The United States and Indonesia reached a reciprocal trade agreement on Monday, July 22, 2024, which will eliminate 99% of tariffs on American industrial, tech, and agricultural products sold in Indonesia, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Under the terms of the deal, American products will face a 0% tariff rate in Indonesia, while Indonesian products sold in the U.S. will face a 19% tariff rate. President Donald Trump announced the trade deal on Monday. Indonesia will also supply the United States with critical minerals and purchase Boeing aircraft and American energy as part of the agreement, the Department of Commerce stated. The Department of Commerce further described the deal as beneficial for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers. In other news, Representative Jason Smith (R-MO) stated in a CNN interview that he had only used subpoena power once during his tenure on the Ways and Means Committee, specifically in relation to Hunter Biden. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reported meeting with Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student from Columbia University, who he stated was imprisoned for 104 days by the Trump administration for opposing the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement asserting that censorship is not freedom and that the United States would not be misled by messages suggesting otherwise, in response to reports of thousands in Europe being convicted for criticizing their governments. Separately, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced an amendment to the existing RICO statute aimed at providing the Justice Department with tools to address rioters and their funders, as reported by the National Review. Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) commented that Speaker Johnson had sent Congress home early for a six-week break, which Moskowitz suggested was to avoid releasing the Epstein files. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear participated in a Vogue magazine photoshoot. FOX4 Kansas City meteorologist Joe Lauria issued a social media post on Monday afternoon advising people in Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas to consider others due to the hot weather.
