Tom Howell Jr.

Washington, D.C.

White House and Health Care Reporter at Washington Times

Reporter for The Washington Times

Articles

Inflation was steady in April, meaning no sign of tariff shock yet

1 day ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

Consumer prices rose in April but not as badly as expected, according to a federal inflation report Tuesday that shows President Trump’s tariffs have not taken a major toll on prices so far. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the consumer price index rose 0.2% in April for an annual rate of 2.3%, putting it slightly below Wall Street predictions. Shelter costs rose 0.3%, accounting for more than half of the all-items increase.
Global markets rally after U.S. and China cool trade tensions

2 days ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

Global stocks surged Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to de-escalate tariffs that had effectively frozen trade between the world’s largest economies. Dow Futures on Wall Street soared after the White House said both sides had agreed to drastically reduce tariffs for 90 days. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures jumped over 3% and 4%, respectively, ahead of the opening bell.
New normal: Trump committed to a 10% tariff baseline for all nations

5 days ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

The White House says President Trump is “determined” to maintain at least a 10% tariff on all imports, meaning all nations should expect a baseline tax on their goods even if they negotiate trade pacts with the U.S. Dozens of trading partners are scrambling to negotiate down sky-high levies that Mr. Trump imposed, then paused, in early April. It’s a fluid process, but this much should be clear: Mr. Trump will only go so low.
Trump hails trade deal that opens British market to farm products, other goods

6 days ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

- The Washington Times - President Trump on Thursday said the U.S. struck a trade deal that will open the British market to plenty of American farm products, chemicals and machinery. Mr. Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, said beef, ethanol and other agricultural products will flood into the U.K. He said the British side also agreed to drop certain nontariff trade barriers.
Trump hails U.K. trade deal that opens British market to farm products, other goods

6 days ago | go.shr.lc | Tom Howell Jr.

President Trump on Thursday said the U.S. struck a trade deal that will open the British market to plenty of American farm products, chemicals and machinery, a major development in the White House’s attempt to rebalance global trade — even if bigger challenges lie ahead. Mr. Trump said beef, ethanol and other agricultural products will flood into the U.K. and added that the British side agreed to drop certain nontariff trade barriers.
Trump says U.K. is first trade deal under his tariff plan

6 days ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

President Trump said Thursday the U.S. struck a trade deal with the U.K. that would “cement” the countries’ relationship for years to come. The deal, which will be unveiled in a White House news conference, could be the first of dozens of promised trade deals tied to Mr. Trump’s aggressive trade agenda.
Donald Trump strikes defiant tone on trade talks: 'We don't have to sign deals'

1 week ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

President Trump on Tuesday said the onus is on other countries to strike trade pacts with the U.S. and not the other way around, pushing back against anxious investors and others who’ve grown impatient for deals. He drew the hard line on trade talks during a sit-down with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country is fighting back against U.S. tariffs. “We don’t have to sign deals,” Mr. Trump said. “They have to sign deals with us.
Trump signals he will press Canadian leader on trade deficit

1 week ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

President Trump teed up a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday by saying he plans to press his northern neighbor on why the U.S. has a big trade deficit with Canada and supplies benefits such as military protection. The musings, outlined in a Truth Social post before Mr. Carney’s arrival, suggested Mr. Trump would lean into his talk of making Canada a “51st state” despite his outwardly friendly approach to the prime minister, who was just elected.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urges investor patience to see the big picture of Trump's agenda

1 week ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

- The Washington Times - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told investors Monday that President Trump’s economic agenda is “more than the sum of its parts,” pointing to deregulation and tax cuts as companions to the White House tariff plan that is making Wall Street anxious. Mr. Bessent, speaking at the Milken Institute, said Americans will “harvest” the benefits of the intertwined policies.
Wall Street slumps over Donald Trump's latest tariff threat on films

1 week ago | washingtontimes.com | Tom Howell Jr.

President Trump’s proposal to slap a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S. reverberated across Wall Street markets Monday. All three major New York stock indexes fell significantly in early trading after a recent run of gains, and major studios saw their shares fall after Mr. Trump late Sunday said foreign-made films were a “national security threat” and “messaging and propaganda.” Netflix was down 5%, and Disney and Warner Bros.