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Ottawa Backs Down on Digital Tax Dispute Amid Pressure from Trump White House

Canada has reportedly agreed to delay its planned digital services tax (DST) following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a recent statement from the White House. The tax, which was originally slated to target tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google, had been a major sticking point in U.S.-Canada trade discussions. The White House claimed Canada “caved” to U.S. demands after months of negotiations, with Trump’s team arguing the tax unfairly targeted American firms. The Canadian government, however, framed the delay as a strategic move to preserve economic stability and avoid retaliatory tariffs. Critics within Canada argue that the government’s decision reflects a growing trend of yielding to U.S. economic influence, while others say the delay is pragmatic given ongoing global talks about a coordinated approach to taxing digital revenues. The issue remains contentious, and observers are watching closely to see whether Canada will revive th...

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U.S. Signals Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

The United States has hinted at stepping away from its efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine if significant progress is not achieved in the coming days. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking after high-level talks in Paris, emphasized the urgency of determining whether a peace deal is feasible in the short term.

Rubio described the discussions, which included U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials, as constructive and noted that they had outlined potential steps toward peace. However, he stressed that the U.S. cannot continue its involvement indefinitely without clear signs of progress. A follow-up meeting is expected to take place in London soon, which could be pivotal in deciding the future of these peace efforts.

The talks come amid growing concerns in Europe about the ongoing conflict and its broader implications. While some progress has been made, significant challenges remain, including disagreements over security guarantees and the conditions for a ceasefire. The U.S. administration has also faced mounting frustrations over the lack of resolution to this and other geopolitical challenges.

Rubio's remarks underline the delicate balance the U.S. is trying to maintain—pushing for peace while managing its own strategic priorities. The coming days will reveal whether these efforts can yield a breakthrough or if the U.S. will indeed "move on" from its mediation role.



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