E.U. and Canada Respond to Trump’s Latest Tariffs

The trade dispute expanded yesterday as the E.U. and Canada announced billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, following President Trump’s levies on steel and aluminum imports taking effect.

Europe

The E.U. will implement tariffs starting April 1, a response to about $26 billion in tariffs applied by the U.S. E.U. officials stated they are ready to negotiate.

Their response will be in two phases. Tariff suspension under President Joe Biden will be allowed to lapse, raising tariffs on products worth billions of euros, including boats, bourbon, and motorcycles. The second step will be the imposition of tariffs on approximately $18 billion worth of additional products, awaiting finalization.

Canada

The Canadian government announced it will impose new tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. imports, primarily aimed at steel and aluminum but also targeting tools, computers, sporting goods, and cast iron.

Breakdown of Current Tariffs.

Other Allies

Britain Decides Against Retaliation, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeking a long-term trade deal with the U.S. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared his country would not impose reciprocal tariffs, citing potential harm to domestic consumers.

Activist Detained by U.S. Hasn’t Spoken Privately with Lawyers

Lawyers for a pro-Palestinian activist and legal U.S. resident detained by federal immigration authorities last weekend have not been able to converse privately with him, as revealed at a court hearing. The Trump administration is seeking to deport the activist, Mahmoud Khalil, who has not been charged with a crime.

Khalil, married to an American citizen, has led pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, from which he recently graduated. The Trump administration is justifying his detention with a rarely used statute that enables deportation proceedings against individuals whose presence is deemed “adversarial” to U.S. foreign policy. Trump stated this week that Khalil’s case marks the beginning of “many to come.”

quote: “This isn’t about free speech,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “This concerns individuals who don’t have the right to be in the United States. No one has the right to a student visa. No one has the right to a green card.”

What’s Next: The judge will require the government to allow Khalil’s lawyers to communicate with him and also instructed a government attorney to address a 2004 Supreme Court ruling that could enable Khalil’s lawyers to keep his case in New York.

More on Trump

Documenting Sectarian Violence and Retaliatory Killings in Syria

Armed groups and foreign fighters affiliated with the Syrian government were responsible for the sectarian violence observed in the coastal region over the past week, according to a Britain-based war monitoring group. This violence threatens unity efforts.

The violence “encompassed extrajudicial killings, field executions, and systematic mass killings driven by revenge and sectarian motives,” stated the Syrian Network for Human Rights in a report published Tuesday. The Times could not verify these findings.

Background: Hundreds of civilians were killed in Latakia and Tartus provinces, regions predominantly Alawite. The deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad was an Alawite, with some Alawites enjoying privileged positions under him.

Conflict: Turkey persisted in bombing armed Kurdish insurgents in Iraq and Syria, regardless of the insurgents’ leader urging disbandment and their group proclaiming a cease-fire.

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A 17-acre stretch in the Bahamas has been acquired by an unexpected developer: the Royal Caribbean cruise line. It is constructing an exclusive beach club featuring the world’s largest swim-up bar, provoking concern among locals worried about being priced out of their homes. Despite promises of lucrative contracts for Bahamian businesses, islanders are disturbed by the clearance of land for tourism.

A Sea of New Books to Read This Spring

Each season ushers in a plethora of books to anticipate, and this season is no different. The Times has selected numerous page turners to entice you.

A “Hunger Games” prequel follows Katniss Everdeen’s future mentor during the 50th Hunger Games. Ocean Vuong’s novel explores the relationship between a Vietnamese man and a widow in a fictional Connecticut town. Discover the full list here.

In nonfiction, “Notes to John,” a posthumous work by Joan Didion, features descriptions of her therapy sessions in journal entries addressed to her husband. Additionally, a new biography aims to demystify and defend Yoko Ono. Explore our nonfiction selections here.