Maverick Trader Reveals 97% Accurate System

This man's simple strategy makes money in any market...With a 97% accuracy at hitting winners over the past 8 years!

Trump's trade demands go beyond tariffs to target perceived unfair practices

DAVID McHUGH
May 05, 2025

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The Trump administration says the sweeping tariffs it unveiled April 2, then postponed for 90 days, have a simple goal: Force other countries to drop their trade barriers to U.S. goods.

Yet President Donald Trump's definition of trade barriers includes a slew of issues well beyond the tariffs other countries impose on the U.S., including some areas not normally associated with trade disputes. Those include agricultural safety requirements, tax systems, currency exchange rates, product standards, legal requirements, and red tape at the border.

He's given countries three months to come up with concessions before tariffs ranging from 10% to more than 50% go into effect. Tariffs on China are already in effect.

On many issues it will be difficult, or in some cases impossible, for many countries to make a deal and lower their tariff rates.

In addition, many trade officials from targeted countries say privately that it isn't always clear what the Trump administration wants from them in the negotiations.

Vice President JD Vance announced that India has agreed to the terms of trade talks with the United States, but other countries are still trying to set the contours for any negotiations. The White House has highlighted conflicting goals for its import taxes: It's seeking to raise revenues and bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but it also wants greater access to foreign markets and massive changes to other nations' tax and regulatory policies.

Here are several non-tariff areas the administration is targeting:

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES

Trump has accused Germany, China and Japan of "global freeloading" by -- in his view -- devaluing their currencies to make their exports cheaper.

The European Central bank has been cutting interest rates to support growth. That could also weaken the euro, which has strengthened sharply against the dollar since Trump took office. The ECB says it doesn't target the exchange rate.

In Japan's case, the Bank of Japan has been gradually raising rates anyway after keeping them at zero or in negative territory for years, which should drive the yen up against the dollar. The U.S. dollar has fallen recently to 140-yen levels, down from about 160 yen last summer. Shrikant Kale, a strategist at Jefferies, believes the dollar will fall to 120 yen over the next 18 months.

FARM PRODUCTS

Agricultural safeguards against importing pests or health hazards have been a sticking point with U.S. trade partners for years. They include Japan's restrictions on rice and potato imports, the EU's ban on hormone-treated beef or chlorine-disinfected chickens and Korea's ban on beef from cows more than 30 months old.

Yet changes face stiff political resistance from voters and farm lobbies in those countries.

For years, U.S. potato growers have sought access to Japan's potential $150 million market for table potatoes. Japan has engaged in talks but taken years simply to supply a list of concerns to U.S. negotiators. The delay is "pure politics," intended to protect domestic growers, says National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles. If Japanese politicians perceive the pain from Trump's tariffs might be worse than from their own potato growers, "that makes it more likely to make a deal," Quarles said.

But "if they perceive the pain domestically will be worse than the Trump administration can bring to them ... we're going to be stuck where we are."

Korea's beef restrictions started as a measure to keep out bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. The 30-month rule has been maintained in the wake of mass protests in 2008, even as the U.S. has become the largest beef exporter to Korea.

"It's still politically controversial because of the scar at the time in 2008. I think the government will be very cautious," said Jaemin Lee, professor of law at Seoul National University and an expert on trade issues.

TAXATION

Trump has railed against value-added tax as a burden to U.S. companies, although economists say this kind of tax is trade-neutral because it applies equally to imports and exports. Value-added tax, or VAT, is paid by the end purchaser at the cash register but differs from sales taxes in that it is calculated at each stage of the production process.

Trump's view could mean higher tariffs for Europe, where individual countries levy VAT of 20% or more depending on the type of good, and for the more than 170 countries that use this kind of tax system. The U.S. is an outlier in that it doesn't use VAT; instead, individual states levy sales taxes.

There's little chance countries will change their tax systems for Trump. The EU for one has said VAT is off the table.

"The domestic taxation system has not been a conventional topic in trade negotiation because domestic taxation is directly related to national sovereignty or the domestic economic regime," trade expert Lee said. "It's very hard to understand why VAT has become an important topic in the trade discussion."

PRODUCT STANDARDS

U.S. officials have complained about Japan's non-recognition of U.S vehicle safety standards and its different testing procedures for car equipment.

Japan also provides subsidies for the Japanese-designed ChaDeMo plug standard for electric cars, requiring foreign makers to use an outdated technology if they want the subsidy.

BUREAUCRACY

Concerns about excessive or baffling bureaucratic procedures to get goods into a country are mentioned repeatedly in the administration's latest trade assessment. The U.S. has complained about expensive delays getting permission to export seafood to Japan. Meanwhile, Japan requires wheat imports to be sold to a government entity and has "highly regulated and intransparent" quota system that keeps rice imports from the U.S. to a minimum.

Most of these issues are years old, raising questions about whether 90 days is enough to make a deal over them.

U.S. pharmaceutical companies have complained about Korea's system for drug imports, while automakers say environmental equipment standards are unclear and expose only importers to criminal penalties in case of violations.

BUY AMERICAN

Analysts say that despite the long list of non-tariff issues, the administration's main focus may lie elsewhere: on Trump's desire to reduce trade deficits, cases where a country sells more to the U.S. than it buys.

And the solution may be other countries buying more U.S. products, from energy to soybeans, and builingd more plants in the U.S.

U.S. energy is already a major export to Europe. Trump has mentioned a figure of $350 billion for potential EU gas imports. The EU does need imported gas. But Trump's figure would be a stretch given that last year's exports of liquefied natural gas to the EU were around $13 billon, and that Europe is seeking to reduce its use of fossil fuels over the longer term.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER?

Discussions about non-tariff issues may simply be leverage to underpin Trump's stiff tariff levels.

"It's just a thing that's there to justify my tariffs," said Tobias Gehrke, senior policy fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations.

While lower level trade officials and industry representatives are acutely aware of non-tariff issues like agricultural safety, "Trump and his cabinet... don't really care about chlorinated chicken regulations in Europe and food standards," Gehrke said. "They have much bigger thinking."

"They want to have European companies significantly move production to America... and to export from America to Europe. That would change the trade balance."

"And if that's the main logic, then there's no real deal to be had on non-tariff barriers."

___

Rugaber contributed from Washington DC and Kageyama from Tokyo.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Stock Of The Day: Does This Classic Pattern Suggest A Move Higher In Tesla?

After a move higher, a flag pattern may have formed on the chart of Tesla (TSLA). It suggests that the shares may move higher.

Hyperscale Data Stock Soars On Preliminary Q1 And FY25 Guidance

Hypersale Data stock stock is trading higher Monday after the company issued preliminary sales guidance for the first-quarter and full fiscal-year 2025.

World Economic Forum: "Arguably the Most Exciting Human Discovery Since Fire" - Ad

Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg are all investing vast sums of money into a radical technology. According to Bloomberg, this could become 10 times bigger than AI, quantum computing, electric vehicles, cryptocurrencies, and robotics combined. And one stock is at the center of it all.

Tesla Stock Falls On European Sales Decline, Rising Competition: What's Going On?

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares are trading lower Monday after industry data showed a drop in new car sales in Spain, which appears to be adding to concerns over European performance.

AI developers should counter misinformation and protect fact-based news, global media groups say

GENEVA (AP) — A global group of broadcasters and publishers is calling on artificial intelligence developers to make sure their technology serves the public by helping to counter misinformation and protect the value of fact-based news.

One Coin to Rule Them All... - Ad

Hardly any investors are talking about this coin but I believe that's about to change with some potentially huge news! Get in on the ground floor while it's rock bottom with this new how-to guide, just $3.

Musk's Ex-Wife Opens Up About Why Life With Elon Was So Difficult

Justine Wilson recently shed light on the complexities of their marriage and the challenges she faced being married to the Tesla CEO.

Elon Musk Drops Stunning Bombshell? - Ad

Behind closed doors, Musk revealed a game-changing breakthrough technology that could shake the tech world & crush major companies. Why is no one talking about it? Luckily, we had a man on the inside - watch now to see the details & how to profit!

Warren Buffett's Top Stock Picks Now Come With a 15% Income Bonus Through This Fund

A new ETF is offering investors the chance to follow in the footsteps of one of the world's most successful investors and earn income at the same time.

Jeff Sperbeck, former agent for John Elway, dies after injury at 62

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Jeff Sperbeck, a business partner and former agent for NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, died Wednesday after suffering an injury last weekend at a Southern California golf resort community. He was 62.

Gold Is Being Poured. the Market Hasn't Reacted. - Ad

A test mining program just demonstrated that an experienced mining team has unlocked the value in a built mine atop a high-grade gold deposit. Ore's already been processed. But the stock is still trading like it's early stage. That won't last long.

Apple Braces For $900 Million Tariff Impact, Tim Cook Discusses Potential iPhone Manufacturing Shift To US With Lutnick And More: This Week In Appleverse

The week was a whirlwind for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), with a series of news stories that painted a mixed picture for the tech giant. From tariff impacts to potential manufacturing shifts, easing App Store rules, and AI-enabled iPhone sales, the company made headlines on multiple fronts.

Revolutionary $20,000 Electric Truck Hits the Market, Stripping Down to the Basics

Michigan-based Slate Auto is preparing to shake up the EV market with the introduction of its minimalist, highly affordable electric truck, the Slate Truck, which is priced under just $20,000.

Biggest Dividend Payout in U.S. History: $1 Trillion up for Grabs! - Ad

Trump just launched a $1 trillion National Investment Fund to replace income taxes and send direct payouts to Americans. You could claim up to $21,307--before the first public checks go out. This is historic. Act now to be first in line.

Okta Stock Is Climbing After The Bell: Here's The News Bringing Buyers In

Okta shares are rising in extended trading Monday following an announcement that the company will be added to the S&P MidCap 400.

A New Gold Discovery in Red Lake? - Ad

Two new gold anomalies just lit up the maps. They sit right beside a restart-ready mine-and follow the exact fold pattern that's made Red Lake world famous.

Gold's Historic Surge Unlocking Value in These Mining Stocks

Surging gold prices have amplified the profitability of global gold mining companies. Here are some stocks to consider.

Canadians put off by Trump's bluster and border arrests are booking far fewer US visits

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Diana and Rick Bellamy initially planned to take a Caribbean cruise out of Houston before heading to Laurel, Mississippi, to visit the home of one of their favorite HGTV shows, “Home Town.”

No.1 Opportunity for 2025 [Take Action Now!] - Ad

Starlink's potential IPO Could Be the Biggest in History--Silicon Valley insider James Altucher has uncovered a way to profit BEFORE the IPO--with as little as $50. Musk's $180B giant is set to launch--will you miss out? Claim your spot before it's too late.

Did Donald Trump — or ABC News —choose who would interview the president? Why does it matter?

NEW YORK (AP) — During a contentious in his interview with ABC News' Terry Moran this week, President brought up — from his perspective — how Moran had gotten into the White House in the first place.

Trump-Affiliated World Liberty Financial Defies Ethics Concerns, Raises $550 Million

WLFI, a Trump-run crypto venture, raised $550M from global investors but conflicts with Trump's presidency raise ethical concerns.

You Can Take a Stake in Elon's xAI Before June 1st... - Ad

Elon Musk's private AI firm xAI may have just leapfrogged ChatGPT and Google's Gemini--building what experts call the future of AI. For the first time, you can take a stake starting at $500.

US robot makers hope to beat China in humanoid race. Tariffs could affect their ambitions

BOSTON (AP) — weren't on the agenda of this week's Robotics Summit, where thousands of tech industry workers mingled with humanoid and other robot varieties and talked about how to build and sell a new generation of increasingly autonomous machines.

Eli Lilly Set To Report Earnings As Investors Eye Weight Loss Drug Momentum

Eli Lilly (LLY) will report Q1 results on Thursday. Analysts expect in line results with focus on tirizepatide and obesity franchise.

This Intercept Stopped the Gold Sector Cold - Ad

114.26 g/t over 10.6m. That's not a typo. And it wasn't deep exploration-it was in an active mining zone.

Forget Dogecoin And Shiba Inu — Crypto Analyst Sees This Coin Surging 100%

A crypto analyst has forecasted a 100% increase for Pepe (CRYPTO: PEPE), a mid-cap competitor to Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO:

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County workers begin 2-day strike

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 50,000 Los Angeles county workers began a two-day strike Monday evening, closing libraries and disrupting administrative operations across the nation's most populous county.

Nvidia Is About to Shock the World: July 23rd - Ad

Jeff Brown, the tech legend who picked shares of Nvidia in 2016 before they jumped by more than 22,000%, is warning everyone to... Mark this date on your calendar: July 23rd! That's when Nvidia could help send shares of this Elon Musk supplier skyrocketing higher.

Instacart Q1 Earnings: Revenue, EPS Come Up Short Despite 14% Order Growth — 'Groceries Aren't Discretionary — They're Essential'

Maplebear announces first-quarter financial results Thursday after the market close. Shares are moving higher, despite slightly missing analyst estimates. Here's a rundown of the print.

Defi Coin Triggers All "Buy" Signals and Could Break Out Soon - Ad

Some are calling this the most promising DeFi project since Ethereum itself. Here's the #1 DeFi Coin Set to Soar. While Bitcoin grabs headlines, this lesser known DeFi coin is quietly gearing up for a monster rally. Experts say now is the time to buy before it reaches escape velocity.

Takeaways from AP's report on how Trump's immigration crackdown resonates in the Texas Panhandle

PANHANDLE, Texas (AP) — After his inauguration, President Donald Trump issued a series of ending for immigrants to live and work in the U.S.

Gold Slides On Trade Optimism, Dollar Strengthens - Global Markets Today While US Slept

Dow and S&P 500 rebound after GDP decline, consumer spending up, tech giants surge. Asian markets rise, Europe closed for holiday. Oil, gold down.

Maverick Trader Reveals 97% Accurate System - Ad

This man's simple strategy makes money in any market...With a 97% accuracy at hitting winners over the past 8 years!

Top "60 Minutes" producer quits, saying he can no longer run the show as he has

NEW YORK (AP) — The top producer at “60 Minutes” said Tuesday that he is quitting the show, saying that it has become clear that he would no longer be able to run it as he has in the past.

$24 Trillion Robotics Opportunity Revealed - Ad

Robots aren't coming--they're already here. Experts call it a "$24 trillion opportunity." Big Tech and Wall Street have poured billions into one specific kind of robot. One $7 stock is at the center of it all. Discover why Bill Gates says it's "as revolutionary as the PC."

Citadel Kingpin Ken Griffin Warns Being 'Smartest In The Room' Means You've 'Screwed Up' Your MBA

Ken Griffin, founder of Citadel LLC, advises surrounding oneself with smarter minds for career growth. He also warns against being the smartest person in the room.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright finstrategist.com
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service