Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
President Trump is pressing forward with a dramatic overhaul of global trade, imposing some of the highest tariffs in modern U.S. history while announcing a flurry of new deals. The measures, set to take effect Aug. 7, mark a decisive break from decades of lower‑tariff policies and are already reshaping economic relations with America’s biggest partners.
Mexico received a 90‑day reprieve after Trump and President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to continue negotiations. Mexico will remain under a 25 percent tariff on goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, averting a planned hike to 30 percent. Trump said the extension was designed to pave the way for a broader deal, though many details remain unresolved.
Canada, by contrast, saw tariffs increase immediately from 25 to 35 percent. While about 94 percent of Canadian exports covered by the North American trade pact remain exempt, crucial sectors such as steel and automobiles face heavy new levies. Analysts warn the move could cause severe strain on Canada’s economy, which is highly dependent on exports.
Across the globe, countries face a wide range of new duties. Brazil tops the list at 50 percent, while Syria, Laos, and Myanmar will see rates of 40 to 41 percent. Tariffs of 20 percent are set for Sri Lanka and Taiwan, with 15 percent for Bolivia, Ecuador, Iceland, and Nigeria. Administration officials argue the changes will protect U.S. jobs, though businesses warn of higher costs and disrupted supply chains.
The European Union agreed to a 15 percent base tariff along with $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases and $600 billion in new investments, while securing zero tariffs on goods like aircraft, certain drugs, and farm products. South Korea struck a deal for 15 percent tariffs and pledged $350 billion in U.S. investments, including major commitments in shipbuilding and semiconductors. Japan secured similar terms, with 15 percent tariffs on cars.
Talks with China continue under a truce set to expire Aug. 12. Officials in Stockholm called the discussions “constructive,” but final approval rests with Trump, who has hinted at further demands.
Other countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, have accepted tariffs in the 15 to 20 percent range, often paired with promises of U.S. purchases or investments. India, however, remains a holdout and faces the prospect of 25 percent tariffs as talks stall.
Trump’s tariff campaign is rapidly redrawing the global trade map. While the White House frames the strategy as a win for U.S. workers and farmers, economists caution that consumers will ultimately pay higher prices and businesses will face uncertainty. Whether the policy delivers long‑term gains or drags on growth may hinge on the still‑unsettled negotiations with major partners like China and India.
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New statewide crime data shows murders declined in 2024, alongside decreases in property crimes and violent offenses, though rates remain above pre‑pandemic levels.
The sites are set to open this fall, though their locations remain unclear.
The latest NPI survey shows the two frontrunners statistically tied, well ahead of the rest of the field.
A 9th Circuit panel upheld a lower court ruling, finding parents and groups challenging the 2023 law lacked standing to sue.
The coalition argues the new directive requiring five years of personal data on recipients violates privacy laws and exceeds federal authority.
The Mason County blaze near Lake Cushman is just 3% contained, one of seven large wildfires statewide. Haze has spread across parts of Western Washington.
The alert, issued after an 8.8‑magnitude earthquake near Russia, brought waves up to 1.3 feet before being lifted Wednesday morning.
Seattle reacquires the third baseman from Arizona in exchange for three prospects.
The franchise’s longest‑tenured GM, in the role since 2010, has led Seattle to 10 playoff appearances, five NFC West titles, and a Super Bowl win.
The Seattle City Council voted 7–1 on Monday to appoint former Council President Debora Juarez to replace Cathy Moore, who resigned earlier this month citing health challenges. Juarez will serve until November 2026, when voters will decide who will complete the term through 2027.
Juarez, a member of the Blackfeet Nation and the first Native American elected to the council, previously represented District 5 after winning elections in 2015 and 2019. She said she does not plan to seek the seat again, calling her return to the council more emotional than her earlier campaigns.
The council selected Juarez from a pool of 22 applicants narrowed to six finalists, with only one other finalist, Nilu Jenks, receiving a vote. She will assume Moore’s committee roles, including chairing the Housing and Human Services Committee, as the council faces a $200 million budget deficit and prepares a new Comprehensive Plan.
District 5 covers north Seattle neighborhoods including Lake City, Bitter Lake, Maple Leaf, and Northgate.
Seattle is suing the Trump administration to block two executive orders that city officials say threaten local diversity, equity, and LGBTQ+ protections. The lawsuit, announced Thursday by Mayor Bruce Harrell and City Attorney Ann Davison, was filed in federal court in the Western District of Washington.
The challenge targets the orders “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” City leaders argue the directives unlawfully tie federal funding to compliance with restrictions on local DEI and gender identity policies.
“There are limits to presidential authority and no one, not even Mr. Trump, can ignore the constraints of the rule of law,” Davison said. Harrell added the city would pursue “every avenue to protect our people and our priorities.”
Seattle estimates it could lose as much as $370 million in federal dollars, much of it in transportation grants, if the orders are enforced. The city is already facing a budget shortfall of about $250 million over the next two years.
The lawsuit follows similar legal challenges filed by King County and the state of Washington earlier this year. District courts have so far sided with local governments in cases involving threatened funding.
New police recruits hired by Seattle so far in 2025
City officials say the milestone marks progress in rebuilding the Seattle Police Department, which is offering starting salaries of $103,000 and streamlined hiring to attract a more diverse and qualified force.
Revised job losses from May and June
The combined revisions for the past two months erased 258,000 jobs, while July added 73,000 jobs and unemployment rose to 4.2%.
Rise in Seattle starter home sales in June
Redfin reports entry‑level homes sales climbed nearly 4% month over month, indicating that relative affordability and access to financing are driving home-buying activity.
Seattle’s Alaskan Way Safety Project is now complete, creating the city’s first continuous bike route along the downtown waterfront. The new protected bikeway links Myrtle Edwards Park and the Elliott Bay Trail to the Overlook Walk and Pier 58, giving riders a seamless connection from the Ship Canal Trail south toward Alki.
The City of Seattle has unveiled a plan dividing Denny Blaine Park into clothing‑optional and clothing‑required zones after a court injunction demanded action over reports of lewd acts and drug use. The plan adds signage, visual barriers, and increased Park Ranger patrols to enforce rules. Neighbors in the “Denny Blaine For All” group, which sought the park’s closure, argue the measures won’t stop illegal behavior.
Sound Transit will begin live wire testing this month on the new light rail span across I‑90, the world’s first to cross a floating bridge. The seven‑mile “crosslake connection” between Seattle and Bellevue is slated to open in early 2026, linking International District/Chinatown Station with Mercer Island and South Bellevue.
The Seattle Fire Department has responded to five early-morning fires in Mount Baker and Columbia City since July 26. Police have confirmed four were arsons, including a $300,000 blaze at Columbia Funeral Home. Other targets included two homes under construction, a fence, and a detached garage, with damages ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Detectives say the investigations may take months.
The data shows us that the underlying economy has slowed significantly. We know that headwinds are mounting as we move into the second half of the year, and that’s worrisome.
