The US tariff situation may have fallen off the front pages of many newspapers, but the business media remains on top of the latest news from Washington. Despite Trump issuing an exemption for big tech in his tariffs on China, he has since signalled that it’s only a temporary measure and investigations are underway into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending.
Several UK publications also report that the UK is in line for a deal with the US, according to JD Vance.
Trump moves closer to pharma and chip tariffs
Trump’s tech tariff twists: US firms cheer rollback as president bows to pressure
Explainer: This headline uses dramatic and emotionally charged language—“twists,” “cheer,” and “bows to pressure”—to frame Trump’s actions as erratic and reactive. The word “twists” suggests inconsistency or unpredictability, while “bows” implies weakness or surrender, potentially casting Trump in a negative light.
- City AM reports that US TECH firms breathed a much-needed sigh of relief on Monday after the White House bowed to pressure to soften the blow of sky-high tariffs. Top tech firms such as Apple and Nvidia were rattled last week after Trump said he would raise tariffs on imports from China to as much as 125 per cent – a move that sent the markets into a tail spin.
Risky corporate borrowers shut out of bond market since Trump’s tariff blitz
Explainer: This headline uses charged language such as “shut out” and “tariff blitz” to create a sense of exclusion and aggression, heightening the drama of the situation. The term “blitz” evokes sudden, overwhelming force, potentially exaggerating the scale or intent of Trump’s actions. By linking corporate financial struggles directly to Trump’s tariffs, it simplifies complex market dynamics into a single cause, which may introduce bias and lead readers to assign blame without full context.
- FT says America’s risky corporate borrowers have been shut out of the bond market since Donald Trump’s tariffs blitz, in a freeze that is reverberating across Wall Street and which threatens a tentative rebound in dealmaking.
Trump’s trade war risks global meltdown, warns IMF
Explainer: This headline is highly sensational, using dramatic language like “global meltdown” to evoke fear and urgency. It amplifies the stakes of Trump’s trade policies, potentially exaggerating their immediate impact. By attributing the warning to the IMF, it lends authority to the claim while still framing the issue in a way that may bias readers against Trump, positioning him as a singular threat to global stability.
- The Daily Telegraph: Donald Trump’s trade war risks triggering a global financial meltdown, the International Monetary Fund has warned. The IMF’s verdict comes after a turbulent few weeks for financial markets as Trump’s “chaotic programme of tariffs” sent global stocks see-sawing and thrust bond markets into disarray.
‘Everything is grinding to a halt’: China digs in after Trump shock
Explainer: This headline uses vivid, dramatic language—“Everything is grinding to a halt”—to evoke a sense of crisis and urgency, amplifying the impact of Trump’s actions. The phrase “Trump shock” is emotive and sensational, implying sudden and destabilising effects, which may oversimplify or exaggerate the situation. The framing leans towards a narrative of confrontation, potentially introducing bias by portraying Trump as the direct cause of severe disruption.
- The Daily Telegraph: China’s commerce ministry hit back hard, branding the levies ‘a joke’ and imposing its own tariffs of 125%, blowing up half a trillion dollars of trade in the space of a week.
Goldman Sachs boss says chances of US recession have increased after Trump tariffs
Explainer: This headline uses the authority of the Goldman Sachs boss to lend weight to a negative economic forecast, heightening the perceived seriousness of the situation. By directly attributing the increased recession risk to Trump’s tariffs, it simplifies complex economic dynamics into a cause-and-effect narrative. This framing may introduce bias by placing blame squarely on Trump’s policies, potentially reinforcing a particular viewpoint.
- The Guardian: Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon has warned that the chances of a US recession have ‘increased’ in the wake of Donald Trump’s tariffs and that an escalating trade war poses ‘material risks’ for US and global growth.
Trump vows tariffs on pharma imports
Explainer: This headline uses a strong, assertive verb—“vows”—to create a sense of drama and urgency, emphasising Trump’s personal determination and authority. It simplifies a potentially complex policy issue into a bold, confrontational statement, which can stir emotional reactions. The phrasing may also introduce bias by framing the action as aggressive, potentially appealing to or alarming specific audiences depending on their views of Trump.
- The Daily Telegraph: Donald Trump has vowed to hit imports of pharmaceuticals with new tariffs in a major setback for one of Britain’s largest export industries. Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday night, the US President said he would announce the charges on foreign drugs in the “not too distant future”.
Nvidia to build first US factories after boss dines with Trump
Explainer: This headline uses a tactic of implication by linking Nvidia’s decision to build factories in the US with the boss’s dinner with Trump, suggesting causality without evidence. It sensationalises the story by highlighting Trump’s involvement, likely to provoke interest or controversy. The phrasing may introduce bias by implying political influence over a business move, potentially overshadowing other economic or strategic factors behind Nvidia’s decision.
- The Daily Telegraph: Nvidia has announced plans to build its first supercomputer factories in the US as Donald Trump demands companies stop manufacturing overseas. The announcement comes after Mr Trump on Sunday threatened to impose imminent tariffs on semiconductors imports in a potential threat to Nvidia’s business model. The company’s chips are currently manufactured primarily in Taiwan.
LVMH to boost production in America to cushion the blow of Donald Trump’s tariffs
Explainer: The headline employs sensationalism by using emotionally charged language such as “cushion the blow,” which implies significant harm and urgency of Trump’s tariffs.
- Daily Mail: LVMH is looking to boost its manufacturing in the US to cushion the blow of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Boss Bernard Arnault said in January he was ‘seriously considering’ adding to the French luxury goods giant’s existing facilities across the Atlantic, which includes a Louis Vuitton workshop in Texas and two in California. Asked about bulking up its US presence yesterday, chief financial officer Cecile Cabanis said: ‘We will see at what pace and how much.’