Saudi Banks Safe from Troubled US Banks

The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning participates at the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning participates at the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Banks Safe from Troubled US Banks

The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning participates at the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning participates at the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ayman Al-Sayari, Governor of Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), ruled out any transactions between Saudi banks and troubled US banks, affirming that the Kingdom’s banking sector enjoys capital adequacy and reassuring liquidity.

Al-Sayari spoke with Al-Arabiya TV on the sidelines of the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh when he added that the Kingdom fully believes in the partnership between SAMA and the Financial Sector Development Program.

He noted that the partnership will achieve Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals by supporting the growth and sustainability of the local economy while preserving the stability and durability of the Kingdom’s financial sector.

Al-Sayari asserted that Saudi Arabia will “continue to move forward.”

He affirmed that the Kingdom would hold the Financial Sector Conference’s third edition as it can catalyze the economy and attract investments, achieving government aspirations.

In his closing speech at the Conference, Al-Sayari asserted that the gathering, directly and indirectly, impacted developing capabilities by exchanging expertise, discussing challenges, and finding ways to overcome them.

Al-Sayari highlighted the broad participation at the conference, adding that it included several local and international financial industry leaders and experts.

Participants, according to Al-Sayari, held several sessions during which they exchanged expertise and reviewed the best international practices.

Moreover, discussions tackled regulation, legislation, and challenges.

Al-Sayari said SAMA and its partners in the Financial Sector Development Program would continue to empower institutions, support the growth of the private sector and the national economy, diversify sources of income, and stimulate savings, financing, and investment.

Saudi Arabia is also working to ensure the retirement system is sustainable, inexpensive, and fair through improving procedures and regulations, said Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning.

In a panel discussion at the Financial Sector Conference, the minister added that the Kingdom is keen to be proactive to ensure the development of policies aimed at addressing the rise in life expectancy and its consequences in terms of retirement.

Alibrahim indicated that Saudi Arabia is one of the young countries. Still, it is working to address these challenges, noting that the country was also keen to be more flexible with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) and made several changes to the retirement system.

In the past five years, the Saudi government has taken significant steps to expand and constantly update pension systems, added Alibrahim, noting that pension systems worldwide seek to achieve many goals.

The demographics have changed, he acknowledged, stressing that this requires a review of the pension mechanism and the retirement age.



Where Trump's Tariffs Could Hurt Americans' Wallets

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, US Flag and word "Tariffs" are seen in this illustration taken, April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, US Flag and word "Tariffs" are seen in this illustration taken, April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Where Trump's Tariffs Could Hurt Americans' Wallets

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, US Flag and word "Tariffs" are seen in this illustration taken, April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, US Flag and word "Tariffs" are seen in this illustration taken, April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

As global financial markets plunge in the wake of US President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, Americans must also grapple with the potentially long-lasting impact of the move on household budgets.

The tariffs -- which are paid in the first instance by US importers -- will likely push up the price of many household items in the United States and reduce consumers' spending power.

Grocery store costs

The US imports a growing share of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Many of the fresh goods come from Canada and Mexico, two countries not immediately affected by the tariffs announced Wednesday.

But other goods will be hit by the stinging duties set to come into effect this month.

For example, the United States imports large quantities of bananas from the Latin American countries of Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica, which will all face a 10 percent tariff from April 5.

Coffee -- around 80 percent of which is imported, according to the USDA -- is likely to see a price increase, given that top exporters Brazil and Colombia will also face the new baseline 10 percent rate.

Olive oil and alcohol imports from Italy, Spain and Greece will be hit with a new 20 percent levy against the European Union from April 9.

And Thai jasmine rice and Indian basmati rice will face tariffs of 36 percent and 26 percent respectively, while Indian shrimp -- which the US imports large quantities of -- will face the same 26 percent rate.

Electronics and cars

Consumer electronics are also set to be hit with steep tariffs this month, given how many of products are manufactured or assembled in India and China.

Despite moves to expand its supply chain, Apple still makes the vast majority of its iPhones in China, through supplier Foxconn, where hardware exports will be hit with a tariff totaling 54 percent from April 9.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that US buyers of high-end iPhones, who account for as much as 70 percent of sales, are "relatively more accepting of price increases."

On top of the measures announced Wednesday, the Trump administration has also rolled out a 25 percent tariff against vehicles not made in the United States -- a step analysts have warned could add thousands to the cost of the average car.

Shoes, clothes

Shares of clothing and textile companies, which rely on cheap labor in countries including China and Vietnam, fell sharply Thursday, with Nike sinking more than 13 percent and Gap tanking more than 20 percent.

The new tariffs announced Wednesday mean imports to the United States from China and Vietnam will be taxed at 54 percent and 46 percent respectively.

Yale's Budget Lab estimated the effect of recent tariffs, up to and including Wednesday's announcement, would cause a 17 percent rise in the cost of clothing and textiles.

The think tank calculated that the overall effect on prices of the tariffs announced so far was equivalent to an average per household consumer loss of $3,800.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump insisted that tariffs would make the United States "very rich."

"The operation is over," he said, referring to the recent tariff announcement. "And now we let it settle in."