Latest news with #Canada
NHK
11 minutes ago
- Business
- NHK
US signals extension of tariff deal deadline
US President Donald Trump's top official for trade negotiations has hinted at an extension of the deadline to work out deals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he hopes they can ink the agreements by September 1. Bessent told Fox Business on Friday that a lot of the countries are "feeling pressure" to get a deal done, as the 90-day pause on what Trump calls "reciprocal tariffs" ends on July 9. Bessent said the US has "18 important trading partners," and is seeking to wrap up deals with 10 or 12 of them. He added that they hope to make an agreement with another 20 by Labor Day, which is September 1. Trump told reporters on Friday the July deadline remains flexible. He said: "We can do whatever we want. We could extend it. We could make it shorter. I'd like to make it shorter. I'd like to just send letters out to everybody. Congratulations, you're paying 25 percent." He later announced on social media that his administration has terminated "all discussions" with Canada over its plans to tax US technology firms. He said new tariffs will be imposed soon. Japanese negotiators are still working to cement a deal. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei is in Washington for a seventh round of talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. They agreed to continue to work hard towards an agreement.
Japan Times
44 minutes ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Trump halts trade talks with Canada, shattering optimism over tariff deals
U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly cut off trade talks with Canada on Friday over its tax targeting U.S. technology firms, saying that it was a "blatant attack" and that he would set a new tariff rate on Canadian goods within the next week. The move plunges U.S.-Canada relations back into chaos after a period of relative calm that included a cordial Group of Seven meeting in mid-June where Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to wrap up a new economic agreement within 30 days. It also came just hours after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck an upbeat tone on trade, touting progress had been made with China on reviving the flow of critical minerals for the U.S. manufacturing sector and in other key tariff negotiations. The often-chaotic rollout of Trump's import levies since his return to office this year has frequently whipsawed financial markets, and have begun to weigh on consumer spending, the bedrock of the U.S. economy. U.S. stocks were briefly batted lower by his broadside against Canada, but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq managed to close out the week at record highs. Trump's action comes ahead of Canada's plans to begin collecting on Monday a previously enacted digital services tax on U.S. technology firms, including Amazon, Meta, Alphabet's Google and Apple, among others. The tax is 3% of the digital services revenue a firm takes in from Canadian users above $20 million in a calendar year, and payments will be retroactive to 2022. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social media platform, called the tax "a direct and blatant attack on our country" and said Canada was a "very difficult country to TRADE with." "Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," Trump said. "We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven-day period." Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said that the negotiations with Canada would not resume "until they straighten out their act," adding that the U.S. holds "such power over Canada." Canada is the second-largest U.S. trading partner after Mexico, and the largest buyer of U.S exports. It bought $349.4 billion of U.S. goods last year and exported $412.7 billion to the U.S., according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Carney's office responded to Trump's announcement by saying: "The Canadian government will continue to engage in these complex negotiations with the United States in the best interests of Canadian workers and businesses." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Friday. | REUTERS Bessent sought to downplay the U.S.-Canadian dispute in a CNBC interview, saying U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would likely open a Section 301 probe into Canada's digital tax that would clear the way for tariff retaliation in the amount of harm to U.S. firms, which he said was roughly $2 billion. The U.S. has prepared similar retaliation against European countries that have imposed digital taxes. A USTR spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier on Friday, Bessent said the Trump administration's various trade deals with other countries could be done by the Sept. 1 Labor Day holiday, citing talks with 18 top trade partners and another revision to a deal with China to reopen the flow of rare earth minerals and magnets. After a week where tariffs took a back seat to the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and the massive tax and spending bill in the U.S. Congress, the Trump administration's trade negotiations have picked up. The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on Thursday and India sent a delegation to Washington for more talks. "So we have countries approaching us with very good deals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network. "We have 18 important trading partners. ... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day," Bessent said. He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the United States or see tariffs spike higher, but Trump said at the White House that he could extend the tariff deadline or "make it shorter." Trump said that he would notify countries of their tariff rates within the next week and a half, adding: "I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25%." Bessent said the United States and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the U.S., further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva. As part of its retaliation against new U.S. tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. During U.S.-China talks in May in Geneva, Beijing committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2, but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Bessent said, so the U.S. put countermeasures in place. "I am confident now that ... as agreed, the magnets will flow," Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to U.S. firms that had received them previously on a regular basis. He later said that the U.S. would begin shipping withheld materials to China when the rare earths shipments resumed. China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus. It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law. It did not mention rare earths. Trump administration officials also held trade talks on Friday with India and Japan, two other countries in advanced negotiations with the U.S. The Japanese government said in a statement that the two sides will continue to work to "reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States."
CTV News
an hour ago
- Health
- CTV News
Weather moves PTSD awareness walk in Sudbury indoors
Rainy weather moved an annual PTSD walk into Sudbury Arena on Friday, where first responders gathered to hear important messages. Inclement weather forced a last-minute change for the third annual Blue Balance Wellness PTSD Awareness Walk in Greater Sudbury. It was switched to an indoor ceremony at the Sudbury Arena. First responders and other uniformed service personnel sat shoulder-to-shoulder in support of PTSD awareness and mental health. PTSD walk Sudbury First responders and other uniformed service personnel sat shoulder-to-shoulder Friday in Sudbury in support of PTSD awareness and mental health. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News) The event is meant to reduce the stigma around mental health, particularly for those who work in emergency services. 'First responders are more susceptible to post-traumatic stress, but this is a human problem and a human challenge,' said James Jefferson, the wellness officer at Greater Sudbury Police Service. The event also raises funds for the national mental health service provider, Wounded Warriors Canada, which serves professionals and organizations exposed to trauma. 'First responders are more susceptible to post-traumatic stress, but this is a human problem and a human challenge.' — James Jefferson, wellness officer at Greater Sudbury Police Service 'Especially within the first responder community, we want them to recognize that it is an honourable injury, something that is earned in honourable service of the community,' said Steven Topham, director of fundraising. 'We would like them to be able to have those conversations and reach out and speak to individuals when they feel that they need assistance.' Guest speakers told the crowd that hearing others speak openly about their PTSD stories and experiences helps to normalize asking for help. 'We have members off with PTSD or on journeys with PTSD,' said Matt Hall, president of the Greater Sudbury Police Association. Need a lot of support 'We're no different than any other first responders in the province or in the country. There's a lot of support going into helping those members out. I'm very proud of all those members that have actually put up their hand and asked for help.' Jefferson was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 and said it was a journey to understand it and heal from it. 'I understand it very intimately, and I really want to continue spreading the word that we can heal from this, and we can create a life,' he said. 'It just takes doing the right things, prioritizing your self-care and formulating a tribe around you to support you.' For those who are experiencing PTSD, Jefferson suggested finding a support service or program that works for you and building a community of support – because too many are suffering in silence.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Community reacts to alcohol consumption in Ottawa parks this summer
The Ottawa community is on the fence about drinking booze in parks, under the legal alcohol consumption pilot project coming July 1. Some people may be in favour of it but some people say parks are for families and kids and alcohol consumption should not be allowed. 'I'm a little concerned about people coming and getting kind of unruly or leaving garbage around mixed in with family gatherings. There's going to be a lot of kids here. Don't love the idea of that,' says Lisa Meyer, an Ottawa resident, 'I think people might get carried away.' The ones looking forward to cracking open a cold one say why not. 'I think it's maybe a good opportunity for people who don't have a nice outdoor, communal space to get together and share a drink outside and enjoy the weather during the summer,' says Pablo De Larrinaga, an Ottawa resident, 'I might give it a go on a nice hot day. I wouldn't mind having a drink in one of our beautiful parks in the city.' 'I'm for the drinking. I think it'll be, a little more fun to be able to have some drinks. People are already doing it anyways, so it just takes away, the sneakiness of it. I think it's a good idea and I'm excited for it,' says Ingrid Drevniok. A number of city councillors are not in favour of the permit and, therefore, those parks will not be participating in the project. 'Out here we're not getting any demand for it. You know, there's not a large group of people asking to have it in the parks. Our parks out here are more geared towards family, that there's lots of activities in each park for families to enjoy,' says Allan Hubley, Ottawa Councillor. Some parents told CTV News that they don't want it around their children and don't want hem to be influenced by the drinking of alcohol. They say rules should be in place, such as allowing drinking between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. and stay at least five metres away from where children play and parking lots. Mother and daughter duo, Amanda Wilson and Debra Bourne, are divided on their opinion about the liquor drinking. 'I don't necessarily have a problem with it. I think, like any substance, there can be harms and problems with it. People consume it in their homes or at bars. If they're going to do so in a public park, I think that does impose additional risks. As long as people are doing it responsibly and taking care of each other,' says Wilson. 'Based on how much you drink can cause behaviour that is not necessarily appropriate, the drinking should be done in places where supervision is there, like a restaurant or where you need smart serve or in your private residence. (At) the parks or sidewalks, that does not happen,' says Bourne. 'I believe the legislation that we have in place right now is there to protect the public and I think it should stay there.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- Health
- CTV News
Standing water in Montreal KFC parking lot raises health and safety concerns
Standing water in the parking lot of a KFC in Côte-des-Neiges-N.D.G is a growing health and safety concern for residents nearby.
