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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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Trade War Escalates: China Strikes Back at U.S. Tariffs

China has retaliated against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to increase tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, raising its own tariffs on American imports to 125%. This tit-for-tat escalation has intensified the trade war between the world's two largest economies, sending shockwaves through global markets.

The turmoil has left foreign leaders grappling with the disruption to international trade and supply chains. Stocks have plummeted, the dollar has weakened, and U.S. government bonds have faced a sell-off. Gold, often seen as a safe haven during economic uncertainty, has reached record highs.

While Trump expressed hope for a deal with China, the uncertainty has fueled fears of a global recession. China's Finance Ministry has condemned the U.S. tariffs as "unilateral bullying and coercion," signaling that Beijing is prepared to fight to the end.

The escalating trade conflict underscores the fragility of the global economy and the challenges of navigating such high-stakes negotiations. What do you think about this unfolding drama?

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