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U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating exempting specific agricultural products from tariffs currently imposed on Canada and Mexico. Amid deep concern from farm state lawmakers over the fallout for the U.S. agriculture sector, officials are discussing waiving the 25% duty on some agriculture products, including Canadian potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer. The president has gone one step further on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, granting a one-month exemption. In a statement, Ford said: "We will continue to have a healthy and candid dialogue with the administration to help achieve a bright future for our industry and U.S. manufacturing." Additionally, GM thanked Trump "for his approach, which enables American automakers like GM to compete and invest domestically."

 

Missoulian

Politico

Reuters

U.S. economic activity rose “slightly” since mid-January, but businesses across the country reported uncertainty surrounding new policies from the Trump administration, particularly on tariffs, according to a new Federal Reserve report. The latest Beige Book compilation of anecdotes from businesses in the Fed's 12 member districts, gathered over the weeks to February 24th, found that labor market activity seemed sluggish, with employment only having “nudged slightly higher.” Several districts reported that wage pressures were easing. Inflation worries continued, and there was an uptick in the pace of price increases reported in several districts. “Wages grew at a modest-to-moderate pace, which was slightly slower than the previous report, with several districts noting that wage pressures were easing,” the report added. Contacts in most regions predicted they would raise prices if tariffs were put in place. 

 

Bloomberg

Market Watch

Reuters

The 2025 State of Flood report highlights the escalating demand for flood insurance in the U.S., driven by an increase in flooding events, particularly in previously low-risk areas. Guy Carpenter's analysis indicates that extreme rainfall, exacerbated by rising temperatures, is a primary cause of flooding. The report reveals that pluvial flooding has become more frequent, with projections suggesting that 1.7m additional properties may face flood risks. The National Weather Service reported at least 166 flood-related fatalities in 2024, the highest since 2015. Notably, Hurricane Helene resulted in extensive inland flooding, with less than 1% of affected properties insured. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has transferred US$757.835m of financial risk to the private reinsurance market.

 

Insurance Business Magazine America

The ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region has escalated, with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali reporting that a Venezuelan naval vessel approached an ExxonMobil-operated offshore oil block. Ali stated that the vessel "approached various assets in our exclusive waters," prompting Guyana to alert its international partners. The US condemned the Venezuelan actions, labelling them as "unacceptable" and a violation of Guyana's maritime territory, and warning of "consequences" for further provocations. Guyana, which has seen increased tensions since ExxonMobil's discovery of significant oil reserves in 2015, said it remains committed to diplomatic solutions while asserting its territorial integrity.

 

South China Morning Post

The IRS is planning to reduce its workforce of approximately 90,000 employees by up to 50% through layoffs, attrition, and incentivized buyouts. The initiative is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to downsize the federal workforce, which includes closing agencies and offering buyouts to federal employees. John Koskinen, a former IRS commissioner, warned that such drastic cuts would make the IRS "dysfunctional." In addition to the planned layoffs, the Trump administration intends to lend IRS workers to the Department of Homeland Security to assist with immigration enforcement. Federal agencies are expected to develop a report by March 13 on their reduction in force plans, but it is unclear whether the White House will approve the IRS' reorganization plan and over what period of time it would be implemented.

 

AP News

The Columbian

Los Angeles Times

Utah has become the first state to enact legislation mandating app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors downloading apps. The bill, which is awaiting Gov. Spencer Cox's signature, has sparked a debate between Meta, Apple, and Google regarding responsibility for age verification. Meta said: “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way.” Critics, including Apple, argue that this requirement could compromise user privacy and safety, as it may necessitate sensitive information from all users. The law aims to simplify age verification, linking minor accounts to their parents and requiring approval for app downloads with in-app purchases. If signed, the law will take effect on May 7th. Similar proposals are being considered in at least eight other states.

 

US News and World Report

The Trump administration is set to withdraw a federal lawsuit against Denka Performance Elastomer, a synthetic rubber manufacturer linked to increased cancer risks in a predominantly Black community near its Louisiana plant. The decision reverses a significant environmental justice initiative by the Biden administration, which had accused Denka of emitting harmful levels of chloroprene. David Uhlmann, former Environmental Protection Agency enforcement head, said: “The Trump administration chose to protect a well-heeled and well-connected, multinational corporation over protecting American children and their families.” Robert Taylor, a local activist, described the move as “terrible” and a setback for efforts to combat harmful emissions. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to an email sent Tuesday seeking comment.

 

U.S. News

House Bill 3666, introduced by Rep. Pam Marsh, aims to establish minimum wildfire prevention standards for electric utilities in Oregon. If passed, it could provide these utilities with immunity from lawsuits related to fire damages, leaving victims vulnerable. Critics, including Cody Berne from the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, argue that the bill acts as a "get-out-of-jail-free card" for companies such as PacificCorp, which has faced significant legal repercussions following past wildfires. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, and concerns about its implications for accountability remain unresolved. Survivors of the 2020 Labor Day fires have expressed their frustration over the potential for utilities to evade responsibility while they await compensation.

 

OregonLive.com

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has said the company needs a more open culture where staff are encouraged to speak up and communicate across divisions, according to a transcript of a meeting seen by Reuters. "We're very insular" and "we don't communicate across boundaries," Ortberg said in the webcast from St. Louis, Missouri, the headquarters of Boeing's defense and space division, adding that the company's teams "don't work with each other as well as we could . . . And the power of the Boeing Company is in us all kind of rowing the boat together." He said cultural change would boost morale, and "the results will show in the marketplace."

 

Reuters

Today marks the beginning of a 40-day boycott of Target, initiated by Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant and other faith leaders, in response to the company's retreat from its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Target Fast boycott urges consumers to refrain from shopping at Target and to support Black-owned businesses instead. The boycott's website states: "The greatest insult comes from Target, which pledged to spend over $2bn with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025, only to find out that Target stopped the program at the start of the year." Mr Bryant said Target Fast has partnered with the U.S. Black Chambers to offer boycotting consumers a digital directory of roughly 300,000 businesses that they can support instead of Target.

 

CNN

Cincinnati Enquirer

Fox News

Washington Post

Japan is targeting a significant increase in its domestic cybersecurity industry, and aims to boost sales from ¥900bn ($6bn) to ¥3 trn over the next decade. The government's first industrial strategy on cybersecurity, released by the economy ministry, highlights that Japan-made products currently hold less than half of the market share. The strategy seeks to lower barriers for domestic start-ups, which struggle to compete due to a lack of established track records. The ministry plans to prioritize domestic products in government procurement and invest ¥30bn in research and development. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized the urgency of enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, saying: “We believe that improving our capabilities to respond to cyberattacks is an increasingly urgent issue.” The strategy also includes support for personnel development and international expansion for domestic companies.

 

The Japan Times Online

French shipping firm CMA CGM has warned that U.S. proposals to charge Chinese vessels high port fees would affect all those involved in the container shipping industry. Chief Financial Officer Ramon Fernandez commented: "China builds more than half of all container ships in the world, so this would have a significant effect on all shipping firms."

 

Reuters

New research from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte suggests that over 90% of employees experience "meeting hangovers" - lingering frustrations and distractions that follow unproductive meetings. Steven Rogelberg, a management professor and author of "The Surprising Science of Meetings," explains: "A meeting hangover is the idea that when we have a bad meeting, we just don't leave it at the door." These negative experiences can spread across teams and lead to decreased productivity. Factors contributing to bad meetings include unclear agendas and poor facilitation. To improve meetings, Rogelberg suggests keeping attendee lists small and framing agendas as questions to be answered. He emphasizes that if no questions arise, a meeting may not be necessary. Engaging in problem-focused conversations can also help mitigate the effects of a bad meeting.

 

U.S. News