US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel to 50 per cent this week. He’s also allowing Japan’s Nippon to buy the US Steel Corporation. The moves are meant to bring back manufacturing to America’s steel industry. But will they? FT senior trade writer Alan Beattie and Zehra Munir, the FT’s industrial reporter, discuss whether Trump can make good on a popular promise.

Mentioned in this podcast:

It’s always steel — tariffs provide Trump with a familiar trade weapon

Donald Trump’s US Steel gamble: Pennsylvania workers warm to Nippon tie-up

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Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova, Henry Larson and Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

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US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping agreed to launch a new round of high-level trade talks, the European Central Bank cut interest rates by a quarter point and Europe is being flooded with steel diverted from the US because of high tariffs. Plus, the FT’s Aanu Adeoye explains how a Russia-backed junta leader in Burkina Faso became an icon across Africa.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agree to launch new round of trade talks

Christine Lagarde signals ECB rate-cutting ‘nearly concluded’

‘The cult of Saint Traoré’: how a Russia-backed junta leader became an icon

EU hit by surge in steel imports as US tariffs divert shipments

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Henry Larson, Fiona Symon, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Sam Giovinco, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our intern is Michaela Seah. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Apple’s rollout of artificial intelligence services in China with Alibaba is being held up, Wells Fargo faces an uphill battle to catch up with its rivals after asset cap was lifted, and US President Donald Trump says Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for “immediate peace” with Ukraine. Plus, the European Commission has finally given Bulgaria the green light to join the Eurozone in 2026.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Apple and Alibaba’s AI rollout in China delayed by Trump trade war

Wells Fargo has finally shed its dunce cap

Wells Fargo asset cap lifted after ‘fake accounts’ scandal

Putin planning to retaliate for Ukraine drone attack, says Trump

Bulgaria to join Eurozone in 2026

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Blake Maples, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.