Newswatch

Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Take Effect

President Trump formally rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariffs Wednesday, imposing 10% levies on nearly all imports from more than 20 countries starting April 5.

Higher country-specific rates will kick in on April 9 for nations listed in an annex to the order. Key targets include China (34%), Vietnam (46%), and Taiwan (32%). Trump has said tariffs could go to zero if companies move operations to the U.S.

Trump cited unequal tariff rates, non-tariff barriers, and wage-suppressing policies by trading partners like China, India, and the EU as threats to U.S. supply chains and military readiness.

Key exemptions to the tariffs include defense goods, critical minerals, energy, and goods from Canada and Mexico that meet North American trade rules. Read the full executive order here.

Amazon Bids on TikTok at Last Minute

Amazon made a surprise last-minute bid to acquire TikTok ahead of the April 5 deadline set by the Trump administration for ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.

President Trump is weighing multiple bids, including a proposal from OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely. Stokely’s new company, Zoop, has partnered with a crypto-currency foundation to develop a monetization-focused model.

Existing U.S. investors like Susquehanna and KKR aim to take majority control, with Oracle expected to expand its role in data oversight.

Andreessen Horowitz and Blackstone are also interested. The deal must remove Chinese ownership to satisfy U.S. law, and Trump said he’s open to extending the deadline if needed.

Actor Val Kilmer Dies at 65

Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor known for his roles in Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, has died at age 65 in Los Angeles.

Kilmer had battled throat cancer since 2014 and underwent a tracheotomy that affected his speech.

A Juilliard-trained actor, Kilmer rose to stardom as “Iceman” in Top Gun and earned acclaim for portraying Jim Morrison and Doc Holliday.

He reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), his final credited role. See his life in photos here.

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