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Latin America & Caribbean
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro walks after the Supreme Court voted that he should stand trial for allegedly attempting a coup after his 2022 electoral defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025.
Much like Jair Bolsonaro’s beloved Seleção, which lost its soccer match to Argentina this week, the former Brazilian president has reason to be concerned about his own defensive strategy. On Wednesday, the country’s Supreme Court ordered him to stand trial for his alleged efforts to overturn the last election. The ruling raises the prospect of the 70-year-old ending up behind bars and imperils his hopes of running for office in 2026.
The case at hand: Brazil’s Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro and 33 others in February with attempting a coup on Jan. 8, 2023, and accused them of forging a plot to poison President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and kill a Supreme Court justice. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.
It is “highly likely” that the court will also find Bolsonaro guilty, said Eurasia Group Managing Director Chris Garman, but that wouldn’t stop him from holding significant sway at the next election in 2026.
“From an electoral point of view, he will remain a kingmaker on the right for the 2026 presidential election,” said Garman. “Polls consistently show his public support hasn’t dropped since the last presidential election, and he will be seen as a martyr among the conservative voters who will agree with claims he is being politically persecuted.”
Climate change activists hang a sign on Tower Bridge during a demonstration against the climate crisis, in central London, Britain, April 8, 2022.
2.2: As the world gets hotter from climate change, we are using more energy to cool ourselves down, which is making climate change worse. According to the IEA, record-high temps in 2024 were responsible for half of the rise in emissions from energy – as severe heat waves caused air conditioning usage to surge, fueling electricity demand, and in turn raising emissions. This contributed to a 2.2% increase in global energy demand, up from 1.8% the year before. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption grew by 0.8% over the past year.
25: Donald Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff on all imports from countries that buy Venezuelan oil or gas, starting April 2, alongside new tariffs on Venezuela itself. Venezuela will face a “secondary” tariff because it is the home to the Tren de Aragua gang, which Trump said is sending members to the US.
40: India has lifted its restrictions on rice exports, a move that should help curb food price inflation and increase agricultural workers’ salaries amid an economic slowdown in the country. Initially imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine to prevent domestic shortages, the curbs drove up prices worldwide. As the largest rice exporter – accounting for over 40% of global rice exports – India’s decision should benefit poorer nations, especially in Africa, where rising food costs have fueled unrest. However, it will come at a cost for other rice-producing countries like Thailand and Pakistan, which worry that India will flood the market and prices will plummet.
93: US egg imports from Brazil surged 93% in February as a part of the Trump administration’s $1 billion plan to lower egg prices, which includes upping imports, helping farmers prevent the spread of the virus, and researching vaccine options. The eggs will end up in processed foods, freeing up more fresh eggs for grocery shelves. The US Food and Drug Administration is also reviewing a petition from the National Chicken Council to allow for the sale of eggs laid by chickens raised for meat – something it has previously forbidden because of salmonella risks.
200,000: Speaking of eggs, the Trump administration is seeking corporate sponsors for the White House Easter Egg Roll, a departure from tradition. Sponsorship packages range from $75,000 to $200,000, offering perks like logo placement, media engagement, and exclusive tickets. But there will still be a number of free tickets available.
People gather for the "Elbows up" rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on March 9, 2025.
On March 4, 2025, US President Donald Trumpincreased tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. The same day, the US imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. Two days later, Trump announced that goods and services covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, aka USMCA, would be exempt until April 2, when reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect against all countries around the globe. Canadian energy and potash remain tariffed at 10%, while its steel and aluminum are tariffed at 25%.
Faced with these realities, Mexico, China, and Canada are pursuing very different strategies. What’s working, what’s not, and what’s next?
Mexico has opted for a “respectful” approach prioritizing dialogue over reprisals. In January, President Claudia Sheinbaum launched “Plan Mexico” to address her country’s $105 billion trade imbalance with China by boosting domestic production and attracting investments. She also aggressively tackled drug cartels and migration, Trump’s two pet peeves at the border. In a phone call on March 5, Trump told her, “You’re tough,” and announced his intent to grant Mexico its USMCA reprieve until April 2.
China has taken decisive retaliatory actions – but also sees an opportunity. Vowing to fight “to the bitter end,” Beijing imposed additional tariffs ranging from 10% to 15% on specific American imports, notably soybeans, pork, beef, chicken, and cotton, which will hurt Trump’s Midwestern voters. But China will also leverage America’s April 2 tariffs to boost trade with other nations, potentially offsetting losses in the US market.
Canada has been the most aggressive, going “elbows up” – a hockey term signaling defiance. Ottawa imposed counter-tariffs that could imperil 3.7 million jobs in red US states, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to impose a surcharge on electricity exports (which he later withdrew). This week, newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Europe to shore up trade with the UK and France, rather than engaging first with Washington.
Why the tough stance? For Canada, this isn’t just about tariffs. Trump’s continuous talk of making Canada the 51st US state has enraged Canadians, who are canceling US holidays and boycotting American products. It has also upended the next Canadian election, which Carney is expected to call within days, and which he could now win on the back of anti-Trump sentiment.A drone view shows a flooded area in the city of Bahia Blanca, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
13: The port city of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, was devastated by a massive rainstorm this weekend that dumped a year’s worth of rain in just a few hours, killing 13 people and displacing hundreds. A similarly devastating rainstorm in December 2023 also claimed 13 lives in Bahia Blanca.
200: A grim discovery was made in a clandestine crematorium in Jalisco, Mexico: 200 pairs of shoes. The footwear is believed to belong to people killed by organized criminal gangs. It was uncovered by relatives of some of Jalisco’s 15,000 missing people, the most of any state in Mexico, where over 100,000 people are registered as “disappeared.”
5 million: The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of three M23 rebel leaders, and a $4 million reward for the arrest of two journalists in exile deemed as “accomplices.” But with the DRC’s army increasingly outmatched by rebel forces, the chances of capture are considered slim.
22: A new study reveals that America’s butterfly population has declined by 22% since 2000, with the Southwest hardest hit with a drop of over 50%. The change is primarily attributed to insecticides, climate change, and habitat loss, and it could imperil certain crops, including Texas cotton, of which half is pollinated by butterflies.
296: The latest twist in cyber warfare? Internet shutdowns. In 2024, 296 shutdowns were reported across 54 countries, compared with 283 shutdowns in 39 countries the previous year. Shutdowns were used for political control, to suppress dissent, and to disrupt elections, and they were particularly acute in Africa, where at least five have been in place for over a year.
President Donald Trump talks with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Plenary Session at the NATO summit in Watford, Britain, in December 2019.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced a one-month tariff reprieve on all Mexican and Canadian goods governed by the USMCA, as well as potash,until reciprocal tariffs are imposed worldwide on April 2.Canada supplies 80% of US potash, a critical component of fertilizer. The decrees follow Wednesday’s one-month tariff reprieve for America’s Big 3 automakers: Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors.
What will be tariff-free? According to senior administration officials, 50% of goods entering the US from Mexico and 38% of goods from Canada would qualify. Some Canadian energy products will still be subject to a 10% tariff, and some Mexican products, like computers, will still face a 25% tariff.
How have Canada and Mexico responded? Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had not imposed tariffs but was set to announce them Sunday if no deal was reached.
Canada’s initial set of tariffs on $30 billion in American goods imposed on Tuesday will remain. A second wave of $150 billion set to take effect after 20 days has reportedly been suspended until April. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also said that Canada would be imposing a 25% tariff on electricity exports starting Monday, regardless of whether tariffs would be lifted. Canadian provinces have also removed US-made alcohol from store shelves and barred American firms from procurement contracts, and there is no sign that this measure will be reversed.
Why did Trump change course? Trump said “I wasn’t even looking at the market” but major stock indexes plummeted this week, as investors were spooked by the uncertainty. In the Oval Office, Trump said “This is about companies and countries that have been ripping off our country and they won’t be ripping off our country anymore.”
Trump’s reprieve on Mexico specifically mentioned actions taken to stem the flow of illegal aliens and fentanyl into the US. This contrasts with his conversation Wednesday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which Trump claimed Canada’s efforts on fentanylwere insufficient to drop US tariffs.
But the US president has citedother reasons for tariffs on Canada, including accusing the country of not allowing US banks to operate there and falsely claiming that the US “subsidizes” Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick alsoaccused Canada of having a “national tariff” on US products because it has a 5-15% federal-provincial sales tax.US President Donald Trump gave America’s Big Three automakers a one-month tariff reprieve but expects them to use the time to shift production from Canada and Mexico to the United States. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the temporary exemption Wednesday after Trump held a call with the CEOs of Stellantis, Ford, and GM, at their request. Levitt also made it clear that, as of April 2, reciprocal tariffs will go into effect worldwide.
What are they? In a nutshell, Trump will slap tariffs on other countries that match the tariffs those countries place on the US.
Which countries would be most affected? India, Argentina, South Korea, and Brazil had the highest tariff regimes as of 2023. India recently cut levies on many US imports, including motorcycles, but still has tariffs on imported cars of up to 110%, leaving small exporters demanding further reductions from Delhi. Argentinian President Javier Milei recently praised Trump’s plan for reciprocal tariffs and said he wants to pursue a reciprocal trade pact, even if it means leaving the Mercosur trade pact with neighboring South American countries.
Will Trump reverse course? It’s possible but unlikely. Trump has long been a believer in tariffs. In his address to Congress on Tuesday evening, he said “Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs. They’re about protecting the soul of our country.”Staff remove bottles of US alcohol from the shelves of a Liquor Control Board of Ontario store as part of retaliatory moves against tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, in Toronto, Canada, on March 4, 2025.
It’s official: The United States is now waging a full-blown trade war against three of its largest trading partners. On Tuesday, Washington imposed tariffs of 10% on energy and 25% on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico and doubled its existing tariffs on Chinese imports from 10 to 20%. All three countries responded with harsh words and retaliatory measures.
Canada imposed an immediate 25% retaliatory tariff on $30 billion worth of US goods, with an additional $125 billion worth of products to be tariffed in 21 days. Provincial liquor stores removed American alcohol and Ontario Premier Doug Ford ripped up a $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink. Ford alsothreatened a 25% retaliatory tariff on electricity exports. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the tariffs “dumb,” prompting US President Donald Trump to repeat his taunt of “Governor Trudeau” and promiseeven higher tariffs in response to retaliatory efforts.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum took a slower approach. “We have said it in different ways: cooperation and coordination, yes; subordination and interventionism, no,” she said. Sheinbaum plans to speak with Trump by phone on Thursday and will announce retaliatory measures on Sunday if no deal is reached.
China, meanwhile, placed an additional 10% to 15% tariffs on imported US goods, including chicken, wheat, soybeans, and beef as of March 10. Beijing says it will “fight to the bitter end of any trade war” but left the door open for talks, advising the US to “return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation before it is too late.”
The tariff war had immediate economic effects.Markets plunged, the price of a Dodge Ram truck reportedly rose from $80,000 to $100,000, and by mid-March American gas prices could rise by as much as40 cents per gallon, while Ford said the auto manufacturing sector in Canada could shut down.
Could Trump change course? We’ll be watching for further market volatility as well as blowback from consumers, businesses, and politicians. But stay tuned for a possible course correction: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick already hinted Tuesday that Trump is considering “relief for USMCA-compliant goods” and “may roll back Canada and Mexico tariffs tomorrow.”