Live Updates: Trump to Implement Reciprocal and Auto Tariffs in April; Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Coming in March

As President Donald Trump prepares to introduce new tariffs on cars and steel in the coming months, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the U.S. market. Källenius emphasized that Mercedes-Benz has a significant presence in the United States and considers itself an American company as well. Read More

Despite being outspoken on many issues, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has not commented publicly on President Trump’s tariff policies. While Musk often shares his opinions on social media, he has remained quiet about the administration’s tariff plans affecting various industries, including automotive manufacturing.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, ending a trip that included the highest-level discussions between the U.S. and Russia since the Ukraine war began in 2022.

In their meeting, Rubio thanked the UAE for its strong partnership and ongoing support, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The UAE has played an important role in helping to arrange prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.

Although the UAE did not release an official statement, the state-linked newspaper The National reported that Sheikh Mohammed told Rubio the UAE strongly opposes any attempt to force Palestinians out of Gaza.

Rubio’s visit comes as the U.S. tries to maintain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Officials confirmed that staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were at the Pentagon on Tuesday, receiving lists of the military’s probationary employees. Each branch of the military had until the end of the day to identify these workers.

It remains unclear whether all probationary employees will face dismissal. Some workers performing critical duties may be exempt from potential job cuts. The affected personnel include civilian defense employees who are new to their roles—uniformed military members are not impacted.

These potential staff reductions at the Pentagon follow similar actions at other federal agencies. Recently, probationary employees, including those with high-level security clearances at the National Nuclear Security Administration, were dismissed despite their critical responsibilities.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) more affordable and easier to access for people struggling to have children. The order aims to lower the high costs of fertility treatments and improve availability across the country.

Trump also issued a separate directive calling for "radical transparency" from government agencies. He said this could help reduce unnecessary spending, though he did not share specific steps or timelines for these changes.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on pharmaceutical and semiconductor imports, following the scheduled auto tariffs in April. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday, Trump stated that these sector-specific tariffs would start at "25% or higher" and could increase over the next year.

While no official date has been set for implementing these duties, Trump mentioned that the delay would allow drug and chip manufacturers time to establish production facilities in the United States to avoid the tariffs.

He also hinted that several major global companies might announce new investments in the US in the coming weeks but did not provide additional details.