AP Business Digest
Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.
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UPCOMING
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INVESTORS-WHAT TO DO
The big declines in global stock markets have investors feeling jittery and perhaps tempted to sell. Financial advisors say it's fine to make some adjustments to reduce risk in your investments, but if you bail out now you just lock in the losses, given that historically the market has bounced back from every downturn. By Stan Choe and Cora Lewis.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 12:00 p.m. EDT.
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US-TRUMP TARIFFS
FORMATS: Photo, Video, Text, LiveVideo
1. WITH: CONGRESS-TARIFFS
2. DESCRIPTION: Republicans in Congress are privately uneasy with the scope of President Donald Trump's tariff blitz, yet remain hesitant to assert their power and act despite the many legislative tools at their disposal.
3. UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT
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LESOTHO TRUMP TARIFFS
DESCRIPTION: Analysis around US president Donald Trump's decision to impose 50% trade tariffs on exports from Lesotho. c. 600 words upcoming.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 10:30 a.m. EDT, Photo, Text
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FEDERAL RESERVE-POWELL
DESCRIPTION: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing's annual conference in Arlington, Virginia. By Christopher Rugaber. UPCOMING: Powell scheduled to speak at 11:25 a.m.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 11:25 a.m. EDT, Photo, Video, Text, LiveVideo
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MICROSOFT-50TH-AI
DESCRIPTION: Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft's artificial intelligence division, speaks about his approach to the business of AI as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary and its co-founder Bill Gates has recently attracted attention for warning that the fast-developing technology will replace humans in many jobs.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 12:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Video, Text, LiveVideo
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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US--TARIFFS-CONSUMER IMPACT
How Trump's latest tariffs could affect your wallet
SUMMARY: Steeper tariffs mean you'll likely see higher prices from the grocery aisle to your next car repair. Economists say consumers foot the bill from these kind of trade actions and stress the far-reaching impacts that U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariffs will have on goods sourced from around the world. These tariffs could also escalate inequities. Low-income families in particular will feel the costs of key necessities, like food and energy, rise with less ability to dive into savings -- significantly straining everyday budgets. And, beyond more immediate price pressures, experts warn that tariffs could contribute to unemployment or lower incomes down the road.
WORDS: 1448 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:17 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ba862da51b51ae1afdfae08bf02c2449&mediaType=text
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US--TARIFFS-WORLD REACTION
China punches back as world weighs how to deal with higher US tariffs
SUMMARY: Countries and industries are scrambling to respond as President Donald Trump's latest tariffs hikes upend global trade and world markets. As world markets wallowed in heavy losses Friday, Taiwan's president promised to provide support to industries most vulnerable to the 32% tariffs Trump ordered in his "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariffs announcement. China responded to the 34% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from China by announcing it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10. Vietnam said its deputy prime minister would visit the U.S. for talks on trade. Writing in a social media post, Trump said: "My policies will never change. This is a great time to get rich."
WORDS: 1208 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:06 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2c40881f1fe8f04624100c12d8d05296&mediaType=text
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ML--LEBANON-CENTRAL BANK
Lebanon's new central bank chief vows to fight money laundering and terrorism funding
WORDS: 403 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:56 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:574082fddc2a0c41e992069649d156ed&mediaType=text
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US-ECONOMY-JOBS-REPORT
US added 228,000 jobs in March as economy showed strength in buildup to Trump trade wars
SUMMARY: U.S. employers added a surprising 228,000 jobs last month, as the American labor market continues to show resilience as President Donald Trump wages trade wars, purges federal workers and deports immigrants working in the United States illegally. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%. The hiring numbers were up from 117,000 in February and were nearly double the 130,000 that economists had expected.
WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:55 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d43b08bda57cb5d90b5bac1f092e1f3d&mediaType=text
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EU--NATO-DEFENSE-SPENDING
Europe and Canada say they'll spend more on defense, but are cool on US demands
SUMMARY: European NATO allies and Canada say they will ramp up defense spending but are cool on U.S. demands for the size of their military budgets. They are also concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's close relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. U.S. allies have spent billions of dollars more on defense since Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. But several still don't meet NATO's target of at least 2% of their gross domestic product. Trump says U.S. allies should commit to spending 5%. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday that it's "important that we all agree that Russia is a threat."
WORDS: 739 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:36 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a84753c3c2edeb929f2ec27decbfe324&mediaType=text
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US--TRUMP-TARIFFS TIMELINE
Trump's tariffs have launched global trade wars. Here's a timeline of how we got here
SUMMARY: Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into trade wars abroad -- all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. Trump is no stranger to tariffs. He also launched a trade war during his first term in office, but has more sweeping plans now. Economists stress there could greater consequences this time -- and that higher prices will likely lead consumers to foot the bill. There's also been a sense of whiplash from Trump's back-and-forth tariff threats and responding retaliation, including some recently-postponed levies. Still, Trump has announced sweeping trade actions -- most recently with his launch of "reciprocal" tariffs.
WORDS: 1679 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:04 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0&mediaType=text
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CHINA-US-TARIFFS
China imposes a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products starting April 10
SUMMARY: China has announced it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10, part of a flurry of retaliatory measures following U.S. President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" slate of double-digit tariffs. The Commerce Ministry in Beijing also said it will impose more export controls on rare earths, which are materials used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries. The Chinese government also said it would add 27 U.S. companies to lists of companies subject to trade sanctions or export controls. It also announced it has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization over the tariffs issue.
WORDS: 533 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 8:19 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:02cd23e913649f32985f075058e787c4&mediaType=text
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AS--SRI LANKA-DEMINING
Sri Lanka's target to be free of land mines by 2028 is under threat as US reviews aid
SUMMARY: Thavarathnam Pushparani fought on the front lines for the now-defeated Tamil Tiger rebels against the Sri Lankan forces in its decades-long separatist war and later took to clearing the land mines on the same battle lines. But the Trump administration's suspension of aid threatens Sri Lanka's demining operations, pushing the livelihoods of thousands like Pushparani into uncertainty. What is more uncertain for Sri Lanka now is its obligation to rid the island nation of mines by 2028 under the Ottawa Treaty, which it ratified in 2017.
WORDS: 1012 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 7:41 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ce9a6506463fdd2701df38498ff7dac6&mediaType=text
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TRUMP-TARIFFS-EVS
US electric vehicle industry is collateral damage in Trump's escalating trade war
SUMMARY: One big loser in President Donald Trump's escalating trade war is likely to be the U.S. electric vehicle industry. Electric cars are already more expensive to make in the U.S. and more expensive for car buyers than vehicles that run on gasoline. As tariffs drive up all sorts of supply chain and production costs for automakers, they will have to prioritize making the cars that are most profitable. Those won't be electric. Automakers were already pulling back on ambitious electrification plans amid shrinking federal support and are strapped for cash on what is the less lucrative side of their businesses.
WORDS: 872 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 6:51 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a106cce5b6acbf5d14ad1e583e301b50&mediaType=text
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EU--FRANCE-TARIFFS-WINE
Faced with Trump's new tariff, French wine producers expect rough times ahead
SUMMARY: France's wine producers are deeply concerned that the 20% tariff slapped by President Donald Trump will deal a severe blow to the sector that relies on the U.S. as its top market. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday warned of "massive" impact as he met with representatives of the most affected industries, including wine and spirits. Macron said France is likely to be slightly less impacted than some of its neighbours, because wine exports to the U.S. represent 1.5% of France's GDP while they represent over 3% for Italy and 4% for Germany.
WORDS: 586 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 6:37 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1c079965b0ef973db6a3af34aadce2f1&mediaType=text
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US--TRUMP
Trump says things are 'going very well' after worst stock market drop in years over tariffs
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is sounding an upbeat note about his tariffs even as the stock market reacted by falling more than 1,600 points. He said Thursday, "I think it's going very well." Trump likened the United States to a sick patient in need of surgery and said the market drop after his announcement was to be expected. U.S. stocks led a worldwide selloff after the Republican president's tariff announcement on Wednesday. Trump announced a minimum tariff of 10% on imports, with the tax rate running much higher on products from certain countries like China and those from the European Union.
WORDS: 387 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 2:19 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a3b863fb7879878552bda48098c31b50&mediaType=text
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US--STRIKING WORKERS-UNEMPLOYMENT PAY
Unemployment benefits for striking workers being considered in Oregon, Washington
SUMMARY: Lawmakers in Oregon and Washington are considering whether striking workers should receive unemployment benefits. That follows recent walkouts by Boeing factory workers, hospital nurses and teachers in the Pacific Northwest that highlighted a new era of American labor activism. Oregon's measure would make it the first state to provide pay for picketing public employees -- who aren't allowed to strike in most states, let alone receive benefits for it. Washington's would pay striking private sector workers for up to 12 weeks, starting after at least two weeks on the line. But the bills are raising questions about how they would affect employers.
WORDS: 898 - MOVED: 04/04/2025 12:05 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e4a8844432ffeb867b099b3d6f0b00ee&mediaType=text
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