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5 Things to Know Today: Tariffs, a CPI Surprise, and the Mortgage Rate Gap

  July 21, 2026 A new round of US tariffs, a surprise inflation dip, and a widening gap between fixed and variable mortgage rates are all moving in different directions today. Here's what's happening and what it means for your money. 1. Washington hits Canada with new 50% tariffs on everyday goods The White House has announced fresh 50% tariffs on a wide list of Canadian exports, including wine, dairy, furniture, hockey equipment, cement, and clothing. The move is framed as retaliation over Canada's dairy quotas, car import rules, and provincial bans on US alcohol. The tariffs take effect August 19 and apply even to goods that would normally qualify duty-free under CUSMA, though energy, potash, fish, and critical minerals are exempt. What it means for you: This round targets export industries, not imports into Canada, so it won't directly raise shelf prices here the way a Canadian tariff on US goods would. The bigger risk is indirect — job pressure in affected sectors ...

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Global Markets Rebound as Trump Eases Trade Tensions

In a dramatic turn of events, European and Asian stock markets surged following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause steep tariffs on most countries. This move, announced after a period of heightened trade tensions, brought relief to global investors and sparked a rally across major indices.

European markets saw significant gains, with Frankfurt's DAX jumping over 7%, Paris climbing 7.3%, and London's FTSE 100 rising by 5.3%. Asian markets mirrored this optimism, with indices like Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi posting substantial increases. The pause in tariffs, however, excluded China, which faced an escalation in duties to 125%, intensifying the trade war between the two economic giants.

While the temporary suspension of tariffs has provided a much-needed boost to global markets, analysts caution that uncertainty remains. The baseline 10% tariff on imports persists, and the unpredictability of future trade policies continues to loom over the global economy.

This development underscores the delicate balance between economic diplomacy and market stability, as nations navigate the complexities of international trade in an era of shifting policies.

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