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The US Commerce Department will impose tariffs of up to 3,521 percent on solar panel imports from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, citing unfair trade practices linked to Chinese subsidies and product dumping. The move follows a year-long investigation prompted by US solar manufacturers, Reuters reported.

The tariffs, varying by company and country, aim to support domestic production but may raise costs for businesses and consumers. A final decision is expected from the US International Trade Commission in June.

The announcement comes shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the region, where he criticized US trade actions, according to Reuters. 

China has responded with 125 percent tariffs on US goods and pledged to retaliate further.

India and the United States are making steady progress toward a bilateral trade agreement, according to official statements following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance in New Delhi, BBC reported.

Vance, on a four-day visit to India with his family, met Modi on Monday evening. The leaders discussed a range of key issues, including trade, defence, strategic technologies, and energy cooperation. A dinner was hosted by the Prime Minister in honor of Vance and his family.

“We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges,” Modi said in a post on X, according to BBC.

The visit comes as India wants to reach a trade agreement with the United States before President Donald Trump's 90-day tariff truce expires on July 9. Prior to the halt, India faced potential tariffs of up to 27%.

Modi also expressed anticipation for President Trump’s upcoming visit to India, expected later this year during the Quad summit in Delhi.

Vietnam's trade ministry has ordered stronger import controls to prevent illegal transshipment, in an attempt to avoid US tariffs that might harm the country's export-driven economy.

Effective April 15, the directive warns that rising trade tensions may fuel fraud, undermining attempts to avoid foreign sanctions. Though no country was mentioned, China accounts for about 40 percent of Vietnam's imports, and Washington accuses Beijing of using Vietnam to avoid tariffs, Reuters reported.

Vietnam is at risk of a 46 percent tariff from the United States, which has been postponed until July and might harm GDP and foreign investment.

According to Reuters, the decision comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit and pledged to collaborate to check goods' provenance. Earlier this week, Beijing also cautioned countries against signing trade deals with the United States at its expense.

The White House defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following reports that he disclosed sensitive military information in a signal chat with his wife and brother. While neither the administration nor Hegseth denied the communication took place, they dismissed the claims as leaks from disgruntled employees, insisting no classified material was revealed, Firstpost reported.

President Trump condemned the accusations as "fake news," blaming them on internal opposition: "He was tasked with eliminating negative individuals, so you don't always make friends." However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has demanded Hegseth's dismissal.

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Pentagon, with multiple senior officials departing and an ongoing internal investigation into information leaks. Notably, some of those who left were part of Hegseth’s original team, according to the Firstpost.

The incident follows an earlier Signal chat leak involving discussions of a military airstrike in Yemen.

Harvard University filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s proposed $2.2 bn in funding cuts, calling the move an unlawful overreach, according to BBC.

The lawsuit follows escalating tensions after Harvard rejected demands from the Trump administration aimed at curbing diversity programs and addressing anti-Semitism.

The administration’s demands included government-approved audits of Harvard’s curriculum, admissions, and hiring practices. Harvard President Alan M. Garber warned the consequences of the government’s actions would be “severe and long-lasting,” criticizing the intrusion into academic independence, BBC reported.

In addition to freezing federal funds, the Trump administration also threatened the university’s tax-exempt status and its ability to enroll international students.

South Korea’s customs agency has uncovered a rise in attempts to disguise Chinese goods as Korean exports to evade U.S. tariffs.

A recent investigation by the Korea Customs Service uncovered 29.5 bn won ($20.81 m) in origin breaches in the first quarter, with 97% of the shipments destined for the United States, according to Reuters.

This compares to 34.8 bn won in total violations in 2024, with 62% of that amount coming from items intended for the United States. The hike comes after President Trump imposed new tariffs, including a 25% duty on South Korean exports, which is presently postponed for three months.

South Korean and US officials met Monday to explore cooperative investigations amid fears that foreign corporations are using South Korea to avoid trade restrictions, Reuters reported.

Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet U.S. President Trump at the White House on Thursday for talks on NATO, Ukraine, and bilateral trade relations.

The conversations take place in the midst of ongoing trade adjustments, including a recent tariff reduction by the United States from 15% to 10% on specified Norwegian imports for a 90-day period. According to Reuters, Stoere stressed the importance of collaboration between the United States and Norway, referring to America as a "key trade and security partner."

The presidents are expected to discuss ways to enhance economic connections while also addressing shared geopolitical challenges, notably in Europe's security picture.

Norway, although not being a member of the EU, has supported Western sanctions against Russia and increased defense spending in response to the Ukraine crisis, Reuters reported.

US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in India's capital, where he is scheduled to meet with PM Narendra Modi amid global trade concerns fueled by Washington's tariff policies.

The discussions are likely to focus on expediting a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement between the two countries, according to BBC.

Vance is also anticipated to join his family on a sightseeing tour to Agra and Jaipur.

His visit comes as countries across the world scramble to reach a trade agreement before US President Donald Trump's 90-day delay on reciprocal tariffs expires on July 9.

South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said on Monday that upcoming trade talks with the United States are expected to be the start of meaningful cooperation, though the negotiations may prove difficult.

As stated by Reuters, South Korean Finance and Industry Ministers are scheduled to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on April 24.

Han emphasized that the government would make an “all-out effort” to secure a mutually beneficial agreement, stressing the importance of calmly and seriously consulting with the U.S. while prioritizing national interests, Reuters reported.

The meeting comes at a critical time for Seoul as it seeks to strengthen economic ties with Washington while safeguarding its own industries amid growing global trade tensions.

Donald Trump has stated that if Moscow or Kyiv "make it very difficult" to strike a peace deal, the US will "take a pass" on brokering future Russia-Ukraine negotiations, BBC reported.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he did not anticipate a truce to be reached in "a specific number of days," but that he wanted it done "quickly." 

His remarks came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that discussions will be abandoned unless significant signs of progress were seen within days. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio said, adding that the US has "other priorities to focus on", according to BBC.

This comes as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, with two people killed and more than 100 injured in the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Sumy on Friday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Elon Musk about potential collaboration in "technology and innovation." Modi shared details of the conversation on X, revisiting earlier discussions from their Washington meeting, BBC reported.

The talk comes as India seeks to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with the US to counteract potential tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. It also precedes the upcoming visit of US Vice-President JD Vance to India.

Musk, associated with Trump and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is aiming to expand his business in India. His company Starlink signed an agreement with major Indian telecom firms to deliver satellite internet and is awaiting government approval to launch services, according to BBC.

The dialogue follows Trump's announcement of a 27% tariff on Indian goods, which has since been paused, prompting ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

US air strikes on a key oil terminal on Yemen's Red Sea coast controlled by the Houthi movement have killed at least 58 people and wounded 126 others, Houthi-run, BBC reported.

The US military claimed to have bombed Ras Isa "to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue."

The Houthi-led administration in northwestern Yemen stated that the terminal was a civilian facility and that the strike was a "full-fledged war crime".

It was one of the bloodiest events since President Donald Trump directed US forces to ramp up their bombing campaign last month in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel tied to the Gaza conflict, according to BBC.

Several hours after the strikes on Ras Isa, the Israeli military said that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

In response to the U.S. governments upcoming port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels, set to take effect in mid-October, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized on Friday that such measures could be detrimental.

According to Global times, he stated that imposing fees and additional tariffs on cargo handling equipment would not only elevate global shipping costs but also disrupt supply chains and exacerbate inflation in the United States, ultimately harming American consumers and businesses without reviving the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Lin encouraged the United States to follow known facts and international rules, calling for an urgent halt to these activities. He also stated that China would take the appropriate precautions to preserve its lawful rights and interests in light of the situation.

The Trump administration is set to impose new port fees on Chinese ships in a bid to strengthen the US shipbuilding industry and counter China's market dominance.

Effective in 180 days, these regulations will charge Chinese ship owners based on cargo weight, container count, or vehicle capacity, BBC reported.

Bulk carriers will incur a fee of $50 per ton, increasing by $30 annually for three years. Container ships will face charges of $120 per container, while Chinese-built vessels will pay $18 per ton. Non-US built car carriers will be charged $150 per car, with a maximum of six charges per ship annually.

A second phase of the regulations will launch in three years, favoring US-built LNG ships and introducing stricter rules over a 22-year period, according to BBC.

Analysts warn that these measures, combined with recent tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, are already disrupting international trade, causing congestion in European ports and increasing costs for US consumers.

Ukraine has signed a memorandum of intent with the United States regarding a minerals deal, marking a step toward an economic partnership agreement.

According to the BBC, Yulia Svyrydenko, the minister of economics, stated that the agreement might possibly establish an investment fund for the country's reconstruction. Officials in the United States hope to reach a formal deal by the end of next week. Earlier talks were derailed by a public disagreement between Trump and Zelensky during a February White House meeting.

Svyrydenko shared pictures of the signing on X to announce it.The agreement aims to secure US access to Ukraine's critical minerals and oil resources while offering the prospect of a US security guarantee in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, BBC reported.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with senior Iranian officials in Tehran ahead of the second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran. The visit comes as regional tensions rise and there are mounting concerns about potential conflict if diplomacy fails, Al Jazeera reported.

Prince Khalid conveyed a letter from King Salman to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and addressed bilateral relations and mutual interests. He later verified the meeting on social media.

Riyadh has expressed support for the US-Iran talks, highlighting the need of diplomatic measures to resolve regional and international conflicts, according to Al Jazeera.