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☆ With eye on China, US and five allies condemn trade-related 'economic coercion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The United States and five of its allies on Friday condemned the use of trade practices that amount to economic coercion in a joint declaration that did not single out other countries but appeared to be aimed at China. Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand jointly released the statement with the United States, emphasizing that "trade-related economic coercion and non-market-oriented policies and practices" threatened the multi-lateral trading system and "harms relations between countries." The United States, Britain, Japan and Canada are also members of the G7. In May, Beijing protested the G7's declarations, including on economic coercion, saying the U.S. was "pushing hard to weave an anti-China net in the Western world." "We are also seriously concerned about the use of forced labour, including state-sponsored forced labour, in global supply chains.

Persons: Jeff Mason, Dan Whitcomb, Sonali Paul Organizations: New, Seven, Washington, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Beijing, Lithuania, Taiwan, U.S

☆ Biden heads to North Carolina while Republicans Trump, DeSantis court state
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden travels to North Carolina on Friday to tout his economic agenda and pledge support to military families, spending time in a political swing state while Republican presidential candidates woo voters there, too. Biden's trip comes as Republican presidential candidates are converging on North Carolina for the state's Republican convention. The White House has said previously it would not comment on actions taken by the Justice Department. North Carolina is an important political swing state that Trump won, though only with a slim margin in 2020, while still losing the presidency to Biden, who won with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. During his trip, Biden will announce a series of executive actions to "increase the economic security of military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors," the White House said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jill, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Jeff Mason, Kim Coghill Organizations: Republican, Nash Community College, Liberty, Florida, Justice Department, Trump, White, Fort Liberty, U.S . Army, Thomson Locations: North Carolina, Rocky Mount, Fort Bragg

White House/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. "We will continue to impose sanctions on the actors involved in the transfer of Iranian military equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine," Kirby said. The advisory highlighted key items sought by Iran for its development of drones, including electronics such as processors and controllers.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Heather Timmons, Chizu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, House, Vehicles, Russian, Ukraine, United Nations, Security, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Iran, White, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Ukraine, U.S, Alabuga, Moscow, United, Britain, France, Germany

White House/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. A White House official said Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August. The advisory highlighted key items sought by Iran for its development of drones, including electronics such as processors and controllers.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Heather Timmons, Chizu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, House, Vehicles, Russian, Ukraine, White, United Nations, Security, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Iran, White, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Ukraine, U.S, Alabuga, Moscow, United, Britain, France, Germany

Republican hopefuls have alleged, without evidence, that the investigation into Trump, who is running to unseat Biden from the White House in 2024, is politically motivated. As the charges against Trump were unsealed, Biden was in North Carolina, where he was discussing his economic agenda and had plans to meet with military members. BIDEN, TRUMP IN SWING STATENorth Carolina is a key political swing state that Republicans are courting this weekend during a state convention. North Carolina, with 15 electoral votes, is an important political swing state that Trump won, though only with a slim margin, in 2020. He leads the North Carolina Republican field with 44% of the vote, followed by DeSantis at 22%, the poll shows.

Persons: ROCKY, Joe Biden, General Merrick Garland, Department's, Donald Trump, I’m, Biden, White, Olivia Dalton, Garland, Jack Smith, Trump, BIDEN, Jill, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Nandita Bose, Jeff Mason, Sarah Lynch, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis, Diane Craft Organizations: Trump, White House, DOJ, Air Force, FBI, TRUMP, Nash Community College, Fort Liberty, Diagnostics, North Carolina Republican, White, Liberty, Thomson Locations: N.C, North Carolina, Carolina, Rocky Mount, Florida, Philadelphia . North Carolina, Fort Bragg

☆ Biden to host thousands at White House Pride party
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will host the largest White House Pride Month celebration in history on Thursday, in a deliberate contrast to a cascade of Republican legislation and other attacks targeting LGBTQ+ people. Biden, a Democrat, will host thousands of people on the White House's South Lawn for an evening celebration of LGBTQ+ families that will feature singer Betty Who and Baltimore DJ Queen HD. "This year we're seeing a disturbing surge in violent threats against LGBTQ community organizations," Tanden told reporters on a conference call. In April, the White House warned bills targeting LGBTQ kids and gender-affirming care for youth set a dangerous precedent. Florida has led restrictions of the LGBTQ community under governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who recently entered the battle for the 2024 presidential election, challenging Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Betty Who, Neera Tanden, Tanden, Barack Obama, Ron DeSantis, Nandita Bose, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Gerry Doyle Organizations: White, Democrat, Baltimore DJ Queen, Republican, Gallup, Department of Education, Civil, The Department of Homeland Security, Department, Justice, Department of Health & Human Services, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: United States, statehouses, Florida, Washington

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden declared a "crisis averted" on Friday in his first address from the White House's Oval Office, touting the passage of a bill to suspend the U.S. debt ceiling and avoid economic catastrophe. JIM WATSON/Pool via REUTERSRepublicans refused to increase the debt ceiling for months, asking Biden and Democrats to cut spending in the 2024 budget in return. The White House asked for a clean debt ceiling deal before starting negotiations. OVAL OFFICE ADDRESSU.S. presidents have generally reserved an address from the Oval Office for the most significant, and dramatic of events: the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, for example, or the Challenger space shuttle explosion. The White House said Biden was making his remarks there because of the gravity of the situation had the debt ceiling not been raised.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Republican Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Donald Trump, JIM WATSON, “, ” Biden, Fitch, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft Organizations: White, Republican, Senate, REUTERS Republicans, Democrat, AAA, Challenger, Union, Capitol, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Gulf

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden declared a "crisis averted" on Friday in his first address from the White House's Oval Office, as he touted the passage of a bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and curb spending. [1/5] US President Joe Biden addresses the nation on averting default and the Bipartisan Budget Agreement, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, June 2, 2023. U.S. presidents have generally reserved an address from the Oval Office for the most significant, and dramatic of events: the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, for example, or the Challenger space shuttle explosion. The White House said Biden was making his remarks there because of the gravity of the situation had the debt ceiling not been raised. Former President Barack Obama made remarks from the Oval Office in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, JIM WATSON, ” Biden, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft Organizations: White, Senate, REUTERS, Fitch, AAA, Challenger, Union, Capitol, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Gulf

☆ U.S. debt ceiling bill may be signed as soon as Saturday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden walks to the White House after his trip to Colorado, in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden may sign the bill lifting the U.S. debt ceiling as soon as Saturday, according to the White House. Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday the signing would take place after Congress finishes its work to finalize the bill. Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein WASHINGTON, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Colorado, Washington , U.S

☆ Biden to tout bipartisan debt ceiling deal in first Oval Office address
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. presidents have generally reserved an address from the White House's Oval Office for the most significant, and dramatic of events: the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, for example, or the Challenger space shuttle explosion. On Friday, however, President Joe Biden plans to make his first Oval Office speech after more than two years as president about a crisis that was averted. Former President Barack Obama made remarks from the Oval Office in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast. But the Friday night address is his first from the Oval Office, a setting that highlights the power and authority of the presidency, as Biden seeks a second term against a growing field of Republican candidates.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Leah Millis, Biden, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Challenger, Democrat, Senate, Union, Capitol, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Gulf

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet to discuss the debt ceiling on Monday, after a "productive" phone call as the president headed back to Washington, the two sides said on Sunday. Staff members from both sides will reconvene for talks at 6 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Sunday. A failure to lift the debt ceiling by that date would trigger a default that would cause chaos in financial markets and spike interest rates. SPENDING CUTSMcCarthy said Republicans backed an increase in the defense budget while cutting overall spending, and that debt ceiling talks have not included discussions about tax cuts passed under former President Donald Trump. McCarthy has said he will give House lawmakers 72 hours to review an agreement before bringing it up for a vote.

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet to discuss the debt limit on Monday after a "productive" phone call as the president headed back to Washington, the top House Republican leader said on Sunday. McCarthy, speaking to reporters following the call, said there were positive discussions on solving the crisis and that staff-level talks were set to resume later on Sunday. "Much of what they've already proposed is simply, quite frankly, unacceptable," Biden said before heading back to Washington. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERSA source familiar with the negotiations said Republicans had proposed an increase in defense spending, while cutting overall spending. The source said the Biden administration had proposed keeping non-defense discretionary spending flat for the next year.

Biden said he would speak to top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on his flight home and hoped the speaker of the House of Representatives had been waiting to negotiate with Biden directly. McCarthy, in an interview on Fox News, said he expected to speak with Biden later on Sunday morning. A source familiar with the negotiations said Republicans had proposed an increase in defense spending, while cutting overall spending. The source said the Biden administration had proposed keeping non-defense discretionary spending flat for the next year. Biden stressed that he was open to making spending cuts and said he was not concerned they would lead to a recession, but he could not agree to Republican demands.

Biden said he would speak to top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on his flight home and hoped the speaker of the House of Representatives had been waiting to negotiate with Biden directly. "Much of what they've already proposed is simply, quite frankly, unacceptable," Biden said. The source also said House Republicans wanted to extend tax cuts passed under then-President Donald Trump, which would add $3.5 trillion to the federal debt. SPENDING CUTSBiden heads back to Washington on Sunday after truncating his Asia trip to focus on the debt ceiling talks. Biden stressed that he was open to making spending cuts and said he was not concerned they would lead to a recession, but he could not agree to Republican demands.

☆ Biden unveils new $375 mln U.S. military aid package for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new $375 million package of military aid to Ukraine on Sunday and told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the United States was doing all it could to strengthen Ukraine's defense for the war with Russia. Meeting with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of the G7 summit of world leaders in Hiroshima, Japan, Biden said the military aid package included ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles and training. "Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine's back and I promise we're not going anywhere," Biden told Zelenskiy. In the meeting, Biden stressed his country's readiness to help build Ukraine's long-term capacity to defend against and deter Russian aggression, the White House said. Zelenskiy thanked the United States for the new package, and for the financial assistance of $37 billion to date, his office said.

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday said he had received a "flat assurance" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that he would not use Western-provided F-16 fighter jets to go into Russian territory. Biden told reporters in Hiroshima, Japan, at the conclusion of a meeting of world leaders that F-16 warplanes could be used "wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area". Biden announced a $375 million package of military aid, including artillery and armoured vehicles, for Ukraine during the final day of a three-day G7 summit. Zelenskiy said on Sunday he was confident Kyiv would receive F-16 fighter jets from the West after months of lobbying for the planes. Biden told reporters he discussed the issue with Zelenskiy during their private meeting.

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday said he was willing to cut spending but would not agree to a deal with Republicans in Congress on raising the U.S. federal debt limit and cutting the budget solely on their terms. "It's time for Republicans to accept that there is no bipartisan deal to be made solely on their partisan terms. That would trigger a default that could cause chaos in financial markets and spike interest rates. Biden said he still believed he could reach a deal with Republicans, but could not guarantee that Republicans would not force a default by "doing something outrageous." Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason, writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

We're looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China," Biden told a press conference, adding that G7 nations were more unified than ever in terms of "resisting economic coercion together and countering harmful practices that hurt our workers." Biden suggested a shift in U.S.-China relations could occur soon, echoing his comment to reporters before his departure. "In terms of talking with them, I think you're going to see that thaw very shortly," Biden said. On the issue of tensions between China and Taiwan, Biden said there was a clear understanding among most of the allies that if China were to act unilaterally against Taiwan, there be a response. Biden reiterated that the United States and G7 allies would not trade in materials that would allow China to build weapons of mass destruction, but that was "not a hostile act."

But he'll stay home on Election Day should Trump win his party's nomination to take on Joe Biden in 2024. In Pennsylvania and Michigan, the size of the Ukrainian-American community outstrips Trump's margin of victory in 2016, according to the analysis. During a CNN town hall last week, Trump refused to say if he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia, when questioned about the conflict. Neither politician responded to requests for comments about the Ukraine war, nor did the Republican National Committee. Democratic U.S. Representative Susan Wild, who won Stawnyczyj's district by less than 5,000 votes in 2022, said that courting the Ukrainian-American vote would be crucial.

The Hiroshima summit comes as G7 members are faced with the immense challenges posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China. The G7 nations are looking to "de-risk, not decouple" from China, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in Hiroshima. In a draft of the final communique seen by Reuters, G7 leaders agreed that China's status as the world's second-largest economy meant they had to continue to cooperate. U.S. President Joe Biden told G7 leaders on Friday that Washington supports joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, in a significant endorsement for Kyiv. Reporting by Reuters G7 team in Hiroshima; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 14, 2023. G7 leaders planned to outline steps to protect sensitive technology, including outbound investment measures, in their communique, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at a briefing in Hiroshima. In a draft of the final communique, seen by Reuters, G7 leaders agreed that China's status as the world's second-largest economy meant they had to continue to cooperate. Zelenskiy is expected to hold bilateral meetings with attendees of the G7 summit, including the host, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Reporting by Reuters G7 team in Hiroshima; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - A second meeting on Friday between White House and Republican congressional negotiators on raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling broke up with no progress cited by either side and no additional meeting set. Senior White House adviser Steve Ricchetti left the meeting room telling reporters that he was "not assessing" the talks. A meeting earlier on Friday ended abruptly with McCarthy telling reporters there had not been any "movement" from the White House toward Republican demands. Biden and McCarthy spent most of the year in an impasse with the White House insisting on a "clean" increase in the debt ceiling without conditions. They agreed to two-way talks, with the White House represented by Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Ricchetti.

☆ White House: Biden to discuss Ukraine with Brazil's Lula, India's Modi
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asked if Biden would pressure or urge the two leaders to toughen their approach on China and Russia, Sullivan said, "I think pressure is just the wrong word. I mean, that's not how President Biden operates with these key leaders with whom he has deep relationships, like President Lula and President Modi." A White House spokesperson responded by accusing him of "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda". Biden is slated to see Modi as part of a third Quad summit, along with the leaders of Australia and Japan on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason; Writing by Andrea Shalal and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White House says G7 will align on shared 'de-risk, not decouple' approach to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 20 (Reuters) - The Group of Seven rich nations will issue a statement on a shared approach on China, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said early Saturday, adding that G7 members were looking to "de-risk, not decouple" from China. Sullivan said the G7 leaders planned to outline steps to protect sensitive technology, including outbound investment measures, in their joint statement or communique. "The communique will note that each country has its own independent relationship and approach, but we are united and aligned around a set of common elements," Sullivan said, referring to G7 plans to cooperate with China while addressing significant concern in a range of areas. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason; writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden's team reports 'progress' in US debt ceiling talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 19 (Reuters) - Democratic negotiators told President Joe Biden on Friday that they are making "steady progress" in talks with Republicans aimed at avoiding a U.S. default, according to a White House official. "The president’s team informed him that steady progress is being made," according to one of the officials, who declined to be named. Republicans have refused to vote to lift the debt ceiling past its $31.3 trillion limit unless Biden and his Democrats agree to spending cuts in the federal budget. In the meantime, White House adviser Steve Ricchetti, budget director Shalanda Young and legislative adviser Louisa Terrell are leading discussions for the administration. The current deadlock has rattled investors, sending the cost of insuring exposure to U.S. government debt to record highs.

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