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CUSMA Not Renewed: What the Trade Deal Impasse Means for Your Wallet

  July 2, 2026 | Trade & Economy The mandatory six-year review of Canada's most important trade agreement came and went this week — and it did not go the way Ottawa hoped. On July 1, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the United States will not renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in its current form, sending the deal into a more uncertain, year-by-year footing right as Canadians are already navigating tariffs, a soft labour market, and a technical recession. Here is what actually happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for your budget in the months ahead. The short version CUSMA isn't dead. It remains legally in force until 2036. But instead of locking in a fresh 16-year term, the deal now shifts into annual reviews, with existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and softwood lumber unresolved for now. What happened on July 1 CUSMA was built with a mandatory joint review every six years. If Canada, the U.S. and Mexico had a...

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Iran and Hezbollah Reinforce Assad Amid Rebel Offensive in Homs

As rebel forces intensify their offensive towards the strategic city of Homs, Iran and Hezbollah are stepping up their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The recent surge in rebel activity has prompted thousands of residents to flee Homs, fearing the escalating conflict.

Iran has pledged to send additional military equipment, including missiles and drones, along with more advisers to bolster Assad's regime. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, has also dispatched supervising forces to Syria to assist in preventing anti-government fighters from seizing Homs.

The city of Homs holds significant strategic importance as it connects the capital Damascus to the coast, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect. Losing Homs would sever this crucial link and deal a severe blow to Assad's control over the region.

Rebels, led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have vowed to continue their advance, aiming to "build Syria" and bring Syrian refugees back home from Lebanon and Europe. The offensive has already seen the capture of key cities such as Aleppo and Hama, further challenging Assad's rule.

The international community watches closely as the situation in Homs unfolds, with humanitarian concerns mounting as civilians bear the brunt of the conflict. The United Nations has called for immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need and a return to a political process to end the bloodshed.

As the conflict continues, the geopolitical stakes remain high, with Iran and Hezbollah's support for Assad underscoring the complex web of rivalries and foreign interventions that perpetuate Syria's turmoil.




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