On Friday, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping tax and spending bill into law during a July 4 picnic at the White House, touting it as a historic win, even as the Congressional Budget Office projects it will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45937660/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-is-the-largest-redistribution-from-poor-to-rich-in-american-history-sa">significantly widen</a> the federal deficit and leave millions uninsured.



What Happened: Flanked by Republican lawmakers and Cabinet members, Trump signed the multitrillion-dollar package on the White House driveway, using a ceremonial gavel gifted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">reported</a> the Associated Press.



"America's winning, winning, winning like never before," Trump declared, celebrating the bill's passage alongside a flyover of fighter jets and bombers. "Promises made, promises kept and we've kept them."



The legislation extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts, eliminates taxes on tips and Social Security income, boosts immigration enforcement and imposes $1.2 trillion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46163659/senate-republicans-propose-313-billion-cut-in-medicaid-spending-in-trumps-big-beautiful-bill">cuts to Medicaid</a> and food assistance.



See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46160509/irans-top-diplomat-to-un-says-uranium-enrichment-to-continue-an-inalienable-right" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iran's Top Diplomat To UN Says Uranium Enrichment To Continue: An ‘Inalienable Right'</a>



Despite strong Republican support, Democrats unanimously opposed the bill.&nbsp;



AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler called it "the worst job-killing bill in American history," accusing Trump of handing a $5 trillion gift to the wealthy while stripping support from working families.



Why It's Important: According to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45536595/big-beautiful-bill-will-explode-the-deficit-and-make-the-rich-richer-congressional-budget-office-estimates-4-income-fall-for-lowest-decile-of-americans-by-2033">Congressional Budget Office</a>, the bill is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade and cause 11.8 million Americans to lose health coverage, largely due to Medicaid cuts.&nbsp;



Critics also warn it could erode gains made under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Trump, however, defended the bill as pro-growth: "Our country is going to be a rocket ship, economically."



With no Democratic support and tight Senate margins, the package's passage marks a key ideological pivot — and a flashpoint for the 2026 midterms, the report said.



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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



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Politics

Trump Signs Sweeping Tax And Spending Bill That CBO Says Will Add $3.3 Trillion To US Deficit, Cut Health Coverage For 11.8 Million Americans

President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will begin informing trading partners about new tariffs on their exports starting this Friday.



What Happened: These tariffs are scheduled to take effect on August 1. Trump mentioned that approximately &#8220;10 or 12&#8221; letters will be sent out initially, with more to follow in the coming days, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-03/trump-says-he-may-start-telling-nations-new-tariff-rates-friday">to</a> a Bloomberg report on Friday.



The president stated that by July 9, all countries would be notified of their new tariff levels, which could range from 10% to 70%. This move is part of Trump&#8217;s strategy to favor straightforward agreements over complex negotiations. Negotiations with countries such as Indonesia, South Korea, the European Union, and Switzerland are reaching critical stages.



Trump&#8217;s latest tariff threat is consistent with his previous ultimatums, suggesting that some countries may not have a say in their tariff levels. The highest proposed tariffs could exceed those initially outlined during his &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; announcement in April, which ranged from 10% to 50%.



Trump emphasized that countries would start paying these tariffs on August 1, with revenue beginning to flow into the US. The impact of these tariffs on inflation has led some Federal Reserve officials to be cautious about cutting interest rates, despite pressure from Trump.



See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46259886/elon-musks-tesla-is-a-multi-trillion-dollar-opportunity-but-short-term-outlook-is-shaky-says-exp">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Is A &#8216;Multi-Trillion-Dollar Opportunity,&#8217; But Short-Term Outlook Is &#8216;Shaky,&#8217; Says Expert</a>



While deals have been reached with the UK and Vietnam, other major trading partners like Japan and South Korea are still negotiating. Trump remains optimistic about reaching an agreement with India but has criticized Japan as a challenging partner.



Why It Matters: The announcement comes amid escalating trade tensions, notably with Japan. Trump recently threatened to impose tariffs of &#8220;30% or 35%&#8221; on<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46213186/trump-threatens-35-tariffs-on-japan-as-trade-deadline-looms-not-sure-were-going-to-make-a-deal"> Japanese exports if no agreement</a> is reached by the July 9 deadline, a significant increase from the current 10% rate reported earlier this week.



A trade deal with<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46241070/trumps-vietnam-trade-deal-with-40-tax-on-transshipments-may-result-in-chinese-backlash-say-economists-they-want-inflation"> Vietnam has been secured</a>, imposing a 20% tariff on Vietnamese exports and a 40% tariff on goods transshipped through Vietnam, particularly targeting Chinese products. This deal grants the US tariff-free access to Vietnam&#8217;s domestic markets.



Furthermore, the Trump administration has reportedly scaled back its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46188192/trump-administration-reportedly-scales-back-ambitions-for-comprehensive-trade-deals-before-tariff-deadline"> ambitions for comprehensive trade deals</a>, opting for narrower agreements to avoid reimposing tariffs. This shift aims to reach agreements by the July 9 deadline, marking a departure from the initial plan to secure 90 trade deals during a 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs.



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</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Trump Says US Will Raise Tariffs To Up To 70% As July 9 Deadline Looms

Wall Street powered through the shortened holiday week, with both the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 climbing to fresh record highs, as upbeat economic data and major policy shifts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">helped fuel investor confidence.</a>



Optimism got an extra boost after President Donald Trump announced a surprise trade deal with Vietnam. The agreement includes a 20% tariff on all Vietnamese imports and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods. In return, U.S. companies will get full access to Vietnam's domestic market, a key win for American exporters. 



Markets responded positively, with investors viewing it as a signal that Trump is favoring targeted trade enforcement over sweeping tariffs.



Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46241070/trumps-vietnam-trade-deal-with-40-tax-on-transshipments-may-result-in-chinese-backlash-say-economists-they-want-inflation">Trump&#8217;s Vietnam Trade Deal With 40% Tax On Transshipments May Result In Chinese Backlash, Say Economists: &#8216;&#8230;They Want Inflation&#8217;</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Congress Passes Trump&#8217;s OBBBA, Economic Data Outperform</h3>



The U.S. Senate passed the bill on July 1, 2025, in a narrow 51–50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.



The House of Representatives followed on July 3, approving the final version of the bill in a 218–214 vote.



The White House announced that President Donald Trump will sign the bill into law on July 4, 2025, at 4 p.m. ET—a symbolic moment timed with Independence Day.



Labor market data surpassed expectations: Nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, exceeding the projection of 110,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, defying forecasts for a rise to 4.3% and hitting its lowest level since January. A big surprise came from government hiring, which added 73,000 jobs — the largest<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46244105/june-jobs-report-nonfarm-payroll-adp-data"> jump since March 2023.</a>



On the industrial side, new orders for U.S. manufactured goods jumped 8.2% in May to $642 billion. This was the largest monthly surge since 2014 and the third-largest on record, as firms moved quickly to capitalize on the temporary suspension of "Liberation Day" tariffs.



This economic resilience complicates the Federal Reserve's outlook for near-term rate cuts. Chair Jerome Powell said the door remains open for a potential rate cut at the July 30 meeting, though he emphasized the importance of incoming data. Yet, after the robust jobs report, market-based odds for a cut fell sharply to just 7%.



Read also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46258864/ray-dalio-warns-us-debt-per-family-will-rise-85-to-425000-over-next-10-years-as-house-passes-trumps-big-beautiful-bill"> Ray Dalio Warns US Debt Per Family Will Rise 85% To $425,000 Over Next 10 Years As House Passes Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217;</a>



In tech news, Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) announced a new round of layoffs affecting 9,000 employees — about 4% of its global workforce.



Michigan-based automakers were among the week's top gainers. Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) jumped 10% this week after reporting a 14% year-over-year increase in second-quarter U.S. vehicle sales, reaching 612,095 units. The surge was led by strong demand for its Maverick and F-Series pickup trucks.



General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) also topped the week&#8217;s best-performer ranking after posting a 7% rise in quarterly sales to 746,588 vehicles. 



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Wall Street Ends Holiday Week At Record Highs As Jobs, Trade Deal Lift Sentiment: This Week In Markets

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Abry Partners hired JPMorgan Chase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/auction">to find a buyer</a> for physician social network Sermo, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2025/07/02/abry-sermo-sale-physician-social-network">reports</a>. Bids are expected to be between $600 million and $800 million. Boston-based Abry first <a href="https://abry.com/news-article/sermo-announces-significant-investment-from-abry-partners/">invested</a> in Sermo in 2019.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Verint Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRNT#NASDAQ">VRNT</a>), a provider of call center software, is working with an adviser on a potential sale. Thoma Bravo is interested, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-01/thoma-bravo-is-said-to-be-in-talks-to-acquire-verint-systems?srnd=phx-deals&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">per</a> Bloomberg. Despite a 28% stock drop this year, Verint recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/06/45781756/verint-stock-jumps-after-q1-beat-confident-fy26-guidance">beat revenue estimates</a>. The company spun off its analytics arm, Cognyte, in 2021.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARAA#NASDAQ">PARAA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/07/46212970/trump-wins-16-million-settlement-from-paramount-over-cbs-60-minutes-kamala-harris-interview-but-no-apology-issued">agreed to pay $16 million</a> to President Donald Trump's future library as a way to settle a lawsuit over a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. Trump had sued for $20 billion, claiming CBS deceptively edited the segment. CBS denies wrongdoing. The settlement may help clear regulatory hurdles for Paramount's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/39658163/paramount-board-endorses-merger-with-skydance-media-as-david-ellison-nears-acquisition-of-m">pending $28 billion merger</a> with Skydance Media. Private equity firms RedBird Capital and KKR back the deal. The FCC launched a probe into CBS's New York station after Trump took office, and &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; producer Bill Owens <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372796/60-minutes-executive-producer-resigns-saying-shows-indepependence-was-compromised">resigned</a> in April, citing editorial interference. Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather called it &#8220;a sad day for journalism&#8221; and &#8220;a sad day for '60 Minutes' and CBS News.&#8221; In an interview with <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/dan-rather-paramount-trump-suit-settlement-sell-out-1236446675/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=later-linkinbio">Variety</a>, the renowned journalist put it plainly: &#8220;It was distortion by the president and a kneeling down and saying, ‘yes, sir,' by billionaire corporate owners."</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Euronext is in <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-01/euronext-says-it-s-in-talks-to-buy-athens-stock-exchange?srnd=phx-deals&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">talks</a> to acquire the Athens Stock Exchange operator (ATHEX). The proposed share exchange deal would value ATHEX at 6.90 euros per share, or 399 million euros fully diluted. Euronext says the move reflects its confidence in Greece's economic potential. Talks are still in early stages. If successful, it would mark Euronext's latest expansion, adding to its portfolio of exchanges across seven European countries.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Spectris has <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/spectris-agrees-to-5-64-billion-kkr-takeover-withdraws-advent-recommendation-3dc7c625?mod=deals_news_article_pos1">agreed</a> to a 4.1 billion pounds ($5.64 billion) buyout by private equity firm KKR, scrapping a prior deal with Advent International. The new offer gives shareholders 39.72 pounds per share and beats Advent's 37.63-pounds-per-share offer. Separately, KKR is also acquiring Australian poultry producer ProTen from Aware Super for A$1.3 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Athora, a savings and retirement services group backed by Apollo Global Management, is &#8220;days away&#8221; from <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/apollo-backed-athora-closes-in-on-6bn-pension-insurance-corporation-deal-13391631">inking</a> a near-6 billion pound purchase of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), according to Sky News.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Off The Block</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) completed its $14 billion purchase of Juniper Networks (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>), following a U.S. antitrust <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.443490/gov.uscourts.cand.443490.217.2.pdf">settlement</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Open Cosmos has <a href="https://x.com/Open_Cosmos/status/1940697021234688033">acquired</a> Connected, a Portugal-based space-tech company specializing in IoT connectivity from space. The deal strengthens Open Cosmos's capabilities in narrowband IoT and expands its footprint in Portugal, which it says is a growing hub for space innovation. The acquisition is described as one of the fastest successful exits in European space-tech and aligns with the EU's long-term vision for sovereign and scalable space infrastructure.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Canned-food giant Del Monte Foods has <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/del-monte-foods-announces-strategic-action-to-strengthen-financial-position-and-pursue-a-value-maximizing-sale-302496385.html">filed</a> for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, launching a court-supervised sale process in a bid to accelerate its turnaround. The company, known for canned fruits, College Inn broths and Joyba teas, said it secured $912.5 million in financing from existing lenders to continue operations during the proceedings. CEO Greg Longstreet called the move a "strategic step forward" aimed at building a stronger, long-term business. Del Monte, founded nearly 140 years ago, will remain open during the bankruptcy process.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes From The Block</h2>



M&amp;A volumes globally continue to decline, according <a href="https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/deals/trends.html">to</a> PwC&#8217;s Brian Levy.



&#8220;They dropped by 9% in the first half of 2025 compared with the first half of 2024, while deal values are up 15%. We continue to see transactions in companies with a local focus within national borders, as well as in service companies or others less susceptible to tariffs,&#8221; Levy wrote in a June 24 blog post. 



Strong cash flow and &#8220;healthy prospects&#8221; are key. A May 2025 PwC survey found that 30% of U.S. companies paused or reconsidered deals due to tariff uncertainty, signaling ongoing disruption for dealmakers in the months ahead.



&#8220;We expect dealmakers to feel the continued fallout over the coming months,&#8221; Levy adds.



Separately, the mixed job market — like the one we&#8217;re currently in — provides a clue as to how the second half of 2025 will unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46188699/goldman-sachs-now-expects-3-fed-rate-cuts-in-2025-amid-weak-jobs-data-modest-trump-tariff-effects">If rate cuts follow</a>, expect a rebound in M&amp;A activity.



Buyers typically see value in sectors under labor pressure, and sellers feel more urgency <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46244105/june-jobs-report-nonfarm-payroll-adp-data">if hiring slows</a> or margins compress.



Bain &amp; Co. says it&#8217;s &#8220;already seeing evidence that some companies are not allowing tariffs (and the changed economic world order they represent) to derail M&amp;A activity.&#8221; 



While deal activity dipped in April, deal value rebounded in May, the firm <a href="https://www.bain.com/insights/m-and-a-midyear-report-2025-separating-signal-from-noise/">wrote</a> in its mid-year report. This may partly reflect late-stage deals, as well as the fortitude of executives and the muted impact of U.S. tariff announcements. 



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/25/06/46138385/deal-dispatch-darden-bahama-breeze-nba-ma-heats-up">For last week&#8217;s edition of the Deal Dispatch, click here</a>. 



Now Read



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/hedge-funds/25/07/46243248/michael-burry-estee-lauder-snub-china">Beauty And The Bear: Michael Burry, Estee Lauder Snub China</a></li>
</ul>



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