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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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Trade Tensions Surge as China Hits Back with 84% Tariffs on U.S. Goods

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing trade war, China has announced an 84% tariff on U.S. goods, effective April 10. This move comes in response to the U.S. imposing a sweeping 104% tariff on Chinese exports. The tit-for-tat measures have sent shockwaves through global markets, with analysts warning of potential economic fallout for both nations.

China's Ministry of Finance criticized the U.S. tariffs as a "mistake on top of a mistake," vowing to defend its economic interests. Meanwhile, U.S. officials expressed regret over China's retaliatory actions but maintained that the tariffs were necessary to address trade imbalances.

The escalating tariffs are expected to disrupt global trade flows, with industries on both sides bracing for impact. Economists predict that the prolonged trade war could dampen economic growth and strain international relations further.

The world watches as the two largest economies continue their high-stakes standoff, with no resolution in sight.

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