In a dramatic twist following President Trump’s announcement of a 50% tariff on copper imports starting August 1, major commodity traders—Trafigura, Mercuria, Glencore, and IXM—are positioned to reap an estimated $300 million windfall. Within minutes of the tariff announcement, U.S. copper prices on the COMEX surged 13%, creating a staggering 28% premium over London Metal Exchange…
As July 9, 2025 approaches, the Biden–Trump tariff saga enters a critical new phase. With the deadline looming for the possible reimposition of steep reciprocal tariffs, U.S. trade negotiators have recalibrated their approach—setting aside earlier ambitions for sweeping trade deals in favor of more targeted, sectoral agreements. 1. From Grand Vision to Tactical Moves In early April,…
European small- and mid-cap stocks are outperforming their U.S. counterparts in 2025, driven by investor optimism about Europe’s economic recovery and strategic avoidance of U.S. trade policy risks. The MSCI Europe Small and Mid Cap Index has surged 10.7% year-to-date, while the U.S. equivalent has declined by 2.6%. Key factors contributing to this trend include…
European Union businesses are urging China to establish a special “fast-track” or “white list” channel for rare earth export licenses for trusted companies amid mounting global supply chain disruptions. At a recent meeting with China’s Ministry of Commerce, EU executives expressed concerns that stringent Chinese export controls—initially targeted at the US—have slowed deliveries to manufacturing…
