Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of more than 40 cooperation agreements in areas such as trade, technology and media exchanges. They stressed their growing trade, particularly in oil and natural gas, and declared themselves aligned on international relations.

The countries’ ties have reached “the highest level in history,” Xi said after the signing ceremony, speaking to members of the delegations and journalists. The two sides also agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.

Putin told those in the room that “the driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector.”

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Source: https://apnews.com/article/china-russia-putin-xi-5b7304bc1604cbb7135cb96f217b8b3e?fbclid=IwY2xjawR9sz1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe39T7-LMbBUEc4OQhadIsb0v8UWcMRuIvwpR5N9jjy9NDvBNrhAGgt9jTGSM_aem_Bcwfrz8jgnkuySVxTRjeUw

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The post Trump, Xi to weigh tariff cuts on $30 billion of imports in managed trade push first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump’s willingness to let TikTok go dark was a decisive factor in shaping a framework agreement with China.

At the same time, China’s ruling against Nvidia over a 2020 acquisition surfaced during the Madrid round of trade discussions, underscoring how technology and national security concerns continue to dominate economic diplomacy.

Both developments are now shaping expectations ahead of Trump’s scheduled call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.

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Source: https://invezz.com/news/2025/09/16/trumps-tiktok-threat-and-nvidia-setback-shape-us-china-trade-talks/

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney caved just hours before the new levy was slated to go into effect on Monday, as the country scrambles to revive stalled trade negotiations ahead of a looming July 21 deadline.

A fuming Trump had nixed the talks Friday after Canada said it was sticking with its plan to slap companies — including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb — with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users.

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Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/30/us-news/canada-rescinds-digital-services-tax-targeting-us-technology-firms-to-advance-stalled-trade-talks/

The post Canada abruptly scraps digital services tax targeting US technology firms days after Trump ripped ‘foolish’ move first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The move plunges U.S. relations with its second-largest trading partner back into chaos after a period of relative calm.

It also came just hours after Trump’s Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, struck an upbeat tone on trade, touting progress had been made with China on reviving the flow of critical minerals for the U.S. manufacturing sector and in other key tariff negotiations.

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Source: https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tariff-deals-could-wrapped-labor-172757235.html

The post Trump cuts off US trade talks with Canada, shattering optimism over tariff deals first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Senior US and Chinese officials will travel to Switzerland later this week to kickstart stalled trade talks following President Donald Trump‘s sweepingtariff rollout, according to statements from both countries.

The talks mark the first official public engagement between the world’s two largest economies to resolve a trade war escalated by Trump shortly after his return to office in January.

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Source: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250506-us-china-trade-switzerland

The post US, China to launch formal trade talks in Switzerland after tariff onslaught first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Big news this week includes the Canadian election. Mark Carney will remain Prime Minister as the liberal party retains power, albeit with a minority government. Carney, formerly central bank chair for both Canada and the UK, benefited from the perception of being a political outsider with relevant experience guiding the nation’s economy through times of turmoil. He was also able to distance himself from many of Trudeau’s least popular policies, even quashing some of them during his brief pre-election tenure. Carney also profited most from a surge in Canadian patriotism stirred up by US tariffs and Trump’s comments about becoming the 51^st state.

Such has been the upheaval that conservative challenger Poilievre actually lost his own seat in parliament. Both major parties gained seats as support for their smaller rivals cratered, though the Liberal party still lacks a majority and continues to govern with their support. Trade negotiations are set to begin as both Trump and Carney have signaled they will meet in the near future. 

Australia also heads to the polls Saturday. There is the potential for a Canada-style backlash against conservatives as their opponents have tried to tie them to their ideological counterparts in the US and capitalize on the resentment of tariffs and general economic uncertainty as the world adapts to a new reality in commerce. Perhaps that was incumbent Prime Minister Albanese’s intent when calling this election early. For clarity, Albanese’s Labour Party is ideologically liberal while challenger Dutton’s Liberal Party is conservative (or more accurately center-right). Many other smaller parties may also be a factor but we will not overburden ourselves with speculation, we shall know the results soon enough. 

The UK also went to the polls this week for a number of municipalities as well as a special election for a seat in the House of Commons. Formerly held by a MP for the Labour Party who punched a constituent and was forced to resign. The seat was picked up by Nigel Farage’s Reform Party by a razor thin margin of 12 votes. Reform also performed well in the other races. Farage contends that Reform will be the true opposition to Labour as the Conservative Party continues to collapse, with even it’s leadership believing it will take years to rehabilitate their platform. 

The UK’s highest court has also ruled that gender equals sex at birth, at least in regards to legal protections for women such as their “Equality Act.” While there will be challenges, this ruling continues the international trend of legally recognizing that there are immutable biological differences between men and women. What a revelation. Meanwhile in the US, the Department of Health and Human Services has released a report on the treatment of gender dysphoria in children. The 90 day study was a review of all relevant research and information around various treatments and patient outcomes. It concluded there is little evidence more radical treatments such as surgery, puberty blockers, or hormone therapy lead to better mental or physical health. 

Outside of this, trade has dominated the news this week. The mineral deal with Ukraine has finally come to fruition. Before we decide whether or not to celebrate having a vested interest in a war zone, we will have to see how this affects the many negotiations taking place to pause the fighting. There is the obvious implication that the US may be more willing to supply Ukraine now that a mechanism for financial compensation exists. Still, there are many red lines in the way of a real peace deal such as Russia retaining its battlefield gains.

The “de minimis” tariff exemption ended today. This applies to packages valued under $800 that are shipped directly to customers in the US. The exemption gave rise to online giants such as Temu and Shein, allowing them to sell directly to the public and avoid the cost of shipping their goods in bulk and paying the associated tariffs like traditional brick and mortar retailers. The sheer volume of these shipments provided cover for illicit deliveries of fentanyl and its components or “precursors.” The exemption had been canceled previously, but flow of goods is such that dealing with the collection of tariffs on those already in route was a practical impossibility. Now, the fees are collected and documented by shipping companies as the goods leave their country of origin. 

Trade negotiations between China and the US will likely begin soon. Neither party wishes to appear as having caved. Trump claimed discussions had already begun this week, which China strenuously denied! However, yesterday China quietly announced that we had contacted them to begin talks and, while they were prepared to triumph over their immoral foe and resist to the bitter end, their role as the protector of free trade and a world order based on law compelled them to engage with us and diffuse the situation for the sake of all humanity –– or words to that effect, propaganda has a way of sounding even more ridiculous when translated from a foreign language. The takeaway is that both sides are now talking about talking, so talk they likely shall. 

Dad is doing better but still not 100% this week. Your prayers have been appreciated. I hope you all have a great Sabbath.

Michael

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – May 2, 2025 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.