Sep 28, 2026
The Trump administration is preparing a 90-day ban on diesel exports to address record-high fuel prices, despite opposition from Energy Secretary Chris Wright and industry leaders who warn it could backfire and raise other fuel costs.
President Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, a rare gesture for a foreign leader, as Xi arrived for his first state visit to the U.S. in more than a decade. The two nations announced a two-month extension of their trade truce.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are set to meet Sunday to negotiate potential agreements on AI, tariffs, and critical minerals ahead of a high-stakes Washington summit.
President Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner and high-stakes summit during UN General Assembly week in New York. US and Chinese officials began preparatory talks on AI, trade, and critical minerals, with tech CEOs including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Satya Nadella invited to the state dinner.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to begin discussions with the European Union for a 'unique alliance' — stopping short of membership — as Canada seeks to reduce economic dependence on the United States. Carney is set to address the European Parliament this week.
Canada implemented retaliatory tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, prompting President Trump to escalate the trade war by banning Canadian dairy, alcohol, and motorcycle imports starting September 29. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada will reduce its economic reliance on the United States.
DBS Bank and Citibank executed the first weekend USD payment between Singapore and the US using tokenized deposits via Swift's Digital Ledger, demonstrating 24/7 settlement capabilities for traditional banking infrastructure.
President Trump intensified pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, threatening to cut off trade with countries with which the US has a deficit if the central bank does not comply. He made the comments after a stronger-than-expected jobs report.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China prevented the G20 from issuing a joint statement after finance ministers' meeting, citing disagreement over China's massive trade surplus and 'cheap exports' flooding global markets.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 gathering in North Carolina, marking the first time Siluanov traveled to the U.S. since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Russia's first G20 participation since 2022.
Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on over 700 American products worth approximately $27.6 billion, matching 'dollar for dollar' the duties President Donald Trump imposed over the weekend. The tariffs target key US industries including cosmetics, dairy, wood products, and outdoor equipment as the trade war between the neighboring allies escalates.
Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on over 700 American products worth approximately $27.6 billion, matching 'dollar for dollar' the duties President Donald Trump imposed over the weekend. The tariffs target key US industries including cosmetics, dairy, wood products, and outdoor equipment as the trade war between the neighboring allies escalates.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that artificial intelligence investment is expanding beyond the United States and becoming a broader driver of global economic growth, even as the world economy faces challenges from inflation, debt, and trade tensions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the 'single greatest financial offensive ever' against Iran, threatening secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Tehran. The administration stopped short of immediately imposing penalties but warned it would target Iran's financial connections, oil revenues, and economic lifelines.
Canada struck back with matching tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of US imports, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment, after the United States imposed 50 percent duties on Canadian goods following failed trade negotiations. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada would match US tariffs "dollar-for-dollar" and provide aid to affected businesses and workers.
HSBC and Standard Chartered have completed the first live cross-border banking transaction on Swift's new 24/7 blockchain-based ledger, marking a significant milestone in Swift's pilot project to pivot from messaging to settlement as it adapts to the rise of stablecoins and tokenized deposits.
President Trump delayed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products for three days after the two countries reached a tentative agreement to resolve a broader trade dispute, just hours before the midnight deadline.
The U.S. government announced Thursday it would fully restart operations in Mexico's western state of Michoacan after security concerns had disrupted inspections needed to export the region's avocados. The suspension, which began following a non-specific threat to U.S. interests, had prompted warnings from local producers about ongoing insecurity and extortion.
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in favor of President Donald Trump's 2025 decision to rescind the 'de minimis' exemption that allowed imports under $800 to enter the country tariff-free. The ruling affects cheap imports from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein and represents a rare win for the president in the trade court's review of emergency economic powers.
Singapore's government upgraded its 2026 economic growth forecast from 2.0-4.0% to 4.5-5.5% after the economy expanded 5.9% year-on-year in Q2, driven by stronger-than-expected global AI investment and less severe impact from the Middle East conflict than anticipated.
Britain's Financial Conduct Authority is working with major banks and market participants to establish standards for tokenized gold, aiming to digitize financial markets and reinforce London's position as the global bullion trading center amid competition from Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat has signed a 20-year, $3.1 billion concession agreement with Nigeria's Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Ltd to implement a continent-wide customs system aimed at boosting intra-African trade.
Major global banks including JPMorgan, Citibank, and UBS successfully settled real cross-border payments using tokenized central bank reserves and commercial bank deposits in a pilot program coordinated by the Bank for International Settlements.
India's drug regulator has taken enforcement action against approximately 90% of inspected pharmaceutical facilities identified as high-risk under a nationwide quality initiative, as authorities intensify oversight amid increased global scrutiny of Indian-made drugs.
Two groups of small businesses filed legal challenges in U.S. Court of International Trade against the Trump administration's new global tariffs that took effect Friday, targeting over 60 countries including Canada, Mexico, and the EU. The lawsuits came just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expired.
A new PhotonPay research report documents how stablecoin-based multi-rail payment systems are cutting African cross-border B2B settlement costs from $5-$15+ to under $1 and reducing settlement times from days to minutes, as companies like Lumepay launch institutional payment solutions targeting the continent's fragmented commercial trade infrastructure.
The Trump administration announced tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 trading partners, including the European Union, over alleged failures to enforce forced labor import bans. The duties will take effect at the same moment temporary 10% global tariffs expire, although a senior administration official disputed describing them as a direct replacement.
China's Commerce Ministry said China is soliciting views from domestic companies, business associations, local governments, and U.S. business groups, while the United States is separately seeking public comments on the Board of Trade and the reciprocal tariff arrangements. The proposed framework covers about $30 billion worth of goods on each side, while the two countries continue to work out the board's structure, functions, and operating model.
A new 25% US tariff on Brazilian goods including farm machinery, wood products, ethanol and apparel took effect on July 22, 2026, affecting about $7.2 billion of Brazil's roughly $38 billion in 2025 exports to the United States, according to ApexBrasil. Brazil said it would reciprocate, although Vice President Geraldo Alckmin later said the government would seek a negotiated resolution instead of retaliating.
President Donald Trump ordered 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports worth nearly $20 billion, including wine, dairy products, hockey gear and cement, citing what the U.S. administration called discriminatory treatment of American autos, alcohol and dairy goods. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect on August 19, 2026, while Canada has said it is ready to intensify trade talks.
A group of 25 U.S. lawmakers has written to President Donald Trump calling for trade investigations into European Union digital policies, arguing that EU tech rules unfairly target American Big Tech companies. The push comes amid broader tensions over EU technology regulation and Trump administration efforts to challenge European enforcement actions.
South Korea's exports jumped 52.3% year-over-year in the first 20 days of July 2026, reaching a record for the period as semiconductor shipments soared 180.6% on AI-driven demand. Exports to China surged 94.1%, while automobile exports declined 10.6%.
President Donald Trump is poised to impose fresh tariffs on approximately 60 countries as soon as this week, replacing the temporary 10% global tariff expiring Friday with new rates ranging from 10% to 12.5%. The move includes a 50% tariff on Canadian goods, citing discriminatory treatment of U.S. products.
Australia has agreed to sell uranium to India for peaceful nuclear energy purposes in a landmark agreement signed by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi in Melbourne. The deal supports India's goal of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047.
Swift announced its blockchain-based ledger is ready for initial use, with 17 banks from six continents preparing to pilot live transactions using tokenized deposits for 24/7 cross-border payment availability. The system moved from concept to activation in nine months.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the first visit by a Philippine leader in over a decade, while separately securing a pipeline investment agreement with British Columbia aimed at reducing Canada's economic dependence on the United States amid ongoing trade tensions.
The European Union and China have agreed to enter three months of negotiations aimed at resolving their massive trade imbalance and avoiding escalating trade tensions. The talks, formalized in their first joint statement in seven years, will focus on the bloc's €360bn annual import/export deficit with China, with an October deadline set for tangible results.
The U.S. Trade Representative has initiated a formal trade investigation into Germany's plan to reduce spending on pharmaceutical products, examining whether the pricing policies are unreasonable or discriminatory. The probe could result in retaliatory tariffs on German goods.
European leaders and G7 nations are responding to concerns about a flood of cheap Chinese exports threatening key industries, echoing fears of the original 'China shock' that disrupted Western manufacturing. The issue has become a central topic at the G7 summit as countries weigh policy responses to growing trade imbalances.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will participate in a rare video conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron with G7 countries on Thursday to discuss global trade imbalances and low-priced Chinese exports, as Germany signals potential tougher trade measures.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened a video conference between G7 countries and China to address global economic imbalances, as the G7 summit pivots away from a single overarching statement toward separate policy declarations on topics including critical minerals and cancer research.
Asia-Pacific trade envoys gathered in Suzhou, China on May 22, 2026 for an APEC trade ministers' meeting focused on multilateral cooperation, trade imbalances, and supply chain resilience. China's International Trade Representative Li Chenggang chaired the opening as the commerce minister was absent due to urgent official business.
Britain has finalized a trade agreement with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council worth £3.7bn ($5bn) annually in the long term, marking the first such deal between the GCC and a G7 nation. The agreement comes amid regional tensions from the Iran war and concludes negotiations that spanned four UK prime ministers.
President Donald Trump landed in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for his first visit to China and the first U.S. presidential trip to the country in nearly a decade. The summit with President Xi Jinping, originally scheduled for March but delayed due to the Iran war, will address tensions over Taiwan, trade disputes, and efforts to persuade China to help bring Iran back to negotiations.
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week to discuss trade, Taiwan, technology, and the ongoing Iran war. China views the unresolved Middle East conflict as potentially strengthening its negotiating position.
Western Union announced it will launch USDPT, a Solana-based stablecoin, next month to serve as an alternative to SWIFT for agent settlements. The company is also introducing a 'Stable Card' for global consumer payments and a network connecting digital wallets to its retail infrastructure.
Multiple foreign governments are rejecting U.S. findings that they aren't adequately addressing forced labor in their supply chains, while 22 Democratic state attorneys general oppose the Trump administration's proposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on 59 countries based on forced labor concerns.
President Trump delivered harsh public rebukes to two of his closest European allies, saying Italian PM Giorgia Meloni lacks 'courage' over the Iran war and warning the UK that their trade deal 'can always be changed' after Britain declined to join US military operations.
President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders threatening to impose tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran or provide oil to Cuba, escalating economic pressure on both nations and potentially affecting major trading partners like Mexico.