Trump's $2,000 Tariff Checks: New Timeline & Bypass Plan

President Donald Trump has dismissed the significance of the North American trade pact he signed in 2020, signaling a turbulent and uncertain future for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as it heads for a critical review.

Speaking during a tour of a Ford Motor Co. plant, Trump described the agreement as having "no real advantage" for the United States. His comments represent a significant challenge to the stability of the trade relationship between the U.S. and its two largest trading partners, creating fresh anxiety in Ottawa, Mexico City, and the American auto industry.

"We could have it or not, it wouldn't matter," Trump told reporters, adding that the deal is "irrelevant." He claimed the primary beneficiary is Canada and that the U.S. doesn't "need their product" because manufacturing is returning stateside.

A "Don't Care" Stance on a Signature Deal

Trump’s recent remarks are a stark departure from the praise his administration once had for the USMCA, which was touted as a signature achievement of his first term. The agreement replaced the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal Trump frequently criticized.

When asked if he still supports the pact, Trump’s response was blunt. "I think they want it," he said, referring to Canada and Mexico. "I don't really care."

He elaborated on his position by targeting the auto sector directly. "I don't even think about USMCA," Trump said. "We don't need cars made in Canada. We don't need cars made in Mexico. We want to make them here. And that's what's happening."

This rhetoric aligns with previous actions during his second term, where he imposed new tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, citing fentanyl trafficking as a justification, before later exempting products covered by the USMCA.

What's at Stake: The USMCA Review Clause

The trade agreement now faces a mandatory review this year, and Trump's posturing introduces major complications. The pact’s future hinges on the outcome of this review process:

• 16-Year Extension: If all three countries agree to renew the deal before July 1, it will be extended for another 16 years.

• Annual Reviews: If there is no agreement, the countries must hold annual joint reviews until they either approve an extension or the pact expires in 2036.

Beyond the review, any country can withdraw from the USMCA with just six months' written notice. It remains unclear if Trump intends to trigger this clause, but the threat alone injects significant leverage into any negotiations and leaves the path forward ambiguous.

Auto Sector Braces for Supply Chain Disruption

The prospect of the USMCA unraveling would deliver a major shock to the Canadian and Mexican economies and disrupt critical industries that have built their business models around the agreement.

The auto manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable. Decades of free trade have created deeply interconnected supply chains across North America, which would be upended if Trump terminates the deal.

U.S. automakers have urged the White House to negotiate a stable North American trade framework to maintain a competitive edge. Ford CEO Jim Farley highlighted the impact of trade policy, noting that tariff breaks for Japanese exports gave Toyota a cost advantage of $5,000 to $10,000 on SUVs compared to Ford, even though Ford builds its SUVs in the United States.

Trump’s indifference toward the USMCA leaves the future of North American commerce hanging in the balance, with major economic consequences for all three nations.

UNDER ATTACK

Source: Reuters

Russia has launched one of its most advanced ballistic missiles against Ukraine, a move that analysts believe is driven as much by strategic messaging as by tactical goals. The weapon, an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, was fired at the city of Lviv, marking only its second known use in the conflict.

This deployment suggests Russia is using its high-end munitions sparingly, likely due to a limited stockpile.

A Coordinated Barrage to Overwhelm Defenses

The Oreshnik missile, which traveled nearly 900 miles to its target, was not fired in isolation. The attack followed Russia's standard operational playbook, involving a massive, coordinated strike designed to saturate Ukrainian air defenses.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the assault included approximately 200 munitions in total, combining suicide drones, cruise missiles, and other ballistic missiles aimed at several cities. The strategy behind such a large-scale barrage is to overwhelm defense systems, increasing the likelihood that some weapons will penetrate and strike their targets.

The Strategic Motive Behind the Launch

Beyond its military impact, the Kremlin appears to have used the Oreshnik launch to send a political signal. The British Ministry of Defence assessed that the strike was almost certainly a form of "strategic messaging."

This message followed Russia's unsubstantiated public claims that Ukraine had attacked President Putin's residence in Novgorod on December 29, 2025. Western intelligence has disputed Moscow's narrative. A CIA assessment concluded that Russia fabricated the attack, likely in an attempt to undermine ongoing peace negotiations and erode international support for Ukraine.

International Condemnation and Support for Ukraine

In the wake of the missile strikes, British Defence Secretary John Healy visited Kyiv to discuss diplomatic efforts to end the war. He strongly condemned the attack.

"Russia's barrage of attacks on Ukraine overnight, including firing an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Lviv, are another attempt by Putin to terrorise Ukraine and threaten Europe's security," Healy stated. "My visit to Kyiv today underlines the UK's resolute support for a just and lasting peace."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United Kingdom for its support, emphasizing the urgent need for more air defense capabilities. "Moscow is trying to use cold weather as a tool of terror," he said. "We know which partners have the relevant missiles and equipment, and I am sincerely grateful to the United Kingdom for its readiness to help."

The United Kingdom has been a key provider of military and diplomatic aid to Ukraine throughout the war.

Peace Talks and Future Security Guarantees

The attack comes amid sensitive peace negotiations. As part of these talks, several European nations, including the UK and France, have indicated a willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee after the conflict ends.

President Zelenskyy confirmed discussions around this possibility. "We also discussed how a British contingent could be deployed to operate alongside French forces if diplomacy works to end the war," he added. "It is crucial that the framework for ending the war includes a clear response from the allies should Russian aggression be repeated."

Former President Donald Trump is set to interview BlackRock CIO Rick Rieder for the position of Federal Reserve Chair, a move that could signal a major shift in U.S. monetary policy and directly impact cryptocurrency markets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The high-stakes meeting is scheduled to take place at the White House on Thursday.

The Race to Lead the Federal Reserve

Rieder has emerged as one of four finalists for the top job at the central bank, which will become vacant when current Chair Jerome Powell's term concludes in May. The other contenders for the position are Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett, and Christopher Waller.

The interview will involve key figures from Trump's inner circle, including chief of staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, who will join the discussion on the future of monetary policy.

Rieder's Vision: A 3% Interest Rate Target

A key focus of the discussion will be Rieder's public stance on interest rates. As the Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock, he has advocated for a less restrictive monetary policy.

"The Fed has got to get the rate down to 3% - I think that is closer to equilibrium," Rieder stated in a recent interview.

This position suggests a more dovish approach, aimed at easing financial conditions and potentially stimulating economic activity.

Market Impact on Crypto and Risk Assets

A pivot towards a 3% interest rate would have significant consequences for financial markets. Lower borrowing costs typically encourage investment in higher-risk assets. Analysts are closely watching this development for its potential to boost valuations for cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Any change in Fed leadership, especially one involving a figure with a clear policy preference like Rieder, is a critical event for traders and investors across both traditional and digital asset markets.

Gauging the Odds and Historical Precedent

While Rieder is a serious contender, prediction markets still see his nomination as an outside shot. On the platform Kalshi, his chances of being nominated are currently priced at 8%.

Historically, the appointment of a new Federal Reserve Chair often precedes major shifts in financial and economic trends. If Rieder were to be nominated and confirmed, his advocacy for lower rates could herald a new chapter for global markets and cryptocurrency valuations.

Productivity Surge Sparks Rate Cut Debate

Federal Reserve officials are signaling they will hold interest rates steady, pushing back against arguments that a recent surge in U.S. productivity is enough to justify a policy shift.

While higher productivity can allow companies to produce goods more cheaply and help cool inflation, top central bankers remain unconvinced that the trend is permanent. They reiterated this week that they need more conclusive evidence of easing price pressures before considering rate cuts.

This cautious stance puts the Fed at odds with the Trump administration, which sees the strong productivity numbers as a clear reason to lower borrowing costs. Administration officials, buoyed by hopes of further gains from artificial intelligence, argue that the central bank should act now.

However, Fed policymakers have made it clear they believe it is too early to factor a sustained productivity boom into their monetary policy outlook, suggesting rates will likely remain on hold.

Fed Officials Urge Patience, Citing Inflation Risks

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem articulated the central bank's cautious view, stating that while he is hopeful for a new era of higher productivity, it is too soon to make that call.

"It's certainly too early to outsource our job of bringing inflation back towards 2%," Musalem said during a webcast. "I see little reason for near-term further easing of policy."

He described the Fed's current policy rate of 3.50%-3.75% as roughly neutral. In his view, a rate cut would only be necessary if the resilient labor market starts to weaken or if inflation falls back to the 2% target faster than anticipated.

Recent data shows underlying consumer inflation held steady at 2.6% year-over-year in December. However, the report also revealed a sharp monthly jump in food prices—the largest in over three years—alongside persistent housing inflation.

The White House View: "Cut Interest Rates, Meaningfully"

In response to the latest inflation data, President Donald Trump declared that there was "very low inflation" and urged the Federal Reserve to "cut interest rates, MEANINGFULLY."

This perspective is shared by key administration officials. Top economic adviser Kevin Hassett, a potential successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and Fed Governor Stephen Miran have both publicly argued that the productivity trend will help moderate inflation and warrants lower borrowing costs. The productivity data itself is strong, showing a 4.9% year-over-year jump in the third quarter of last year, which helped drive down unit labor costs to nearly 2%.

The market does not expect the Fed to cut rates at its upcoming January 27-28 meeting. Speculation is growing that the central bank may keep rates on hold for the remainder of Powell's term, which ends in May. The policy debate has intensified amid mounting tension between Trump and Powell, who disclosed on Sunday that he had been threatened with a criminal indictment over congressional testimony from last June.

Echoes of the 1990s: A Flawed Comparison?

The current policy dilemma has drawn comparisons to the mid-1990s, when then-Fed Chair Alan Greenspan correctly anticipated that rising productivity would help contain inflation, allowing him to resist calls for rate hikes.

However, some Fed officials believe the parallel is imperfect. New York Fed President John Williams, who was an economist at the central bank's board during that period, acknowledged the similarities but pointed to key differences.

Figure 1: New York Fed President John Williams argues that while productivity gains are welcome, the economic conditions of the 1990s are not fully comparable to today's.

Williams noted that the 1990s benefited from other disinflationary forces, such as expanding globalization, which are not present today. "I love positive shocks and supply shocks," he said, "but I think there were other factors that were helping keep inflation low" that are not the same now.

"I do not think the parallels are complete," Williams concluded, aligning with Musalem's view that there is no compelling reason to cut rates in the near term.

Russia has drafted a new bill designed to integrate cryptocurrency into daily life and the broader national economy, according to Anatoly Aksakov, a senior lawmaker leading the country's digital asset regulation efforts.

The legislation, which will be a focus of the upcoming spring parliamentary session, aims to simplify crypto operations and is expected to provide a major boost to Russia's domestic crypto sector.

New Legislation Targets Mass Adoption

Anatoly Aksakov, who chairs the State Duma's Committee on Financial Markets, confirmed that the proposed law would exempt cryptocurrencies from special financial regulations, positioning them to become a commonplace tool for Russian citizens.

"A bill has already been drafted that would exempt cryptocurrencies from special financial regulation, meaning they will become commonplace in our lives," Aksakov stated.

He elaborated that the primary goal is to make digital currencies accessible to most Russians while weaving them into the country's economic fabric. The reforms are intended to create a powerful impetus for the development of the crypto industry under domestic rules.

Under the proposed framework, Russian residents could use digital coins for international settlements and to attract foreign capital by placing assets on international financial markets.

How the New Rules Will Affect Investors

The legislation outlines a two-tiered system for market participation:

• Professional Participants: Financial market professionals will be able to work with cryptocurrencies without restrictions.

• Non-Qualified Investors: Everyday citizens will also have access, though it will be restricted.

This approach marks a significant liberalization from previous policies.

From Sanctions to Crypto: Russia's Policy Shift

This legislative push is the latest step in a significant evolution of Russia's stance on cryptocurrency, largely driven by Western sanctions that have limited its access to traditional finance.

The year 2025 marked a turning point in the country's historically conservative attitude. Last spring, Russia introduced a special "experimental" legal regime that permitted the use of digital currencies for cross-border payments. That initial framework also allowed a small group of "highly qualified" investors to put money into crypto assets. By May, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) authorized financial firms to offer crypto derivatives.

In late December, Russia's monetary authority released a new regulatory concept that recognized cryptocurrencies as "monetary assets" and aimed to expand investor access. Following this, in November, financial regulators began discussing the removal of strict requirements for crypto investors, such as minimum income thresholds and prior investment experience.

What to Expect by Mid-2026

The new legislation is expected to be adopted by July 1, 2026. Once enacted, it will allow regular qualified investors and ordinary citizens to legally purchase cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

However, for non-qualified investors, annual crypto purchases will be capped at 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,800).