Unmissable Thursday Briefing: Dive into the Heart-Stirring News You Need Now – The New York Times
The European Union and Canada have launched a new chapter in the ongoing trade dispute with the United States by announcing billions in retaliatory tariffs. These decisions followed swiftly after the implementation of President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The E.U. aims to commence its response by April 1, as a countermeasure to approximately $26 billion in U.S.-imposed levies. Their strategy involves a phased approach, starting with allowing a tariff suspension initiated under President Joe Biden to lapse. This will trigger increased tariffs on several goods, including bourbon, boats, and motorcycles. A second phase will introduce tariffs on an additional €18 billion worth of goods, with the specific products yet to be specified.
Meanwhile, Canada has declared its own set of tariffs amounting to $20 billion on U.S. goods, primarily targeting steel and aluminum but extending to other sectors like tools, computers, and sporting goods. Canada’s firm stance contrasts with other U.S. allies like Britain and Australia, who have refrained from similar retaliatory actions to preserve trade relations.
In other news, a legal case involving Mahmoud Khalil, a U.S. permanent resident and pro-Palestinian activist, has drawn significant attention after he was detained by federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration is seeking his deportation, citing a rarely used statute that targets individuals perceived as opposing U.S. foreign policy. Khalil, who has not been charged with a crime, is also associated with pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. His legal representatives have faced challenges in communicating with him privately, raising concerns over his right to fair representation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move, stating it was not a matter of free speech but of legal residency. The presiding judge has ordered the government to permit Khalil’s lawyers to communicate with him and urged them to consider precedents that might affect the case.
International tensions continue to simmer in Syria, where recent sectarian violence has been traced back to armed groups connected with the government. A report from the Syrian Network for Human Rights detailed a rise in targeted killings linked to sectarian revenge in coastal areas, complicating efforts for national unity. The ongoing strife has seen hundreds of civilians perish in these regions, predominantly those loyal to the former leader Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite, stirring memories of past privileges under his governance. Concurrently, Turkish forces have maintained aggressive military actions against Kurdish insurgents, despite calls from militant leaders for disbandment and a declared ceasefire.
In the realm of business, the Royal Caribbean cruise line has sparked controversy by acquiring 17 acres in the Bahamas to develop an exclusive beach club featuring the world’s largest swim-up bar. While Bahamian businesses have been promised a share of lucrative contracts from this project, local residents have voiced concerns over gentrification and the dramatic transformation of the landscape for tourism purposes.
As spring approaches, avid readers can look forward to an enticing selection of new books. Fiction enthusiasts may be drawn to the “Hunger Games” prequel and Ocean Vuong’s latest novel, while nonfiction aficionados have noteworthy titles, including posthumous writings by Joan Didion and a new biography on Yoko Ono. These anticipated releases continue to provide diverse narratives and insightful perspectives, promising compelling reads for the season ahead.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/briefing/canada-europe-tariffs-columbia-activist-syria.html
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Publish Date: 2025-03-13 09:38:00
