Trump’s Global Trade Salvo Triggers BRICS Pushback — But No One Dares Name Him
As Trump slaps tariffs on U.S. allies and others from South Korea to South Africa, BRICS leaders in Brazil condemn escalating trade barriers - carefully avoiding direct mention of the president
President Trump said on Monday that he would subject imports from Japan and South Korea to new 25 percent tariffs that would take effect on Aug. 1, putting economic pressure on two U.S. allies as a deadline for making trade deals hits this week. They were among a series of tariff announcements and trade threats from the White House, including that Mr. Trump would also extend the pause on his steepest import taxes — set to take effect on Wednesday — until the start of next month. Later in the day, Trump posted several more letters to social media detailing the higher tariff rates that foreign countries will face as of Aug. 1. Myanmar and Laos will face 40 percent tariffs on their exports, he said, while South Africa will face 30 percent tariffs. Kazakhstan and Malaysia will both face 25 percent rates, Trump said. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the Trump administration would send “additional letters in the coming days” to other countries setting their tariff rates beginning Aug. 1. That’s in addition to the initial batch of about 12 letters that president intends to transmit to foreign leaders - NYT
The BRICS bloc of developing nations has condemned the increase of tariffs and attacks on Iran, but refrained from naming Donald Trump. The group’s declaration, which also took aim at Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, also spared its member Russia from criticism and mentioned war-torn Ukraine just once. In an indirect swipe at the U.S., the group’s declaration raised “serious concerns” about the rise of tariffs which it said were “inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules.” The BRICS added that those restrictions “threaten to reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.” Trump, in a post on his social media platform late Sunday, said any country that aligns itself with what he termed “the Anti-American policies of BRICS” would be levied an added 10% tariff - AP
Stocks tumbled following the postings. The value of government bonds has also fallen — a disconcerting sign for investors. Typically, the debt of the U.S. government is a haven for investors to shelter from bad news dragging markets lower, meaning the value of government bonds rise during turmoil. That isn’t happening today, which suggests a more broad based shift away from U.S. assets in light of these tariffs.
At least 91 people are confirmed dead, with at least 75 in Kerr County alone, following flash floods in central Texas. Search efforts continue for a fourth day for dozens of people still missing, authorities say. Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp in the county, confirmed that at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead. More storms are expected in the region over the next 24-48 hours with until at least Monday evening. US President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County, as questions have been raised about whether adequate flood warnings were provided. The catastrophe unfolded in the early hours on Friday as the Guadalupe River rose more than 26ft (8m) in less than an hour causing widespread damage - BBC
Konstantin Strukov, a Russian billionaire and owner of the country’s largest gold mining enterprise Yuzhuralzoloto, was reportedly detained by the FSB over the weekend just as he was about to take off in his private plane to Turkey. His personal net worth has been estimated at over $3.5 billion, placing him among the wealthiest individuals in Russia. Strukov has long been considered one of the most influential oligarchs in the country and a major private financier of Vladimir Putin’s political apparatus. His arrest has reportedly sent shockwaves through elite business circles, particularly given his longstanding reputation as a Kremlin loyalist and his previously untouchable status. Strukov’s detention adds to a growing list of prominent Russian businessmen who have recently faced sudden legal troubles, mysterious accidents, or untimely deaths. Once a key figure in the Putin-era oligarchy, Strukov now finds himself ensnared by the very security services he once helped support.
Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound, investigators confirmed just hours after President Vladimir Putin abruptly replaced him amid a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks that have disrupted air traffic and exposed vulnerabilities deep inside Russian territory. Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, said on July 7 that Starovoit’s body was discovered in his personal vehicle in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region. “The circumstances of Roman Starovoit’s death are being established. The primary theory is suicide,” Petrenko said. Starovoit, after barely a year in the job, was removed from office by Putin earlier in the day without explanation. In a swift political reshuffle following Starovoit’s dimissal, Putin appointed Andrei Nikitin, a deputy transport minister and former Novgorod region governor, as acting minister - RFE/RL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed replacing the current ambassador to the US during his phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is on the list of potential candidates to become Kyiv’s envoy to Washington alongside Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Energy Minister German Galushchenko, the person said speaking on condition of anonymity as the talks are private. The potential replacement of the current envoy Oksana Markarova comes at a delicate moment in Ukraine’s relations with the US. Trump administration last week halted the transfer of artillery rounds and air defense to Ukraine, a move that took Zelenskiy’s government and allies off guard. Speculation about replacing Markarova, who has stayed on as ambassador after her term officially ended, intensified late last year after Trump’s return to the White House. Markarova, a former Finance Minister, became Ukraine’s first female ambassador to the US when appointed in February 2021. She was praised for building relations with ex-President Joe Biden’s administration, helping to ramp up support for her country when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. In September, US House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter to Zelensky urging Markarova’s dismissal, citing her actions ahead of US elections. Ukraine’s envoy had helped organize Zelensky’s visit to an artillery plant in Pennsylvania — a swing state — a move some Republicans decried as political interference. Zelensky has instructed his Foreign Ministry to discuss the appointment of Ukraine’s next ambassador with US counterparts, the person said. Kyiv is seeking US views of its candidates in a bid for smooth cooperation with the Trump administration, the person added - Bloomberg
Watch my CNN clip where I discuss the kind of ambassador President Zelensky should appoint to Washington. Unfortunately, none of the names currently being considered seem to fit the bill. One standout, however, would be the widely respected and impeccably polished former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba—fluent in English and well-versed in Western diplomacy, he would be an ideal choice.
Israeli restaurateur Shahar Segal says his work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has concluded after less than a month and a half. Segal had been working as something of a spokesperson for GHF by liaising with the Israeli press. On Friday, anti-Israel activists vandalized the Melbourne chain of the Miznon restaurant that he co-owns with Eyal Shani. The GHF has received pushback as its model has forced Palestinians to walk long distances and cross IDF lines — often coming under deadly fire — to reach aid distribution sites - Times of Israel
A protest against gentrification and mass tourism in Mexico City escalated into violence on Friday, with masked individuals smashing storefronts and harassing foreigners in popular areas. Demonstrators, some of whom screamed at tourists, later moved to the U.S. Embassy, where graffiti reading "get out of Mexico" was seen on shattered glass. The unrest stems from rising tensions over an influx of American "digital nomads" since 2020, which has caused rents to soar and displaced local residents. Police reinforcements were deployed around the U.S. Embassy as sirens sounded in the city centre following the escalation of the protest. This incident reflects a growing trend of anti-tourism protests in major cities worldwide, including European capitals, where record numbers of visitors are straining local resources - The Independent
The country that invented “flight shaming”, a concept championed by climate activist Greta Thunberg, has scrapped its air tax in a bid to boost its ailing economy. As of July 1, Sweden has dropped the levy of 76–517 kroner (£5.50–£37.40) per passenger per flight, an eco measure introduced by the centre-left government in 2018. The U-turn will be seen as a disaster by environmentalists, and it exposes a tension at the core of the aviation versus climate debate. When jumbo jets disappear emissions drop, but other things begin to dwindle too: regional growth, connectivity and – it appears in Sweden – public support for eco concerns. Sweden introduced its air tax in the same year that a 15-year-old Greta Thunberg organised her first solo climate protest outside Swedish Parliament. In the seven years that followed, international flights dropped by a third. Smaller airports, particularly in the wild and remote northern regions, saw fewer arrivals as airlines scaled back operations. Ryanair ceased all domestic flights in Sweden, while the domestic-focused Bromma Airport near Stockholm came to the brink of closure. Separately, the Swedish government announced a £76m cash injection for the airline industry. Infrastructure minister Andreas Carlson said the government would invest more than one billion kronor to support carriers as they struggle to recover from the pandemic, high energy prices and the economic toll from Russia’s war in Ukraine - Telegraph
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