Euro dips and dollar ticks higher with inflation, tariffs in focus. The euro slipped on Friday after European inflation data came in lower than expected and as a U.S. tariff deadline loomed, while the dollar ticked higher as investors waited for U.S. price figures later in the day. (Reuters)

Taiwan accuses China’s biggest chipmaker SMIC of ‘illegally’ poaching tech talent. Taiwan investigators on Friday alleged that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC) — China’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing firm — illegally recruited high-technology talent. (CNBC)

Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos. Carmakers could face higher costs and lower sales. President Donald Trump said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. (AP)

(The UK’s growth forecast has been slashed by half. The Office for Budget Responsibility, the U.K.’s public spending watchdog, has halved its growth forecast for the country. In October, its analysts calculated that Britain’s gross domestic product would increase by 2% in 2025. This week, it revised that to just 1%. (Northeastern Global News)

China will resolutely respond to US reciprocal tariffs, state media says. China will take resolute countermeasures if the United States harm the country’s interests with its upcoming reciprocal tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday. (Reuters)

Can Germany’s auto industry workers pivot to defense jobs? The decision by the German parliament to massively increase defense spending over the coming years could thoroughly reshuffle Germany’s industrial landscape. It could see jobs moving, for example, from the country’s struggling automakers to the arms industry. (DW)

EU pushes back retaliatory tariffs on US to mid-April. The European Union will delay its first round of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until mid-April, Olof Gill, a European Commission spokesperson, confirmed in an email to Supply Chain Dive. (Supply Chain Dive)

Consumer spending rebounded in February, but inflation is still above target. Americans increased their spending last month after taking a breather in January, while inflation was a mixed bag, new Commerce Department data showed Friday. (CNN) 

Tariff-driven frontloading boosts Los Angeles port volumes. Despite the strong start to the year, Executive Director Gene Seroka anticipates volumes to soften at some point, particularly with respect to larger imports like furniture and appliances. (Supply Chain Dive) 

Australia PM calls general election for May 3 amid cost-of-living crisis, tariff worries. Among the top issues for voters would be how to handle relations with U.S. President Donald Trump who has so far ruled out exemptions for any country on steel and aluminum tariffs. (CNBC)

South Korean court reinstates impeached PM Han Duck-soo as acting president. South Korea’s Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s powers on Monday, the latest twist in the country’s recent turbulent politics after his impeachment as acting president nearly three months ago. (NBC News)

Europe imports more Russian gas, aiding wartime economy, report finds. A report released on Thursday by Ember, an energy think tank, estimates that European purchases of Russian gas amounted to 21.9 billion euros ($23.6bn) last year, compared with 18.7 billion euros ($20.17bn) in financial aid to Ukraine. (Al Jazeera)