2026-02-21 Saturday
16:57:23
[Former White House Official: US Tariffs Reset to 10%, Southeast Asia Becomes "Temporary Beneficiary"] According to Nikkei Asia, the US Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal. As a result of this ruling, US tariffs on relevant countries will be reset to a base rate of 10%. Analysts point out that this is a short-term benefit for countries, including Southeast Asian nations, that have large trade surpluses with the US, making them "temporary beneficiaries." Previously, tariffs faced by countries in the region ranged from 40% in Myanmar and Laos to 19% in the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand; now these high tariffs will be uniformly reduced to 10%. Jon Lang, senior director of geopolitical risk consultancy APCO and a former White House official, predicts that this low-tariff window may last until a new tariff investigation is completed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. During this period, the US is expected to import more goods from these countries.
09:37:09
[US Media: Hundreds of US Troops Evacuated from Qatar Air Force Base] According to The New York Times, hundreds of US troops have been evacuated from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The report, citing Pentagon officials, stated that the US Navy's Fifth Fleet has also evacuated personnel from several bases in Bahrain. Currently, US troops are also stationed at bases in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. Katherine Thompson, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said this appears to be preparation for a more protracted conflict, and the Pentagon seems to "foresee that Iran's reaction could pose a significant risk to US bases in the region." (Xinhua)
08:28:40
[White House: New Tariffs to Take Effect on February 24, Exempting Certain Critical Minerals, Passenger Vehicles, and Other Goods] The White House announced that President Trump has signed a proclamation imposing temporary tariffs. The proclamation stipulates that a 10% import tariff will be imposed on goods imported into the United States for 150 days, effective at 00:01 Eastern Standard Time on February 24. Goods exempt from the new tariffs include certain critical minerals, metals used for currency and gold bars, energy and energy products; natural resources and fertilizers that cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the United States, or cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the United States in quantities sufficient to meet domestic demand; certain agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials, and certain electronic products; passenger vehicles, certain light trucks, and certain aerospace products. Simultaneously, the White House issued an executive order announcing the termination of certain tariff measures. In light of recent developments, additional tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act will no longer be effective and will be discontinued as soon as practicable.
05:45:18
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on President Trump's tariffs, Democrats praised the move, while some attempted to profit from it. Illinois Governor J.P. Pritzker sent a letter to the White House on Friday, attaching a request for $8.6 billion (approximately $1,700 per household) to be refunded to the state's 5.1 million households. Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate and frequent critic of Trump, wrote, "Your tariffs have devastated farmers, angered our allies, and caused grocery prices to skyrocket." He added, "This letter and the attached request are a formal notification that you owe the people of Illinois compensation, and if you do not pay, we will take further action."
Details>
