Economic Indicators

Chinese companies brace for tariff hike as trade talks begin

Chinese exporters of all sorts of products, from power adapters and computers to vacuum cleaners, are anxiously hoping trade talks in Washington this week will yield a deal that might stave off higher U.S. tariffs on imports from China.

Pence says US working 'hour by hour' on China trade deal

Vice President Mike Pence is rolling into the Midwest to tout the administration's new North American trade agreement, while back in Washington President Donald Trump tries to salvage a transformative trade deal with China.

Drugmaker will donate meds for US push to end HIV epidemic

The Health and Human Services Department says a major drugmaker has agreed to donate medications that reduce the risk of HIV transmission for up to 200,000 people a year in support of the government's plan to end the epidemic in the U.S. The pledge by California-based Gilead Sciences may last up to 11 years, said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Uber, Lyft driver strike latest move to organize gig workers

A strike by Uber and Lyft drivers in cities across the United States this week caused barely a ripple to passengers looking to catch a ride, highlighting the challenges in launching a labor movement from scratch in an industry that is by nature decentralized.

Trump backs Fla. plan to import lower-cost meds from abroad

In a move sure to get attention in a 2020 battleground state, President Donald Trump indicated Thursday that his administration may approve a Florida plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from abroad for use by residents.

Business Highlights

___ Escalation in Trump tariffs looms over US-China trade talks WASHINGTON (AP) — The two countries are sparring over U.S. allegations that China steals technology and pressures American companies into handing over trade secrets — part of an aggressive campaign to turn Chinese companies into world leaders in robotics, electric cars and other advanced industries.

How major US stock indexes fared Thursday

Stocks recovered much of an early swoon and ended moderately lower Thursday as a midnight deadline approached for the U.S. and China to reach a trade deal.

The Latest: Pence says US working to reach China trade deal

The Latest on Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Minnesota to tout a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada (all times local): 2:30 p.m. Vice President Mike Pence says the Trump administration is working "hour by hour" to reach a trade agreement with China, as the U.S. is poised to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump deficits projected to be worse than promised

A new nonpartisan analysis says President Donald Trump's budget plan would produce significantly larger budget deficits than promised when it was released in March, mostly because its estimates of economic growth are too rosy.