My friend Donette Chin-Loy Chang, who is Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University along with Wes Hall, Chancellor the University of Toronto collaborated to stage a Benefit Concert for post-hurricane relief in Jamaica. Both have Jamaican roots. One of the three organizations tagged with delivering the relief if Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC). Donette and I are both past Board Chairs of this organization that has been active in Jamaica, Haiti and other countries in the Caribbean and Central America for over 10 years.

There has been a lot of talk about the impact that the U.S. trade disruption on Canada is having. Great to find a U.S. source report that tells it like it is. By Madeline Mazak Dec 12, 2025 President Donald Trump’s trade policies are hurting American businesses in every state located along the U.S.-Canada border that “rely on short-term visits by Canadians,” a new report says.

The 12 Most Popular Rum Brands in the World for 2025 December 11, 2025 The rum industry, which long found success with production in the Americas, might be experiencing the onset of a new guard. Philippines-based distillery Tanduay has topped the list of the world’s best-selling rum brands since 2018. For the past few years, other rums from India and Africa have been nipping at the heels of second and third ranked Caribbean-produced rums Bacardí and Captain Morgan.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s lead trade negotiator says the administration is considering breaking up the three-way free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, moving toward separate deals instead.

The plan would affect people from countries, including the UK, which can fill out a form in lieu of a visa.

In a public statement posted late Tuesday, Hillman did not reveal the reason she is leaving now but she previously had been expected to stay on for a full year.

Donald Trump signalled he could impose fresh tariffs in the latest sign that trade talks with Canada and India could drag on. Read more here

In an interview with POLITICO, the president offered no reassurance to America’s allies about Russia and vowed to reshape their politics.

Donald Trump’s new national security strategy turns history on its head, dismissing a Europe it says faces “civilizational erasure” and praising far-right parties that Moscow supports.

Farmers have been dogged by trade wars that have seen reduced purchases and increased prices on seeds and fertiliser.

The world’s despots have much to celebrate, while democrats have plenty to be anxious about — especially in Europe.

The Kremlin welcomes the starkly worded document, which does not cast Russia as a threat to the US.

Allies may panic; despots will cheer

The Trump administration recently released its “National Security Strategy”.

Madelaine Drohan has written a book that I'm putting on my Christmas list. The New York Times gives it some coverage in their "Canada Letter" this morning. By Ian Austen New York Times "Canada Letter" December 6, 2025 After Madelaine Drohan left a long and distinguished career in journalism for graduate studies in history, she took on a largely forgotten aspect of the relationship between Canada and the United States.

President Donald Trump has come out with a new national security strategy that paints European allies as weak and aims to reassert America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

Released Thursday, the 2025 National Security Strategy is also a window into the dramatic shift in America’s official world view under Trump.

The United States Trade Representative office is holding three days of hearings this week "regarding the operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA) in preparation for the first Six-Year Joint Review of the USMCA on July 1, 2026" (Source: USTR website). A wide range of interests were scheduled to appear. See…

Trump Administration has released its National Security policy. It is a startling document, both in its language and in its assertion of an entirely self-absorbed (countries don't have friends...just interests) approach to international relations. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has set forth a new national security strategy that paints European allies as weak and aims to reassert America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

I saw this Newsweek story today. No coincidence as this was Day 2 of the USTR Hearings on USMCA review. Trump has said similar things as well. The key takeaway is they seem to be setting up dumping the agreement and doing bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico. It will be interesting to see if that is where their consultations come out...although that probably doesn't matter much.

U.S. President Donald Trump could decide next year to withdraw from the Canada-United States-Mexico trade agreement, Politico reported on Thursday, citing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

America and the Fate of Ukraine