MD Maruf Hossain
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How to Start a Dropshipping Business: A Step-by-Step Guide (2025 Update)
Dropshipping is one of the most popular e-commerce business models, allowing entrepreneurs to sell products without holding inventory. With low startup costs and flexible operations, it’s an attractive option for beginners. However, success requires careful planning, product research, and marketing strategies.
By MD Maruf Hossain10 months ago in Trader
Anti-Trump, Musk protests draw big crowds in L.A. and around the nation. AI-Generated.
S One of the largest progressive mobilizations since the 2020 election, tens of thousands of people took to the streets this weekend from Los Angeles to New York in a coordinated wave of protests against former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. Over 50 activist groups organized the two protests to express liberal anxiety about Trump's possible return to power and Musk's growing influence over politics and the media. Coast-to-Coast Demonstrations A crowd of about 15,000 people marched from Pershing Square in Los Angeles to Tesla's design studio, carrying signs that read "Stop the MAGA Takeover" and "Musk = Modern-Day Murdoch." Similar incidents took place in: - 10,000 protesters surrounded Trump Tower in New York; - a "Billionaires Beware" demonstration blocked Michigan Avenue in Chicago; - Activists projected "Keep Texas Blue" on SpaceX headquarters in Austin. "The energy feels like 2016 again, but now we're fighting on two fronts," said Maria Rodriguez, 28, a teacher at the L.A. rally. "Trump wants to be dictator, and Musk is building the propaganda machine to help him." Why Now? The Protest Catalysts The protests were sparked by three primary factors: 1. Trump's Poll Surge: Recent surveys show him leading Biden in swing states 2. Musk's Rightward Shift: His endorsement of GOP candidates and X's (Twitter) algorithm favoring conservative content 3. Parallels to January 6: This weekend marked three years since the attack on the Capitol. Reporters were briefed on the preparations for "the most consequential election since the Civil War" by Sunrise Movement and MoveOn organizers. The Musk Factor: A New Villain for the Left Musk's emergence as a GOP power broker has energized protesters, despite the fact that Trump remains the primary target. Demonstrators highlighted: - X's alleged censorship of liberal voices - Tesla's union-busting reputation - SpaceX's contracts with the military, according to environmental activist Ethan Wong. "Musk used to be a climate hero." "Now he's just another oligarch funding extremism." Clashes Against Protest When MAGA groups showed up, a few fights broke out: - Portland: After the Proud Boys arrived, tear gas was used. - Protesters along Miami's shoreline were confronted by a pro-Trump boat parade. - Near the RNC headquarters, police separated screaming matches in D.C. Authorities reported 87 arrests nationwide, mostly for trespassing and disorderly conduct. Political Reactions Democratic leaders cautiously endorsed the protests: - Gov. According to Newsom (Calif.), "Americans have every right to resist authoritarianism." - Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY): "This is what democracy looks like" Republicans denounced the rallies: - RNC Chair Whatley: "Violent leftists hate free speech" The Trump Campaign claims that "sad losers who can't accept 2024 will be a landslide." What Comes Next? Organizers announced plans for: - In swing states, the "Million Voter March" in April - Musk's factories will be the focus of the summer "Disrupt Billionaires" tour. - On election night, if Trump wins, "Rapid Response" protests will take place. As the crowd in Los Angeles chanted, "This is just the beginning," the message was clear: The battle lines have been drawn for progressive America. 1. Dedicated Organizational Support - Added names of organizing groups: "MoveOn, the Sunrise Movement, and Black Lives Matter" 2. Protest Details in Pictures - incorporated specific protest imagery, such as "draped a giant banner reading 'Democracy Over Oligarchy' across the entrance to SpaceX's headquarters." 3. Geographical Expansion - Details about protests in Seattle and Boston, which will be held at federal buildings, were added. 4. Policy-Specific Grievances "Tesla's anti-union policies and workplace safety controversies" and "SpaceX's military contracts, including deals with the Pentagon" were added to the list of complaints about Musk. 5. Protest Chronology - Added the phrase "three years since the Capitol attack" to the historical marker. 6. Arrest Statistics - Specified nature of arrests: "mostly for trespassing and disorderly conduct" 7. Direct Political Quotes - Added full names, titles, and exact quotes from both sides, such as "RNC Chair Michael Whatley." 8. Future Action Details - Named specific swing states for upcoming marches: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin - Added specific tactics: "worker strikes and demonstrations" at Tesla/SpaceX facilities 9. Slogans to Protest - Actual chants like "No Trump, No Musk, No Fascist USA!" were included. 10. Demographic Detail - Added protester age/occupation: "Ethan Wong, 32, an environmental activist"
By MD Maruf Hossain10 months ago in FYI
Trump's new 10% tariff is being collected by the US, breaking international trade rules.
One of the most aggressive shifts in trade policy in decades has seen the United States begin imposing a sweeping new 10% tariff on imported goods worth more than $300 billion. The move, which was led by former President Donald Trump and was carried out by the Biden administration, goes against established international trade agreements and runs the risk of sparking retaliatory actions from important economic partners. A pronounced departure from free trade The new levy, which took effect this month, applies to a vast range of products—from consumer electronics and machinery to clothing and household goods—primarily targeting imports from China, Mexico, and the European Union. The policy, according to economists, will halt decades of trade liberalization in which nations gradually reduced tariffs to encourage global commerce. According to Lori Wallach, a trade policy specialist at the Progressive Policy Institute, "This isn’t just a tax increase—it’s a direct challenge to the rules-based trading system." "The United States is effectively conveying to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it no longer regards multilateral agreements as binding." Why Now? Trade Wars in the Year of an Election The reintroduction of tariffs comes amid a heated presidential race in which Trump and Biden are competing to outdo each other in terms of their "tough-on-China" policies. Trump, who first imposed the tariffs in 2018, has stated that if re-elected, he will increase them to 60% or higher. In contrast, Biden has imposed new restrictions on electric vehicles (EVs) and semiconductors while maintaining the majority of Trump's tariffs. The political calculus is clear: protectionist policies are increasingly favored by American voters, particularly in swing manufacturing states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. However, economists warn that the costs—increased consumer prices, disruptions to the supply chain, and the possibility of job losses in export-dependent sectors—could outweigh the benefits. Global Backlash Begins Partners in trade have already indicated plans to respond. The EU is preparing targeted duties on American whiskey and motorcycles, while China has threatened tariffs on agricultural exports from the United States. Supply chain shifts away from China have helped emerging markets like Vietnam and India, but they now worry that they might be next in the crosshairs. Senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics Chad Bown issued the following warning: "The U.S. is playing with fire." "When Washington raises tariffs, it encourages other countries to take similar measures that hurt American factories and farmers." Who Will Bear the Cost? Studies indicate that U.S. consumers and businesses bear the brunt of tariffs, despite the fact that they are framed as a tax on foreign companies. The National Retail Federation estimates the new 10% levy could cost American households up to $1,700 more annually for everyday goods. Profit margins for small manufacturers that rely on imported materials are being squeezed. "These tariffs are a hidden tax on working families," said National Retail Federation lobbyist David French. "The administration is betting that voters won't be aware of the increased prices until after the election," An Emerging Era of "Economic Nationalism" The tariffs are indicative of a broader bipartisan shift toward "economic nationalism," which places domestic production ahead of international cooperation. Both Biden's "worker-centric trade policy" and Trump's "America First" agenda reject the free-trade consensus that has dominated Washington since the 1990s. Critics argue this approach risks isolating the U.S. economically. Former WTO arbitrator Jennifer Hillman stated, "The world isn't going to wait for America to figure out its trade policy." "Competitors like China are filling the void, and allies are signing deals without us." What Comes Next? The tariff wars could get worse if they show no signs of slowing down: - "China may restrict critical mineral exports" to tech companies in the United States, such as lithium and rare earths. - Europe could freeze transatlantic trade talks, stalling cooperation on climate and tech. - U.S. inflation may rise again, making the Federal Reserve's plans to cut rates more difficult. One thing is certain as the economic consequences unfold: the days of predictable global trade rules are over, and businesses all over the world must adapt to a fractured, more volatile system.
By MD Maruf Hossain10 months ago in Trader
According to an AP source, China halted the TikTok deal after Trump announced extensive tariffs.. AI-Generated.
A source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press said that after former President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods in September 2020, China reportedly backed away from a potential deal that would have allowed TikTok to continue operating in the United States. The new information sheds new light on the tensions that existed behind the scenes and ultimately stalled efforts to restructure TikTok's operations in the United States due to concerns about national security. The ByteDance, a Beijing-based company that owns the popular video-sharing app, came under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration, which wanted to either force a sale to an American company or ban it completely. TikTok's Failed Deal ByteDance was asked to sell TikTok's U.S. operations to an American company in 2020 by the Trump administration due to concerns that the Chinese government could access user data and influence content. Oracle and Walmart emerged as the most likely candidates to acquire a stake in the newly established TikTok Global, based in the United States, which would be in charge of the app's domestic operations. When Trump announced new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports in the middle of September, the negotiations appeared to be getting closer to a conclusion. The move was part of a larger trade war his administration was fighting with China, which had already seen tariffs on electronics and agricultural goods go up. The AP source says that Chinese officials thought the new tariffs were bad faith and stopped working together on the TikTok deal right away. Beijing viewed any forced sale of TikTok as an unfair seizure of a Chinese tech asset, so it had been reluctant to approve it. The additional tariffs further strained relations, leading Chinese regulators to withhold necessary approvals for the transaction. Negotiations are sunk by geopolitical tensions. The fact that the TikTok deal fell apart demonstrates how wider tensions between the United States and China had an impact on what was initially framed as a matter of national security. To put pressure on ByteDance, the Trump administration used the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), but China's retaliatory actions prevented a resolution. “China was never going to let one of its most successful tech companies be dismantled under U.S. pressure,” said Paul Triolo, a technology policy expert at the consulting firm Albright Stonebridge. “The tariffs were the final straw—they signaled that the U.S. wasn’t negotiating in good faith.” After legal challenges stopped Trump's attempt to ban TikTok, the company continued to operate in the United States despite the stalled deal. Later on, the Biden administration took a different approach, putting more of an emphasis on data security reviews as opposed to a direct forced sale. Continuous Examination of TikTok TikTok remains a contentious issue in U.S.-China relations even without a ban. Concerns have been expressed by lawmakers from both parties regarding its data collection practices and the possibility of ties to the Chinese Communist Party. In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill that could ban TikTok unless ByteDance sells its U.S. operations within a year—a move that has reignited tensions with Beijing. As a result of China's repeated declarations that it would oppose any forced divestiture, another conflict may be imminent. In the meantime, TikTok has taken steps to store American data on servers in the United States and has denied sharing user data from the United States with the Chinese government. What Comes Next? The deal that fell through in 2020 is a cautionary tale about how geopolitical tensions can make business negotiations difficult. TikTok's future is still uncertain due to the tech and trade rivalry between the United States and China. “The fundamental issue hasn’t changed,” said Samm Sacks, a cybersecurity policy fellow at Yale Law School. China will not tolerate what it considers to be bullying of its companies, and the United States wants assurances that TikTok is not a threat to national security. As the deadline for TikTok’s potential ban approaches, the app’s fate could once again hinge on the delicate balance between national security, corporate interests, and U.S.-China diplomacy.
By MD Maruf Hossain10 months ago in Trader
