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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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China Stands Firm Amid Escalating Trade Tensions with the U.S.

In a bold move, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China is "not afraid" of external pressures as Beijing raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. This escalation marks a significant chapter in the ongoing trade war between the world's two largest economies. Xi emphasized China's resilience, stating that the nation has thrived on self-reliance and hard work for over 70 years, and it will not bow to what he described as "unjust suppression".

The tariff hike comes as a response to the U.S.'s recent increase in levies on Chinese imports, which now stand at a staggering 145%. Both nations have engaged in a tit-for-tat exchange of economic measures, fueling fears of a global recession and unsettling international markets. Despite the tensions, Xi expressed confidence in China's ability to navigate these challenges, focusing on strengthening ties with other global partners.

This development underscores the deepening rift between the two economic powerhouses, with no clear resolution in sight. The world watches closely as the trade war continues to reshape global economic dynamics.

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