PresidentDonald Trumpthreatened to impose additional tariffs on countries that impose digital taxes or similar regulations on United Statestechcompanies.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump denounced digital taxes, digital services legislation, and digital markets regulations against U.S. tech companies. He argued that such moves were designed to harm U.S. tech companies while giving a pass to China.
"This must end, and end NOW! With this TRUTH, I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country's Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips," Trump wrote.
"America, and American Technology Companies, are neither the 'piggy bank' nor the 'doormat' of the World any longer. Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies, or consider the consequences!" he added.
Trump's ire over tech regulations has mainly focused on the European Union, which has clashed with U.S. tech companies over content moderation, competitiveness, and other issues.
A study published last month by the Computer and Communications Industry Association Research Center found that EU tech regulations, including digital taxes, cost U.S. companies between $38.9 billion and $97.6 billion annually.
The EU has several laws regulating digital online service providers, the two most prominent being the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act. These regulations became a major sticking point during Trump's trade negotiations with the EU.
Senior Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang is heading to Washington this week for trade talks with the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Li Chenggang, the top aide to Beijing's lead negotiator, He Lifeng, will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and senior officials at the Department of the Treasury later this week, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report, which also said Li will meet with representatives of the U.S. business community.
The Chinese commerce ministry and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.
Li's trip would follow three preceding trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies since May - in Geneva, London and, earlier this month in Stockholm.
Li is expected to discuss soybean purchases and push for the U.S. to relax restrictions on technology exports to China, WSJ reported.
Beijing is likely to also continue to demand that the Trump administration remove the fentanyl-related tariffs of 20% in negotiations over soybeans and Boeing jets, according to WSJ.
The U.S. and China extended a tariff truce for another 90 days two weeks ago, staving off triple-digit duties on each other's goods that would have resulted in a virtual trade embargo between the two countries.
The order maintains a 30% U.S. tariff on Chinese imports, and a 10% Chinese duties on U.S. imports.
Copper and potash were added to the U.S. Geological Survey’s draft list of critical minerals, among a list of 54 proposed for inclusion on the 2025 List of Critical Minerals, according to a notice in the Federal Register on Monday.
The copper industry has been pushing for critical mineral status to reflect the metal’s importance to the economy and national security, hoping that inclusion on the list would help make projects eligible for federal funding and streamlined permitting for exploration, mining and processing projects.
Meanwhile, much of the potash used in the U.S. is imported from Canada, which have so far been spared from tariffs as part of an exemption for goods under a North American free trade agreement.
The U.S. Department of the Interior also will ask for public comments on whether to include uranium and metallurgical coal, which is used in the production of steel, in the final draft.
Among potentially relevant stocks, Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) closed +1.8% in Monday's trading, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) +0.9%, and Nutrien (NYSE:NTR) +0.6%.
The first driverless robotaxis hit the streets of the Big Apple as part of a test program with humans still in the driver seat, though some New Yorkers said futuristic tech is a disaster waiting to happen.
Waymo officials are assessing how its vehicles will handle city obstacles like jaywalkers, taxis, cyclists and carriage horses as up to eight robotaxis make their way around Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The company, owned by Google parent Alphabet, was granted approval Friday by the Department of Transportation to deploy the vehicles in a test run and they’ve already been spotted in Manhattan’s bustling Soho neighborhood over the weekend.
The vehicles won’t be taking on riders for the duration of the pilot, which will wrap in September with the possibility of an extension, according to a spokesperson for the company.Billy Becerra / NY Post The pilot program — which won’t take any passengers — is set to end in September but some critics have already made up their minds.
“If there’s one place on Earth that was NOT meant for self-driving cars, it’s NYC. This is a really bad idea,” former Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote in a Friday X post.
Rodrigue Wabo, a 45-year-old Times Square sightseeing company operator, said he didn’t think the tech was safe.
“It’s a very busy area, and it’s just a machine,” Wabo said. “For me, I don’t trust that.”
Uber driver Mohamed, who was driving by the area Monday, said there were too many factors in the city that need “a quick reflex.”
Mohamed described driving in New York as “completely different” from other states, from rapid fire braking to a local vehicular dialect: honking.
“In New York, honking here is a way of communication,” he explained. “It’s way more than just honk to get your way, it’s about communication with the next driver.”
Others, like Manhattanite Stephen Sposito welcomed the tech, and said it would eliminate driver distractions.
“The idea makes sense,” he said. “The idea feels safer than a driver, ultimately.”
A Waymo driverless vehicle being tested on Spring Street in SoHo.Billy Becerra / NY Post
The self-driving car service began collecting data via human drivers in Waymo vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn in July. The company first drove through Gotham in 2021, though that trip focused on weather data collection.
The all-electric vehicles are approved to travel south of 112th Street in Manhattan and, in Brooklyn, north of Atlantic Avenue and west of Carlton Street through the likes of Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO.
Waymo already operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta, and is planning to launch its autonomous drivers in Miami later this year and Washington DC in 2026. The service has completed over 10 million rides and touts a “strong safety record,” a company rep said.
Its New York testing permit still requires all vehicles to be manned by a human safety specialist in the car, Waymo said, as state law has yet to allow autonomous vehicles without a human copilot.
A pair of state bills introduced in January seek to change the law but haven’t gotten past the committee stage.
“We’re proud to be working with New York state leaders to lay the groundwork for fully autonomous rides,” Waymo said in a statement.
Waymo’s New York testing permit still requires all vehicles to be manned by a human safety specialist in the car, as state law requires a human inside vehicles at all times.Billy Becerra / NY Post
Despite City Hall attesting the vehicles will be subjected to “the nation’s strictest AV safety rules,” not all New Yorkers seem to be driven by the idea.Billy Becerra / NY Post
“With over 10 million rides completed in five major U.S. cities and a strong safety record, we’re proud to be working with leaders to lay the groundwork to bring this life saving technology to New Yorkers one day,” said Annabel Chang, head of US state and local public policy at Waymo, “beginning with receiving the first-ever permit issued in the city to drive autonomously.
“We believe it is essential for companies to collaborate directly with cities on the rollout of autonomous technology,” Chang added, “and are pleased to have reached this next step in New York City.”
Google’s Artificial Intelligence overview system promoted outlandish rumors aboutthe funeral of Jeff Bezos’ motherbefore the small ceremony even occurred — including that rapper Eminem performed and Elon Musk made an appearance, according to a report.
Bezos’ mother, Jacklyn Gise Bezos, died on Aug. 14 after a long fight with Lewy body dementia, the Amazon founder announced. She was 78.
Following her death, false information about her burial service was quickly detailed on Google’s AI search results, days before the actual service took place on Friday at the Caballero Rivero Westchester funeral home in West Miami, the Daily Mail reported.
Bezos, 61, and his new wife, Lauren Sánchez, 55, were captured in photos clasping hands at the intimate ceremony where other members of the Bezos family attended.
Google’s Artificial Intelligence overview system promoted outlandish rumors about the funeral of Jeff Bezos’ mother, Jacklyn Gise Bezos, before the actual and small ceremony (pictured) even occurred.MiamiPIXX / BACKGRID
Bezos’ mother died on Aug. 14.Getty Images But a falsely generated Google AI Overview of the service on Thursday claimed “the service was attended by family, friends, and notable figures, with reports of unexpected appearances by Elon Musk and Eminem, who reportedly delivered a moving tribute,” the outlet reported.
“Eminem sang his 2005 hit ‘Mockingbird’ at the service,” the generated report claimed.
One source of the misinformation was the site “BBCmovie.cc,” which uses a similar name to the reputable British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the outlet reported.
The BBC movie site — which raises potential security threat alerts when you attempt to visit it — also contained fake AI-generated photos of SpaceX CEO Musk with his hand on the shoulder of a sobbing Bezos in a funeral scene, according to the publication.
On Wednesday, another suspect site posted a dramatic retelling of Eminem’s performance, claiming he wore a “black suit, knit beanie pulled low, [and] dark sunglasses.”
“Whispers rippled through the room. The man removed his sunglasses. It was Eminem,” the fake article said.
“The service was attended by family, friends, and notable figures, with reports of unexpected appearances by Elon Musk and Eminem, who reportedly delivered a moving tribute,” the falsely generated report said. Getty Images
Google has since updated its AI overview of the funeral service with accurate information.
The new and true overview details how Jacklyn Bezos was surrounded by family when she died at her Miami home, according to her son.
“Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17,” the 61-year-old billionaire wrote in a touching Instagram tribute.
The Google AI Overview falsely said rapper Eminem performed his hit “Mockingbird” during the ceremony.ABC via Getty Images
Jacklyn, who helped her son launch Amazon with a nearly $250,000 investment in 1995, married Jeff’s stepfather, Miguel Bezos, in 1968. Together, they welcomed his siblings, Christina and Mark.
Google defended its AI tool in a statement to the Daily Mail.
The “vast majority of AI Overviews are high quality and meet our high bar for helpfulness and accuracy,” a Google spokesperson told the outlet.
