Most of the new tariffs announced by Washington last week are coming into force today, Wednesday. After China refused to withdraw its counter-tariffs, the US has upped the tariff rate for Chinese imports to a record 104 percent. Beijing vowed that it would "fight to the end" if necessary. Europe's press speculates on the consequences of a trade war between the biggest players in the global economy.
New punitive tariffs also apply to Europe - 20 percent for EU member states. Today, Wednesday, the EU is again meeting to discuss how best to respond. Until now Brussels had played the de-escalation game, but US President Trump has rejected its offer of a free trade deal. Europe's press explores the options.
After Donald Trump's latest tariffs announcement, oil prices dropped by around 20 percent within a week reaching their lowest level since the pandemic, when they turned negative. Europe's consumers are also feeling the effects: fuel prices at German petrol stations dropped by around 10 cents for two days in a row. A look at Europe's press shows who will be most worried by this downwards trend.
After 15 medics in a convoy of ambulances were shot dead by Israeli soldiers on 23 March, Israel claimed the vehicles had been moving in a suspicious way and did not have their emergency signals on. After video footage emerged that clearly shows the ambulances had their emergency and headlights on when the shots were fired, Israel admitted its account had been mistaken. Despite lingering uncertainties, commentators are deeply unsettled by the evidence.
Turkey's main opposition party CHP re-elected Özgur Özel as its chairman at an extraordinary party convention on Sunday, in reaction to fears that the authorities could appoint a trustee to head the party instead. The public prosecutor's office launched an investigation into alleged irregularities and vote-buying in Özel's first election in 2023.