In a surprise visit to Florida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump amid concerns over potential trade disputes. The two leaders discussed important topics such as the opioid epidemic and the trade deficit between their countries. While Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports has sparked fears of a trade war, Trudeau remains committed to working with the US to find a mutually beneficial solution.
Canada-US Trade Tensions: Trump Tariffs and Trudeau's Diplomacy
Background
The relationship between the United States and Canada, historically characterized by close economic ties, has faced tensions in recent years over trade disputes. These tensions escalated during the presidency of Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Canadian imports, particularly steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns.
Trump's Tariff Threats
In March 2018, President Trump announced tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, respectively. This move drew immediate criticism from Canada and other trading partners, who argued that it was unwarranted and would harm their economies.
Canada's Response
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the tariffs, labeling them "unfair and unwarranted" and calling for their immediate removal. Canada retaliated by imposing counter-tariffs on American goods worth C$16.6 billion annually.
Diplomatic Efforts
Trudeau engaged in several diplomatic efforts to address the trade tensions, including a surprise visit to Florida in February 2017 to meet with Trump. Despite these efforts, the two leaders were unable to resolve the dispute.
Ongoing Negotiations
Since Trump's departure from office, the Biden administration has sought to ease trade tensions with Canada. In September 2022, the United States and Canada removed the steel and aluminum tariffs they had imposed on each other. However, other trade issues, such as the Buy American Act, continue to be a source of friction between the two countries.
Top 5 FAQs on Trump Tariffs and Canada-US Trade
1. Why did Trump impose tariffs on Canadian imports? Trump cited national security concerns, claiming that Canadian steel and aluminum imports threatened American industry.
2. How did Canada respond to the tariffs? Canada retaliated by imposing counter-tariffs on American goods and condemned the tariffs as unfair and unwarranted.
3. Did Trudeau's diplomatic efforts resolve the dispute? No, despite several meetings between Trudeau and Trump, the tariffs remained in place.
4. Have the tariffs been removed? Yes, the United States and Canada removed the steel and aluminum tariffs in September 2022.
5. Are there any other ongoing trade issues between Canada and the US? Yes, the Buy American Act remains a point of contention, as Canada argues that it discriminates against Canadian businesses.
Pakistan's efforts to seek membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have hit a snag as Indonesia and Singapore are likely to join India in opposing Islamabad's bid. This move is part of Pakistan's recent strategy to internationalise its issues with India, which New Delhi has consistently opposed. However, China's influence over Cambodia may tip the scales in Pakistan's favor.
A young man from Taiwan, identified as Zhang, had both his feet amputated after spending 10 hours in a bucket of dry ice as part of a fraudulent insurance claim. He and his accomplice, Liao, faked an accident and submitted insurance claims worth over NT$41.26 million. The shocking incident has led to charges of fraud and intentional self-harm, with the mastermind, Liao, being sentenced to six years in prison. The case has sparked outrage on social media over the lengths people will go to for financial gain.
A video of a 27-year-old Hindu woman being brutally raped at her residence in Bangladesh by a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, Fazor Ali, sparked outrage and protests in Dhaka. The victim, a mother of two children, belongs to the Hindu community. The incident has highlighted the ongoing violence against religious minorities and ethnic communities in Bangladesh and calls for the interim government to take action to protect them.
In his monthly radio programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the success of the International Yoga Day celebrations and the resumption of Kailash-Mansarovar and Amarnath Yatras after a long time. He highlighted the participation of people from across the world, including divyang individuals and the Indian armed forces, in the yoga celebrations. The theme of this year's Yoga Day, "Yoga for One Earth, for Health," was also emphasized by PM Modi. Additionally, he congratulated India for being declared Trachoma-free by the World Health Organization, while also expressing his excitement for the upcoming pilgrimages.
The Adani Group, a global conglomerate, will be providing food for 4 million people at the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, India. The event, which is expected to see a turnout of 40 million people, is a collaboration between the Adani Foundation and the organizers of the Rath Yatra. Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani made a special appearance in Bhubaneswar before heading to Puri to kick off the event.
On Monday, a massive blackout left tens of millions of people in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France without electricity, causing disruptions to transport services and chaos on the roads. Questions are now mounting over what caused the outage as both countries remain under a state of emergency. Experts predict it could take weeks to determine the root cause of the meltdown, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that 15 gigawatts of power were suddenly lost in just five seconds - equivalent to 60% of the country's demand. While power has been restored to most areas, transportation services continue to be affected and emergency meetings have been held to coordinate a response.
At least 23 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand, with many more still missing. The blast occurred just weeks before the Chinese New Year, which typically sees a high demand for fireworks. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the exact number of casualties is still undetermined due to the severity of the explosion. This is not the first time an explosion has occurred at this factory, with a previous incident in November 2022 leading to the death of one worker. Authorities are investigating and will pursue legal action for any wrongdoing involved.
The Indian government has appointed Parag Jain as the new head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country's top intelligence agency. Jain, a senior IPS officer with over two decades of experience, will assume office on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha. He is known to have played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor which targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. With India's dynamics with its neighbours becoming more complex, Jain's appointment comes at a critical time.
In a shocking and heartbreaking incident, a 60-year-old woman with advanced cancer was found abandoned in a garbage dump in Mumbai's Aarey Colony, reportedly by her own grandson. The victim, Yashoda Gaikwad, was discovered by locals and it took several hours for her to finally receive medical attention after being turned away by two hospitals. While her condition remains stable, authorities are still trying to locate her family. This tragic incident has brought attention to the lack of compassion and humanity in some institutions and the need for better support for the elderly and sick in society.
As tensions continue to simmer between India and China along their shared border, the defence ministers of both countries have engaged in productive discussions during the SCO meeting in China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the need for long-term solutions to border demarcation and the importance of maintaining good neighbourly relations. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to mitigating the ongoing standoff and agreed to continue high-level consultations. Singh also acknowledged the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar yatra and briefed his Chinese counterpart on India's counter-terrorist operation. With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties approaching, both sides hope to work towards achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.