Canada blocking millions from parks over 'apartheid' scheme for the indigenous to 'reconnect' with land
Outdoors enthusiasts have slammed the government of British Columbia for closing Joffre Lakes Park and its turquoise waters for more than 100 days in peak season to regular taxpayers.
The same goes for the 24-hour closure of Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island to nonindigenous people, so members of the Pacheedaht First Nation could have it to themselves.
Critics have taken to social media to slam the closures as unfair and 'apartheid, Canadian-style,' with native groups getting special treatment as everyone else is sidelined.
The province's Ministry of Environment and Parks has called the closures part of a 'path of reconciliation' with native people.
The controversy follows a blockbuster Canadian election that was overshadowed by US President Donald Trump 's push to make Canada a '51st state' of America.
The vast country has been convulsed by its own culture wars after a decade of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's ultra-liberal rule.
Caroline Elliott, director of the Public Land Use Society, a campaign group, slammed the closure of Joffre Lakes as unfair in a recent post on X that's been viewed 172,000 times and generated hundred of comments.
'It's divisive, it sets a terrible precedent, and it's just plain wrong,' Elliott says in the video.
'What it isn't is complicated. BC's parks belong to all British Columbians.'
Angry social media users commented on the video, saying the shuttering was 'discriminatory,' and amounted to 'identity politics,' 'racial segregation,' and even an 'apartheid, Canadian-style.'
'These are provincial parks, not tribal reserves,' posted one user.
'Everyone pays for them. Everyone maintains them. Everyone should be welcome.'
Joffre Lakes park has been closed in peak season so that the Líl̓wat Nation and the N'Quatqua First Nation can have exclusive access to its turquoise lakes, streams, and forests annually since 2023.
Each year, the closures have grown longer, leaving some worried that one of the province's busiest parks would be shuttered to nonindigenous residents permanently in the future.
The closure lasted for only 39 days in 2023, but grew to 60 days in 2024 and more than 100 days this year, says Elliott.
The ministry in a statement to the Daily Mail said it was 'important to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the Nations can use this space as they always have.'
'We have built a strong relationship with the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua to make sure the natural and cultural values of the park are protected,' said the statement.
'We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.'
Back in 2023, the closure was not initiated by the officials – native groups unilaterally decided to deny access to other residents so they could practice their hunting and fishing traditions there.
The park closures have set off a firestorm of complaints on social media
A statement from the group at the time said they were 'asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories.'
During last year's closure, Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson said the park was sacred to his community.
'We are striving to reintroduce our community to an area where they have been marginalized,' Nelson told CBC.
'The time and space created by these closures will allow our youth, elders and all Líl̓wat citizens to practise their inherent rights while reconnecting with the land.'
The day-long closure of Botanical Beach park on Vancouver Island and its beloved tidal pools on May 25 has also raised concerns.
In a statement, the parks department said the area was once home to the Pacheedaht, but that the area's growing popularity made it 'challenging' for members of the group to access it.
Elsewhere in British Columbia, federally run recreation areas have also been closed to the public, with authorities also citing cultural concerns.
They include parts of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and Parts of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Elliot's campaign group says the closures set a worrying precedent.
In the case of Joffre Lakes park, native groups have only asserted land rights, but they've not been established in court, she says.
The hiking enthusiast said it was worrying that 'mere assertion of title confers the right to prohibit public access to public spaces.'
'What would prevent more closures like this, not just in other parks, but in relation to any other public lands?' she added.
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The Guardian
26 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Canada braces as tariff deadline looms and talks with the ‘chaos machine' in the US drag
After months of tariff threats from the US and escalating trade tensions that have sowed anger in Canada and fractured a once-close alliance, the country is now fast approaching a 1 August deadline to reach a deal with the Trump administration – which has shown no signs of backing down. And observers are keeping a close eye on negotiations this week to determine whether too large a chasm has grown between the countries, resulting in what could be an explosive end to what was decades of free-flowing trade. Canada is also in a highly vulnerable position, as it has closely intertwined its economy with the US's, and is extremely reliant on a low-barrier trade environment, said William Huggins, an assistant professor in economics at McMaster University in Ontario. 'Canada has tried to negotiate sort of forcefully from a position of not acquiescing to every demand, but by the same token, has also realised it's not in the strongest position to do so … We've had to navigate carefully,' said Huggins. The Canadian public is also anxiously awaiting the deadline to strike up a deal. Economists and political scientists say the country's prime minister, Mark Carney, was elected on the belief that he's the right person to be at the helm of negotiations and lead Canada through a tenuous period with their southern neighbour. His successes or failures in this arena could affect public perception – as he has characterised his government as being the most adept in the crisis around its sovereignty due to the tariffs and Donald Trump's persistent claims that he'd like to make Canada the 51st state. '[Carney] is in a situation where he doesn't hold all the cards and whoever we put in was going to have to figure out a way through this … [His] ability to plan is severely limited by the chaos machine that is operating south of the border,' said Dennis Pilon, the chair of the politics department at York University in Ontario. On Monday, Carney said at a news conference on Prince Edward Island that the trade negotiations are at an 'intense pace' and that they are 'complex'. But he projected tentative optimism, stating that the negotiations are 'tough' because the government is standing up for Canadian interests. 'There is a landing zone that's possible but we have to get there. We'll see what happens,' he told reporters. But Trump spoke of the negotiations flippantly when asked by reporters outside the White House last Friday. 'We haven't really had a lot of luck with Canada … Canada could be one where there's just a tariff, not really a negotiation,' he said. So far, much of the talks have happened behind closed doors. There was a glimpse into what could be the dynamic between Carney and Trump when the prime minister had his first meeting with the president in the Oval Office in early May. There were positive tones in both initially offering praise for each other, but the encounter quickly grew tense as Trump repeated his annexation claims, which were subsequently rebuffed by Carney. Since March, Trump has imposed several tariffs on Canadian goods and energy resources. There is a 25% tariff on all goods, excluding potash and energy products. But there's separately a 10% tariff on energy resources, including potash. Additionally, there's a further 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on autos and auto parts. At this stage, the tariffs have seemingly not delivered a significant blow to Canada's economy, but that could change quickly. The Royal Bank of Canada noted in its June forecast that nearly 90% of Canadian goods are exempt from tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade deal that replaced Nafta in 2020 and which provides a degree of insulation. In an assessment published by the Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) on Tuesday, it reported that energy exports have not been significantly affected by the tariffs, as most exports are compliant under the USMCA, and are therefore exempt from tariffs. Some of the insulation so far from tariffs could be from opening Canada up to other markets. TD said that in the past four months, Canadian businesses rapidly moved to reorient supply chains and export to non-US markets. Now about 30% of exports go outside the US – a level not seen since the pandemic, when TD notes there was disorientation in trade. But TD also warned that the negative effects of the tariffs might be beginning to emerge. It said that Canadian exports to the US are 'generally underperforming' in tariff-targeted industries, particularly steel and automaking. Canada's auto exports fell to levels not seen since late 2022, following the April imposition of tariffs. Automakers have also 'slashed' production in response, it said. Andrea Lawlor, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University, said that while there haven't been many layoffs or a complete reorientation of production lines yet, industries targeted by tariffs are preparing to do so. Lawlor also said that Carney has been prudent in his negotiation strategy so far, and right in waiting for deals to be brokered between the US and other nations, as they were this month with Japan and the EU, to help inform Canada's strategy. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion And despite concerns about marred relationships with First Nations people, pushing forward controversial infrastructure legislation and his quick scrapping of Canada's digital services tax – which many, including top former diplomats, viewed as fawning capitulation toward Trump – the prime minister is still enjoying fairly positive polling in his term's infancy. Abacus Data reported at the end of June that 52% of Canadians surveyed approve of the Carney government. The research firm states it shows that his post-election honeymoon period is 'far from over'. Lawlor said the best outcome for Carney in the negotiations is a favourable trade deal – however, there has been signalling from Carney, in his discussion of 'tough' talks so far, that Canadians may have to accept a baseline of tariffs. 'Many Canadians just simply will not be satisfied if that is the outcome,' she said. But due to Carney facing limited criticism of his interactions with the Americans so far, Lawlor said she believes the prime minister will not face extreme negative blowback if he doesn't trounce tariffs for good this week. But he will be more vulnerable if the tariffs start to place downward pressure on multiple industries, she said. As Canadians are waiting and watching for the Friday deal deadline, the real fears are around the cementing of a new world order and whether long-term business and consumer decisions need to be made in response, said Preetika Joshi, an assistant professor at McGill University in Quebec that specialises in taxation. 'If you were a business owner and you knew Trump is going to be in power for only three, four years, would you necessarily make big, significant changes in your supply chain … or would you just wait it out?' she said. But given some grim messaging from those close to Carney – Canadians might be facing tough decisions. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for Canada-US trade, said last week there's a lot of work ahead of them and minimised the 1 August deadline. 'We're going to continue to work toward the 1 August deadline,' said LeBlanc to reporters in Washington. 'But all of these deadlines are with the understanding that we'll take the time necessary to get the best deal,' he said. Deal or no deal, the negotiations might reveal that there isn't a best-case scenario, said Joshi. 'What we were used to before Trump, where there were very little tariffs, that reality is slightly over,' she said. 'We'll have to wait and see … but the reality is that there are going to be some tariffs.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Scramble for last-minute trade deals before Trump's midnight tariff deadline
Update: Date: 16:01 BST Title: Watch: Canada says trade deal may not reached by deadline Content: This video can not be played Canada's Carney says US trade agreement may not happen by 1 August Carney and Trump have been in negotiations for months. After a successful Oval Office meeting, talks became uncertain, with Trump threatening to increase their tariffs. This month, both leaders confirmed there would be no quick, tariff-free deal. Trump also posted on social media on Thursday morning that Canada's plans to recognise a Palestinian state will "make it very hard" to reach a deal. For a longer run-down on where things stand, you can go to an earlier post from Jessica Murphy in Toronto. Update: Date: 15:49 BST Title: US consumer prices are starting to rise Content: By Ben Chu, Daniel Wainwright & Phil Leake Economists warn that Trump's tariffs will ultimately push up US prices by making imports more expensive. The official US inflation rate for June was 2.7%. That was up slightly from 2.4% in May, but still below the 3% rate in January, external. Stockpiling in the earlier part of the year has helped retailers absorb the impact of new and higher tariffs without needing to raise retail prices. However, economists saw in the latest official data some signs that Trump's tariffs are now starting to affect US consumer prices. Certain imported goods - such as major appliances, computers, sports equipment, books and toys - showed a marked pick-up in prices in June. Update: Date: 15:39 BST Title: US did not see '90 deals in 90 days' after all Content: Suranjana TewariAsia Business Correspondent Trump has only announced eight deals in the past 120 days, falling well short of his promise to reach 90 in 90 days. And there's definite uncertainty around all of the frameworks, with negotiations reportedly still taking place in some cases. Vietnam was second to the UK in getting a deal over the line, but we still lack clarity on a 40% transhipment tariff on goods originating in other countries like China. Indonesia succeeded in getting its tariff rate cut from Trump's initial threat of 32% to 15%, but experts say that what it agreed to do in exchange - eliminating its tariffs on more than 99% of US products - doesn't seem like a fair deal. The Philippines agreement includes Washington and Manila working together 'militarily' but, again, there are no details on exactly how. Trump said he'd reached 'perhaps the largest Deal ever made' with Japan. The country's auto sector welcomed the 15% tariff rate, but there are lots of questions around Japan's commitment to invest $550 billion in the United States. There have been mixed signals over South Korea's commitment to make $350 billion of investments in the US too. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said '90% of the profits' will be 'going to the American people', while South Korea's president said the money would go toward Korean shipbuilding and chip companies entering the US. Indian exporters will struggle to compete with all these countries after being slapped with a 25% tariff. It's a setback for US-India relations at a time when Delhi is trying to pitch itself as an alternative destination to China for manufacturers like Apple. Indonesian university students demonstrated against the trade deal with the US and the policies of President Prabowo Subianto earlier this week Update: Date: 15:09 BST Title: Tariffs will reach highest rates in nearly 100 years, as Trump shows he's a 'master' at deals Content: Natalie ShermanNew York business reporter The tariffs set to start tomorrow revive plans that Trump unveiled in April. The planned rates, which he presented on posters during an event dubbed "Liberation Day," sparked major market turmoil and threats of retaliation from trading partners such as Canada and the European Union. The turbulence has calmed in the months since, even though for many countries there won't be significant differences from Trump's initial plans, regardless of what they have negotiated. Goods from the European Union, for example, are set to be taxed at 15%. That's only a bit lower than the 20% originally announced, although it is much lower than the 50% Trump threatened at one point. The UK, the first to announce a "deal" with Trump, accepted tariff rates of 10% on most of its goods, despite having a trade surplus with the US. All told, the average tariff rate in the US is set to rise to the highest level since the 1930s. The relatively muted outcry, both in the US and internationally, is a sign of how successful Trump has been at resetting global expectations of what is acceptable, says Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. 'He's a master at all of this frankly,' she says. Update: Date: 14:59 BST Title: More on the South Korea deal: 'We got a bunch of money' says trade adviser Content: We just heard from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about how the Trump administration reached its tariff deal with South Korea, which was announced on Wednesday. The US said it will charge a 15% tariff on imports from the country, which had been facing a 25% levy after the 1 August deadline. Now, we're hearing from Donald Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, on the details of the deal. He tells Fox News: "The South Korea deal, it's kind of built on the Japanese model - we got a bunch of money. The key thing here is shipbuilding. South Korea has a tremendous, tremendous amount of expertise in shipbuilding." The deal, which will also see Seoul invest $350bn (£264.1bn) in the US, has been touted as a success in South Korea - especially given its record trade surplus of at least $56bn with the US last year. "If you compare the two economies, South Korea is about half the size of Japan, so that $350bn that we're getting from South Korea is comparable to the $550bn we got from Japan." Update: Date: 14:55 BST Title: More from Treasury Secretary Bessent: Tariff rates could 'boomerang' back to April levels Content: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said in his CNBC interview that "rates could boomerang back to the April 2 level". When Trump first unveiled his slate of new and higher tariffs on "Liberation Day" in April, he showed that some countries faced tariffs at rates never seen before. But Trump then put the rates, many higher than 30%, on pause while the US negotiated deals with trading partners.. Bessent just told CNBC those rates could be put in place for countries who don't reach deals. He used South Korea as an example of negotiations done well. "They came in yesterday afternoon, they presented a very good offer. President Trump moved the offer up a bit, and we reached a very good agreement, where they will have 15% tariffs," he said. Update: Date: 14:48 BST Title: India negotiations have 'frustrated' Trump, Bessent says Content: Making a deal with India has been a point of frustration for Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just told CNBC. He says he doesn't know if a deal with the country will be reached before tomorrow's deadline. "It will be up to India. India came to the table early. They've been slow-rolling things so I think that the President, the whole trade team, is a bit frustrated with them," he said. Bessent also called out India's buying and refining Russian oil, "so they have not been a great global actor". Update: Date: 14:46 BST Title: Tariffs-eve at the White House Content: Bernd Debusmann JrReporting from the White House Much of today's focus - globally - is on the rapidly approaching tariff deadline set by President Donald Trump and the White House. We aren't likely to hear from Trump directly on tariffs until 16:00 EDT (20:00 BST), when he's scheduled to sign an executive order in the Oval Office. White House officials tell the BBC that the order is focused on bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test, which American public school students had to take until it was scrapped in 2012. That event, however, is open to today's White House press pool, who will almost certainly throw out a few questions on tariffs. Additionally, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a briefing at 13:00 EDT (18:00BST), which will also likely focus heavily on tariffs - in addition to developments in Gaza. Update: Date: 14:44 BST Title: Another round of tariffs is set to hit. But they might be illegal. Content: Natalie ShermanNew York business reporter The latest round of tariffs is set to start. But there's a problem looming over the plan: they may be illegal under US law. A trade court struck them down earlier this year, siding with businesses and states, which had argued that Trump did not have the authority to impose many of his most sweeping tariffs, which he has justified using a 1970s national emergency law. That kicked the case to the appeals court, which is set to hear arguments today. Businesses say the law does not grant power to tariff, which is traditionally the responsibility of Congress, and that the US trade deficit is not a national emergency. The White House maintains the law gives the president power to regulate imports – and the president, not courts, decides what counts as an emergency. The tariffs were left in place while the case proceeded. It is expected to eventually go to the Supreme Court. And however the highest court in the land rules, tariffs are likely to stick, even if Trump has to turn to another legal tool. Update: Date: 14:37 BST Title: No major change to New York Stock Exchange Content: The New York Stock Exchange has just opened. Here's what we're seeing as today's bell rings: NASDAQ Composite: 0.7% up Dow Jones Industrial Average: No change (0%) S&P 500 Index: -1% Update: Date: 14:36 BST Title: We're hearing from Trump, with about 14 hours to go until the deadline Content: On the eve of his latest extension expiring, Trump posted on Truth Social several times that his levies on dozens of countries are making America "GREAT & RICH" again. Here's what else he has said. On the deadline: 1 August, goods from several key trading partners will take effect. Several countries have still not reached agreements that would lighten the levies that Trump plans to charge. "Now the tide has completely turned, and America has successfully countered this onslaught of Tariffs used against it," Trump says. On the legal challenges against tariffs: The legality of the tariffs will face a test in a US appeals court today, and Trump posted that his legal team is trying to "save the country". "If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE 'DEAD,' WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS," Trump writes. On Canada: Canada has still not reached a trade deal with the US, and after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans yesterday to recognise a Palestinian state, Trump expressed discontent, posting, "That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them". On India: The US is set to impose 25% tariffs on India plus an "unspecified penalty" for buying Russian oil and weapons. "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care," Trump posted. Update: Date: 14:30 BST Title: From successful Oval Office meeting to uncertain talks - here's what's happening with Canada Content: Jessica MurphyBBC News, Toronto Canada's prime minister won April's general election by pitching himself as the leader who could take on the self-styled "Tariff Man" in the White House. In May, Mark Carney journeyed south to Washington to court the president and formally launch trade and security talks. The PM was praised for his handling of the meeting, despite Trump's Oval Office references to making Canada the 51st US state. Leading up to the G7, hosted by Canada in June, word was that the two countries were close to an agreement. At the summit, Trump and Carney met again, and Trump conceded hurdles remained - he's a "tariff person" and Carney "has a more complex idea", he said. Still, they appeared optimistic and set a late July deadline for a deal. Canada has since killed a digital services tax that American tech firms opposed, pressed ahead with talks despite Trump's threats to walk away, and moved the deadline to August. Trump has said he would increase Canada's baseline tariffs to 35% from 25% and add global tariffs on copper, a major Canadian export. This month, both Trump and Carney poured cold water on the idea of a quick, tariff-free deal. 'The United States and Canada can do many good things together, we have done that in the past, we can do more in the future, but on fair terms for our country,' Carney said on Monday. The 'complex' talks are at 'an intense phase, he said. Meanwhile, Trump posted on social media on Thursday morning that Canada's plans to recognise a Palestinian state will "make it very hard" to reach a deal. Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: How did we get here? Content: Natalie ShermanNew York business reporter Soon after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, he began raising tariffs, brushing off warnings from economists and businesses about the risks of economic damage. He started with Mexico, Canada and China, then targeted steel, aluminium and cars, and finally in April, on what he called "Liberation Day", unleashed a blitz of new taxes on goods from countries around the world. The plans hit trade and roiled financial markets. But as worries mounted, Trump quickly suspended his most aggressive plans to allow for 90 days of talks. That original deadline was 9 July, but Trump extended it further to 1 August as the White House looked to strike trade deals. The administration sent letters warning many world leaders about higher tariffs coming their way. Now, that deadline is here. Update: Date: 13:53 BST Title: Deal with China 'not 100% done,' says Treasury Secretary Content: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he's confident a trade deal will be done with China, but adds the deal is "not 100% done". Speaking on CNBC on Thursday, Bessent says there are still "a few technical details" left on China's side, and that he's talking with President Trump later today. The secretary also says he's not sure what will happen with trade with India, saying the country has "not been a great global actor", referencing its relationship with Russia. Trump started hiking tariffs on Chinese goods shortly after his return to the White House. China ultimately responded with tariffs of its own. Tensions escalated, with tariff rates hitting the triple digits, before a trade truce in May. That left Chinese goods facing an additional 30% tariff compared with the start of the year, with US goods facing a new 10% tariff in China. The China-US truce has a 12 August deadline, unlike the majority of Trump's tariffs which have a deadline of 1 August. Update: Date: 13:49 BST Title: What are tariffs? Content: Tariffs are taxes charged on goods bought from other countries. Typically, they are a percentage of a product's value. A 10% tariff means a $10 product has a $1 tax on top - taking the total cost to the importer $11 (£8.35). Companies that bring foreign goods into the US have to pay the tax to the government. They may pass some or all of the extra cost on to customers. Firms may also decide to import fewer goods. This video can not be played What is a tariff? Update: Date: 13:44 BST Title: Clock ticks down to Trump's tariff deadline Content: Brandon LivesayReporting from New York Hello and welcome to our live coverage as we follow the twists and turns of global trade ahead of US President Donald Trump's tariff deadline. The sweeping tariffs will go into effect at 00:01 EDT (05:01BST) Friday. Trump announced the levies in April, sending chaos rippling through the world economy. But he paused them so countries could negotiate new trade deals. Many nations do not yet have a deal with the US and face steep tariff percentages when the clock strikes midnight - as high as 50% for Brazil. Stick with us as we watch for announcements of new deals, how global markets react, and bring you expert analysis on what this all means.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Trump escalates trade war with Canada after prime minister announces plan to recognize Palestine
Update: Date: 2025-07-31T14:10:01.000Z Title: Donald Trump intensified his trade war with', 'Canada', 'a day ahead of his 1 August deadline for a tariff agreement. Content: US president says Canada's move, following similar announcements by France and the UK, 'will make it very hard for us' to conclude trade deal Chris Stein (now); Shrai Popat and Tom Ambrose (earlier) Thu 31 Jul 2025 10.10 EDT First published on Thu 31 Jul 2025 05.24 EDT From 5.24am EDT 05:24 Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of US politics as Donald Trump intensified his trade war with Canada a day ahead of his 1 August deadline for a tariff agreement. The president posted on his Truth Social platform: Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!! Trump is set to impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian goods not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement if the two countries do not reach an agreement by the deadline. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney previously said tariff negotiations with Washington had been constructive, but the talks may not conclude by the deadline. Canada is the second-largest US trading partner after Mexico, and the largest buyer of US followed France and Britain as he said on Wednesday that his country was planning to recognize Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September. We'll be bringing you all the developments on this story today. In other news: Trump has said the US will charge a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea as part of an agreement with the key Asian trading partner and ally that avoids even higher levies. In contrast on Wednesday, Trump placed 25% tariffs on imports from India and 50% on those from Brazil. Brown University has reached an agreement with the Trump administration that will reinstate nearly $50m in research funding by agreeing a commitment to nondiscrimination in both admissions and campus programs, and will grant federal officials access to its admissions data. Meanwhile $108m in federal research funding to Duke University has been frozen. The US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, even amid intense pressure from Trump to lower rates. Earlier in the day, figures showed US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a better-than-expected annual rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2025. Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California – a highly anticipated decision that leaves the contest to lead the country's largest blue state wide open. 10.10am EDT 10:10 Here's more from the Guardian's Sam Levine and George Chidi about the plans by Texas's Republican-dominated legislature to redraw their congressional maps ahead of next year's midterm elections, which have sparked outrage among Democrats and threats of retaliation: Republicans have unveiled a new congressional map in Texas that would allow the party to pick up as many as five additional congressional seats, an aggressive maneuver that has already met decisive outcry from Democrats and comes as the GOP tries to stave off losses in next year's midterm elections. Republicans already hold 25 of Texas's 38 congressional seats. But at the urging of Donald Trump, Texas's governor, Greg Abbott, called a special session this month to redraw the state's congressional districts. After contentious hearings across the state, Republicans unveiled their proposed map on Wednesday. 'We expected them to be greedy,' said Sam Gostomski, executive director of the Texas Democratic party. 'The bottom line is, they are going to turn Texas into almost certainly the most gerrymandered state in the country.' Had the map been in place for the 2024 election, Trump would have carried 30 of the districts, while Kamala Harris would have carried just eight, according to data from Dave's Redistricting App, an online tool that allows for analysis of voting districts. 9.52am EDT 09:52 Today we'll also be keeping an eye on House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries who has been in Texas, meeting with Democrats in the state, as a redistricting showdown ensues. Yesterday, state Republicans released their proposed congressional map which would allow the GOP to pick up five seats in the state. They already hold 25 of Texas' 38 congressional districts. Jeffries is expected to hold a press conference later today. 9.40am EDT 09:40 Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's Middle East envoy, is in Israel today meeting with prime minister Netanyahu. This will be Witkoff's first public visit to Israel since May, and comes as the starvation crisis in Gaza escalates. It also comes as a number of allies – including Canada, France and the UK say they will reconginise Palestinian statehood if Israel fails to address the worsening humanitarian crisis and agree to a ceasefire with Hamas. Follow along with the latest updates in the region here. 9.18am EDT 09:18 In response to the failed Senate vote yesterday to block arms sales to Israel, a number of lawmakers have reacted. Particularly senators who have grown increasingly concerned with Israel's actions and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Democratic senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Maryland joined senator Duckworth as a new supporter of suspending military sales to Israel. She said that 'until Israel significantly shifts its military posture to end the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, I cannot in good conscience support further military aid and arms sales to Israel.' Senate Democratic whip Dick Durbin also explained his vote with similar reasoning. 'Prime minister Netanyahu has gone too far. The humanitarian conditions in Gaza are appalling, unconscionable, and cruel,' Durbin said in a statement. However, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer voted 'no' to block arms sales, adding that 'I have also long held that security assistance to Israel is not about any one government but about our support for the Israeli people.' Updated at 9.23am EDT 9.17am EDT 09:17 Meanwhile Trump posted on Truth Social today that the 'The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!' This comes after his remarks earlier this week acknowledging that there is 'real starvation in Gaza.' An apparent break from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's who claims there is no starvation. Earlier this month the World Health Organization said there have been 63 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza in July. 24 of them are children under the age of five. Updated at 9.21am EDT 8.44am EDT 08:44 A vote to block arms sales to Israel failed in the Senate late yesterday. But the effort, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders, did see 12 new Democrats vote to stop the sale of American weapons to Israel. One of them is Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois –who served as a US army helicopter pilot in the Iraq war. She explained her decision in a statement: My votes tonight reflect my deep frustration with the Netanyahu government's abject failure to address humanitarian needs in Gaza and send a message to the Trump Administration that it must change course if it wants to help end this devastating war. Updated at 9.02am EDT 8.20am EDT 08:20 One the eve of Trump's tariff deadline, a federal appeals court will hear arguments from businesses who claim taxes on foreign imports are proving destructive. The plaintiffs claim the president sidestepped congressional approval when he implemented his 'liberation day' tairffs back in April. Earlier, the President took to Truth Social to wish his legal team luck: To all of my great lawyers who have fought so hard to save our Country, good luck in America's big case today. If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE 'DEAD,' WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS. Thank you for your attention to this matter! My colleague Ed Pilkington has more on the background of the case here 8.05am EDT 08:05 Donald Trump is at the White House today. His schedule includes lunch with JD Vance, the vice-president, followed by an executive order signing at 4pm EST. Also on the agenda today Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, will hold a briefing at around 1pm EST. Updated at 8.42am EDT 7.47am EDT 07:47 The United States believes it has the makings of a trade deal with China, but it is 'not 100% done,' Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview, adding that he would talk to Donald Trump later on Thursday. The US treasury secretary also said he did not know what would happen with trade with India, saying it had 'not been a great global actor'. Updated at 7.50am EDT 7.23am EDT 07:23 Donald Trump again criticised Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday, a day after the US central bank held interest rates steady in a 9-2 vote. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: Jerome 'Too Late' Powell has done it again!!! He is TOO LATE, and actually, TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL, to have the job of Fed Chair. He is costing our Country TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, in addition to one of the most incompetent, or corrupt, renovations of a building(s) in the history of construction! Put another way, 'Too Late' is a TOTAL LOSER, and our Country is paying the price! Updated at 7.31am EDT 7.05am EDT 07:05 Lauren Aratani The US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, even amid intense pressure from Donald Trump to lower rates. Despite an onslaught of attacks from the White House against the Fed, officials at the central bank said that economic 'uncertainty' remains too high to lower rates. But two of the Fed's governors voted against the decision – the first time that multiple governors have voted against the majority since 1993. Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, both appointed by Trump, wanted rates to be lowered. Both have been floated as potential replacements for Fed chair Jerome Powell. Data released on Wednesday underlined the resilience of the US economy, which bounced back faster than expected in the second quarter. US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest official data, ahead of the average 2.5% forecast from economists. This marked a significant acceleration from a 0.5% contraction in the first quarter, which was dragged down by a surge of imports as companies tried to get ahead of Trump's tariffs. But the rebound was boosted by a 30% slump in imports. Trump used the news to once again call for a rate cut and again insulted Powell, whom he has nicknamed 'Too Late'. '2Q GDP JUST OUT: 3%, WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED! 'Too Late' MUST NOW LOWER THE RATE. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!' he wrote on Truth Social. 6.42am EDT 06:42 President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped a 50% tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a 'witch hunt' against former president Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies. Trump announced the tariffs, some of the steepest levied on any economy in the US trade war, as his administration also unveiled sanctions on the Brazilian supreme court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial on charges of plotting a coup, Reuters reported. 'Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against US and Brazilian citizens and companies,' Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Bessent said Moraes 'is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions' including against former president Jair Bolsonaro.' Last week, the Brazilian justice levied search warrants and restraining orders against Bolsonaro over allegations he courted Trump's interference in his criminal case, in which he is accused of plotting to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in 2023. 6.24am EDT 06:24 The Trump administration is pushing an initiative for millions of Americans to upload personal health data and medical records on new apps and systems run by private tech companies, promising easier to access health records and wellness monitoring. The new system will focus on diabetes and weight management, conversational artificial intelligence that helps patients, and digital tools such as QR codes and apps that register patients for check-ins or track medications. The initiative, spearheaded by an administration that has already freely shared highly personal data about Americans in ways that have tested legal bounds, could put patients' desires for more convenience at their doctor's office on a collision course with their expectations that their medical information be kept private. 'There are enormous ethical and legal concerns,' said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor who specializes in public health. 'Patients across America should be very worried that their medical records are going to be used in ways that harm them and their families.' Updated at 6.51am EDT 6.10am EDT 06:10 President Donald Trump said that the United States has done very little business with India, and that Russia and the US do almost no business together. 'I don't care what India does with Russia', he said in a Truth Social post on Thursday, adding that 'they can take their dead economies down together, for all I care'. In an earlier Truth Social post on Wednesday Trump talked about India's trade with Russia when announcing the US would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on Friday. In response to the earlier Truth Social post, the Indian government said it was studying the implications of Trump's announcements and remained dedicated to securing a fair trade deal. Trump said that India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment and energy from Russia, which was 'not good'. 5.57am EDT 05:57 The US tariff rate on Malaysian goods will be announced on Friday, Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday after speaking to US president Donald Trump. Malaysia is facing a 25% tariff on its exports to the United States unless a deal with Washington is reached by Friday. The two countries have held multiple rounds of talks, with Malaysia's trade minister saying several sticking points remained, particularly on non-trade barriers. Anwar said he discussed tariffs 'in the spirit and principle of free trade' during a phone conversation with Trump early on Thursday. 5.42am EDT 05:42 President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the US will charge a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea, down from a threatened 25%, as part of a deal that eases tensions with a top-10 trading partner and key Asian ally. South Korea also agreed to invest $350 billion in the United States in projects selected by Trump and to purchase energy products worth $100 billion, Reuters reported. The arrangement, announced after Trump met with Korean officials at the White House, came during a blizzard of trade policy announcements. Many countries are rushing to cut deals ahead of 1 August, when Trump has promised higher tariffs will kick in. 'I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has agreed to a Full and Complete Trade Deal with the Republic of Korea,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The negotiations were an early test for South Korean president Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June after a snap election. He said the deal eliminated uncertainty and set US tariffs lower than or at the same level as major competitors. 'We have crossed a big hurdle,' Lee said in a Facebook post. Trump said Lee would visit the White House 'within the next two weeks' for his first meeting with the U.S. president. South Korea will accept American products, including autos and agricultural goods into its markets and impose no import duties on them, Trump added. South Korea's top officials said the country's rice and beef markets would not be opened further, and discussions over US demands on food regulations continue. 5.24am EDT 05:24 Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of US politics as Donald Trump intensified his trade war with Canada a day ahead of his 1 August deadline for a tariff agreement. The president posted on his Truth Social platform: Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!! Trump is set to impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian goods not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement if the two countries do not reach an agreement by the deadline. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney previously said tariff negotiations with Washington had been constructive, but the talks may not conclude by the deadline. Canada is the second-largest US trading partner after Mexico, and the largest buyer of US followed France and Britain as he said on Wednesday that his country was planning to recognize Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September. We'll be bringing you all the developments on this story today. In other news: Trump has said the US will charge a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea as part of an agreement with the key Asian trading partner and ally that avoids even higher levies. In contrast on Wednesday, Trump placed 25% tariffs on imports from India and 50% on those from Brazil. Brown University has reached an agreement with the Trump administration that will reinstate nearly $50m in research funding by agreeing a commitment to nondiscrimination in both admissions and campus programs, and will grant federal officials access to its admissions data. Meanwhile $108m in federal research funding to Duke University has been frozen. The US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, even amid intense pressure from Trump to lower rates. Earlier in the day, figures showed US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a better-than-expected annual rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2025. Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California – a highly anticipated decision that leaves the contest to lead the country's largest blue state wide open.
