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Canada-U.S. Tariff Fight Escalates

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Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates as Ottawa Prepares Retaliatory Tariffs After Failed Talks, Raising New Risks for North American Jobs, Supply Chains and the Future of USMCA One of the world’s closest trading relationships is entering a much more dangerous phase. Canada’s retaliation shows that Ottawa is prepared to absorb economic pain rather than accept Washington’s latest trade demands. What Is Happening Now Canada is moving ahead with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on U.S. imports beginning September 8 after negotiations with Washington broke down. Ottawa has identified sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper and electronics as targets. The retaliation follows new U.S. tariffs of 50% on roughly $20 billion of Canadian products . President Donald Trump has also threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian-made automobiles, trucks and auto parts from January 2027. Why It Matters This is more than a tariff dispute. Canada and the United States operate deeply ...
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Will this crisis permanently change Asia’s energy strategy?

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Asian Fuel-Security Crisis After Hormuz: Why Asia Still Faces an Energy Squeeze The Strait of Hormuz may not be completely shut, but for Asia’s fuel market it is far from normal. The crisis is increasingly moving from crude-oil availability to shortages and high prices for the fuels economies actually consume. What Is Happening Now Shipping through Hormuz remains heavily suppressed. Reuters reported on August 24 that only four commodity vessels crossed the strait on Sunday and 13 on Saturday. UK maritime data estimates detected traffic is still roughly 90% below pre-conflict levels , although vessels operating without tracking signals mean the exact picture remains disputed. Asia’s Fuel Problem Is Getting Deeper The bigger concern is refined fuel. Kpler data cited by Reuters estimates Asian imports of light and middle distillates at about 5.59 million barrels per day in August , around 21% below the pre-war average. Diesel, jet fuel and gasoline markets therefore remain tight even whe...
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Can Iran turn control of Hormuz into lasting geopolitical influence?

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Hormuz as an Instrument of Selective Energy Diplomacy: Iran Turns a Chokepoint into Leverage The Strait of Hormuz is no longer simply open or closed. Iran is increasingly deciding who gets through , transforming geography into a powerful instrument of selective energy diplomacy. What Is Happening Now? Iran has granted special permission for several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after repeated diplomatic requests from Baghdad. Iraq has been particularly exposed because its oil exports depend heavily on Gulf access. Yet normal shipping remains far away. Ship-tracking data cited by Reuters showed only seven commodity vessels crossed Hormuz on Thursday , compared with roughly 140 daily ship passages before the war. No large crude carriers or LNG tankers were recorded among those seven. Why It Matters This creates something more politically useful to Tehran than a simple blockade: selective access . Reuters previously documented an Iranian clearance system involving...
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Why Russian Refineries Are Becoming a Key Battlefield

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Ukraine’s Oil War: Can Attacks on Russian Energy Infrastructure Change the Conflict? Ukraine is increasingly fighting Russia far beyond the battlefield. Its drones are targeting the oil infrastructure that helps fuel Russia’s economy and its war machine. What Is Happening Now? Ukraine pushes deeper into Russia Ukraine says a drone attack has struck an oil refinery in Perm, more than 1,600 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Russia also reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones during the latest wave of attacks. The Perm strike follows months of attacks on refineries and energy facilities. Reuters reported recent strikes affecting facilities including Orsk, TANECO, Ilsky, Yaroslavl, Volgograd and Saratov. Why It Matters Energy is becoming a battlefield Oil is important to Russia because energy supports government revenues and military activity. Kyiv says its campaign is designed to reduce the resources available for Moscow’s war effort. The pressure is becoming visible domest...
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