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12 Days to the Tariff Deadline: What August 19 Actually Means for Your Wallet

  Published August 7, 2026 Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is back in Washington, Mark Carney says his tone is "quite firm," and the clock is running out on a deal. Here's what's actually on the line — and why it matters even if you've never shipped a case of wine across the border. The countdown: At 12:01 a.m. ET on August 19, new 50% U.S. tariffs are scheduled to hit roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian exports — with or without a deal. What's actually happening on August 19 On July 20, President Trump signed three separate proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — a Depression-era provision that had never been used this way before. Each proclamation targets a different Canadian sector the U.S. says is treated unfairly: motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and dairy. Every covered good gets hit with an additional 50% tariff the moment it crosses into the U.S. The headline categories get the attention, but the actual product lists — buried ...

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Power begins to return after huge outage hits Spain and Portugal, Cause Still Unclear

 

Power has been almost fully restored across Spain and Portugal following one of the most significant blackouts in European history. The outage, which began on April 28, 2025, disrupted daily life for millions, grounding flights, halting metro systems, and leaving cities in darkness. By early April 29, over 99% of energy demand in Spain and all power substations in Portugal were back online.

Despite the restoration efforts, the root cause of the blackout remains a mystery. Initial investigations have ruled out cyberattacks and sabotage, with experts pointing to potential anomalies in the interconnected European power grid. Spanish and Portuguese authorities continue to work closely with energy operators to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the unprecedented outage.

As life returns to normal, questions linger about the resilience of the region's power infrastructure and the measures needed to prevent future disruptions. For now, the Iberian Peninsula breathes a sigh of relief as lights flicker back on and daily routines resume.

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