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5 Things to Know Today: Canada Enters Recession, Oil Slips on Iran Ceasefire Talk

Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Your quick-hit Canadian financial briefing for the day. 1.Canada Officially Meets the Definition of a Technical Recession Statistics Canada confirmed Friday that real GDP contracted 0.1% on an annualized basis in Q1 2026 — following a revised 1.0% drop in Q4 2025 . That's two straight quarters of negative growth, which meets the technical definition of a recession. The miss was a big one: economists had forecast growth of 1.5% . The main culprits were a surge in imports (up 2.9%, largely gold), declining business capital investment (down 0.7% — its fifth consecutive quarterly drop ), and weakness in resource extraction and construction. On a per-capita basis, GDP actually edged up 0.2% as Canada's population shrank for the second quarter in a row. Not everyone is ready to call it a full recession: some economists note that three of the four weak months were isolated, and early April data points to a sharp 0.4% rebound . Still, the numbers ...

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China's Defiance: A Trade War Escalates


China has vowed to "fight to the end" in response to former President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump's proposed additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports has been met with strong resistance from Beijing, which has labeled the move as "unilateral bullying" and a "mistake on top of a mistake".

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and economic interests, hinting at further countermeasures. Meanwhile, the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods could reach a staggering 104% if implemented, raising concerns about global economic stability.

As tensions rise, stock markets worldwide have shown increased volatility, reflecting fears of a prolonged trade war. Both nations appear steadfast in their positions, with China signaling its readiness to retaliate and Trump warning of the termination of all talks with Beijing. The outcome of this confrontation remains uncertain, but its implications for international trade and economic growth are profound.

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