Global Trade Archives

Where Is The US-Canada Trade Dispute Headed: A Spat or a War?

1Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Where Is The US-Canada Trade Dispute Headed: A Spat or a War?

A Guide to New Tariffs on Cross-Border Trade Tariffs are escalating, trade talks have collapsed and the rhetoric has become personal. But the bigger question is whether Washington and Ottawa can preserve the North American economic integration built over three decades. Photo of the Detroit River by realafm courtesy Unsplash September 1, 2026—The U.S.-Canada trade dispute is garnering a lot of attention, due in no small measure the highly-charged rhetoric over the breakdown in trade talks. Both sides increased tariffs on segments of each other’s products. But just how significant are the new tariffs in terms of trade and cost? Where does that leave the review of the larger North American trade pact? Trade Talks Break Down The trade talks are taking place at a critical time: T...

US and Armenia Advance Bilateral Relations and Eurasian Trade Route

26May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

US and Armenia Advance Bilateral Relations and Eurasian Trade Route

What Is the TRIPP Corridor? And Why It Matters to Geopolitics File photo. Source: State Dept. January 2026 May 26, 2026—The foreign ministers of the United States and Armenia signed a strategic agreement on Tuesday that advances a Eurasian trade route between Asia and Europe that allows some trade to bypasses Russia and Iran. The “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” is a 27-mile transport corridor running through Armenia and Azerbaijan that links up to the much larger Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also called the “Middle Corridor.” “This agreement marks the biggest step to date on making this historic route a reality, on advancing peace, and on increasing prosperity in Armenia and frankly on the region,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the ...

China, Russia Cite ‘Root Causes’ in Veto of Resolution on Strait of Hormuz

9Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

China, Russia Cite ‘Root Causes’ in Veto of Resolution on Strait of Hormuz

UN Security Council Positions Reflect Differences of Law Based on Alliances April 9, 2026—A trickle of shipping traffic went through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a tenuous two-week ceasefire came together through last-minute negotiations mediated by Pakistan. Iran maintains control over the narrow passage, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies once flowed. On Tuesday, in the 10130th meeting of the UN Security Council, delegates considered a draft plan to “compel Iran to implement” a UN resolution, 2817, which condemned attacks on the Gulf states and reaffirmed the “exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels, in accordance with international law.” The meeting revealed the vastl...

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 ...

Pre-War, Hegseth Tried to Invest in Military Industrial ETF

31Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Bit

Pre-War, Hegseth Tried to Invest in Military Industrial ETF

March 31, 2026—Among the news reports about war profits by those in Washington with insider information comes a report about War Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Financial Times confirmed in its reporting today that Hegseth may have tried to invest millions of dollars in a fund specializing in the military industrial complex. Hegseth’s broker at Morgan Stanly reportedly contacted BlackRock, which flagged the request for the “high profile potential client.” The fund, iShare Defense Industrials Act (IDEF), has decreased in value by 9.7 percent over the past month but is up by 4 percent so far this year. Its largest holdings include: RTX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The FT reported that the investment was not completed because the fund “was not yet available for Morgan Stanley...

Energy Shock to Slow Growth and Raise Inflation, OECD Says

27Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Trade, Middle East, Types of News: Bit, Types of News: Brief

Energy Shock to Slow Growth and Raise Inflation, OECD Says

G20 Inflation to Climb to 4.0 Percent in 2026 March 27, 2026—The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that rising energy prices and supply shocks due to war in the Middle East could increase global volatility and inflation. In a March report, Testing Resilience, the OECD said: “The evolving conflict in the Middle East has human and economic costs for the countries directly involved, and will test the resilience of the global economy. A halt in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the closure or damage of energy infrastructure has generated a surge in energy prices and disrupted the global supply of energy and other important commodities, such as fertilisers.” Projections for growth vary widely by country. For example, the OECD predicts growth in th...

Cross-Border Gun Trafficking to Cartels: The Legal Side of the Issue

19Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Analysis, Types of News: Videos

Cross-Border Gun Trafficking to Cartels: The Legal Side of the Issue

https://youtu.be/CnnpLrYnr_8?si=NKwSMDJZNQVE67E8 Interview with Attorney Jonathan Lowy of the Global Action on Gun Violence: March 19, 2026—In a landmark case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Mexico and a team of lawyers sued U.S. gun manufacturers for crimes committed by criminals and cartels armed with military-grade U.S.-made weapons. The Supreme Court shut that case down last June, upholding immunity for gun makers. But the story didn't end there. The case garnered worldwide attention—a factor that impacts public interest and policymaking. Moreoever, the litigating team is still active. Mexico and its team of lawyers are litigating a separate case in Arizona against gun dealers. Jonathan Lowy, founder and president of Global Action on Gun Violence, provides an ...

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. ...

22Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Diplomacy, WAR: Dispatches & Dialogue

When Weapon Sales Boomerang: The Case of John Gunther Dean

Looking Back in History: Weapons Used in 1980 Assassination Attempt Against a U.S. Ambassador Were Made in America John Gunther Dean survived the Nazi Holocaust as a child by immigrating to the United States in 1939. He became a naturalized citizen and went on to serve the country as ambassador to five countries: India, Thailand, Lebanon, Denmark, and the Khmer Republic. In the late 70s and early 80s when serving in Lebanon, the Lebanese were asking the United States to stop sending sophisticated weapons to Israel. Civilians in the southern part of the country were getting hammered by battles. Israel and its Lebanese Christian allies were clashing with PLO-aligned guerrillas. Peacekeeping forces were getting killed, along with civilians. Historic news clip about the assassinat...

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...