Trump details steel, aluminum duties. All steel and aluminum imports into the United States will face a 25 percent tariff, according to an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump. The changes are due to take effect March 12. Trump said the measures were aimed at strengthening the domestic sector. He added he would give “great consideration” to Australia’s request for an exemption due to its trade deficit with the United States. The EU’s von der Leyen said “unjustified tariffs” will trigger “firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
Gaza truce under strain. Hamas said yesterday it will postpone the next scheduled hostage release over alleged Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement, including firing upon Palestinians and blocking humanitarian aid. Israel’s defense minister called Hamas’s announcement a violation of the deal and said he had put the military on high alert. Yesterday, Trump said that if “all” of Hamas’s hostages were not released by midday Saturday he would support canceling the deal, but that Israel might override him on the issue.
Romanian leader resigns. Centrist, pro-EU President Klaus Iohannis said he will step down ahead of an impending impeachment process. Liberal and right-wing opposition politicians filed impeachment charges; they said Iohannis failed to provide answers on election security after Romanian courts annulled the first round of the country’s presidential vote last November citing foreign influence. A pro-Russian candidate rose from obscurity to rank first in that contest.
Japan’s shifting FDI priorities. Japan’s foreign direct investment (FDI) to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries rose 36 percent year-on-year in 2024, while its net investment going to the United States rose to a record $77.3 billion. Investment to China was roughly the same as the previous year; a Japan Research Institute analyst cited geopolitical risks and China’s housing market slump.
Myanmar’s conscription efforts. In an effort to stop people from avoiding military conscription, the government paused permits for overseas work and widened restrictions on young men traveling abroad. Last April, Myanmar enacted a conscription law to fill its ranks fighting rebels in the country’s civil war; it has gradually closed loopholes for men aged eighteen to thirty-five. Women are technically part of the conscription law but have so far been exempt in practice.
Colombian cabinet chaos. The country’s interior minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, yesterday became Colombia’s third cabinet member to resign since last week. Two of those who stepped down said they did not want to work with a newly named presidential chief of staff, Armando Benedetti, who has been accused of corruption and violence against women. Cristo did not cite Benedetti in his resignation letter. On Sunday, President Gustavo Petro asked his entire cabinet to resign so he could replace them.
Pretoria’s reinforcements in the DRC. South Africa sent additional troops to fight in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Rwanda backed-M23 rebels in recent days, Reuters reported. A Congolese army spokesperson did not immediately confirm or deny the deployment. South Africa has reportedly reinforced its support to the DRC even as some other neighboring countries, such as Malawi, recently announced withdrawals.
U.S. foreign bribery law paused. Trump ordered a halt to enforcing a law that bans companies operating in the United States from hiring foreign government officials to help get deals overseas. He said the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FPCA) had been blocking U.S. firms from doing business and called for “revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines.” Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said the FPCA had made Washington a leader in fighting corruption.
