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T h u r s d ay, a p r i l 3, 2025
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Trump announces sweeping new tariffs
Plan includes 34% tax on imports from China, 20% on the EU
Trial over coastal damage nears end Billions sought from oil industry in first of a string of lawsuits
BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN
President Donald Trump holds up a chart outlining his new tariffs during an event at the White House on Wednesday. BY JOSH BOAK
ä Louisiana’s congressional delegation reacts to President Trump’s tariff hikes. PAGE 5A
by other nations. The action amounts to a historic tax hike that could push the global order to a breaking point. It kickstarts what could WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump be a painful transition for many Amerion Wednesday announced far-reaching new tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading States, while imposing a 10% baseline cans as middle-class essentials such as partners — a 34% tax on imports from tax on imports from all countries in re- housing, autos and clothing are expected China and 20% on the European Union, sponse to what he called an economic to become more costly, while disrupting among others — that threaten to dis- emergency. the alliances built to ensure peace and The president, who said the tariffs economic stability. mantle much of the architecture of the Trump said he was acting to bring in global economy and trigger broader were designed to boost domestic manutrade wars. facturing, used aggressive rhetoric to hundreds of billions in new revenue to Trump, in a Rose Garden announce- describe a global trade system that the the U.S. government and restore fairment, said he was placing elevated tariff United States helped to build after World ness to global trade. rates on dozens of nations that run mean- War II, saying “our country has been ä See TARIFFS, page 5A ingful trade surpluses with the United looted, pillaged, raped and plundered”
Associated Press
At a courthouse in lower Plaquemines Parish near Louisiana’s fading coastline, a landmark trial that could force oil and gas companies to pay billions for wetlands restoration is nearing its verdict. For the lawyers who championed the lawsuit, getting to that courthouse took over a decade. The trial in Pointe à la Hache is the culmination of a legal saga, part of the only effort still underway to get the oil and gas companies to pay for efforts to restore Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday. The lawsuit is the first to make it to trial among 42 similar cases that coastal parishes filed against oil companies starting in 2013, each of which alleges that they failed to comply with state permitting regulations. Law firm Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello is representing the local governments in the litigation, which alleges that oil companies failed to abide by coastal regulations and contributed to wetlands loss. Plaquemines Parish and its lead attorney, John Carmouche, are asking the jury to award nearly $3 billion in damages in the case. Taken together, the dozens of cases could force companies to pay tens of billions in damages, which would, by law, have to be used to restore coastal wetlands. The cases could also lead to hefty payouts for the lawyers involved. In the 12 years since the litigation was filed, the Plaquemines lawsuit has survived three attempts by oil and
ä See TRIAL, page 4A
Michelin stars, guide finally coming to N.O., Gulf Coast BY IAN McNULTY Staff writer
New Orleans is famous around the world for its food. Soon, the city’s restaurant scene will be getting new attention from a global brand that is a byword for culinary excellence. The Michelin Guide announced Wednesday that it will begin assessing and ranking restaurants in New Orleans and around Louisiana for the first time. Rankings, including potentially
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its coveted Michelin stars, are set to be doled out later this year at an event, the time and place of which have not yet been named. Michelin said its reviewers, called inspectors, are already at work visiting restaurants for potential inclusion. Louisiana isn’t alone. It will be part of a regional guide called the Michelin Guide American South that takes in five more states: Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. This reflects a new approach from
Michelin, which has previously turned its attention to individual cities or states as its guides expand in the U.S. The new guide, which will be online, will also include restaurants in Michelin’s Atlanta Guide, started in 2023. Michelin announced the new guide today with the regional tourism marketing group Travel South USA at its conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Emeril’s Restaurant reopened in 2023 with a sweeping renovation and new tasting menu approach. STAFF FILE PHOTO By IAN MCNULTy
ä See MICHELIN, page 4A
Business ......................6A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
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