Trump news at a glance: US tariffs now at highest level in almost 100 years; Trump says he will meet Putin

Brazil calls duties unacceptable blackmail' as other seek talks with US; Trump contradicts reports Putin meeting Zelenskyy was precondition of US-Russia summit. Key US politics stories from Thursday 7 August 2025

Leaders all over the world were attempting to put contingencies in place after Trump's tariff threats turned to reality at a minute past midnight Washington time on Thursday.

The Brazilian government said it was planning a state aid plan for companies affected while its president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called the duties unacceptable blackmail".