Canada PM says ‘disappointed' by new US tariffs

2 days ago

OTTAWA: Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday his government is 'disappointed' by President Donald Trump's decision to increase US tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 percent.The US leader had warned of trade consequences for Ottawa after Carney announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.In an executive order, Trump raised the levy from 25 percent to 35 percent.A wide swath of products covered by a 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement remain exempt from the tariff rate, however.'The Canadian government is disappointed by this action,' Carney said in a statement.Trump's order cited Canada's failure to 'cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs' as well as its 'retaliation' against his measures.Carney outlined Ottawa's efforts to crack down on fentanyl and to increase border security.'Canada accounts for only one percent of US fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes,' he said.Ottawa remained committed to the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the prime minister said.'The US application of CUSMA means that the US average tariff rate on Canadian goods remains one of its lowest for all of its trading partners,' he said.'Other sectors of our economy – including lumber, steel, aluminum and automobiles – are, however, heavily impacted by US duties and tariffs.'

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Trump reaffirms support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara

Arab News

3 hours ago

Arab News

Trump reaffirms support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara

RABAT: US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, saying a Moroccan autonomy plan for the territory was the sole solution to the disputed region, state news agency MAP said on Saturday. The long-frozen conflict pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state there. Trump at the end of his first term in office recognized the Moroccan claims to Western Sahara, which has phosphate reserves and rich fishing grounds, as part of a deal under which Morocco agreed to normalize its relations with Israel. His secretary of state, Marco Rubio, made clear in April that support for Morocco on the issue remained US policy, but these were Trump's first quoted remarks on the dispute during his second term. 'I also reiterate that the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco's serious, credible and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute,' MAP quoted Trump as saying in a message to Morocco's King Mohammed VI. 'Together we are advancing shared priorities for peace and security in the region, including by building on the Abraham Accords, combating terrorism and expanding commercial cooperation,' Trump said. As part of the Abraham Accords signed during Trump's first term, four Muslim-majority countries agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel after US mediation. In June this year, Britain became the third permanent member of the UN Security Council to back an autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty for the territory after the US and France. Algeria, which has recognized the self-declared Sahrawi Republic, has refused to take part in roundtables convened by the UN envoy to Western Sahara and insists on holding a referendum with independence as an option.

India to keep buying Russian oil despite Trump remarks: Report

Saudi Gazette

4 hours ago

Saudi Gazette

India to keep buying Russian oil despite Trump remarks: Report

NEW DELHI — India will continue purchasing discounted oil from Russia despite U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that New Delhi would halt such imports, according to multiple media reports Saturday. The New York Times, citing two senior Indian officials, said India has no plans to stop buying Russian crude, while Russian state news agency Tass quoted a government source in New Delhi as saying there were 'no indications' of any policy change. The source added that Indian refineries would keep making purchases based on pricing and other economic considerations. Trump told reporters, 'I understand India no longer is going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard. I don't know if that's right or not, but that's a good step. We'll see what happens.' The U.S. president has repeatedly accused India of unfair trade practices and maintaining extensive energy and arms ties with Russia. On Wednesday, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian goods, escalating trade tensions between the two countries. — Agencies

Hamas Says it Won't Disarm Unless Independent Palestinian State Established

Asharq Al-Awsat

12 hours ago

Asharq Al-Awsat

Hamas Says it Won't Disarm Unless Independent Palestinian State Established

Hamas said on Saturday that it would not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established. In a statement, the Palestinian militant faction said its "armed resistance ... cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and deal for the release of hostages ended last week in deadlock. In Tel Aviv, families of hostages protested and urged Israel's government to push harder for the release of their loved ones, including those shown in footage released by militant groups earlier this week. US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff joined them, a week after quitting ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas's intransigence and pledging to find other ways to free hostages and make Gaza safe. Of the 251 hostages who were abducted by Hamas-led militants, around 20 are believed to be alive in Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza, released separate videos of individual hostages this week, triggering outrage among hostage families and Israeli society.