Trade czar Jamieson Greer leveled a blistering critique at America’s top trading partners, declaring that their failure to curb imports of goods produced with forced labor is “unacceptable.” The remarks come as the White House juggles a volatile mix of trade disputes, diplomatic maneuvering, and military strikes abroad.
In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Post, President Trump confirmed he had shouted expletives at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, offering no apology for the outburst. The president also weighed in on U.S.-Colombia relations, labeling socialist Senator Ivan Cepeda a “Radical Left Marxist” and stressing the election’s significance for bilateral ties.
On Iran, the administration sent mixed signals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington and Tehran are nearing a deal but warned that fractures in Iran’s leadership are slowing progress. Trump insisted “talks are continuing, at a rapid pace,” despite a report from an Iranian semi-official outlet claiming negotiations had stalled. The president added that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the Supreme Leader, is “involved, absolutely,” and that “they have a lot of respect for him.”
The military front remains tense. The U.S. military confirmed Iran launched attack drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf overnight, with no American forces harmed. In response, the United States bombed radar and drone sites in Iran, according to a Monday announcement. Tehran warned it could suspend negotiations if the attacks continue, but Trump said diplomacy remains on track.
Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s shadowy Quds Force threatened to block the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the wider ocean. A UK maritime monitoring agency reported a large explosion in the area.
In Europe, the European Commission is expected to make an initial decision by July 7 on trade-related matters, while the continent continues to harden its stance on illegal immigration with longer entry bans and tougher detention rules. The European Central Bank faces pressure ahead of its June 11 rate decision, with markets pricing in another quarter-point increase.
Across the Pacific, U.S. and Japanese defense chiefs called for allied burden-sharing, stronger deterrence, and expanded regional defense cooperation. The two countries pledged to enhance flexible air deployment operations and strengthen force posture arrangements. Authorities reviewed probe requests under WTO rules and Japanese law, finding enough evidence to launch formal investigations into state support for China’s state-owned enterprises, which a group found received disproportionately high government backing.
