USTR Launches Section 301 Probe Against India Over $58 Billion Trade Surplus, Targeting Solar & Petrochemicals

US Imposes 50% Tariffs on $20 Billion Canadian Goods; Canada Retaliates Under Section 338 of Tariff Act 1930

The US has imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, invoking a rarely-used Depression-era law (Section 338, Tariff Act 1930). Canada immediately retaliated dollar-for-dollar, escalating a trade war that threatens the renewal of the USMCA trade pact. This is critical for understanding modern trade protectionism, legal instruments for tariffs, and the fragility of bilateral economic alliances.

India-Russia Set $100 Billion Trade Target by 2030; Jaishankar Meets Putin on Energy, Fertilisers, High-Tech

Ahead of the SCO and BRICS summits, EAM Jaishankar meets Putin to deepen bilateral ties in energy, fertilisers, and high-tech. India-Russia set a $100 billion trade target by 2030, with trade reaching a record $68.7 billion in FY2024-25. This is critical for India's energy security, fertiliser imports, and strategic autonomy.

Brazil-India Trade Nears $20 Billion, BRICS Not Anti-Western, Says Brazil FM

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira highlights rapidly growing Brazil-India bilateral trade, nearing $20 billion with a $30 billion target by 2030. He clarifies that BRICS is not an anti-Western bloc and has no intention to replace the US dollar, while the New Development Bank aims to reform global governance. The interview also covers the pause in BRICS expansion and Brazil's deepening engagement with ASEAN.

India-Uzbekistan Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Set $5 Billion Trade Target by 2030

India and Uzbekistan upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a significant deepening of ties. Key outcomes include a $5 billion annual trade target by 2030, a long-term uranium supply framework, and the establishment of a Coordination Council at the foreign ministers' level.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration: India's Dilemma on Local Currency Trade vs. Strategic Autonomy

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration highlights India's cautious approach to local currency trade, balancing export advantages from a depreciating rupee against the risk of yuan dominance and US tariff threats. India supports local currency trade but opposes a common BRICS currency due to China's likely control.

US President Trump Backs India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) Against Iranian Threats

US President Donald Trump has announced strong US support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), linking it to the need to shift West Asian energy infrastructure away from Iranian checkpoints after Iran's attacks on commercial shipping. This is a major geostrategic endorsement for a key G20-launched connectivity initiative that directly challenges Iranian influence in the region.

India-China Bilateral Trade Reaches $125 Bn (22.6% YoY) Post Xi-Modi Meet; BRICS AI Plan

The September 12, 2026 Xi-Modi meeting in New Delhi signals a diplomatic thaw in India-China relations. Bilateral trade surged to $125 billion (Jan-Aug 2026) with Indian exports up 41%. China also proposed a BRICS AI open-source initiative, offering rich fodder for UPSC topics on IR, economy, and technology governance.

Trump-Xi Summit 2026: Xi Warns Against Thucydides Trap, Taiwan Tensions, Trade Truce Extended to Feb 2027

US President Trump and Chinese President Xi held high-stakes talks at the White House. Xi warned against the Thucydides Trap and called for dialogue. No concrete breakthroughs on Taiwan or Iran were reported, but a tariff truce was extended from November 2026 to February 2027. This impacts global trade and geopolitical stability—key for UPSC IR and current affairs.