Tariffs and conflicts shape a turbulent week

A week of major policy moves and geopolitical tensions tests markets and diplomacy.

Tariffs and War Risks Dominate a Turbulent Week

The United States imposed tariffs on more than 60 countries and the European Union, signaling a shift toward protectionist policy and raising costs for importers and consumers. Economists warn the move could slow growth and push inflation higher as supply chains adjust. In the Middle East, Israel signaled it will take control of Gaza City, intensifying the war with Hamas and increasing humanitarian risk as the Gaza Strip faces famine. In Washington, President Trump signaled readiness to meet Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, a diplomatic development that could reshape how the United States engages with Moscow. Outside the headlines, the week offered lighter pieces on museum trips and veteran support projects, providing a human counterweight to the big policy events.

The week highlights a pattern where policy moves collide with global flashpoints. Tariffs reflect a shift toward protectionism that could create price pressures for households and a slower economy if trade partners respond with retaliation. The Gaza escalation adds humanitarian and geopolitical risk, complicating any chance at renewed ceasefire talks. The prospect of a Trump Putin meeting signals a readiness to bargain, but it also raises questions about how real progress can be made when wars and domestic politics pull the stage in opposite directions. Taken together, these events underscore how economic policy and international conflict now travel in the same traffic lane, affecting investors, policymakers, and ordinary people alike.

Highlights

The week leaves readers watching for how much policy can bend before markets and people bend back.