The European Commission on Monday proposedcounter-tariffsof 25% on a range of American goods in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum, according to media reports.
The tariffs on some goods will go into effect on May 16, while others will begin later this year, according to a document viewed by Reuters.
Maros Sefcovic, the European Union trade chief, said the counter-tariffs would impact less than the previously announced 26 billion euros.
Goods such as bourbon, wine and dairy have been removed from the original list the Commission was weighing in March. The Commission had earmarked a 50% tariff on bourbon, which had prompted Trump to threaten a 200% counter-tariff on EU alcoholic drinks if the bloc goes ahead.
FOX Business has reached out to the White House.
The European Union also floated a "zero-for-zero" tariff resolution with the Trump administration after 20% import levies were imposed by Washington last week, the New York Post reported.
"We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday.
"Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table," she said at a press conference.
Sefcovic said the zero-for-zero arrangement would be applied to chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber, plastic machinery and cars.
Over the weekend, Trump's unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries went into effect, with U.S. customs agents beginning to collect.
The initial 10% "baseline" tariff took effect at U.S. seaports, airports and customs warehouses at 12:01 a.m. ET. Higher taxes on goods from 57 larger trading partners are set to start next week.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday about tariffs, trade relations, immigration and prospects for engagement on critical minerals, the State Department and Pakistan's foreign ministry said a separate statements.
President Donald Trump said last week that he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S. and higher duties on dozens of other countries, including some of Washington's biggest trading partners, rattling global markets and bewildering U.S. allies. The Trump administration imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistan.
"They (Rubio and Dar) discussed U.S. reciprocal tariffs on Pakistan and how to make progress toward a fair and balanced trade relationship," the State Department said.
"The Secretary raised prospects for engagement on critical minerals and expressed interest in expanding commercial opportunities for U.S. companies."
Pakistan's foreign ministry said Rubio "reciprocated the desire to collaborate with Pakistan in trade and investment in various sectors, especially critical minerals."
The Trump administration has also used prospects of engagement over critical minerals with others countries.
For example, it is attempting to strike an agreement over critical minerals with Ukraine as part of talks related to the Russia-Ukraine war. Washington has also said it is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo and help end a conflict raging in the African country's east.
In the call with Dar, Rubio emphasized the importance of Pakistan's cooperation with the U.S. on law enforcement and addressing illegal immigration, the State Department said.
Last month, Pakistan highlighted its cooperation with Washington on countering extremism after the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, whom the U.S. blames for a 2021 attack on its troops at Kabul airport, in a military operation along the border with Afghanistan.
The Pakistan foreign ministry said Rubio and Dar discussed the situation in Afghanistan.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead trade negotiations with Japan, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Under Bessent, Washington is likely to discuss dollar/yen moves with Tokyo as well as trade, the Nikkei said, citing an unnamed U.S. Treasury Department source.
The animal tranquilizersxylazineand medetomidine are in approximately one-third of the illegal opioids available in the U.S., includingfentanyl,heroinandoxycodone. Animal tranquilizers enhance the user's euphoric high from opioids, particularly in those who have developed atolerance to the opioid. But adding the tranquilizers to thesealready illicit drugs could keep naloxone, a medication known to prevent deaths from opioid overdose, from working.
These are the key findings of my recent study, published in March 2025 in the Journal of Pharmacy Technology.
I conducted this new systematic review to collate information on the prevalence of animal tranquilizer adulteration of illicit opioid products, the mechanisms of action, and how these new products could affect the current recommendations for naloxone use in people who have stopped breathing.
Quick administration of naloxone—also known as Narcan—by a first responder, loved one or bystander can revive an opioid user who has overdosed. If administered in time, naloxone is effective in over 90% of cases. Typically, a nasal spray is used.
But animal tranquilizers bypass the opioid receptors; instead, they overstimulate the brain's alpha-2 receptors, which are responsible for inducing relaxation.
Naloxone, however, does not significantly affect alpha-2 receptors, so it doesn't work as well with opioids laced with animal tranquilizers.
To put it another way, naloxone remains effective against the opioid portion of a combination product, but it's ineffective against the animal tranquilizer component.
Often, the result is death. One study shows just over 35% of users who overdosed on xylazine, with or without opioids, died.
Neither emergency personnel nor loved ones can tell whether a user has taken only the opioid or a combination drug, which means they can no longer be sure whether the naloxone will work.
This is all happening as overdose opioid deaths in the U.S. experienced a slight decline. There were just over 81,0000 deaths in 2023, about a 4% decrease from the previous year.
Currently, if you can't rouse a person you suspect has overdosed, the recommendation is to administer the first nasal dose of naloxone before calling 911.
But now, because of the possibility the opioid contains a tranquilizer, it might be better to call 911 before giving the first dose, as is now recommended in New York state. That way, first responders arrive sooner and can provide mechanical ventilation, if needed.
Should the person not revive after the first dose, rather than following the current standard recommendation—sitting and waiting two minutes before dispensing the second dose—new research suggests it might be better to do rescue breathing. Regardless of what happens in the interdose period, if the second dose is unsuccessful, New York state now recommends rescue breathing until first responders arrive.
In perhaps the most backward development of the New York City mayoral race, 10 of the 28 elected officials who have thrown their support behind the embattled ex-governor once wanted him out of public office.
The eyebrow-raising flip-flop — which includes women in elected office — has turned the Me Too Movement on its head.
“Electeds’ support for Cuomo is a slap-in-the-face betrayal to government workers everywhere, including their own staff. It’s cowardly for anyone who rightfully spoke up against Cuomo four years ago to now say ‘Ho hum, second chances, let the voters decide, etc.,'” said Erica Vladimer, founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, which fought harassment against legislative staffers.
Several elected officials had issued statements slamming Cuomo, but have a made a complete about-face now that the Democrat’s running for mayor.
Queens state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky is among those who urged Cuomo to step down as governor — only to turn around and endorse him for mayor.
“It is clear that there is a pattern of unacceptable and troubling behavior. The governor should resign or face impeachment,” Stavisky said on Aug. 3, 2021.
Queens state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky is among those who urged Cuomo to step down as governor.Hans Pennink
Her statement came out after a devastating report commissioned by state Attorney General Letitia James substantiated harassment claims leveled against Cuomo by a slew of women.
Cuomo has denied the harassment accusations from female staffers and other women, including a state trooper.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who is the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman, is now among Cuomo’s biggest boosters.
But she previously said Cuomo’s “resignation was in the interest of the people of this state. In this disquieting time, there is some relief in seeing repercussions for Cuomo’s shameful conduct.”
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who is the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman, is now among Cuomo’s biggest boosters.William C. Lopez/NYPOST
Brooklyn Councilwoman Farah Louis, another Cuomo mayoral endorser, also had welcomed his resignation.
“Governor Cuomo’s actions were deeply wrong. His decision to resign was the right one as it was clear that he could no longer lead New York State effectively,” Louis said in a statement on Aug. 11, 2021.
Likewise, state Senator James Sanders said, “I am calling on Governor Cuomo to resign” after James’ report, but has since endorsed the ex-governor for mayor.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres said at the time that Cuomo’s “resignation is in the best interest of New York State.” But when he was one of the first big endorsers for Cuomo in February, he said he didn’t want to “relitigate the past.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres was one of the first big endorsers for Cuomo in February.Ron Adar/Shutterstock
“I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo,” Torres said. “America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the Queens Democratic leader and current Cuomo backer, co-signed a statement on Aug. 3, 2021 that said, “The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign.”
Another endorser, state Sen Joe Addabbo (D-Queens) said simply, ” Governor Cuomo made the correct decision in stepping down from his position.”
Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens), who has also endorsed Cuomo, said at the time, “The troubling allegations would probably have resulted in articles of impeachment had the Governor not resigned on August 10th, effective August 24th.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks and Cuomo hold hands at the County Democratic Headquarters in Queens on March 30.Ron Adar / M10s / SplashNews.com
Meanwhile, Ed Braunstein, another Queens assemblyman in the Cuomo camp, said, “The Governor’s resignation ends a difficult and painful chapter in our state’s history and is in the best interest of New Yorkers.”
But Cuomo’s campaign claimed he has been vindicated.
The cases of accusations leveled against the ex-governor by plaintiffs in court — regarding sexual misconduct or his nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic — were either closed by prosecutors for lack of evidence, or were dismissed or not proven thus far in civil court.
“New York is in crisis – a crisis of affordability, of quality of life, and of leadership and Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the proven track record of results to tackle these issues head on, which is why he has built a broad coalition of support that reflects our great city and is leading in every borough, and with every race and gender, and those who represent them and with organized labor,” said Cuomo campaign spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
“Since the beginning, we said all of this was political and wasn’t going anywhere, and four years later that has all borne out.”
Democrats have longed railed against the scourge of “dark money” and foreign influence on elections and spent the entire 2024 election promising to “save democracy” from the dastardly Republicans, but it turns out the call was coming from inside the house.
The result: Hundreds of fraudulent donations poured in — some from countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
According to internal documents, ActBlue changed its fraud policy twice during the 2024 election.ActBlue
Worse, the nonprofit knew mass fraud was likely happening and increased the risk.
An ActBlue Fraud Prevention Specialist flagged that the outfit’s “likelihood of fraudulence” score with its fraud-prevention company, Sift, was “the highest it [had] ever been and appear[ed] to be climbing further” in July 2024, yet the bosses chose to weaken the guardrails for the second time in a year just two months later.
All making it easier to get illegal donations through ActBlue’s swiss-cheese screening system.
From the report: “Internal communications explain that ‘if someone could coordinate a big attack where each individual donation fell below the [fraud review] threshold, they would go through.’”
Yet ActBlue told fraud-prevention staff to “look for reasons to accept contributions.”
The report follows a racketeering lawsuit filed by a Wisconsin Republican strategist who claims his identity was stolen and used to make 385 fake donations to various lefty causes via ActBlue.
In short, ActBlue looks so eager to help Democrats that it basically whitewashed illegal giving.
Cue a mass rush for the doors — seven ActBlue senior officials have resigned, and a top lawyer in its general counsel office went on leave after suggesting he was retaliated against for whistleblowing.
Democrats routinely pretend that Republicans are funded by special interests and “the 1%,” while their candidates are backed by small, grassroots donors — “real Americans.”
All while they’re raking in cash from billionaires like George Soros, Reid Hoffman, Pierre Omidyar, Peter Buffett andHansjorg Wyss, with vast dark-money givinglaundered through outfits like the Tides Foundation and shady foreign donors.
The “democracy is in danger” party has been pointing its finger in the wrong direction.
