Saudi Arabia’s oil routes under pressure from two directions
Saudi Arabia’s 1,200‑kilometre East‑West pipeline Petroline has been forced to suspend service after militant attacks damaged three pumpi...
The U.S. dollar surged on Monday after President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, triggering immediate retaliation from trading partners. Global markets reacted sharply, with the euro plunging, the yuan hitting record lows, and Bitcoin falling below $100,000.
Global financial markets reacted strongly on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, escalating fears of a full-scale trade war.
The U.S. dollar strengthened, sending the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso to multi-year lows, while China’s offshore yuan fell to a record low. The euro also plunged to its weakest level since 2022, and Bitcoin dropped below $100,000 as investors adjusted to the impact of new trade barriers.
Canada and Mexico, the top two U.S. trading partners, immediately vowed retaliatory measures, while China announced plans to challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The U.S. dollar advanced against major currencies:
Mexican peso fell to its lowest since 2022, trading at 21.40 per dollar.
Canadian dollar dropped to C$1.4755 per U.S. dollar, its weakest level since 2003.
Euro fell 2.3% to $1.0125, before recovering slightly.
Bitcoin dropped 4.4% to $97,622, slipping below $100,000 for the first time in weeks.
“The surprise for markets is that Canada and Mexico retaliated immediately, and that China and the EU may follow," said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG.
As Trump had promised, the U.S. imposed:
25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico
10% tariffs on Chinese goods
Trump justified the measures as necessary to combat illegal immigration and the drug trade. However, analysts warn that immediate retaliation from Canada and Mexico, combined with China’s WTO challenge, could further destabilize global trade.
"Trump's early strike, just two weeks into his four-year term, is likely to hit investor confidence," said Mansoor Mohi-uddin, chief economist at the Bank of Singapore.
With markets already bracing for potential tariffs on Europe, analysts warn that sustained trade disputes could lead to stagflation—weak growth combined with rising inflation.
What’s Next?
As global markets adjust to the new tariffs, investors are also scaling back expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with traders now pricing in just 41 basis points of easing for 2025.
With retaliatory measures already in place and uncertainty surrounding future U.S. trade policy, financial markets are likely to see continued volatility in the days ahead.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepen regional tensions.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is outlining the EU's priorities in her annual State of the Union address, covering security, support for Ukraine, trade with China, migration, climate and artificial intelligence.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote launched Africa's biggest-ever share sale on Monday, opening the oil refinery that has remade the country's fuel market to public ownership for the first time.
Volkswagen’s supervisory board has approved a major overhaul aimed at cutting 100,000 jobs by 2030 as the German carmaker battles weaker sales, falling profits and intensifying global competition.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on American companies to expand their presence in China and pledged that Beijing would address their "reasonable concerns," as China looks to stabilise trade ties with Washington ahead of President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the U.S. later this month
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
Volkswagen is heading towards a decisive showdown with labour representatives as Germany's largest carmaker weighs sweeping restructuring measures that could lead to factory closures and tens of thousands of job losses.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment