Pakistan has welcomed a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, confirming its jurisdiction in proceedings related to the Indus Waters Treaty with India. The ruling comes after hearings held at the Peace Palace in July 2024 and paves the way for Pakistan's case on the merits of the dispute. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan's readiness to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40369954/pakistan-welcomes-indus-waters-arbitration-ruling-urges-dialogue-with-indiaRwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed an agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the two countries. The deal calls for Rwanda to end its "defensive measures" taken against the FDLR, a group linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, while the DRC seeks to neutralize the FDLR. The agreement also establishes a joint security coordination body to facilitate the return of refugees and secure mineral rights in the DRC, which has significant mineral reserves including lithium and cobalt. US President Donald Trump has taken credit for the diplomacy leading to the deal, which he believes will grant the US access to these resources. However, critics, including gynecologist Denis Mukwege, argue that the agreement benefits Rwanda and the US at the expense of justice and Congolese sovereignty.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/rwanda-dr-congo-sign-peace-deal-in-us-after-rebel-sweep/article_274c25f1-7888-5b0d-815a-05fbcf3a61d9.htmlThe White House announced a framework to implement the Geneva agreement on trade with China, following talks in London. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that Washington and Beijing have reached an understanding on issues including expediting rare earth shipments to the US. The agreement comes after President Donald Trump's administration and China agreed to temporarily lower tariffs on each other's products. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the July 9 deadline for steeper tariffs is not critical, and the president can extend or set a reciprocal tariff rate he believes is advantageous for the US.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/06/27/us-china-reach-trade-breakthrough-on-rare-earth-exports-as-tariff-pause-looms/181854Canada and Mexico are facing tariffs of up to 25% imposed by former US President Trump in an effort to curb fentanyl smuggling, but some products remain protected under the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to comment on ending trade talks with Canada after a private meeting with Republican senators. The US relies heavily on Canada for crude oil and electricity imports, as well as steel, aluminum, uranium, and critical minerals such as those needed by the Pentagon.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-terminates-trade-talks-canada-over-technology-firms-tax/507-8cee155c-cb4e-4834-a6ea-994deb76a567US President Donald Trump has suspended trade talks with Canada due to the country's plans to continue a tax on technology firms, calling it "a direct and blatant attack on our country." The US had imposed tariffs of up to 25% on steel, aluminum, and autos, as well as a 10% tax on imports from most countries. Trump is set to send letters to other countries informing them of new tariff rates, which could be raised to 50% for certain goods.
https://www.koat.com/article/trump-terminating-trade-talks-canada/65224415US President Donald Trump has suspended trade talks with Canada due to its decision to proceed with a digital services tax on technology firms. The tax, which will apply retroactively and impact companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber, and Airbnb, is seen as a "direct and blatant attack" by Trump. As a result, the US will impose tariffs on Canadian goods, with a $2 billion US bill due at the end of the month.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/the-president/trump-says-hes-terminating-trade-talks-with-canada-over-tax-on-technology-firmsChina and the US have agreed on a framework for their trade deal, with Washington lifting "restrictive measures" and Beijing reviewing and approving export controls on items such as rare earths essential for electric vehicles and national defence equipment. The agreement follows talks in Geneva and London, and comes after US President Donald Trump's administration and China reached an additional understanding to implement the Geneva agreement. Under the deal, China will review and approve applications for export control items, while the US will cancel restrictive measures against China.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/06/27/beijing-washington-seal-framework-deal-to-defuse-trade-standoff/181939US officials and China agreed on a framework to implement their Geneva consensus after talks in London, following a temporary lowering of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. The deal aims to address concerns over rare earths exports, essential for products like electric vehicles and national defense equipment. However, US officials later accused China of violating the pact by slow-walking export license approvals for these critical elements.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/06/28/business/trade-deal-framework-agreed-with-us-china/2139569Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at additional trade deals as the Trump administration secures tariff agreements with the UK and China, amid a July 8 deadline for "reciprocal" duties on US imports. The US-UK agreement aligns with Trump's 10% global baseline tariff rate, including up to 100,000 imported cars annually. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with Chinese officials last month alongside US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Bessent.
https://nypost.com/2025/06/27/us-news/treasury-chief-predicts-10-more-tariff-deals-by-labor-day-as-eu-reportedly-nears-new-pact-too/