
Trump Threatens EU with Tariffs Over Google Fine
US President Donald Trump threatens EU with tariffs in retaliation for $1 billion fine on Google, citing need for trade investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act.

US President Donald Trump threatens EU with tariffs in retaliation for $1 billion fine on Google, citing need for trade investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act.

Over 20 US tech companies, including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta, sent a letter urging policymakers to avoid "premature restrictions" on open-weight AI models, arguing such limits could stifle competition and innovation. The debate intensifies amid concerns over Chinese models and intellectual property theft, with key players like OpenAI and Anthropic not signing the letter.

The U.S. has agreed to build and operate commercial nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia, a deal conditioned by President Trump on Saudi normalization with Israel. The agreement prohibits reprocessing American nuclear material for weapons but lacks restrictions on other countries' nuclear fuel, raising concerns in Israel and the broader Middle East.

The United States and Saudi Arabia finalized an agreement for Washington's support of the kingdom's peaceful nuclear program. Signed by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, the multi-decade pact aims to provide American companies with significant access to the Saudi nuclear energy program, upholding stringent safety and nonproliferation standards. It awaits US Congress review.

The Trump administration signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing US companies to operate commercial nuclear power plants there. The deal, worth billions, lacks "gold standard" nonproliferation provisions, raising congressional and expert concerns about potential weapons development.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an investigation into whether Chinese AI models, including Moonshot AI's Kimi K3, are "distilled" from American models, citing "IP theft." He warned of potential sanctions and noted "watermarks" from U.S. large language models on Chinese counterparts.

The US is expressing "serious concerns" about American companies using Chinese-made AI models, citing risks of Beijing's narratives and censorship. Companies are drawn to lower costs and comparable quality, with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong highlighting use of GLM 5.2 and Kimi 2.7.

A U.S. House committee released a report accusing South Korea of "discriminatory attacks" on American companies like Coupang, alleging violations of a bilateral trade deal. The report criticizes South Korea's investigations and fines against Coupang, particularly concerning a massive data leak, claiming these actions protect domestic industries.

US President Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on imports from any country that imposes a digital services tax on American companies. He specifically targeted European nations discussing such measures, stating the new tax would supersede previously negotiated trade deals.

A speculative thought experiment, 'Europe 2031,' envisions the EU's economy in ruins by 2031 due to a lack of AI investment, leading to populism and cyber-attacks. The scenario, gaining traction among policymakers, highlights the US and China's AI dominance and Europe's potential tech sovereignty crisis.

A speculative thought experiment, 'Europe 2031,' by Brussels thinktankers paints a bleak future for the EU due to its lack of AI investment, leading to economic collapse, populism, and cyber-attacks. The scenario, gaining traction among policymakers, highlights the urgency for EU tech sovereignty.
Denis Obrezko, a suspected Russian hacker, has been extradited from Thailand to the US to face charges for allegedly facilitating a large-scale cyber espionage campaign by the group Void Blizzard, which targeted numerous American companies.

A US-China Business Council survey reveals that US export controls and sanctions are negatively impacting American companies, with nearly half affected and many losing sales to Chinese competitors. Tit-for-tat tariffs also hit over 72% of surveyed firms.

US businesses in Russia have not experienced any relaxation of sanctions pressure, despite President Trump's stated desire to improve relations with Moscow, according to AmCham Russia CEO Robert Agee. He believes sanctions will persist until the conflict ends.

Despite trade tensions and US export restrictions, 26 US semiconductor firms, including Qualcomm and Nvidia, experienced an average 20% revenue increase in China last year, according to the Hurun Research Institute.
Donald Trump's 36-hour Beijing summit features 17 US companies worth $16.47 trillion, seeking greater access to China's economy, with key tech and finance leaders on board.
The White House released names of 21 American companies donating millions for a new $400 million ballroom, double the July estimate. The project follows a security incident at the Correspondents' Dinner, with Trump insisting no taxpayer funds used—though public money funds underground security infrastructure. The Justice Department cited the incident in urging dismissal of a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- More than 50 U.S. Republicans have urged South Korea...