US Agrees to Cease Targeting Canadian Culture, Tensions Rise on Global Stage
Canada and the US have reached a tentative trade deal after weeks of negotiations. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced on social media that the US will no longer target French language or Canadian culture in future trade talks, stating he's 'looking forward to further constructive U.S. clarifications on other positions'. However, not all issues were resolved as US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attributed Canada's 'additional views' and 'requests' for the deal's delay.
The development comes amidst ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly considering an escalation to the war. Bloomberg reported that Putin is weighing options including increased ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and even nuclear weapons as a last resort. The threat led to price spikes in wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade.
In other news, three major Canadian banks released their third-quarter profits. Royal Bank of Canada recorded $6.02 billion in profit, up from $5.41 billion last year. TD Bank Group reported a 38% increase in profit to $4.62 billion, while CIBC's profit rose slightly to $2.41 billion.