Policy Risk Monitor – April 29, 2025
A weekly news scan of key policy areas to help firms identify and monitor policy risks.
Emerging Policy Issues
Trade
State challenges
A dozen states sue the Trump administration to stop tariff policy, AP, April 23, 2025
Trump Sued by States Over Tariffs, Trade Policy, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
California Challenges Trump's Authority to Impose Tariffs, California Policy Report, April 23, 2025
Trump Tries to Push Tariff Fight to Trade Court With Better Odds, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
Tariff negotiations
Trump says reciprocal tariffs could be re-imposed within weeks, Fox Business, April 24, 2025
Trump Administration Lays Out Roadmap to Streamline Tariff Talks, WSJ, April 25, 2025
Trump Doubtful on Another Tariff Pause, Wants China Concessions, Bloomberg, April 25, 2025
China
China warns countries against making trade deals with the US unfavorable to Beijing, AP, April 21, 2025
Trump Floats ‘Substantial’ China Tariff Cuts in Trade Deal, Bloomberg, April 22, 2025
Bessent Says No Unilateral US Offer to Cut Tariffs on China, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-Escalate Trade War, WSJ, April 23, 2025
Bessent says China tariffs are not sustainable as US signals willingness to de-escalate, Reuters, April 23, 2025
China Says US Should Revoke Unilateral Tariffs, Denies Talks, Bloomberg, April 24, 2025
Trump’s trade war olive branch met with derision and mistrust inside China, CNN, April 24, 2025
Australia’s Rudd calls on US and China to make a deal on trade, Semafor, April 24, 2025
China exempts some goods from US tariffs, Reuters, April 25, 2025
China Quietly Exempts Some U.S.-Made Products From Tariffs, WSJ, April 26, 2025
Bessent does not back up Trump on China tariff discussions, Reuters, April 27, 2025
EU
Trump Must Stop Lose-Lose Game on Trade, ECB’s Villeroy Says, Bloomberg, April 22, 2025
France Strikes Conciliatory Tone to Defuse Trump Trade Tensions, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
Auto industry
US Officials Mull Easing Tariffs Targeting the Auto Industry, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
Trump considering exemption for automakers on some tariffs, White House says, CNBC, April 23, 2025
Energy
Trump administration announces plan to hike solar tariffs for 4 countries, The Hill, April 23, 2025
Tax
Trump administration readies ‘X date’ for debt limit, Punchbowl News, April 22, 2025
Trump Says Millionaire Tax Would Push Wealthy to Leave the US, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
Trump: I ‘love the concept’ of millionaire tax hike, but ‘may not be acceptable to the public’, The Hill, April 25, 2025
These GOP Lawmakers Could Sink Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful’ Tax Bill, WSJ, April 27, 2025
Trump Floats New Income Tax Cut in Bid to Ease Tariffs Bite, Bloomberg, April 27, 2025
Bessent Sets July 4 Tax Bill Goal as Economic Worries Mount, WSJ, April 28, 2025
Economic Policy
IMF warns of rising US recession risk and defends Fed rate policy, FT, April 22, 2025
Trump Says He Has ‘No Intention’ of Firing Fed Chair Powell, WSJ, April 22, 2025
Bessent Says US Backs IMF and World Bank, While Calling for Reforms, Bloomberg, April 23, 2025
Climate and Energy
China’s rare earths controls prompt fears of auto shortages and shutdowns, FT, April 19, 2025
Trump administration to fast-track fossil fuels and mining on public lands, The Hill, April 24, 2025
How critical minerals became a flash point in US-China trade war, FT, April 24, 2025
Trump signs order to boost deep-sea mining, seeking to break China’s critical minerals dominance, CNBC, April 25, 2025
LNG companies say they cannot comply with Trump rules on Chinese ships, FT, April 27, 2025