Economy

Trump’s Tariff Disruption: Chaos or Strategy?
Op-edTrump’s Tariff Disruption: Chaos or Strategy?

In the age of globalization, few leaders have dared to question the structure that underpins the modern world economy. Donald Trump didn’t just question it, he took a wrecking ball to it. His tariff-first economic approach, widely criticized as reckless, may actually represent the beginning of a hard but necessary conversation: Should America ...

Trump's Tariff Pause Gives Market Relief, but China Trade War Intensifies
Trump's Tariff Pause Gives Market Relief, but China Trade War Intensifies

US President Donald Trump abruptly paused tariffs on most countries, sparking euphoria on global markets Thursday, but upped the ante on a brutal trade war with superpower rival China. After days of turmoil, stocks on Wall Street and across Asia saw huge surges in reaction to Trump's announcement that he was halting a levy hike for almost all ...

Oil Price Drop: Key Factors Explained
Oil Price Drop: Key Factors Explained

Oil prices plunged on Wednesday due to the escalating trade war between the United States and China, with Brent crude falling below $60 per barrel for the first time in four years. At around 11:20 GMT (13:20 in Paris), the price of North Sea Brent crude for June delivery dropped by 5.52% to $59.35, briefly reaching a low of $58.47 during the ...

Lebanon Plunged into Nationwide Blackout Following Power Plant Failure
Lebanon Plunged into Nationwide Blackout Following Power Plant Failure

Lebanon was plunged into a nationwide blackout on Wednesday afternoon after a technical failure at the Deir Ammar power plant led to a complete shutdown of electricity production across all thermal power stations operated by Electricity of Lebanon (EDL). The outage, which began around 1:30 PM, disrupted power supply across vast swaths of the ...

EU Greenlights First Set of Tariffs Hitting Back at US
EU Greenlights First Set of Tariffs Hitting Back at US

The EU on Wednesday adopted its first measures hitting back at President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, targeting more than 20 billion euros of US goods, including soybeans, motorcycles, and beauty products. The levies of up to 25 percent are retaliation for US duties on steel and aluminum imposed last month -- with Europe's response to ...

Japan to Sell More Rice Reserves as Prices Soar
Japan to Sell More Rice Reserves as Prices Soar

Japan will sell more rice from its emergency stockpile through July in an attempt to stabilize soaring prices, the agricultural minister said Wednesday. After rice prices nearly doubled year-on-year, the government began auctioning its stockpile last month -- the first time since it was started in 1995. "In order to stabilize rice prices ...

Diamonds: Precious Stones Under Siege
Diamonds: Precious Stones Under Siege

Over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds are polished in India, cementing the country’s status as the global epicenter of brilliance. Yet, the sparkle of this thriving industry is under threat. A 27% US tariff, introduced by Donald Trump, casts a long shadow over India’s diamond trade, while retaliatory measures from India add fuel to the ...

Major Trade Wars Since the 19th Century
Major Trade Wars Since the 19th Century

As the world reels from US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, here is a look back at some major trade wars since the 19th century: 19th century Opium Wars In the mid-19th century, two conflicts over the opium trade, which became known as the Opium Wars, pitted China against the British Empire. The first began in 1839, when Britain ...

Black Monday: A Global Stock Market Rollercoaster
Black Monday: A Global Stock Market Rollercoaster

The rollout of new tariffs under Donald Trump's leadership has been enough to trigger what many are now calling an economic apocalypse. Global financial markets began tumbling as early as Friday, and it has only deepened this Monday. The Paris stock exchange has already wiped out all its gains for the year, opening down 6.46%, while London’s ...

Is a Trade Deficit Really That Terrifying?
SpotlightIs a Trade Deficit Really That Terrifying?

If there is one thing on which the vast majority of serious economists agree, whether they lean politically left or right, it is that free trade and commerce are beneficial to a nation. Yet, this truth is being contested today. Trade deficits are generating a lot of ink in the media, and they are being used to justify counterproductive policies. ...

WTO Powerless Against Protectionist Wave
WTO Powerless Against Protectionist Wave

Often referred to as the "global trade police," the WTO is actually bound hand and foot by its members, with Washington's actions especially leaving it all but powerless against the protectionist wave washing over the globe. A number of countries have begun filing complaints with the World Trade Organization, charging that the steep ...