International News
Tariff Tensions Escalate As US Lawmakers Clash With Trump
Tensions over United States trade policy intensified on Wednesday after lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted to reject former President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, setting up a political clash within the Republican Party.
The Democrat-led resolution passed narrowly by 219 votes to 211, with six Republicans breaking ranks to support the measure.
The move marks a rare public rebuke of Trump’s signature tariff policy, which he has consistently defended as essential to protecting America’s economic and national security interests.
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The resolution seeks to terminate the national emergencies Trump declared last year to justify imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada and other trading partners.
However, the House vote is largely symbolic for now, as any binding action would require approval from the Senate and the president’s signature.
Even if the Senate passes the measure, Trump is widely expected to veto it. Overriding such a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress — a threshold analysts say is unlikely to be met.
Moments before the vote, Trump issued a stern warning to Republican lawmakers, cautioning them against siding with Democrats.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He insisted that tariffs had strengthened the country’s economic standing and national security.
The vote followed the expiration of a procedural barrier that had previously blocked debate on tariff-related measures. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, attempted to reinstate the restriction but failed after three Republicans joined Democrats to prevent it.
Republican Representative Don Bacon defended the decision to allow debate, arguing that Congress must not “outsource our responsibilities.” Describing tariffs as “a tax on American consumers,” Bacon maintained that lawmakers should openly deliberate on trade policies affecting American households and businesses.
Since returning to office early last year, Trump has imposed several waves of tariffs on Canadian imports, invoking emergency economic powers.
While a 35 percent tariff was applied to many Canadian products, exemptions were granted for energy imports and goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Although sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, steel and aluminium have significantly impacted Canada, more than 85 percent of trade between the two countries remains tariff-free under USMCA terms.
The tariffs have also faced legal challenges, with the US Supreme Court expected to rule soon on their legality.
Meanwhile, public opinion appears divided. A recent Pew Research Centre survey found that 60 percent of Americans disapprove of higher tariffs imposed under Trump’s trade policy, underscoring the growing debate over the economic impact of the measures.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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