tuesday reported that the consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in April, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/cpi-inflation-april-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a>. While April&#8217;s 0.2% increase from the same month last year was a jump from the 0.1% year-over-year drop in March, the 2.3% inflation rate was just below the forecast of 2.4%, giving President Donald Trump some good economic news shortly after his &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs went into effect. The White House <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922282764780355920" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> the news in a post on X, crediting the &#8220;TRUMP EFFECT.&#8221;
&#8220;For the last several years, hardworking families have faced an affordability crisis. Finally, with @POTUS at the helm, Americans are breathing a sigh of relief — every dollar is going further and workers are able to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks!&#8221; Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer <a href="https://x.com/SecretaryLCD/status/1922287250882109733" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>.
Food prices saw a slight decline of 0.1% from March to April, with the cost of eggs falling 12.7%. Used car prices were also down in April, while month-over-month energy prices increased 0.7%, shelter costs rose 0.3%, and new car prices remained the same, according to the consumer price index <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>. The year-over-year index for energy was down 3.7%, gasoline dropped 11.8% over the past 12 months, and the fuel oil index saw a 9.6% decline over that period. The index for electricity was up 3.6% over the last 12 months, and the natural gas index rose 15.7%, the report added.
The report comes as President Trump makes progress on a trade deal with China, providing some tariff relief. The Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-china-release-details-of-agreement-to-dramatically-slash-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Monday that it agreed to slash its reciprocal tariff on China to 10% for 90 days while the 20% fentanyl tariff remains in place. In return, China also dropped its retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods to 10%. Those reductions are set to go into effect on Wednesday as the two countries seek to continue negotiations.
Last week, Trump also struck a deal with the United Kingdom, giving the United States more access to the British economy and maintaining the tariff on U.K. imports at 10%. In return, the United Kingdom will be allowed to export up to 100,000 vehicles to the United States for a 10% tariff, a reduction of Trump&#8217;s 25% tariff on foreign auto imports.
Some economic experts predict that the brunt of Trump&#8217;s tariffs will not reflect in economic data until the summer, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/business/inflation-prices-tariffs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a> and The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/cpi-inflation-april-2025-interest-rate-8febd2d2?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal</a>.

Inflation Hits Lowest Point In Over 4 Years As April Report Better Than Expected

Food prices

Gas Prices

White House

The Trump administration announces breakthrough deals: a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and a temporary trade deal with China. Team Trump is turning up the heat on anyone obstructing immigration officials after a Democrat mayor is arrested in New Jersey. And President Donald Trump picks a new surgeon general.
It’s Monday, May 12, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>The Art of The Deal</h2>
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Topline: The Trump administration brokers a ceasefire between India and Pakistan while also hammering out a temporary trade deal with China.
After days of deadly fighting and rising global tensions, the United States has brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and on Monday morning announced an agreement with China to lower tariffs on each other for 90 days.
A joint statement issued by the White House and China&#8217;s Ministry of Commerce said both parties had committed to the pause.
The deal means that President Donald Trump’s 125% reciprocal tariff on China will be reduced to 10%, with a 20% fentanyl tariff still in place, a significant drop from the 145% tariff placed on Chinese goods in the last few weeks. China will drop its retaliatory tariffs on the United States from 125% to 10%. The reductions are to be in place by Wednesday, May 14.
Meanwhile, since they first gained independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have feuded over religion, border disputes, and politics. Last month, a terror attack by Pakistani Islamists on the contested territory of Kashmir sparked the most significant conflict between the two in decades. India responded with air and missile strikes on what they called terrorist camps, but a number of civilians were reportedly killed, including worshippers at two mosques. Pakistan responded with airstrikes of their own, and within 48 hours, the two sides, both of which have large nuclear arsenals, were deploying kamikaze drones, fighter jets, and conventional artillery, targeting each other’s air defense systems – but, again, also killing civilians. By Friday, both countries had begun to evacuate towns along the border, and dozens of airports and school systems were shut down, as thousands of troops were mobilized.
However, there was overwhelming global pressure on both countries to stand down. The United States, China, and Russia, who rarely agree on anything, each lobbied for de-escalation. On Saturday, President Trump stunned the world by announcing the United States had brokered a ceasefire. Writing on Truth Social, he <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122132461766723345&amp;set=a.122114684240723345">said,</a> “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
We don’t yet know what the Trump administration may have offered, but there’s a good chance it involved economic incentives – like many other nations, India has been lobbying Washington for lower tariffs since Trump’s Liberation Day formula was announced. India refused to acknowledge America’s role in the deal, but Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif removed any doubt, saying, “We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome.” He went on to thank Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their “valuable contributions for peace.”
<h2>Newark Mayor Arrested At Detention Center During Anti-Deportation Protest</h2>
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Topline: Federal authorities arrested Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka outside of an immigration detention facility on Friday. The Trump administration has threatened to arrest and charge even more Democrats who intervene in immigration enforcement.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – who is also a candidate for New Jersey governor – was charged with trespassing on Friday after he joined a protest at an ICE facility in Newark. Federal authorities say Baraka entered the compound’s gates with a mob as a bus of detainees entered the facility and refused multiple directives to leave.
“We will not stand for anybody getting in the way of getting rid of criminals in this country,” acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba told Fox News, adding that “[Baraka] was given multiple opportunities to remove himself, failed to do so, and has been detained and will be charged.”
Three Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation – Robert Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver – also entered the facility during the protest. They said they were there to tour the facility in line with their oversight function and condemned Baraka’s arrest.
“[The arrest] was an act of intimidation not just to the mayor, not just to us, but to everyone watching,” Menendez <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1920931260517806572">said</a>.
Congresswoman Coleman has <a href="https://x.com/RepBonnie/status/1920989902520340582">said</a> that the DHS lied about what happened. She claims the Democratic lawmakers entered the detention center while being escorted by the guards and then came out to talk with Baraka, and that a scuffle broke out between federal authorities and the protesters after the congressional delegation left the facility.
Meanwhile, the president has continued to make the deportation of illegal immigrants a priority. On Friday, in response to various legal challenges, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the administration is considering suspending due process for potential deportees. “The Constitution is clear … the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. So it&#8217;s an option we&#8217;re actively looking at.”
<h2>Trump Nominates New Surgeon General</h2>
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Topline: President Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means – a popular MAHA figure – for the position of surgeon general.
Means is a Stanford University-trained surgeon and the author of “Good Energy,” which discusses metabolic dysfunction and chronic illness. While at Stanford, she said she became disillusioned with how she saw medicine being practiced, especially when it came to chronic disease. She’s a critic of Big Pharma, thinks Americans are overmedicated, and advocates for prevention and reversal of such diseases by addressing root causes, like food, exercise, and environment.
“While there&#8217;s absolutely a place for surgeons when it comes to acute issues,” Means told Morning Wire last September, “I really need to go out and actually address the bigger issue that is just plaguing Americans across the lifespan today, which is chronic diseases tied to food that are largely preventable and reversible and are not being talked about by the health care system.”
The sudden announcement came after President Trump withdrew his previous nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat one day before she was scheduled to appear before the Senate for confirmation hearings. Nesheiwat was criticized by the MAHA crowd and conservatives over her advocacy for vaccines and masks during the COVID pandemic. Means, on the other hand, advised HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his 2024 presidential run and reportedly helped <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">broker</a> Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump.
Nicole Shanahan, who was RFK’s 2024 running mate, posted online that Kennedy had promised her Means would never work for him in HHS. Shanahan went so far as to call Casey and her brother, Calley Means, “Manchurian assets.” There’s some speculation that Shanahan’s frustration stems from Means being too pro-vaccine.
Kennedy weighed in on the drama and fully backed Means.
“The Surgeon General is a symbol of moral authority who stands against the financial and institutional gravities that tend to corporatize medicine,” Kennedy said. “Casey Means was born to hold this job.”

MorningWire-0428

Morning Brief: Dems Protest Deportation & U.S. Announces China Trade Deal

Global Politics

Illegal Immigration

India

Media

Morning Wire

Pakistan

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

&#8220;Great progress&#8221; was made in trade negotiations with China, President Donald Trump said on Saturday evening, as he touted a &#8220;total reset&#8221; in the making.
Trump made the announcement as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breakthrough-trump-officials-set-date-for-direct-trade-talks-with-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Chinese officials in Switzerland over the weekend.
&#8220;A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114486066663976973" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!&#8221;
While many countries received a 90-day reprieve for &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs above the baseline rate of 10% last month, 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 penalty on Chinese goods 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%. The economies in the United States and China have been roiled as a result of the trade war.
Heading into the high-stakes talks, Trump suggested that Bessent had room to offer a lower rate.
&#8220;80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477628854583525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a Truth Social post on Friday.
China’s President Xi Jinping sent a delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-dispatches-top-security-chief-to-face-trump-team-over-fentanyl-crisis-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the group includes Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, who is considered &#8220;the point person in Beijing’s recent discussions with Washington over how to address President Trump’s concerns about China’s role in the fentanyl trade.&#8221;
Trump administration officials have been negotiating on trade with a host of nations over the past several weeks and have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sorry-china-bessent-says-deal-with-massive-trade-partner-very-close" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> progress in talks with the likes of India, South Korea, and Japan.
Last week, the White House unveiled a trade deal <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-u-s-uk-reach-historic-trade-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">framework</a> with the United Kingdom that aims to slash tariffs and non-tariff barriers to unlock $5 billion in new export opportunities for U.S. farmers and businesses, while retaining a 10% Liberation Day tariff base rate and imposing &#8220;alternative&#8221; arrangements for British auto and steel imports to &#8220;bolster&#8221; economic and national security.
“Both countries have agreed that economic security is national security and will be working together as allies to ensure that we have a strong industrial base and appropriate export controls and protections for key technologies and industries like steel,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/both-countries-will-become-stronger-trumps-trade-deal-will-give-u-s-more-access-to-u-k-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Steel was a big factor. Both countries will become stronger with steel.”

President Donald Trump

Trump Hails ‘Total Reset’ In China Trade Negotiations

Trade War

China’s President Xi Jinping sent his top security official to Switzerland on Friday for critical trade talks with the U.S., underscoring Beijing&#8217;s recognition of the fentanyl crisis as a key issue amid ongoing tariff tensions with the Trump administration.
The Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, includes Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, who is considered &#8220;the point person in Beijing’s recent discussions with Washington over how to address President Trump’s concerns about China’s role in the fentanyl trade,&#8221; <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-sends-xis-security-czar-to-trade-talks-with-u-s-a763826d?mod=hp_lead_pos1">according</a> to The Wall Street Journal. They will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday.
The meeting will be aimed at addressing China&#8217;s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis and tariff policies, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
Previously, Chinese officials had accused the U.S. of using the fentanyl problem as a pretext to escalate tariffs.
Now, the Chinese government appears to recognize that it must present cooperative gestures in response to significant American concerns about the fentanyl crisis, as shown by Wang Xiaohong&#8217;s anticipated presence.
“Wang’s presence means one thing: Fentanyl is not only on the table, but also a key piece in the U.S.-China trade talks at this stage,” said Yun Sun, China program director at the D.C. Stimson Center, per the WSJ. “How willing China is to cooperate will illustrate how eager they are to make the trade deal.”
Sources close to the discussions told the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese delegation has been given a clear list outlining steps the Trump administration expects Beijing to take on fentanyl.
These recommendations reportedly include stricter law enforcement measures targeting domestic suppliers of fentanyl precursor chemicals and harsher penalties for criminal organizations involved in narcotics trafficking.
President Donald Trump, who imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods in part due to China&#8217;s connection with the fentanyl crisis — which claims tens of thousands of American lives each year — posted Friday on Truth Social that he is open to lowering tariffs to 80%, placing the decision in the hands of Treasury Secretary Bessent.
“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477610338144415">posted</a> on Truth Social Friday morning.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-for-china-to-open-its-markets-floats-major-tariff-reduction">Trump Calls For China To Open Its Markets, Floats Major Tariff Reduction</a>

CHINA-US-DIPLOMACY

China Dispatches Top Security Chief To Face Trump Team Over Fentanyl Crisis, Tariffs

Fentanyl

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