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CUSMA Not Renewed: What the Trade Deal Impasse Means for Your Wallet

  July 2, 2026 | Trade & Economy The mandatory six-year review of Canada's most important trade agreement came and went this week — and it did not go the way Ottawa hoped. On July 1, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the United States will not renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in its current form, sending the deal into a more uncertain, year-by-year footing right as Canadians are already navigating tariffs, a soft labour market, and a technical recession. Here is what actually happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for your budget in the months ahead. The short version CUSMA isn't dead. It remains legally in force until 2036. But instead of locking in a fresh 16-year term, the deal now shifts into annual reviews, with existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and softwood lumber unresolved for now. What happened on July 1 CUSMA was built with a mandatory joint review every six years. If Canada, the U.S. and Mexico had a...

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Judge Holds Trump in Contempt, Fines Him $9,000 in Hush Money Trial

 

Former President Donald Trump faced a stinging rebuke in court today as Judge Juan M. Merchan held him in contempt and fined him $9,000. The charges stem from Trump’s repeated violations of a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors, and others connected to his New York hush money case. Prosecutors had alleged ten violations, but the judge found nine to be substantiated.

The historic trial centers around Manhattan prosecutors’ claims that Trump and his associates participated in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. The allegations involve hush money payments and attempts to suppress unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The courtroom was tense as Trump, accompanied by his son Eric, faced the consequences of his actions. The judge’s warning loomed: if Trump violates the gag order again, he could face jail time.

Prosecutors are meticulously building their case, relying on detailed testimony about email exchanges, business transactions, and bank accounts. Their argument is that Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments. The trial is leading up to crucial testimony from Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, who went to federal prison after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes.

As the trial unfolds, the world watches closely, witnessing a former U.S. president facing criminal charges in a courtroom. The outcome will have far-reaching implications, shaping the legacy of a presidency marked by controversy and legal battles. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial continues.

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