Canada and China have condemned the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and announced plans to retaliate against U.S. exports. President Trump implemented 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10 percent on imports from China.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada would impose 25 percent tariffs on $20.5 billion worth of unspecified U.S. goods. China announced levies on U.S. food imports and suspended sales of Chinese goods to 15 American companies. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicated that if the U.S. tariffs remained in effect by Sunday, she would also announce countermeasures. Calls for boycotts of U.S. companies and products have emerged in Mexico.
The announcement of these tariffs has led to a sell-off in global markets, further complicating the economic landscape ahead of Trump’s upcoming address to Congress.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed readiness to release Russian prisoners of war, halt long-range drone and missile strikes, and declare a truce at sea, contingent upon reciprocal actions from Russia. His comments followed a U.S. pause in military aid to Ukraine, and he praised U.S. support in an effort to mend relations.
Ukrainians are reportedly feeling confused and betrayed by the U.S. decision to pause military assistance. This situation has sparked support for a European proposal to utilize billions in frozen Russian assets for weapons procurement and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
In a separate development, Arab leaders convened an emergency summit in Cairo to discuss Gaza’s postwar future, responding to Trump’s plans for the region. An Egyptian proposal suggested a $53 billion investment to rebuild Gaza while maintaining the current population under a temporary leadership of technocrats. However, the absence of Saudi and UAE leaders raised questions about unified Arab support for the plan.
Additionally, the Israeli military reported the killing of a Hamas military commander in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
In other news, a Chinese chemical manufacturer has faced criticism for enforcing policies that require employees to be loyal and family-oriented, amid government efforts to reverse declining marriage and birth rates.
James Harrison, a notable plasma donor whose blood contained a rare antibody that benefited millions of infants in Australia, has passed away at the age of 88.
In architecture, Liu Jiakun has been awarded the Pritzker Prize, recognized for his understated designs that incorporate local materials and environmental elements. His project “West Village” in Chengdu exemplifies this approach.
For culinary enthusiasts, a recipe for chana masala, a spiced chickpea dish, has been highlighted, alongside recommendations for reading and travel.
That concludes today’s summary.