Trump tariffs live: Jaguar Land Rover pauses shipments to US as 10% tariff kicks in for UK – UK Times

US tech-billionaire Elon Musk said on Saturday he hoped in future to see complete freedom of trade between the United States and Europe, speaking days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on trading partners.

Musk, a Trump adviser who has been working to eliminate wasteful US public spending, spoke via video-link at a congress in Florence of Italy’s right-wing, co-ruling League Party.

“At the end of the day, I hope it’s agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America,” Musk said.

Under Trump’s plans announced on Wednesday, Italy, which has a large trade surplus with the United States, will be subject to a general tariff of 20 per cent along with other European Union countries.

China has retaliated with 34 per cent tariffs on imported US goods, in the wake of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade war.

On April 2, Mr Trump announced an extra 34 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods imported to the US, on top of an existing 20 per cent levy.

Now, China will impose 34 per cent reciprocal tariffs from April 10, with the China State Council Tariff Commission saying it was hitting back against “bullying”.

So who will be hit hardest between the US-China trade war? The Independent’s Alicja Hagopian and Millie Cooke take a closer look here:

At least 1,200 demonstrations are set to take place across the US on Saturday against Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Thousands were streaming into Washington DC as the protests got underway under gloomy skies and light rain.

More than 20,000 people were expected to attend the rally at the National Mall, organisers said.

Some 150 activist groups have signed up to participate, according to the event’s website. Protests are planned in all 50 states plus Canada and Mexico.

World leaders were hit with an escalation in the US trade war as Donald Trump unveiled a swathe of tariffs on imported goods affecting nearly every country.

On so-called “Liberation Day”, the United States president announced that almost all imported goods would be hit with blanket tariffs, in an effort to increase homegrown production and reduce trade imbalances.

Most countries that trade with the US will be subject to a minimum 10 per cent tariff from April 5, including the United Kingdom, with dozens of nations facing levies as high as 50 per cent.

The reciprocal tariffs, which put Chinese goods imports at 54 per cent, will come into effect from 9 April.

Read the full story by The Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian here:

Hundreds of protesters have gathered in central London as part of global demonstrations against Donald Trump.

Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon with banners which read “No to Maga hate” and “Dump Trump”.

The rally is one of hundreds of so-called “hands off” demonstrations around the world – including in cities across the US, Paris and Berlin.

The movement has been organised by more than 150 groups, including civil rights groups and trade unions.

In London, demonstrators voiced their concerns with chants of “Hands off Ukraine” and “Hands off the UK”.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron spoke on Saturday and agreed to keep all options on the table as they plot a response to Donald Trump’s universal tariffs.

The prime minister and French president said a trade war would be “in nobody’s interests” but said “nothing should be off the table” in combating the US president’s damaging measures.

The pair also said they had concerns about the global economic and security impact of Mr Trump’s levies, “particularly in South East Asia”.

It comes as Sir Keir remains holed up speaking to world leaders this weekend, seeking to build closer ties with non-US allies as the trade war escalates.

US president Donald Trump has gone golfing for the third day in a row as the world reels from his tariffs on global imports.

Mr Trump was seen reading a tabloid article with the headline “World War Fee,” and “China: Yeah?” as he arrived at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida.

Around the same time, Mr Trump posted to his Truth Social platform claiming China would come off worse in the trade war.

“China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close,” he said. “They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly.

“This is an economic revolution, and we will win. Hang tough.”

Mr Trump slapped a combined tariff of 54 per cent on Chinese goods earlier this week.

Beijing responded by imposing a 34 per cent tariff on US exports to China.

A White House official has confirmed that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit on Monday.

Mr Netanyahu will discuss recently announced tariffs with president Donald Trump and the visit will likely also include discussions on Iran and Israel’s war against Hamas.

Howmet Aerospace, which supplies parts for planes built by Airbus and Boeing , may halt some shipments if they are impacted by tariffs announced by US president Donald Trump, according to a letter seen by news agency Reuters.

Pittsburgh-based Howmet said in the letter to customers that it has declared a force majeure event, a legal practice that allows parties to a contract to avoid their obligations if hit by unavoidable and unpredictable external circumstances, Reuters reported.

“Howmet will be excused from supplying any products or services that are impacted by this declared national emergency and/or the tariff executive order,” Howmet reportedly wrote in the letter.

Howmet declined to comment. Howmet is a supplier of critical metal components used across the $150 billion jetliner industry.