The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has called on the EU to “defend European interests resolutely” after Donald Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on nearly all imports from the EU.
He said the EU should be ready for a trade war and to stand up to the US president who was only last week expected to approve a 10% tariff agreement in principle with the bloc.
“It is more than ever up to the commission to assert the union’s determination to defend European interests resolutely,” Macron said on social media. “In particular, this implies accelerating the preparation of credible countermeasures, by mobilising all the instruments at its disposal, including anti-coercion, if no agreement is reached by 1 August.”
Other European leaders called for calm, including in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. But reflecting the shock around the bloc over Trump’s threat, the influential Federation of German Industries (BDI) said Trump’s announcement was “a wake-up call for the industry on both sides of the Atlantic”.
Macron’s call for trade war readiness came in contrast to Berlin, which urged a “pragmatic” response. “The EU now must, in the time that remains, negotiate in a pragmatic manner a solution with the United States,” Germany’s economy minister, Katherina Reiche, said in a statement. “A pragmatic outcome to these negotiations must be reached quickly.”
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, who enjoys good relations with Trump, said in a statement she trusted “a fair agreement” could be reached. “It would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic,” she said.
The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, said on social media the EU “must remain united and resolute” in its aim to reach a “mutually beneficial” deal with the US.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, said: there was “no necessity to escalate the situation”. Trump has previously accused Dublin of stealing US business by luring in tech and pharma companies.
Ambassadors are to meet in Brussels on Sunday to discuss tactics before a scheduled summit of trade ministers on Monday, where divisions in approach may be underlined.
The threat of a 30% tariff is being seen as a negotiating tactic, but behind the scenes there is fury with many viewing it as a dangerous transatlantic game at a time of grave global instability.
Trump’s latest salvo is in line with his April “liberation day” claim that the EU was charging unfair duties of 39% on US imports, an analysis widely discredited, with EU officials pointing to an average of about 2.5%.
Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariff chart. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Some MEPs have warned that if they start accepting “illegal” tariffs as the new norm, Trump will just come back for more. “It is matter of showing the EU is not a victim, is not paralysed in itself or scared,” the Italian MEP Brando Benifei, a member of the international trade committee, said last week.
Germany’s Association of the Automotive Industry warned about the prospect of rising costs for carmakers and suppliers and said it was “regrettable that there is a threat of a further escalation of the trade conflict”.
Germany’s car industry is already reeling from the 25% hike in tariffs on exports to the US on top of the pre-existing 2.5%, while its steel industry is having to cope with punitive tariffs of 50%.
It is understood the agreement in principle that was on Trump’s table offered potential tariff relief for any European car manufacturers with plants in the US, which included Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen along with the Swedish brand Volvo.
EU-US trade is worth €1.4tn a year but just three countries – Germany, Italy and Ireland, with its large multinational pharma sector – export more to the US than they import.
Emanuele Orsini, the president of Confindustria, the confederation of Italian industry, said the EU must not escalate. “Now we all need to keep calm and hold our nerve,” he said.
But in the north of the country, the Confindustria Veneto president, Raffaele Boscaini, said there would have to be supports for industries in the event of higher tariffs. “The EU and the Italian government will have to intervene with concrete measures to support the competitiveness of our companies: investment and access to credit, bureaucratic and fiscal relief as well as the definition of energy policy,” said Boscaini, who is head of marketing at Masi, the leading producer of Amarone wine, which would be hit hard by a 30% tariff.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, public broadcaster NHK said on Sunday.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With Ishiba at the helm, the LDP-led coalition has lost its majority in elections for both houses of parliament since coming to power last year, amid voter anger over rising living costs.
LDP lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Monday whether to hold an extraordinary leadership election. Ishiba’s government finalized details of a trade deal with the United States last week.
Aryna Sabalenka on controlling her emotions in US Open final
:What happened in Paris, definitely not going to happen here and never. I learned that lesson and I will never behave that way. It’s not me.
“I was super emotional. I let it go and let emotions take control over me, and it’s not who I am. It’s never going to happen again.”
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 19:01
Aryna Sabalenka vows no repeat of Paris behaviour in US Open final
Aryna Sabalenka has vowed to be gracious whatever happens in her US Open final clash against Amanda Anisimova.
The world number one was heavily criticised for a post-match press conference following her defeat by Coco Gauff in the French Open final, which she attributed to her own errors rather than crediting her opponent.
Sabalenka later apologised publicly and privately, branding the comments “completely unprofessional”.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:46
Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula to clinch final return
Aryna Sabalenka is one victory away from retaining her US Open title after winning a pulsating rematch against Jessica Pegula.
The semi-final was a repeat of last year’s final, which Sabalenka won in two tight sets, but this time she had to come from a set down to claim a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:31
Amanda Anisimova on coming back from Wimbledon heartache
The manner in which Anisimova reacted to the horror of the Wimbledon final has allowed a mental transformation that may not have occurred without the nightmare of what unfolded eight weeks ago, allowing the resilience she has shown to shine under the pressure of being the last American standing.
“I think it just shows that I have worked really hard, especially on my mental game and not giving up,” Anisimova said. “Like today, I could have easily said, ‘oh, she’s playing better than me, and I can’t really do anything’. I really tried to find any way I could to stay in the match, even though it was extremely tough, and she was playing really great tennis.
“I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself, even when it feels like what is there to believe in, when you’re not playing that well. I think I have really done a better job of that, and especially since the Wimbledon final. I think I have really shifted with my attitude as well.”
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:15
Amanda Anisimova into ‘dream’ US Open final
Amanda Anisimova is just 24 years old but has just reached back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
She’s the youngest player to do that since Serena Williams in 2002.
“It’s a dream come true,” Anisimova said. “I’ve been dreaming of a US Open final for, like, forever.
“The hope is to be the champion.”
Anisimova pats the court after reaching the US Open final (Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:09
Amanda Anisimova’s comeback from Wimbledon final defeat
Amanda Anisimova fell to her knees and tapped on the blue hard court. With her dream of reaching a first final at the US Open accomplished, whatever magic that is unfolding in New York had worked its spell again.
Eight weeks after her 6-0 6-0 Wimbledon final defeat to Iga Swiatek, the 24-year-old from New Jersey has given herself another chance to win a grand slam title at the first opportunity. After avenging her defeat to Swiatek in the quarter-finals, Anisimova went one step further by overturning Naomi Osaka’s lead in a back-and-forth semi-final across almost three hours, setting up a final against the World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:06
Amanda Anisimova v Aryna Sabalenka set for rematch
A little over eight weeks after they met in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka will meet again in the US Open final.
Anisimova won that match to deny Sabalenka her first Wimbledon final, and leads the World No 1 in their head-to-head 6-3.
Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player to defend a US Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2014.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:05
Anisimova v Sabalenka start time and how to watch US Open final
The US Open women’s final between Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka will be played on Saturday 6 September at 4pm local time (9pm UK time).
The men’s final will be played on Sunday 7 September, at the earlier time of 2pm local time (7pm UK time).
How to watch the US Open finals
Sky Sports is showing the US Open in the UK and ESPN in the US.
Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka (Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:01
Welcome
Amanda Anisimova plays defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open women’s final.
Just eight weeks ago, Anisimova lost her first grand slam final 6-0 6-0 at Wimbledon to Iga Swiatek, but the 24-year-old American has put that disappointment behind her to reach her first US Open final.
The eighth seed earned revenge against Swiatek in the quarter-finals then defeated Naomi Osaka in a semi-final thriller to set up the chance for the ultimate redemption against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka is also out for revenge after her defeat to Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals, while the World No 1 aims to become the first player to defend a US Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2014.
Sabalenka is through to a third grand slam final this year, but lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys and the French Open final to Coco Gauff.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea disrupted internet access in parts of Asia and the Middle East, experts said Sunday, though it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the incident.
There has been concern about the cables being targeted in a Red Sea campaign by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which the rebels describe as an effort to pressure Israel to end its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But the Houthis have denied attacking the lines in the past.
Undersea cables are one of the backbones of the internet, along with satellite connections and land-based cables. Typically, internet service providers have multiple access points and reroute traffic if one fails, though it can slow down access for users.
Microsoft announced via a status website that the Mideast “may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea.” The Redmond, Washington-based firm did not immediately elaborate, though it said that internet traffic not moving through the Middle East “is not impacted.”
NetBlocks, which monitors internet access, said “a series of subsea cable outages in the Red Sea has degraded internet connectivity in multiple countries,” which it said included India and Pakistan. It blamed “failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
The South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 cable is run by Tata Communications, part of the Indian conglomerate. The India-Middle East-Western Europe cable is run by another consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent. Neither firm did not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd., a telecommunication giant in that country, noted that the cuts had taken place in a statement on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately acknowledge the disruption and authorities there did not respond to a request for comment.
In the United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, internet users on the country’s state-owned Du and Etisalat networks complained of slower internet speeds. The government did not immediately acknowledge the disruption.
Subsea cables can be cut by anchors dropped from ships, but can also be targeted in attacks. It can take weeks for repairs to be made as a ship and crew must locate themselves over the damaged cable.
The lines’ cut comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels remain locked in a series of attacks targeting Israel over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Israel has responded with airstrikes, including one that killed top leaders within the rebel movement.
In early 2024, Yemen’s internationally recognized government in exile alleged that the Houthis planned to attack undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several were cut, but the Houthis denied being responsible. On Sunday morning, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged that the cuts had taken place, citing NetBlocks.
From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. In their campaign so far, the Houthis have sunk four vessels and killed at least eight mariners.
The Iranian-backed Houthis stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. The Houthis sank two vessels in July, killing at least four on board, with others believed to be held by the rebels.
The Houthis’ new attacks come as a new possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war remains in the balance. Meanwhile, the future of talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s battered nuclear program is in question after Israel launched a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic in which the Americans bombed three Iranian atomic sites.
