U.S. imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
Today's events
Canada tariffs.
President Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on nearly $20 billion of Canadian motor vehicles, alcohol, and dairy under a 1930 trade law, citing Canadian retaliation; they take effect in thirty days.1Jul 20 · USTRIran strikes.
Secretary Rubio said a ninth straight day of American strikes hit only Iranian assets used against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Washington stays open to real diplomacy.2Jul 20 · StateSouth China Sea.
The State Department condemned Chinese action against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal and restated that the 2016 arbitral ruling voiding Beijing's expansive maritime claims is final and binding.3Jul 20 · StateJordan trade deal.
The U.S. trade representative and Jordan's industry and trade minister signed a reciprocal-trade agreement securing Jordanian purchases of American goods and removing barriers facing U.S. manufacturers.4Jul 21 · USTRSinaloa cartel sentence.
A federal court sentenced cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada García to life in prison and ordered $15 billion in forfeiture, ending nearly four decades of trafficking into the United States.5Jul 20 · DOJCuba aid flight.
The State Department and Catholic Relief Services sent the first relief flight under Secretary Rubio's $100 million commitment, carrying food and hygiene kits for up to 700 Cuban families.6Jul 21 · StateExploited software flaws.
Federal cyber officials added four actively exploited vulnerabilities to the government's catalog, including two in WordPress core, one in the Langflow artificial-intelligence tool, and one in DD-WRT router firmware.7Jul 21 · CISANew York power imports.
New York's grid drew 52 gigawatt-hours from Canada on July 3 — 9 percent of its demand and the most since January 2025 — over a new Québec–New York City line running at full capacity.8Jul 20 · EIACommodity swap reporting.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ended routine large-trader position reporting for physical commodity swaps, keeping only the power to demand the underlying books and records on special call.9Jul 21 · CFTC
Allied Governments
New British premier.
Andy Burnham accepted the King's invitation to form a government, becoming Britain's seventh prime minister since 2016 and promising a new political and economic model and a ten-year plan for the country.aJul 20 · UK No.10Hormuz shipping pledge.
In his first call after taking office, the new British prime minister told President Trump that Britain is committed to keeping shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.bJul 20 · UK No.10Canada joins fighter programme.
Britain, Italy, and Japan admitted Canada as the first observer nation of their next-generation combat aircraft programme, granting access to capability plans without a decision-making role.cJul 21 · UK MoD
Voices
“Canada, unlike other partners and allies, continues to retaliate against the United States for its efforts to rebalance trade and protect U.S. industry in national-security sensitive sectors.”
Ambassador Greer, U.S. Trade Representative · Jul 201
“But as long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're going to have to respond to that.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, Joint Base Andrews · Jul 202
“The United States condemns China's dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.”
State Dept. Press Statement · Jul 203
“No matter how powerful you become or how long you evade justice, DEA will not stop pursuing you.”
Administrator Terry Cole, Drug Enforcement Administration · Jul 205
“These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise.”
CISA Alert, Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog · Jul 217
“[T]he Commission is rendering the routine position-reporting requirements of Part 20 ineffective and unenforceable.”
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Final Order · Jul 219
Sources
- USTR, “Ambassador Greer Issues Statement on President Trump Imposing Section 338 Tariffs on Canada,” July 20, 2026. ustr.gov/press-releases/…/section-338-tariffs-canada
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press,” July 20, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-remarks-to-the-press
- U.S. Dept. of State, “China's Actions Against Philippine Navy Personnel at Second Thomas Shoal,” July 20, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/second-thomas-shoal
- USTR, “Ambassador Greer Signs the U.S.-Jordan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade,” July 21, 2026. ustr.gov/press-releases/…/us-jordan-reciprocal-trade
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Co-Founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia Sentenced to Life in Prison and Ordered to Forfeit $15 Billion in Drug Trafficking Profits,” July 20, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/zambada-garcia-sentenced
- U.S. Dept. of State, “United States and Catholic Relief Services Send First Humanitarian Flight to Cuba Under Secretary Rubio's New $100 Million Assistance Commitment,” July 21, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/first-humanitarian-flight-to-cuba
- CISA, “CISA Adds Four Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog,” July 21, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/…/four-known-exploited-vulnerabilities
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, “New York imports more electricity from Canada after high-voltage transmission line opens,” July 20, 2026. eia.gov/todayinenergy/…/new-york-canada-imports
- Federal Register, “Order Sunsetting Certain Large Trader Reporting Requirements for Physical Commodity Swaps” (Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Final Order), July 21, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/large-trader-reporting-sunset
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “Andy Burnham's first speech as Prime Minister: 20 July 2026,” July 20, 2026. gov.uk/government/speeches/…/burnham-first-speech
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “PM call with President Trump of the United States: 20 July 2026,” July 20, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/pm-call-with-president-trump
- UK Ministry of Defence, “Canada joins next-generation fighter jet programme as first Observer Nation,” July 21, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/canada-joins-gcap-observer