trade Archives

In a Sign of Geopolitical Realignment, U.K. to Host 35-Nation Meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

1Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

In a Sign of Geopolitical Realignment, U.K. to Host 35-Nation Meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discusses new alliance-building on April 1, 2026. April 1, 2026—In another sign of strained relations between the United States and its partners and allies, a 35-member meeting taking place Thursday in the United Kingdom will take place without U.S. participation. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced today he is convening a meeting restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict. The meeting comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the NATO alliance. It also comes as G7 foreign ministers condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure and a reopening of global trade routes. Who’s Attending the London Coalition? At least 35 countries are scheduled to attend the meeting. Many of them signed onto a ...

G7 Calls for ‘Immediate Cessation of Attacks on Civilians’ and Infrastructure

27Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

G7 Calls for ‘Immediate Cessation of Attacks on Civilians’ and Infrastructure

War, Trade Through Strait of Hormuz Key Topics in G7 Foreign Minister Meetings in France March 27, 2026—G7 Foreign ministers of G7 countries— Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—along with the European Union met in France today discussing, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, maritime and port security, critical minerals supply chains, and counter-narcotics strategies. In the wake of the expanding U.S.-Israel-Iran war, foreign ministers discussed critical issues facing the global economy. G7 France March 27 2026 The ministers released the following statement urging freedom of navigation and an end to assaults on civilians and critical infrastructure. “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, th...

Trump Wages a Trade War Against NATO Allies over Greenland

18Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Wages a Trade War Against NATO Allies over Greenland

US-EU Tariffs to Impact Transatlantic Relations January, 18, 2026—When U.S. President Donald Trump started talking about taking over Greenland on the 2024 campaign trail, his Republican colleagues and most of America did not take him seriously. Political allies like House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and others dismissed it as campaign rhetoric and declined to answer questions about it even as Trump carried on with the rhetoric from the White House. But Trump was clear as early as December 2024 when he announced his nomination of PayPal funder Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark “that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” As early as January 2025, he talked about the possibility of using the U.S. military or economic coercion to seize the territory. ...

Consumers Likely to Pay Two-Thirds the Expense Cost of Tariffs, S&P Says

24Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

Consumers Likely to Pay Two-Thirds the Expense Cost of Tariffs, S&P Says

Companies Face $1.2 Trillion Cost Shock in 2025 October 24, 2025—Businesses are facing a $1.2 trillion tariff-related expense burden this year, and companies are likely to pass on two-thirds of some costs to consumers, according to S&P Global. S&P Global evaluated estimates from 15,000 sell-side analysts for its report, “Margin Math: A $1.2 trillion expense propagates through supply chains in 2025.” Overall, across the global equity market, which represents roughly 9,000 public companies worth $130 trillion, companies are expected to face a $1.2 trillion cost shock due to higher tariffs. At the company level, firms face an expense shock of $907 billion. Firms are likely to pass on part of the burden—an estimated $592 billion—to consumers. Meanwhile, companies are likely to...

Trump Seeks Payback from U.S. Bombing Campaign, Demanding Free Passage Through Suez Canal

29Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Global Trade, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Seeks Payback from U.S. Bombing Campaign, Demanding Free Passage Through Suez Canal

Trump wants Egypt to give U.S. ships free passage through the Suez Canal April 29, 2025—In just three weeks alone this Spring, the United States spent nearly a billion dollars bombing Yemen. That doesn’t include the cost of the $70 million jet fighter that fell off the USS Harry S. Truman on Monday. Now, President Trump is looking for payback. In the Middle East, he’s demanding free passage for U.S. ships on Egypt’s Suez Canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. He wants the same free ride through the Panama Canal in the Americas. "Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make it happen immediately. Typical fees for U.S. ships transporting t...

Canada’s PM Promises to Never Forget the Lessons of the ‘American Betrayal’

29Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Globalization, Disintegration, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Canada’s PM Promises to Never Forget the Lessons of the ‘American Betrayal’

Mark Carney Vows To Build New Economic And Security Relationships April 29, 2025—Canada elected Mark Carney to lead the country amid an atmosphere of tense relations with the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump. Carney is an economist and former central banker with extensive experience in managing financial turbulence. He led the Bank of England during Britain’s Brexit from the European Union and saw the Bank of Canada through the 2008-9 financial crisis. In March, he won the election to lead the Liberal Party with 85.9 percent of the party’s vote. He was sworn in as prime minister shortly thereafter, replacing Justin Trudeau. America Won’t ‘Break Us’ America played a central role in this year’s Canadian elections. In his second term, Trump has taken an ag...

Trade Wars: Lawsuit Against Trump Tariffs Gathers Support

28Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

Trade Wars: Lawsuit Against Trump Tariffs Gathers Support

The Case Challenges Executive Authority to Effectively ‘Tax’ Consumers The U.S. Court of International Trade may not be the most high-profile court in the United States, but it is getting more attention and cases this year under the Trump Administration’s tariff regime. In one case, filed this month on behalf of five business relying on imports, the Liberty Justice Center is arguing that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing duties on imports. Now, a broad coalition of former senators, judges, lawyers, and attorneys general agrees and is joining the lawsuit. Tariff Update: Since he announced a wave of tariffs against U.S. trading partners, Trump has postponed most hikes while raising the U.S. tariff on goods from China to 145 percent. M...

Trump’s Costly—And Possibly Criminal—Targeting Against Yemen

5Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Trump’s Costly—And Possibly Criminal—Targeting Against Yemen

Trump May Have Just Committed A War Crime April 5, 2025—Donald Trump, president of the United States, may have just committed a war crime. Late Friday night, he tweeted a video of a drone bomb attack against men gathering in a large circle in a desert. He wrote, “These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!” It’s not clear from the satellite footage what was happening on the ground, but logic suggests that it was more likely a tribal celebration than a war-planning meeting. The Eid Festival Eid al-Fitr is the first of the two main Muslim festivals that takes place in the Spring at the conclusion of Ramadan. Celebrations differ by country. Eid lasts anywhere from two to five days, commencing with the sighting of the new...

1Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Trade, Globalization, Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

USTR Releases Report on Trade Barriers

April 1, 2025--On the week the Trump Administration is expected to issue tariffs that could potentially impact most U.S. trading partners, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer released a report detailing barriers to global trade. The 397-page report includes input from several government agencies and public comments from October 2024. Organized by country, it will likely serve as a compass for bilateral negotiations going forward. What's helpful is a description of 14 types of trade barriers discussed. They include: Import policies such as tariffs, import charges, quantitative restrictions, and licensing requirements, customs barriers and shortcomings in trade facilitation, and other market access barriers; Technical barriers to trade, such as restrictive standards, conformity ...

U.S. Cites Currency Manipulation As Source of Trade Subsidy in Twist-Tie Case

25Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Cites Currency Manipulation As Source of Trade Subsidy in Twist-Tie Case

November 25, 2020--For the first time in an investigation of a trade subsidy, the U.S. Commerce Department identified China's undervalued currency as a state subsidy warranting a financial penalty at the U.S. border. On Tuesday, the department announced it is asking the U.S. Customs and Border Control to begin collecting cash deposits at a rate of 122.5 percent from importers of Chinese twist ties. The rate reflects the total amount of subsidies U.S. officials estimate Chinese twist tie exporters receive from their government. Next Steps Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. said the department would "continue to use the legal tools at our disposal to aggressively counter currency undervaluation and other unfair subsidies, further ensuring a level playing field for American businesses a...