The White House on Tuesday evening responded to an email from a senior USAID official ordering remaining staffers to destroy documents.
The document shredding took place at the Ronald Reagan Building Tuesday.
Thousands of USAID workers were placed on administrative leave so the building is being cleared out.
βShred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,β the email from USAIDβs acting executive director, Erica Carr said.
βThe only labeling required on the burn bags are the words βSECRETβ and βUSAID/(B/IO)β in dark sharpie if possible,β the email said.
The European Union responded to American steel and aluminum tariffs with its own tariffs on boats and bourbon β and pledges of more to come.
European Union leaders have been clear that they want to negotiate with the United States on trade to avoid a full-blown conflict. But with no deal in sight, officials announced a plan on Wednesday that is meant to hit back hard as steel and aluminum tariffs come into effect.
President Trump has imposed 25 percent tariffs on all global steel and aluminum imports, including products that contain those metals, such as cookware and window frames. Given that breadth, the European Union said that the U.S. levies might affect some 26 billion euros β $28 billion β of the blocβs exports.
So the bloc announced a plan that is meant to retaliate in equal measure.
The response will come in two parts. The bloc had increased tariffs on a range of goods in retaliation to U.S. measures during Mr. Trumpβs first term, but they were suspended under the Biden administration. That suspension will be allowed to lapse on April 1, increasing tariffs on billions of euros worth of products that include boats, bourbon and motorcycles.
The blocβs second step, it said, would be to place tariffs on about β¬18 billion worth of additional products. Representatives from countries across Europe will consult for two weeks before officials finalize the list of affected products.
βWe need to avoid an escalationβ
President of the European Council, AntΓ³nio Costa, stated that the EU is open to negotiations with the U.S. on tariffs, emphasizing the importance of avoiding escalation. He noted that if the U.S. believes there is a real issue, the best way to address it is through discussions. He also stressed that the EU aims to prevent the escalation of trade disputes and is ready to continue dialogue on tariff issues.
MV Solong struck tanker Stena Immaculate off the Yorkshire coast on Monday.
In a statement, Ernst Russ, the Hamburg-based owner of MV Solong, said the captain was Russian, and added that the rest of the crew were a mix of Russian and Filipino nationals.
Jerome Mayhew, the shadow transport minister, said the nationality of the Solongβs captain raised βfurther questionsβ about the incident.
He told PA news agency: βWhere military assets are damaged it is vital that motives are fully investigated to exclude foul play. The nationality of the captain of the Solong raises further questions about potential motivation that the Government must now get to the bottom of it.β
