International - Financial Times - Credit Squeeze

Proposed customs reform would allow officials to better inspect and control packages from China

Long-standing statistical quirk means both sides report a trade surplus with the other

US not so exceptional amid a strong start to year for equities on both sides of the Atlantic

Central American nation in ‘panic’ as US president issues threats over canal

US president says he will hit Canada, Mexico, China and EU with levies as he targets major trading partners

LVMH’s Arnault contrasts US ‘wind of optimism’ with ‘cold shower’ of France

Former finance minster says Ottawa must target US president’s ‘billionaire buddies’

We can no longer squander our strengths with self-imposed handicaps. There is too much at stake

Expectations about price increases rise to highest level since July as central bank prepares for more interest rate cuts

Also in today’s newsletter, Trump blames Washington air crash on DEI and advice on how to find the perfect partner

Foreign minister Mélanie Joly holds meetings in Washington in attempt to avert trade war

Plus, carmaker Stellantis bets on a turnaround in Trump’s America and the rising infrastructure star at Blackstone

US president intends to impose penalties on trading partners as soon as this weekend

Bullion surpasses October peak as traders stockpile in New York

GDP figure published before European Central Bank cut its benchmark rate to lowest level since early 2023

Move comes after Fed keeps borrowing costs on hold

Figure comes after Fed chair Jay Powell said there was no hurry to cut interest rates

Also in today’s newsletter, SoftBank in talks to invest up to $25bn in OpenAI, and London’s gold shortage

Advocates say reopening pipelines could help settlement with Moscow and cut energy costs

US central bank holds rates steady as it resists Donald Trump’s calls to cut borrowing costs