"The fundamental goal of President Trump’s economic policy is to undo 40 years of failed economic policy in this country. For far too long, we got addicted to cheap labor and we got lazy."

12 of these countries are located in Africa, and six are in Asia...

Major maritime industry stakeholders are voicing strong opposition to the proposed Section 301 actions targeting Chinese-built and operated vessels, warning of potentially catastrophic effects on U.S. trade and consumer prices.

Possible upcoming US port fees on China-linked shipping of up to USD 1.5 million, also have the potential to create inflationary pressures and disrupt global supply chains...

...led by a surge in motor vehicles and parts production.

This week we get decisions from the Fed, the BoJ and the BoE... economic data highlights include retail sales in the US (which came in mixed), various US housing data, labor market stats in the UK and inflation in Japan and Canada.

A new model is being adopted to safeguard US pre-eminence in world affairs.

China will rebalance one way or another. The important question is how it rebalances...

California has resorted to using a Medicaid money laundering scheme which forces federal taxpayers to indirectly pay for the state's mismanagement...

Canada and Mexico made up 28% of U.S. goods imports overall in 2024, but some states have a much higher or lower share of their imports coming from the country’s northern and southern neighbors...

...this otherwise reliable indicator should be watched closely in coming weeks.

€100 billion will be channeled to the government’s existing climate and transformation fund...

The “T-word” did not become a bad word until the creation of corporations, the Federal Reserve system and the income tax...

Europe is now firmly in Trump's sights, and more firmly following today’s European response.

A senior EU official said soybeans were on the list of targets because they are grown in Louisiana, home state of House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson. 

Why is it unthinkable? Because it’s been done the other way for 100 years. Yes, 100 years of wrong...

"... The word from D.C. is their focus is on Main Street, not Wall Street, with willingness to tolerate “disturbance” for at least the next six to eight months, while blaming it on Biden"

Inflation expectations at the one-year horizon were just barely higher at 3.1% from 3.00%. At the same time, both 3Y and 5Y inflation expectations were unchanged! So much for some imaginary re-anchoring of inflation expectations.

For those with limited fiscal space, the threat of market backlash makes us skeptical they will follow through, as both options add to national debt.