EU Signals Readiness for Tariff-Free Trade Pact with US, But Will Retaliate If Needed Bulletin April 8, 2025
Hong Kong’s Stock Market Faces Steepest Fall Since 1997 Crisis Over Tariff Fears, Drops 13% Bulletin April 8, 2025
![China vows firm tariff countermeasures against US, defending free trade and urging equal-footing dialogue to resolve tensions. [Image via Xinhua]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/67f5af75a3104d9fd15572e1.webp "67f5af75a3104d9fd15572e1")
![Trump threatens China with a 50% tariff if it doesn’t withdraw its counter-tariff, escalating global trade tensions. [Image via Politico]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/download-8.webp "download (8)")
![Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and security. [Image via The Express Tribune]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ko1744045015-0.webp "ko1744045015-0")
![US and Iran to hold direct talks on nuclear deal, with high stakes for both sides, Trump warns of military action. [Image via AP]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/trump-iran-khamenei.webp "trump-iran-khamenei")
![US Supreme Court allows Trump to deport alleged gang members under wartime powers, but mandates due process for challenges. [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/520df730-140e-11f0-b234-07dc7691c360.jpg.webp "520df730-140e-11f0-b234-07dc7691c360.jpg")
![Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs target remote Antarctic territories, including the Heard and McDonald Islands. [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/67edcb57b8b41a9673fc7e75.webp "67edcb57b8b41a9673fc7e75")
![EU willing to negotiate a tariff-free trade pact with the US but warns of retaliatory tariffs over steel, aluminium duties. [Image via AFP]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/000_39E6862-1744043580.webp "000_39E6862-1744043580")
![Hong Kong's stock market suffers its steepest drop in nearly 30 years amid panic selling triggered by Trump’s tariff announcements. [Image via AFP]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AFP__20250407__39CF8AF__v1__HighRes__HongKongChinaStocksMarketsOpen-1744008250.webp "AFP__20250407__39CF8AF__v1__HighRes__HongKongChinaStocksMarketsOpen-1744008250")