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The Trump tariffs have the potential to transform the fashion industry. Higher prices may push consumers to purchase fewer items and extend the lifespan of their clothing.
Category:
E-Commerce
Harvard University has become the latest target in the Trump administration’s approach to fight campus anti-Semitism, with the announcement of a new “comprehensive review” that could jeopardize billions of dollars for the Ivy League college.A federal anti-Semitism task force is reviewing more than $255 million in contracts between Harvard and the federal government to make sure the school is following civil rights laws, the administration announced Monday. The government also will examine $8.7 billion in grant commitments to Harvard and its affiliates.The same task force cut $400 million from Columbia University and threatened to slash billions more if it refused a list of demands from President Donald Trump’s administration. Columbia agreed to many of the changes this month, drawing praise from some Jewish groups and condemnation from free speech groups, who see it as a stunning intrusion by the federal government.Dozens of other universities have been put on notice by the Trump administration that they could face similar treatment over allegations of anti-Semitism. The federal government is a major provider of revenue for American universities through grants for scientific research.Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Harvard symbolizes the American Dream, but has jeopardized its reputation by “promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry” and failing to protect students from anti-Semitism.“Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus,” McMahon said in a statement.Harvard President Alan Garber acknowledged that anti-Semitism exists even on his campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but he said Harvard has done much to fight it.“For the past fifteen months, we have devoted considerable effort to addressing antisemitism,” Garber said in a statement. “We have strengthened our rules and our approach to disciplining those who violate them.”Harvard will ensure the government has a full account of the university’s work, Garber said. If federal funding is pulled, he added, it will “halt life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation.”The elite university is among more than 100 colleges and school systems facing investigations for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel. The Trump administration has promised tougher action than its predecessor, naming anti-Semitism as the top priority for civil rights investigations.Monday’s announcement didn’t say whether the government had made any specific demands of Harvard. The Education Department, the Health and Human Services Department and the U.S. General Services Administration are leading the review of its contracts and grants.Those agencies will determine whether orders to halt work should be issued for certain contracts between Harvard and the federal government, the government said. The task force is also ordering Harvard to submit a list of all contracts with the federal government, both directly with the school or through any of its affiliates.“The Task Force will continue its efforts to root out anti-Semitism and to refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values that undergird a liberal education,” said Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for Health and Human Services. “We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals.”Some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges have faced extraordinary scrutiny from Republicans in Congress following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that started at Columbia and spread across the country last year. Presidents of several Ivy League schools were called before Congress over allegations that they allowed anti-Semitism to fester.The hearings on Capitol Hill contributed to the resignation of presidents at Harvard, Columbia and Penn. The interim president who took over at Columbia, Katrina Armstrong, resigned last week after the school agreed to the government’s demands.Trump and other officials have accused the protesters of being “pro-Hamas.” Student activists say they oppose Israel’s military activity in Gaza.Instead of going through a lengthy process that allows the Education Department to cut funding from schools that violate civil rights laws, the Trump administration has found quick leverage by pulling contracts and grants. The tactic is being challenged in a federal lawsuit brought by the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers. Holly Ramer contributed reporting from Concord, New Hampshire. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Collin Binkley, AP Education Writer
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E-Commerce
Its April Fool’s Day today, but unfortunately for Tesla investors, the companys latest vehicle sales numbers out of Europe are no joke. Over both the past month and calendar quarter, Tesla sales in several key markets on the continent have plummeted, according to data viewed by Reuters. Heres what to know about the latest Tesla sales data from Europe, as well as how the companys stock is reacting today. Tesla sales in several key European countries plummet First, let’s break down Teslas March sales in several key markets. This is the sales data available for several European nations for March 2025 versus the same month a year earlier: France: down 36.83% to 3,157 car sales Sweden: down 63.9% to 911 car sales Norway: down 1% to 2,211 car sales Denmark: down 65.6% to 593 car sales Netherlands: down 61% to 1,536 car sales Spain: up 34% to 1,983 car sales And here is how Tesla sales performed in key European markets over the course of the calendar quarter, from January to March 2025, versus the same period a year earlier: France: down 41.1% Sweden: down 55.3% Norway: down 12.5% Denmark: down 56.4% Netherlands: down 49.7% Spain: down 12% As you can see from the numbers above, Tesla saw significant sales declines in the six European nations for the first quarter. The only slight glimmer of light for the company in the countries above was in Spain, which in March alone saw 34% sales growth in the Iberian nation. Yet Spains sales jump in March does little to sugarcoat the fact that Teslas sales on the continent are facing significant declines. Teslas largest European market is the United Kingdom, for which there are no public March sales numbers yet. Why are Tesla sales cratering in Europe? There are two main reasons Tesla sales on the continent continue to decline, notes Reuters. The first is increased competition. As Reuters points out, Teslas offerings on the continent are aging, and its competitors are offering newer and cheaper electric vehicles. This includes both European carmakers and Chinese automakers that sell their cars on the continent. But the second reason is arguably the more difficult one for Tesla as a company to address. Simply put, as is the case in America, Tesla CEO Elon Musks political antics are driving customers away from the brand. Elon Musk is not only firmly entwined with the Trump administration in U.S. political circles, but he has also voiced support for far-right parties in Europe. This has made both Musk and the Tesla brand toxic in many Europeans’ eyes, and those Europeans are now abandoning the Tesla brand in droves. Many Europeans also joined in worldwide protests outside Tesla stores over the weekend, highlighting the degree to which many have become fed up with Musk, and by association, his company. How has TSLA stock reacted? Despite the negative European sales news, Tesla shares (Nasdaq: TSLA) are up about 1.6% in early market trading as of the time of this writing. Currently, TSLA shares are sitting around $263.40. There are a few reasons why investors might not be freaking out so much over the reported European numbers. First, Europe is a relatively small market for Tesla compared to the United States, its largest market, and China, its second-largest. Second, Tesla shares have already crashed hard this year. Year to date, TSLA stock is down over 35% in 2025. It’s likely that many investors are taking a wait-and-see approach to just how badly Tesla sales have been affected worldwide in its most recent quarter. Tesla is expected to announce its Q1 2025 results later this month, likely during the week of April 22.
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E-Commerce
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