Waypoint

Waypoint tracks global reactions to a changing world. We highlight how alliances, nations, industries and people are responding to the new American era.

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

Europe is now moving from just-in-time peacetime production towards building an industrial base for a more sustained war footing.

FULL STORY IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES
https://t.co/j0IODiqP0x

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

EUROPEAN REARMAMENT HITS STRIDE

Europe’s weapons factories are expanding at three times the rate of peacetime ... data shows that Europe’s long-promised defence revival is beginning to materialize not just in policy rhetoric or spending pledges but also in concrete and steel.

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

Using more than 1,000 radar satellite passes, the FT tracked changes at sites associated with ammunition and missile production, two bottlenecks in the West’s support for Ukraine. The scale and spread of the detected work suggests a generational shift in rearmament.

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

(And yes, to be fair, it’s not clear how much Canada’s new PM cared about the DST. Mark Carney inherited that from his predecessor. It’s very possible that Canada backed off instantly when pressured because Carney didn’t care enough about the DST to fight and threw MAGA a bone.)

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

Interesting. The U.S. threatened to hit Canada with tariffs ahead of the Canadian Digital Services Tax being implemented. The Canadians backed down. Europe is much better able to resist U.S. pressure. Will be watching this.

[Hümeyra Pamuk @humeyra_pamuk]

NEW: State Dept has ordered U.S. diplomats in Europe to launch a lobbying campaign with the aim to build support to change/repeal EU’s Digital Services Act, which Washington says stifles free speech & imposes costs on U.S. tech companies, per an internal cable seen by @Reuters

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

The White House will be hearing from U.S. defence manufacturers.

[Reuters @Reuters]

Spain rules out buying F-35, choosing between Eurofighter or FCAS https://t.co/nqDyWB4eJF https://t.co/nqDyWB4eJF

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

JAPAN SETS CONDITIONS

Japan's promised $550 billion in U.S. investments under the trade deal struck last month will be determined by whether they will benefit Tokyo too, the Asian nation's top tariff negotiator said on Tuesday.

[Reuters @Reuters]

Japan says US investments under trade deal will be determined by benefits for Tokyo https://t.co/8HogfK7Qhq https://t.co/8HogfK7Qhq

[Reuters @Reuters]

BREAKING: President Trump issued an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, saying the country directly or indirectly imported Russian oil https://t.co/AJCjRftZz4

[Reuters @Reuters]

US, EU agree trade deal, EU will see 15% tariff across the board https://t.co/SGkNwupfNQ https://t.co/SGkNwupfNQ

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

On top of that, it is now seriously weighing putting the Anti-Coercion Instrument on the table — also known as the EU’s “trade bazooka.”

More details in @POLITICOEurope https://t.co/EOmstHi5wV

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

EU LOADS BAZOOKA

Besides a first retaliation package set to hit €93 billion worth of U.S. goods in the absence of a deal, Brussels is already considering a new round of retaliatory measures against the U.S., which would also hit services.

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Trade deal on US tariffs within reach, says EU, as 1 August deadline nears https://t.co/7Z7ivv94Xh

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

“This Orwellian message won’t fool the United States,” it said. “Censorship is not freedom.”

The remarks echo comments made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier this year.

Read more here: https://t.co/wFOPJNNZ7A

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

The U.S. is attacking Europe over free speech, saying its regulation of online platforms amounts to “Orwellian” censorship.

In a social media post, the State Department said thousands of people are being convicted for criticizing their own governments.

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

And we're back! Give Waypoint a day or two to get caught up and stay tuned for fresh content here (and on our Substack page) soon. If you haven't already, please sign up there for a free account at https://t.co/HLZamluJum

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

Waypoint is just finishing a brief summer holiday. We’ll be back next week.

[Reuters @Reuters]

The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported https://t.co/m3egRijcpY

[The Hill @thehill]

Trump announces Ukraine weapons deal with NATO

Follow live: https://t.co/Hit6JAXfWD

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

Following up on the threatened 35% tariff for Canada, Trump now says Mexico is getting 30%. (The EU, too.) The White House has already said that most Canadian goods are tariff exempt. Mexico will probably get the same treatment due to USMCA.

[El Universal @El_Universal_Mx]

🔴#ÚLTIMAHORA El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, anunció el sábado que impondrá aranceles del 30% a México y a la Unión Europea
https://t.co/dfahgDQBm0

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

- Markets are unhappy and Canadian dollar down against U.S. dollar, but that also just seems to be the new normal.

Read more via @Reuters here:

https://t.co/Hv4xltXOoF

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

TRUMP TARGETS CANADA

- No new trade deal seems likely by agreed-on deadline of July 16; new goal is end of month.
- Trump says Canada will face 35% tariff on Aug. 1.
- But most goods will be tariff-exempt due to existing U.S.-Canada-Mexico agreement.

[Waypoint @WaypointPress]

ANALYSIS

- Seems like more U.S. posturing via social media to keep pressure on negotiating partners.
- Canada recently gave Trump a win by scrapping an EU-style digital tax.
- Trump seems unimpressed, but Canadians also not panicking. Escalating Trump threats now baked in.