Made Abroad, Paid at Home

Good morning, The world might be tangled in tariffs and tech, but you? You’ve earned this slow, golden morning. Whether it’s chai on the balcony or coffee with your thoughts, take this day to recharge like Google’s AI fixing the power grid — smart, smooth, and silently effective

Have a restful Saturday ahead!

ECONOMY
America pays the price

President Trump’s new round of tariffs is hitting American importers and shoppers hard. The steepest blow: a 145% tariff on Chinese imports and 10% on goods from most other countries—unless those nations strike deals with the U.S. by July. Separate levies target autos, steel, and aluminium, and may soon include pharmaceuticals and chips.

The tariffs are not paid by foreign exporters but by U.S. businesses bringing goods into the country. Those costs often get passed to consumers through higher prices. Shoppers, especially those buying clothing or tech from China, can expect steeper bills. For instance, fruit distributors like Top Banana already anticipate price hikes on produce. Customs brokers are struggling to keep up with the complexities. With new rules, rising risks, and changing rates, they’re demanding upfront payments. Meanwhile, glitches in Customs systems have caused payment delays, especially for shipments already in transit when new tariffs kicked in.

Some businesses fear harsh penalties if they miscalculate tariffs. Recent executive orders have removed flexibility and increased risks of fines—even for honest mistakes. Though U.S. supply chains are coping for now, increased checks and uncertainties may soon slow down ports and border traffic. If trade talks fail and Trump adds more tariffs, further disruption and higher consumer costs are inevitable. Despite Trump’s goal of bringing manufacturing home, the short-term impact is clear: Americans are paying the price—literally and logistically.

ENERGY
GAIL bids for U.S. LNG stake

GAIL (India) Ltd has invited bids to acquire up to a 26% stake in a U.S.-based LNG project, coupled with a 15-year deal to import 1 million metric tons of gas annually starting 2029-2030. The move aligns with India’s efforts to secure energy supplies and reduce its $45.7 billion trade surplus with the U.S.

This is a revival of a stalled 2023 plan, now possible after the Trump administration lifted a ban on new LNG export permits. India is also considering removing import taxes on U.S. LNG to make it more cost-effective. GAIL already sources 5.8 million tons annually from U.S. suppliers like Cheniere and Berkshire Hathaway. With an eye on raising natural gas’s share in India’s energy mix to 15% by 2030, the tender closes on April 28, as India accelerates its energy and trade ambitions.

AI & TECHNOLOGY
Google uses AI to fix U.S. power grid

America’s power grid is jammed with red tape — and tech giants like Google think AI might be the fix. Across the U.S., 2.6 terawatts of clean energy projects are waiting for the green light — double the capacity of every power plant running today. But it’s not a shortage of power; it’s bureaucracy slowing things down. One of the biggest chokepoints is PJM Interconnection, the grid operator serving the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest, which has paused new applications until 2026 due to a glut of over 3,000 pending requests.

To break the logjam, Google is partnering with PJM and Alphabet’s innovation lab Tapestry. The goal? Use AI to streamline the grid connection process, verify project data, and help integrate renewable sources like solar and storage more efficiently.

The move comes amid a surge in power demand from AI-driven data centres. Companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are all scrambling to secure clean power, investing in solar and even nuclear energy. The stakes are high. Clean energy is stuck in line, while fossil fuel projects — thanks to a controversial new approval rule can sometimes skip ahead. Yet, Google insists this partnership is about fairness and clean energy progress. PJM claims its grid will stay “fuel agnostic,” but critics remain sceptical.

Still, if AI can speed up grid approvals, it could unlock a flood of clean power — and help tech giants keep their sustainability promises without dimming the lights.