Trade Talks, Tariffs and Labor Trends Shape the Week
U.S.-Canada trade negotiations remain in focus as leaders discuss USMCA renewal and tariff agreements. Meanwhile, jobless claims rise modestly, and Ford earns top adventure vehicle honors.
Gordie Howe Bridge Opening Awaits Completion of Trade Talks
Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin told members of Congress Customs & Border Patrol is “good to go” whenever trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are completed.
Opening of the newly constructed bridge linking Detroit and Ontario would enhance trade and travel. Read Full Article
Canada Wants 16-Year Renewal of USMCA
While U.S. President Donald Trump is still calling for Canada to be the 51st state, Canadian officials want the free trade agreement the two countries signed with Mexico to be renewed for another 16 years.
According to The Associated Press, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister for U.S. trade, sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard informing them of the request. Read Full Article
Trade Chief: U.S. Will Uphold Tariff Caps in Deals With EU, Japan
The United States plans to respect tariff caps in trade deals struck with the European Union, Japan and other countries, and planned U.S. tariffs over forced labor provide the legal basis to do so, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Thursday.
“We understand that a deal is a deal,” Greer told reporters on the sidelines of an OECD ministerial meeting in Paris, according to a report from Reuters. Read Full Article
Weekly Jobless Claims Higher Than Expected
The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, but the underlying trend remained consistent with a stable labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 225,000 for the week ended May 30, according to statistics released Thursday. Labor Department said on Thursday. That’s some 12,000 more than economists polled by Reuters had forecast. The four-week moving average of claims increased only 6,500 to 214,750. Read Full Article
Trump Wants $700 Million to Help Coal Industry
President Donald Trump said he’s planning to use a 76-year-old law to direct funding to the U.S. coal industry.
Trump on Thursday announced he’ll use the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law to direct almost $700 million to help the coal industry ship the fuel to Asia, and power companies to burn it domestically. Read Full Article
Ford Wins 5 Inaugural U.S. News Best Adventure Vehicles Awards
Ford earned five category wins in the first-ever U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Adventure Vehicles awards, the automaker announced in a press release posted to its website.
Designed to help shoppers find capable and practical vehicles for outdoor travel, the awards program evaluated 148 models based on off-road metrics, camping utility, and overall vehicle quality. Read Full Article