All articles tagged with #trade deals
President Donald Trump wrapped up a two‑day summit in Beijing with few concrete trade deals, and markets reacted to vague commitments rather than clear agreements. Analysts note China’s push toward self‑sufficiency in tech and manufacturing, while Trump hinted at potential steps on agriculture, energy, or sanctions—leaving the lasting impact of the trip uncertain for now.
Trump and Xi staged cordial optics in Beijing, signaling a tentative thaw with modest, unconfirmed trade deliverables—like possible U.S. agricultural purchases and a joint 'Board of Trade'—even as sanctions, Iran, and tech rivalry threaten to override the friendliness, highlighting a fragile truce beneath the diplomacy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s historically close economic ties to the United States are now a weakness that must be corrected, citing U.S. tariffs that have hit auto and steel industries and created investment uncertainty. He outlined plans to diversify the economy, attract new investment, pursue trade deals with other countries, expand clean energy capacity, and bolster defense spending, insisting Canada must not rely on a single partner and must take control of its security and future.
After the Supreme Court curtailed his tariff powers, Trump announced a 15% global tariff, but the rate was set at 10% in practice as the administration pressed allies (UK, EU, India, Canada, Korea, Japan) to honor existing deals; behind the scenes, officials pursued a conciliatory approach to avert further setbacks to the trade agenda, while signaling new national-security and country-specific investigations that could trigger additional tariffs later this year.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling that most Trump-era tariffs were illegal, US trade chief Jamieson Greer says the policy will stay on course, with potential changes to the legal tools used; a 15% global tariff announced after the ruling sits apart from bilateral deals with about 20 countries, which the administration says will remain in force. Refunds for tariffs paid are to be decided by courts, while China urged lifting the tariffs and India postponed a Washington trade delegation as reactions varied and lawmakers criticized the policy’s reach.
The Supreme Court ruled that Trump overstepped his authority in using IEEPA to impose tariffs, though tariffs under Section 232 remain; Trump then applied a blanket 15% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 for 150 days with limited exemptions, unsettling existing trade deals and forcing partners to reassess negotiated rates as the White House signals possible Section 301 actions to restore reciprocal tariffs later.
UK pickup registrations rose 92% from 308,103 in 2014 to 590,587 in 2024, a trend Clean Cities says reflects lifestyle choice over practicality and prompts calls for stricter safety standards and higher parking fees as critics warn heavier, taller pickups pose risks to pedestrians and other road users; the piece also notes proposed trade carve-outs for US vehicles that could bypass safety testing.
China posts a record 1.2 trillion-dollar trade surplus in 2025, with booming non‑U.S. trade, the strongest monthly forex inflows in history, and a widening push to use the yuan globally, as Beijing seeks deeper ties with partners like Canada and India amid U.S. tensions; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Beijing visit underscores efforts to diversify trade links even as the EU, India and other partners advance their own deals.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he meant his Davos remarks and will pursue 12 new trade deals across six months to diversify Canada’s exports away from the United States, signaling a broader strategy that includes talks with China while fending off Trump’s tariff threats and eyeing markets in India, Australia and beyond.
India and the European Union sealed a landmark free trade agreement, creating a vast market (about 2 billion people) and aiming to boost sectors such as textiles, gems and jewelry, leather, and shoes. Modi dubbed it a major milestone as New Delhi seeks relief from U.S. tariffs and to diversify its trade, with the EU accounting for roughly a quarter of global GDP and serving as India’s largest trading partner; the pact complements India’s other recent deals with the U.K., Oman, and New Zealand.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Canada would face a 100% tariff on all imports if it signs a trade deal with China, prompting a rebuttal from Ottawa and highlighting heightened US-Canada tensions as talks on tariff issues and broader North American trade continue.
Keir Starmer signals a shift towards closer ties with the EU through alignment with the single market rather than rejoining the customs union, focusing on pragmatic trade and regulatory cooperation post-Brexit, amidst evolving political and geopolitical contexts.
A decade after Brexit, UK political discourse is shifting towards re-engagement with Europe, with some Labour MPs and government officials exploring options like a Swiss-style 'dynamic alignment' deal to access the single market and boost economic growth, signaling a potential change in the UK's approach to its relationship with the EU.
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the legality of President Trump's tariffs imposed under emergency powers, with most expecting the tariffs to remain regardless of the ruling. Companies are navigating disrupted supply chains and increased costs, while the administration continues to use various legal authorities to maintain tariffs, which are influencing trade negotiations and economic stability.
US stock futures are rising towards record highs amid strong earnings reports and optimism about US-China trade negotiations, with investors awaiting the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Major companies like UnitedHealth, UPS, and Amazon reported positive earnings, while geopolitical developments and trade agreements, especially with Japan and Malaysia, also influenced market sentiment. Gold prices declined as tensions eased, prompting profit-taking.