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Saudi Arabia Establishes New Railway to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Increase Carrying Capacity

The signing ceremony of a new railway service linking the north and east networks in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing ceremony of a new railway service linking the north and east networks in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Establishes New Railway to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Increase Carrying Capacity

The signing ceremony of a new railway service linking the north and east networks in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing ceremony of a new railway service linking the north and east networks in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) launched on Sunday a new railway service linking the north and east networks, passing through Jubail Industrial City to ship industrial materials and goods.

The Emir of Eastern Province, Prince Saud bin Naif inaugurated the railway project in the presence of the Minister of Transport and Logistics and SAR Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saleh al-Jasser, and Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Rumaih al-Rumaih.

SAR said that the new network aims to reduce carbon emissions, increase the carrying capacity of the freight train, support exports and the competitiveness of Saudi products.

The Railways added that this connection would contribute to providing integrated solutions and complete logistical services by linking the commercial and industrial ports in Dammam and Jubail with the train network.

SAR also said that the internal Jubail network would serve the industrial facilities in Jubail Industrial City that link it to the King Fahd Industrial Port and Jubail Commercial Port in Jubail.

It aims to promote traffic safety, reduce carbon emissions of other means of transportation, and increase the attractiveness of the local market through regional and international connectivity.

The Public Transport Authority indicated that the new project in Jubail will replace more than 200,000 trucks annually, which supports the logistic sector and preserves the environment and infrastructure.

The railway stimulates national industries and raises railway transport rates while integrating with other means of transport and improving the quality of life.

Meanwhile, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) signed two contracts worth $170 million with PC Marine Services and Modern Building Leaders (MBL) to deepen and build new berths at Jeddah Islamic Port

It comes within the framework of Mawani's initiatives to enhance the maritime transport and logistics sector and upgrade port operations by implementing over 160 projects in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).

The contract with MBL, in association with Huta Hegerfeld Saudia, will develop Jeddah Islamic Port's deepening of harbor approach channels, turning basins, waterways, and the south terminal basin.

These upgrades will enable the arrival of giant vessels with a capacity of up to 24,000 TEUs, besides attracting new global shipping lines to local shores.

Under the contract, PC Marine Services will build new berths (26 to 31) measuring 16 meters deep and 1,100 meters long at the multi-cargo terminals to receive large bulk grain carriers and accommodate larger vessels to cover the local market demand.

It also aims to secure the Kingdom's strategic reserve by increasing the amount of imported grain and enhancing the food security system through Jeddah Islamic Port.

Saudi ports are one of the most important economic and commercial tributaries and play a pivotal role in developing local, regional, and international trade.

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Trump to Impose Sharp Tariff on Countries Buying Venezuelan Oil

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)
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Trump to Impose Sharp Tariff on Countries Buying Venezuelan Oil

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)

US President Donald Trump announced Monday steep tariffs on imports from countries buying Venezuelan oil and gas, a punitive measure that could hit China and India, among others, and sow fresh global trade uncertainty.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has unleashed tariffs on US allies and foes alike, attempting to strong-arm both economic and diplomatic policy.

The latest across-the-board 25 percent levies targeting direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan oil can take effect as soon as April 2, according to an order signed Monday by Trump.

The US secretary of state, in consultation with other government agencies, is authorized to determine if the new levy will be imposed.

These could hit China and India, with experts noting that Venezuela exports oil to both those countries, and to the United States and Spain.

Trump told reporters Monday that the 25 percent tariff would be on top of existing rates.

Caracas called the measure a "new aggression" by Washington.

"They can sanction and impose tariffs on whatever they want, what they cannot sanction is the love and patriotism of the Venezuelan people," President Nicolas Maduro said during an event broadcast on radio and television.

In February, Venezuela exported about 500,000 barrels of oil per day to China and 240,000 barrels to the United States, experts told AFP.

- 'Liberation day' -

Trump has dubbed April 2 "Liberation Day" for the world's biggest economy, already promising reciprocal tariffs tailored to each trading partner in an effort to remedy practices that Washington deems unfair.

He earlier signaled sector-specific duties coming around the same day -- but the White House said Monday it might take a narrower approach.

In his Monday announcement on Truth Social involving Venezuela, the president cited "numerous reasons" for what he called a "secondary tariff."

He accused Venezuela of "purposefully and deceitfully" sending "undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals" to the United States.

He added in his post that "Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse."

According to Trump's order, the 25 percent tariff expires a year after the last date that a country has imported Venezuelan oil -- or sooner if Washington decides so.

Trump's announcement comes as the deportation pipeline between the United States and Venezuela was suspended last month when he claimed Caracas had not lived up to a deal to quickly receive deported migrants.

Venezuela subsequently said it would no longer accept the flights.

But Caracas said Saturday it had reached agreement with Washington to resume repatriations after which nearly 200 Venezuelan citizens were deported from the United States via Honduras.

Separately Monday, the Trump administration extended US oil giant Chevron's deadline to halt its operations in Venezuela through May 27.

The company had been operating in Venezuela under a sanctions waiver.

- Tariff 'breaks'? -

Trump's latest move adds to tariffs he has vowed would start on or around April 2.

Besides reciprocal tariffs, he has promised sweeping sector-specific duties hitting imported automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

As things stand, however, his plans for the day might become more targeted.

Sector-specific tariffs "may or may not happen April 2," a White House official told AFP, adding that the situation is "still fluid."

The official reaffirmed that reciprocal tariffs would take place.

But Trump told reporters Monday he might "give a lot of countries breaks" eventually, without elaborating.

He separately added that he would announce car tariffs "very shortly" and those on pharmaceuticals later down the line.

US partners are furthering talks with Washington as deadlines loom, with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic heading to the country Tuesday to meet his counterparts -- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade envoy Jamieson Greer.

Hopes of a narrower tariff rollout gave financial markets a boost.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo last week that Washington would go to trading partners with an indication of where tariff levels and non-tariff barriers are.

If countries stopped their practices, Bessent added, they could potentially avoid levies.

In the same interview, Bessent noted that levies would be focused on about 15 percent of countries who have trade imbalances with the United States, dubbing these a "dirty 15."