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This article is adapted from Sundays Morning Wireepisode. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Problems have been brewing in a Los Angeles County school district for years now. A recent clash with Antifa over LGBT Pride policies, however, finally garnered legacy media headlines.

The Daily Wire spoke to numerous parents of students at Glendale Unified School District about why they were protesting. The parents pointed to issues with transparency, inappropriate LGBT curriculum and policies, and directed us to shocking videos related to district policies.

Im not a political guy in any way, Ervin, a father of two students at Glendale told The Daily Wire. Im just a regular dad.

While Glendale is a notoriously liberal area of Los Angeles, where registered Democrats double Republicans, Ervin, like other parents who spoke to The Daily Wire, didnt consider himself particularly political.

When I started seeing these things pop up locally, and people are complaining about it, I decided to go to a couple of school board meetings and see what the fuss is about, Ervin said. And we learned quite a few things that happened. This all kind of got kicked off in my opinion when COVID happened, and some of the parents discovered what was being told to the students, especially the younger ones in elementary school.

Ervin is referring to the day parents protested an LGBT Pride Day assembly at Saticoy Elementary School, which is in the neighboring Los Angeles Unified School District. The school planned to teach children about LGBTQ+ identities. Some parents disagreed, saying they dont want sexuality discussed at school and many of them kept their children home on the day of the Pride assembly. It was reported that only 40% of the students showed up to school that day.

Why do elementary kids need to learn about sexual orientation or who they want to have sex with? Ervin questioned. Like, eight, nine-year-olds are not thinking about who theyre gonna have sex with.

More than 100 parents protested outside the elementary school. Protesters held up signs and chanted things like, Leave our kids alone, Theres no pride in grooming, and Teach our kids math, science, and English. A physical fight broke out between protesters and counter-protesters, and a small Pride flag placed outside an elementary classroom was reportedly burned the flag allegedly belonged to a teacher at the school who identifies as transgender.

Parents also claimed some of the counter-protesters didnt have a connection to the district.

I tell them right now, you dont have a child here, one father said . You cannot say what my child should learn or not. If the parent who has a child here comes and says, Hey I feel offended I can talk to him. But theyre here to provoke us.

Glendale parents said the issue of transparency has been raging for a long time.

Another parent, Marina Vivar, brought her complaint to a Glendale city council meeting and was captured on video. Her daughter an autistic ninth-grader who has a brain injury was taught about gay sex in class. Vivar said she opted her daughter out of certain portions of sex-education, but her request was not followed by the school.

My daughter was taught subjects such as scissoring which seems to be two females who decide to have sex with each other, Vivar said at the meeting. The good thing is they at least taught you to use female condoms, because if you dont use female condoms then two females can get pregnant, which is not something that can actually happen.

When my daughter did express that I did opt her out of these classes, she was called a bigot by her teacher and her aide, she was called intolerant, and she was also called homophobic, Vivar continued. I dont feel that a teacher or a staff members personal opinion, or beliefs, or lack of, should be considered on the clock. Thats not what you guys are paying them for. Were not paying teachers for their opinions, to share their opinions, or push their opinions, or agendas on children.

Principal Benjamin Wolf, according to reporting from The Post Millennial, told Vivar that her daughter, Thelma, was mistaken, and this incident never happened. He also told her that parents are not allowed to specifically opt out of LGBTQ content for their children, and must opt out of the entire course. Wolf did say, however, that the form Vivar filled out was in need of updating and would be for next school year.

Then how did my daughter come home explaining to me what scissoring was and asking me how two females can have sex and must use protection or else they can get pregnant? Vivar pushed back. How else would my daughter come home knowing the word transphobic? thats what I would like to know.

Vivar also said that her daughters aide in school is a woman who now identifies as a man and uses male pronouns. Her daughter didnt understand this due in part to her special needs, Vivar said, and was allegedly being sent to an office repeatedly and disciplined for messing up these preferred pronouns.

I got in trouble for it because I wasnt exactly sure, Thelma said. I never knew what it was. My teacher says I used the wrong pronouns I got in trouble for it many times, either through adults or students.

Thelma was told over and over that her aide is now a man. Vivar said the school kept these incidents from her and she found out weeks later.

Additionally, a middle school teacher from the Glendale district gave a presentation at the 2019 California Teachers Association LGBTQ Issues Conference, where she directs other teachers about how they can start a Gay-Straight Alliance club also known as a Gender-Sexuality Alliance club or a GSA in their schools. During the presentation, Rosemont Middle School English teacher Lisa Avery describes starting a GSA without permission from the school principal, who told Avery the children were too young for such a club.

By the time school started again in the fall, we were done asking for permission, Avery said during the presentation. We went to our administrators and said, By the way, were starting a GSA, just so you know. This is whats happening.

When they received pushback from the principal, Avery described how her husband then the schools Mental Health Counselor used colorful language when confronting her.

Right before we wanted to take our club public, [the principal] wanted to pull it out and be like, nope, we cant do it. She totally got cold feet, and my husband had a little conversation with her in the parking lot where he used some really choice four-letter words and basically said to her, Look, these are the kids on campus that are looked down on by everyone else, if you wanna make the club stop you can show up to our next meeting and you can tell them yourself.

One of the most notorious portions of the presentation, though, came when Avery said that she poached the schools most unstable children for leading the GSA. Our leaders were unreliable, Avery said. Remember, we had poached them from the counseling office, right? They were not the most emotionally stable students on campus. Actually, they were the least emotionally stable students on campus, right?

On June 6, things came to a head at the school district, when some 500 people reportedly protested outside a school board meeting.

They need to stop asking little children what they sexually identify as, one protester said, as seen in footage from a FOX affiliate. Another said, Anybody could come to the principal and say, Ya know what, Im transgender, and walk into the girls bathroom.

There were physical altercations at the protest that gained much media attention. Parents who were in attendance said they were being agitated by outsiders. They said those who started trouble had no connection to the school and some were dressed in riot gear.

Its been reported that members of the Southern California chapter of Antifa , a Left-wing political group known to use violence to shut down dissenting voices, showedup to the protest.

Where were they two weeks ago? Where were they four weeks ago? Where were they? Six weeks ago? Why is it that they showed up on June 6th? Were they there to antagonize people? Ervin asked. And thats exactly what happened. Thats exactly what happened.

We had a peaceful protest going on, the father added. And then, I mean, you could poke the bear so many times, eventually its gonna strike back.

Weeks later, on June 20, parents gathered to protest outside the last school board meeting of the year. That culminated in one arrest when protesters and counter-protesters again clashed. Almost immediately following that board meeting, Glendale Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian announced her retirement, which was effective on June 30. Ekchian made no reference to the ongoing disputes between parents and administration on her way out, but she said the transformative work being done throughout the district would continue.

This wasnt the only high-profile departure from the district. Ray Shelton, a 5th-grade teacher with decades of teaching experience also left over the transgender policies. He went viral in April when he spoke out at a Glendale school board meeting.

Two plus two equals four. The world is not flat. Boys have penises, girls have vaginas. Gender is binary and cannot be changed. Biology is not bigotry. Heterosexuality is not hate, Shelton said at the meeting. Gender confusion and gender delusion are deep psychological disorders.

No caring professional or loving parent would ever support the chemical poisoning or surgical mutilation of a childs genitalia. Transgender ideology is anti-gay, it is anti-woman, and it is anti-human. And I can also say this as a gay man , Shelton continued before his mic was cut off.

Shelton was subsequently suspended from his teaching position, The Daily Signal reported . Hours after that viral moment, another teacher named Alicia Harris filed a complaint against Shelton, suggesting he was pro-Nazi.

For now, parents in Glendale are continuing to speak out. While The superintendent is on her way out, parents still dont yet know who will replace Ekchian. And another issue that parents are concerned about is a bill currently working its way through the California legislature that could chill future attempts to speak up at school board meetings or even on social media. The bill would criminalize harassment or threats toward school employees after school hours, but the bill doesnt specify what counts as harassment. Convictions could carry up to a year behind bars and a $1,000 fine. This bill claims to protect school employees from parents, but parents say the bill is designed to silence them.

Like I said, Im not some huge political guy, but now Im gonna be, Ervin told The Daily Wire. Right now, Im gonna get more involved. Im gonna protest like they say, Ive been activated now. Nobody wants to be an activist; its a pain in the a**. But if were dragged into it, were forced into it, we will be.

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Worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history as around 10 killed at adult education centre

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Worst mass shooting in Sweden's history as around 10 killed at adult education centre

Swedish police have said around 10 people have been killed at an adult education centre, in what the country’s prime minister said is the worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history.

The attack happened at around 12.30pm local time (11.30am UK time) at Campus Risbergska in the town of Orebro, around 200km (125 miles) west of the capital Stockholm.

A spokesperson told a news conference on Tuesday evening that police believe the “primary perpetrator” is dead and acted alone. They do not expect more attacks, the spokesperson added.

Police at the scene of a shooting at Risbergska School, in Orebro, Sweden 
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency
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Police at the scene of the shooting. Pic: AP/Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency

Police said they carried out investigations at various addresses in Orebro, with technical personnel working at the scene.

Sweden shooting latest: ‘Everything points to typical loner attack’

“At present, the police believe that the perpetrator acted alone, but we cannot rule out more perpetrators connected to the incident,” the update on the Swedish police’s website said.

Police also said they do not know the motive but do not believe it is terrorism, adding they “had no warning sign” about the attack.

More on Sweden

Officers are working to identify the perpetrator and the victims.

The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive on the number killed, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police.

Head of the local police Roberto Eid Forest attends a press conference after a shooting at the adult education center Campus Risbergska school in Orebro, Sweden, February 4, 2025. Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN.
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Head of the local police Roberto Eid Forest. Pic: Reuters

“When it comes to saying anything more about the perpetrator, it is still very early. The operation is ongoing and that will undoubtedly become clearer. But we are working very intensively right now,” Mr Forest said.

He described the attack as a “horrible” incident, calling it “exceptional” and a “nightmare”.

The suspected gunman had not previously been known to police, Mr Forest said..

Speaking at a press conference this evening, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson said the tragedy is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.

“Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Mr Kristersson told reporters.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks to media during the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders' Summit, at the Estonian Knighthood House in Tallinn, Estonia, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
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Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. File pic: AP

“This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.

“But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,” he said.

Meanwhile, the country’s king Carl XVI Gustaf said the shooting was a “terrible atrocity”.

Danish Royals State Visit To Sweden - Day 2 ** STORY AVAILABLE, CONTACT SUPPLIER** Featuring: King Carl Gustaf Where: Stockholm, Sweden When: 07 May 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**  (Cover Images via AP Images)
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King Carl Gustaf. File pic: AP

“We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected.

“My family and I would like to express our great appreciation for the police, rescue and medical personnel who worked intensively to save and protect human lives on this dark day.”

Police earlier urged the public to stay away from the centre as they were searching and evacuating the premises.

At least five people were taken to hospital. Four underwent surgery – one is critically injured, two are stable and one is lightly injured, police said at an earlier news conference.

Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter said police officers had been shot at, but police said no officers had been shot.

A police officer at Risbergska School in Orebro, Sweden.
Pic: TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson/Reuters
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A police officer at the school. Pic: Reuters

Emergency personnel and police officers work at the adult education center Campus Risbergska school after a shooting attack in Orebro, Sweden, February 4, 2025. TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN.
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Pic: Reuters

The centre is for students over the age of 20, according to its website. It offers primary and upper secondary school courses, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.

Google Maps shows a number of schools for children in the vicinity.

The shooting happened after many students had gone home following a national exam.

A helicopter at the scene of the shooting  at Risbergska School, in Orebro. 
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency/AP
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A police helicopter above the scene. Pic: AP

Students were taking shelter in nearby buildings and other parts of the campus were evacuated.

Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus on Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots.

Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school.

Read more: What we know about Sweden shooting so far

“We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told the Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.

“Now we’re sitting here waiting to be evacuated from the school. The information we have received is that we should sit and wait.”

Police cars pass near the adult education center Campus Risbergska school after a shooting attack in Orebro, Sweden, February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Philip O'Connor
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Police cars pass near the Campus Risbergska school. Pic: Reuters

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported one person trapped in the centre as saying: “We have heard several shots outside.”

The newspaper also quoted a person who had received a text from a teacher at the centre saying “there was a shooting with automatic weapons”.

It said local emergency and intensive care departments are being made ready for casualties.

Fatal attacks at educational establishments in Sweden are rare, with 10 killed in seven incidents between 2010 and 2022, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.

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Sweden shooting: What we know after around 10 people killed at adult education centre, police say

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Sweden shooting: What we know after around 10 people killed at adult education centre, police say

A major police operation is under way after around 10 people were killed at an adult education centre in Sweden.

Authorities have warned the public to stay away from the area in the town of Orebro, around 200km (125 miles) west of the capital Stockholm.

Sweden shooting latest: Follow updates

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Footage shows classroom on lockdown during shooting

In an update on Tuesday afternoon, police said around 10 people had been killed in the shooting.

The gunman is believed to be among the dead, officers said.

The website for the Swedish police added: “About ten people have been killed in the incident.

“We are currently working on identification. The total number of injured is currently unclear.”

Here is everything we know about the shooting so far.

A police officer unrolls police tape at Risbergska School in Orebro, Sweden.
Pic:TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson/Reuters
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Pic:TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson/Reuters

What happened?

Police were alerted to shots being fired at Campus Risbergska adult education centre just after 12.30pm local time (11.30am UK time) on Tuesday.

The violence broke out after many students had gone home following a national exam. Video footage from the scene showed a large police presence and other emergency vehicles.

In a news conference after 5pm UK time, police said around 10 people had been killed.

Officers added they don’t believe there is a terror motive in the attack, but this is not conclusive.

None of those admitted to hospital are children, according to a separate update on the Orebro regional authorities’ website.

Police at the scene of a shooting at Risbergska School, in Orebro, Sweden 
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency
Image:
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency

Students that were sheltering in nearby buildings, and other parts of the school, were evacuated following the shooting.

Campus Risbergska serves students who are over the age of 20, according to its website.

Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.

What we know about the suspect

The suspect remains unnamed, but police confirmed they are a male.

In their evening update, police said they believed the suspect had also died.

He was not known to officers, police said.

A spokesperson added that they cannot rule out that there are more suspected attackers involved.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

‘Three bangs and loud screams’

Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus on Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots.

Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school.

“We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told the Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.

“Now we’re sitting here waiting to be evacuated from the school. The information we have received is that we should sit and wait.”

Video Grab from AP
Image:
Police at the scene

Pavel Koubak, a photographer who was in the area at the time of the attack, said that he saw at least three police helicopters in the sky.

“I was talking to a guy riding a bicycle who passed through the area,” he told Sky News presenter Kamali Melbourne.

“He had a friend that was working inside the school that had sent him a text message that there was automatic rifle fire. He was laying down on the floor inside the school.”

Asked whether gun violence was rare in the area, Mr Koubak said it was not.

“We’ve had plenty of shootings around Sweden and also in Orebro in the last couple of years. But, this seems to be sort of a bigger magnitude,” he said.

“I think [the police] are pretty educated on these types of situations nowadays. There was a pretty quick response from the big unit of police and lots of helicopters very, very quickly after the alarm.”

Police at Risbergska School in Orebro, Sweden.
Pic: TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson/Reuters
Image:
Pic: TT News Agency/Kicki Nilsson/Reuters

What have the police said?

Police said they carried out investigations at various addresses in Orebro, with technical personnel working at the scene.

“At present, the police believe that the perpetrator acted alone, but we cannot rule out more perpetrators connected to the incident,” the update on the Swedish police’s website said.

Police added that they “had no warning sign” about the attack.

Officers are also working to identify the perpetrator and the victims.

The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive on the number killed, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police.

A helicopter at the scene of the shooting  at Risbergska School, in Orebro. 
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency/AP
Image:
Pic: Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency/AP

“When it comes to saying anything more about the perpetrator, it is still very early. The operation is ongoing and that will undoubtedly become clearer. But we are working very intensively right now,” Mr Forest said.

He described the attack as a “horrible” incident, calling it “exceptional” and a “nightmare”.

What has the government said?

Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson said the tragedy is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.

“Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Mr Kristersson told reporters.

“This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.

“But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,” he said.

Meanwhile, the country’s king Carl XVI Gustaf said the shooting was a “terrible atrocity”.

“We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected.

“My family and I would like to express our great appreciation for the police, rescue and medical personnel who worked intensively to save and protect human lives on this dark day.”

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Donald Trump’s tariffs: What’s going on and what does it all mean?

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Donald Trump's tariffs: What's going on and what does it all mean?

Donald Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, kicking off a trade war that will affect the globe.

Here we look at the tariffs and what they all mean for the world:

What did Trump announce?

On Sunday the US president said goods from Mexico and Canada will face 25% tariffs, while 10% taxes will be implemented on imports from China.

Canadian energy, including oil, natural gas and electricity, will be taxed at a 10% rate.

Trade war latest: Follow live updates

The levies were expected to all take effect on Tuesday, with Mexico and Canada both announcing counter-tariffs of their own in response.

However, on Monday both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the implementation of tariffs would be paused for a month after they had calls with Mr Trump.

But Mr Trump has also threatened to go further, saying tariffs on the European Union would be implemented “pretty soon”.

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Trump’s proposed tariffs

When questioned about the UK, the president said Britain was “out of line” when it came to trade but he thought the situation could be “worked out” without the use of tariffs.

What are tariffs, and how do they work?

Put simply, tariffs are taxes on goods brought in from other countries.

By raising the price of imports, tariffs aim to protect domestic manufacturers by making locally made goods cheaper.

Contrary to what Mr Trump has said, it is not foreign countries that pay tariffs, but the importing companies that buy the goods.

For example, American businesses like Walmart or Target pay tariffs directly to the US treasury.

In the US, these tariffs are collected by customs and border protection agents, who are stationed at 328 ports of entry across the country.

Tariffs graphic
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Mr Trump’s proposed tariffs

To compensate for tariffs, companies then put up their prices, so customers end up paying more for goods.

Tariffs can also damage foreign countries as it makes their products pricier and harder to sell.

This can lead to them cutting prices (and sacrificing profits) to offset levies and maintain their market share in the US.

Why is Trump doing this?

Mr Trump has argued imposing higher levies will help reduce illegal migration and the smuggling of the synthetic opioid fentanyl to the US.

On Mexico, the US leader claimed drug traffickers and the country’s government “have an intolerable alliance” that in turn impacts national security.

He further claimed Mexican drug cartels are operating in Canada.

Tariffs graphic

On China, he said the country’s government provides a “safe haven” for criminal organisations.

He has also pledged to use tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing.

“We may have short term some little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world,” he said.

His aim appears to be to force governments in those countries to work much harder to prevent what he calls illegal migration and the smuggling of the deadly drug fentanyl – as appears to have been agreed by Mexico. But, even if the countries do not do what America wants, it will still potentially benefit firms that produce goods in the US.

What could the consequences be?

Mexico and Canada are two of America’s largest trading partners, with the tariffs upending decades-old trade relationships.

Goods that could be affected most by the incoming tariffs include fruit and veg, petrol and oil, cars and vehicle parts and electronic goods.

New analysis by the Budget Lab at Yale University found the average US household would lose the equivalent of $1,170 US dollars (£944) in income from the tariffs.

Read more: This is how US consumers will be affected

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Why Trump’s tariffs could cost you

The research also found economic growth would slow and inflation would worsen, as the tariffs forced up prices.

Immediate consequences were felt on Monday morning, as shares on Asian markets took a tumble.

Japan’s Nikkei opened down 2.9% while Australia’s benchmark – often a proxy trade for Chinese markets – fell 1.8%. Stocks in Hong Kong, which include listings of Chinese companies, fell 1.1%.

UK stocks were also significantly down, with the benchmark FTSE 100 index – containing the most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange – dropped more than 1.3% on the open.

In Europe, stock markets opened sharply lower while the euro slid 1.3%. The Europe-wide index of companies, the Stoxx 600 dropped as much as 1.5%.

While Mexico’s peso hit its lowest in nearly three years.

‘Very scary path’

Sky News’ data and economics editor Ed Conway said the long-term consequences of a trade war is “everyone gets poorer”, which is what happened to the world before World War Two.

“As countries get poorer, they get frustrated and you get more nationalism,” Conway said, speaking on Friday’s Sky News Daily podcast.

“This is exactly what happened in the 1930s, and the world ended up at war with each other. It is a very, very scary path, and yes, we are basically on a potential of that path.”

However, Conway added one positive of Mr Trump’s tariffs could be highlighting “massive imbalances” within the global economy.

He said Mr Trump may be able to shift the conversation to problems “economists don’t want to talk about”.

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“At the moment, we have a dysfunctional global economy,” he explained.

“You have got massive imbalances like trade deficits [when a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports] and trade surpluses [when a country’s exports exceeds the cost of its imports].

“There might well be a better way of everyone getting together and having a conversation and working out how to align their affairs, so we don’t have these imbalances in the future.

“And tariffs help to get you to this point.”

How has the world reacted?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted strongly against Mr Trump’s tariffs, saying his country would impose 25% tariffs on $155bn Canadian dollars (£85.9bn) of US goods in response.

He added the move would split the two countries apart, and urged Canadians to choose domestic products rather than American ones.

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Tariffs against Canada ‘will put US jobs at risk’

Mexican President Ms Sheinbaum posted on X on Sunday to say she had ordered her economy minister to implement tariff and non-tariff measures to defend Mexico’s interests.

She said her government “categorically rejects” the claim it has “alliances with criminal organisations” and called on the White House to “fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities”.

A day later, she posted saying she and Mr Trump had a “good conversation” and “reached a series of agreements”.

These agreements include Mexico sending 10,000 troops to the border to “prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl”.

Mr Trump responded to the agreement with Ms Sheinbaum, saying negotiations between the two will be ongoing to try and achieve a “deal”.

Meanwhile, China has retaliated by imposing 10% tariffs on American crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars and pickup trucks.

There will also be 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as an investigation into Google.

China also said it is imposing export controls on rare earth metals such as tungsten, tellurium, ruthenium, molybdenum and ruthenium-related items – the country controls much of the world’s supply of such metals, which are critical for the transition to clean energy.

They will not come into effect until Monday 10 February, however.

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Mexico responds to Trump’s tariffs

A spokesperson for the UK government reiterated that the US is an “indispensable ally” and one of the country’s “closest trading partners”.

They added that the trading relationship was “fair and balanced”, after Mr Trump criticised the UK, saying it was “out of line”.

European Union (EU) leaders have also taken a strong stance against looming US tariffs.

Kaja Kallas, the chief of foreign policy for the bloc, said there were no winners in a trade war, and if the US and Europe started one “then the one laughing on the side is China”.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz added that the EU is strong enough to “respond to tariffs with our own tariffs”, while French President Emmanuel Macron said declarations by the US were pushing Europe to be “stronger and more united”.

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EU can react with its own tariffs

What’s the history of trade wars?

Imposing tariffs is not new to Mr Trump, or the US for that matter.

During his first term in the White House, he imposed higher levies on China and Vietnam.

In 2018, he imposed 25% tariffs on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminium from most countries, a response to what he said was the unfair impact of Chinese steel driving down prices and negatively affecting the US steel industry.

China then hit back with retaliatory tariffs on US imports, including 15% on 120 American products such as fruits, nuts, wine and steel pipes and a 25% tariff on US pork and recycled aluminium.

Before that, Democrat Jimmy Carter went so far as to completely ban the sale of wheat to Russia, which remained in effect until Ronald Reagan ended it in 1981.

Read more:
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Trump’s changed tack to focus on Mexico and Canada – why?
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In 2019, Mr Trump also used the threat of tariffs as leverage to persuade Mexico to crack down on migrants crossing Mexican territory on their way to the US.

A study by economists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Zurich, Harvard and the World Bank concluded Mr Trump’s tariffs the first time around failed to restore jobs to the American heartland.

The tariffs “neither raised nor lowered US employment” when they were supposed to protect jobs, according to Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.

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