U.S. imposes forced-labor tariffs on 60 nations.
Today's events
Forced-labor tariffs.
The U.S. Trade Representative imposed 10% or 12.5% tariffs on the 60 largest trading partners — 99.4% of imports — for failing to ban goods made with forced labor; the rates take effect this week.1Jul 23 · USTRCuba designations.
The State Department sanctioned nine entities and two individuals under Executive Order 14404, targeting the regime’s energy and financial sectors and its overseas medical-labor brigades, and citing evasion tied to the GAESA military conglomerate.2Jul 23 · StateRussian email hack.
The NSA, FBI, and CISA, with cyber agencies from 20 allied nations, warned that Russian state hackers are exploiting a Zimbra webmail flaw to steal 90 days of email from targeted governments.3Jul 23 · CISACartel sanctions.
The U.S. sanctioned more than 50 people and entities tied to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, including its new leader, Juan Carlos González, who now carries a $5 million reward.4Jul 23 · StateHamas financing.
The U.S. designated a UK-based Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official plus three individuals and three entities abroad accused of moving funds through charities to support Hamas, under counterterrorism Executive Order 13224.5Jul 23 · StateFour soldiers fallen.
President Trump, War Secretary Hegseth, and the Joint Chiefs chairman attended the Dover dignified transfer of four soldiers killed in attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan and Iraq that the Pentagon tied to Iranian aggression.6Jul 22 · War.govScam-network visas.
Secretary Rubio announced global visa restrictions on people running online investment scams and sextortion — schemes often run by Chinese criminal groups that defrauded Americans of at least $10 billion in 2024.7Jul 23 · StateCritical isotopes.
Auditors warned that the Energy Department, the sole U.S. producer of hundreds of medical and defense isotopes, still relies on sensitive foreign suppliers for many and urged it to forecast shortages and mitigate supply risks.8Jul 23 · GAONorth American trade.
Trade Representative Greer met Mexican President Sheinbaum in Mexico City for the third round of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement review, focused on autos, steel, and “free-riding” by non-members; a fourth round convenes in Washington in September.9Jul 24 · USTR
This week
Canada tariffs.
President Trump set 50 percent duties on nearly $20 billion of Canadian motor vehicles, alcohol, and dairy on July 20 under a 1930 trade law, citing Canadian retaliation against U.S. trade measures; they take effect in thirty days, with energy, potash, and critical minerals exempt.4 The duties landed as the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement review held its third round in Mexico City, with a fourth set for Washington in September.5Jul 20 · USTRChina diplomacy.
Secretary Rubio met his Chinese counterpart in Manila on July 22 to prepare Xi Jinping’s September visit to Washington, days after the White House released declassified intelligence alleging China obtained personal data on 220 million American voters in 2020.8 At the same ASEAN meetings, Rubio announced more than $2.5 billion for Southeast Asian security, infrastructure, energy, and critical-mineral supply chains;9 the State Department separately condemned China’s actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal.10Jul 22 · StateDefense materials.
Executive Order 14415 directed agencies to secure defense critical-materials supply chains and ensure domestic acquisition of the minerals the military depends on.11 Related actions ran all week: a proclamation strengthened aluminum tariffs and added incentives for domestic smelters after Commerce found primary-aluminum supply still insufficient,12 and government auditors warned that the Energy Department relies on potentially adversarial foreign suppliers for critical medical and defense isotopes.13Jul 22 · Fed. Reg.Genesis Mission.
The White House committed more than $5 billion to a program enlisting more than 15 federal agencies and a Department of Energy computing platform to apply artificial intelligence to scientific discovery.14 It arrived alongside the science office’s report Science: A New Golden Age — billed as the first full rethink of the U.S. research system in more than 80 years — and a budget memo telling agencies to back individual scientists over legacy institutions.15Jul 22 · WHCartel enforcement.
A federal court sentenced Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada García to life in prison on July 20 and ordered $15 billion in forfeiture, ending nearly four decades of trafficking into the United States.16 Three days later, the U.S. sanctioned more than 50 people and entities tied to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, including its new leader, who now carries a $5 million reward.17Jul 20 · DOJ
Allied Governments
NATO fuel plan.
The North Atlantic Council approved a €27 billion Fuel Supply Chain plan to modernize storage, distribution, and new pipelines on the Alliance’s eastern flank, and raised 2027 common funding to €6.5 billion.aJul 22 · NATOUkraine force command.
British Lt. Gen. Tom Bateman took command of the Multinational Force Ukraine in Paris — the reassurance force that would deploy to secure Ukraine’s skies and seas if hostilities with Russia end.bJul 24 · UK MoDHypersonic target.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence awarded Lockheed Martin UK a £20 million contract for Project Bowline, a Mach-5-plus test target advancing missile defense under the AUKUS partnership with the U.S. and Australia.cJul 22 · UK MoD
Voices
“The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.”
Amb. Jamieson Greer, USTR · Jul 231
“The Communist Cuban regime continues to pose a deep multifaceted threat to U.S. national security and hemispheric stability.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio · Jul 232
“LAUNDRY BEAR’s latest campaign leverages a view-based exploit that only requires a user to view a malicious email within a vulnerable version of the webmail service.”
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, NSA/FBI/CISA · Jul 233
“Under President Trump’s leadership and resolve, the United States is coming for you, your money, and your criminal networks wherever you hide.”
Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, State Dept · Jul 234
“It is the War Department’s policy to return America’s fallen to their loved ones as quickly as possible.”
Dignified Transfer, Dover Air Force Base · Jul 226
“Relying on potentially adversarial overseas suppliers risks U.S. access to these critical materials.”
GAO, Managing Critical Isotopes · Jul 238
Sources
- USTR, “USTR Takes Action in Forced Labor Section 301 Investigations,” July 23, 2026. ustr.gov/…/forced-labor-section-301-investigations
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Additional Sanctions Designations Targeting the Corrupt Cuban Communist Regime and Its Financial Backers,” July 23, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/cuba-sanctions-designations
- CISA, “Russian State-Supported Cyber Actors Conduct Phishing Campaign Targeting Users of Zimbra Collaboration Suite” (AA26-204A), July 23, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/aa26-204a
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Sanctioning Over 50 Targets Linked to Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación,” July 23, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/cjng-sanctions
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Dismantling Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas Financial Networks,” July 23, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/muslim-brotherhood-hamas-networks
- U.S. Dept. of War, “Nation's Leaders Honor the Fallen During Dignified Transfer,” July 22, 2026. war.gov/News/…/dignified-transfer
- U.S. Dept. of State, “New Visa Restriction Policy to Deter and Dismantle Cyberscams and Sextortion,” July 23, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/visa-restriction-cyberscams
- U.S. Government Accountability Office, “Managing Critical Isotopes: DOE Could Better Assess Market Needs and Respond to Risks” (GAO-26-108053), July 23, 2026. gao.gov/products/gao-26-108053
- USTR, “Joint Statement from Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard,” July 24, 2026. ustr.gov/…/greer-ebrard-joint-statement
- NATO, “North Atlantic Council approves NATO-funding for upcoming years, agrees Fuel Supply Chain Plan,” July 22, 2026. nato.int/…/fuel-supply-chain-plan
- UK Ministry of Defence, “UK takes command of multinational force for Ukraine,” July 24, 2026. gov.uk/…/uk-command-multinational-force-ukraine
- UK Ministry of Defence, “MOD awards £20 million contract to develop hypersonic capability,” July 22, 2026. gov.uk/…/mod-hypersonic-contract