Morning Briefing: April 10, 2025

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday with, including US President Donald Trump increasing tariffs on China, China rejecting claims by Kyiv that Chinese citizens were fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, and the Israeli Air Force threatening to expel around 970 personnel for demanding an end to the war in Gaza.

• Trump says US to 'immediately' increase tariffs on imports from China to 125%

US President Donald Trump said the United States would "immediately" be increasing its tariffs on Chinese imports to 125% as an escalating trade dispute between Washington and Beijing intensified, even as he offered an olive branch to dozens of other nations.

"Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable," he added.

Trump coupled his announcement with another granting over 75 nations a 90-day reprieve from a Wednesday deadline in which they were expected to be hit with tariffs above his 10% baseline, in some cases many multiples higher than that figure.

• Beijing rejects Kyiv’s claims of ‘Chinese citizens fighting for Russia’

China rejected claims made by Kyiv that Chinese citizens were “fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine.”

“Such claims have no basis. In fact, China’s position on Ukraine is very clear,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing when asked about claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Kyiv arrested two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.

“The Ukrainian side needs to view correctly China’s efforts and constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis,” Lin added.

• Israeli Air Force threatens to expel 970 personnel over Gaza war protest

Israeli Air Force commanders threatened to expel approximately 970 personnel – including pilots, officers and soldiers – if they do not withdraw their signatures from a letter demanding an end to the war in Gaza, local media reported.

Israel’s Haaretz daily said “about 970 aircrew members, some in active reserve service, signed the letter opposing the war but not calling for refusal to serve.”

In recent days, senior air force leaders made personal phone calls to reservists who endorsed the message, urging them to retract their support, the outlet said. Commanders informed the reservists they face dismissal if they refuse to comply, according to Haaretz.

Following the threat, only 25 signatories withdrew their names, while eight others requested to add their signatures.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Germany's center-right CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats have reached an agreement to form a coalition government, public broadcaster ARD reported.

• The death toll from a roof collapse at a nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, rose to 113, authorities said.

• The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Thursday to discuss Israel's attacks on Syria.

• China issued a travel advisory for its citizens visiting the US, citing the "deterioration of China-US economic and trade relations and the domestic security situation."

• Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said a new round of negotiations with the US for a deal on critical minerals will begin this week and a delegation will travel to America for technical-level talks.

• The Israeli army said that one of its drones crashed in Lebanese territory due to a “technical malfunction.”

• France could recognize the state of Palestine in June during an international conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, said French President Emmanuel Macron.

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Panama should secure the Panama Canal with support from America, not China.

• France’s foreign minister warned that a failure in nuclear negotiations with Iran could lead to a near-inevitable military confrontation amid growing diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Western capitals.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• China escalates trade war, raises tariffs on US imports to 84%

China raised tariffs on US imports to 84%, further escalating a trade war with Washington after US President Donald Trump launched a flurry of tariffs on allies as well as rivals.

The US has raised reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports to 104%, effective today.

"The US escalation of tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake; it seriously infringes upon China’s legitimate rights and interests and gravely undermines the rules‑based multilateral trading system," said the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, according to the state-run Global Times.

• EU approves countermeasures against US tariffs starting next week

In the latest trade war volley, EU member states voted in favor of European Commission trade countermeasures against new US tariffs entering into force next week.

The countermeasures will go into force starting next Tuesday, the commission said in a press release.

The moves are expected to impact many imports such as motorcycles, agriculture and clothing worth €21 billion ($23 billion).

The commission's proposal was made in response to US tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the EU.