Economy

China Says to Slap Extra 34% Tariffs on US Imports
China Says to Slap Extra 34% Tariffs on US Imports

China said on Friday it would slap 34 percent tariffs on all imports of US goods from April 10 after Washington imposed steep new levies on Chinese products. "For all imported goods originating from the US, an additional tariff of 34 percent on top of the current applicable tariff rate will be imposed," Beijing's finance ministry said. Beijing's ...

Europe Markets Extend Losses After Tariff Rout
Europe Markets Extend Losses After Tariff Rout

European equities opened in the red on Friday, extending losses after US President Donald Trump's tariff offensive sparked a global stock market rout. Paris shed 0.9 percent to 7,533.26 points, Frankfurt fell 0.7 percent to 21,566.33 and London also dropped 0.7 percent to 8,416.32. Trump's harsher-than-expected "Liberation Day" levies sent ...

Trump's New Tariffs: A Storm Brewing in Troubled Waters
SpotlightTrump's New Tariffs: A Storm Brewing in Troubled Waters

President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose historic tariffs on 185 countries and territories, announced on Thursday, has reverberated across the global economy. The repercussions of these tariffs will be felt worldwide, with Arab countries being especially impacted. Among the hardest-hit nations are Syria, Iraq, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, ...

Salam Publishes Three Laws That Mikati Requested to Be Rejected
Salam Publishes Three Laws That Mikati Requested to Be Rejected

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requested the publication of three laws in the Official Gazette. Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati had previously demanded that these laws be sent back to Parliament for reconsideration. One law is related to the teaching staff in private schools and the regulation of the school budget. The second law is about granting ...

Commercial Leases: Publication of the New Law in the Official Gazette
ExplainerCommercial Leases: Publication of the New Law in the Official Gazette

The new law on commercial leases has been published on Thursday in the first edition of the Official Gazette following the Eid al-Fitr holiday. This sets a precedent in Lebanon’s legislative history, as no law has ever been published in the Official Gazette a year after its promulgation. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that its publication is ...

Saddi Streamlines Solar Panel Installation Process
Saddi Streamlines Solar Panel Installation Process

In a bid to simplify the administrative procedures for installing solar panels for personal electricity use of up to 1.5 megawatts, Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi announced that prior approval from his Ministry is no longer required. This change, based on Law 462/2002, allows citizens to install solar panels without needing ...

Oil Prices Plunge Amid Trade War Fears and OPEC+ Production Boost
Oil Prices Plunge Amid Trade War Fears and OPEC+ Production Boost

Oil prices plunged on Thursday after the announcement of U.S. protectionist measures by President Donald Trump, triggering fears over the potential impact on global economic growth and oil demand. Adding to the downward pressure, OPEC revealed a larger-than-expected increase in production. By 12:05 GMT (14:05 Paris time), Brent crude for June ...

Fitch Downgrades China's Rating to 'A', Outlook Stable
Fitch Downgrades China's Rating to 'A', Outlook Stable

Global ratings agency Fitch downgraded China's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating from 'A+' to 'A' on Thursday, noting weakening finances and debt concerns. "The downgrade reflects our expectations of a continued weakening of China's public finances and a rapidly rising public debt trajectory during the country's economic ...

Dollar, Stocks Sink as Gold Hits High on Trump Tariffs
Dollar, Stocks Sink as Gold Hits High on Trump Tariffs

The dollar and equity markets tumbled Thursday after President Donald Trump's latest tariffs salvo against countries worldwide, fanning a trade war that many fear will spark recession and ramp up inflation. The dollar slumped by as much as 2.6 percent versus the euro, its biggest intraday plunge in a decade, and suffered sharp losses also against ...

Finance Minister and Banque de l’Habitat CEO Sign Agreement for Online Property Certificate
Finance Minister and Banque de l’Habitat CEO Sign Agreement for Online Property Certificate

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and General Manager of the Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) Antoine Habib signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, launching an electronic link between the two organizations. This new system allows the bank to instantly and at no cost access an online certificate of non-ownership for borrowers, streamlining the ...

The Ongoing Gold Rush
The Ongoing Gold Rush

Gold prices continue to soar, drawing increased interest from investors and central banks worldwide. Since January 2025, the price of an ounce of gold has surged by 12%, fueling a surge in demand for the precious metal. This surge is driven by President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and his pledge of “the mother of all trade ...

US Stocks Advance Ahead of Looming Trump Tariffs
US Stocks Advance Ahead of Looming Trump Tariffs

Wall Street stocks rose ahead of US President Donald Trump's fresh wave of tariffs, while European stocks ended the day lower. The dollar was mostly lower, oil prices wobbled, while gold, viewed as a safe-haven investment, came close to achieving a fresh all-time high. After Tokyo's stock market closed up slightly and Chinese indices steadied, ...