The US imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistani exports in April due to a $3 billion trade surplus, but agreed to a 90-day pause for negotiations. Pakistan responded by forming high-level groups and proposing incentives for US investment in mining and tariff reductions on select imports. Formal talks began on May 30 between the Ministry of Finance and the US Trade Representative, with an agreement to fast-track a roadmap and reach a deal "as soon as possible". The deadline for the 90-day pause expires on July 9, or else tariffs could be reinstated, jeopardizing $5 billion in Pakistani exports. Meanwhile, India is also negotiating a trade deal with the US, aiming to boost bilateral trade from $190bn to $500bn by 2030, after Trump branded it a "tariff king" and accused it of being a "big abuser" of trade ties.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1326552-ahead-of-july-9-deadline-pakistan-bd-india-finalising-trade-deals-with-usXi Jinping is championing the cause of the Global South through the BRICS mechanism, a platform for promoting cooperation among countries in this region. The Global South encompasses emerging markets and developing countries, including those in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Xi's efforts aim to strengthen ties with nations such as Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa, which are part of the BRICS grouping.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2025-07-05-xi-jinping-champions-the-cause-of-global-southChinese Ambassador Xiao Qian has criticized countries for "hyped up" the China threat narrative, urging Australia not to be swayed by NATO's support for sharply increasing defense spending. He warned that such a move would place a heavy fiscal burden on nations and strain the global economy. The comments come ahead of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China, as the country faces pressure from the US to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, currently at around 2%.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317004/chinese-ambassadors-grandstanding-advice-australia-raises-eyebrows?module=top_story&pgtype=section#commentsIndonesian Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto is hopeful that negotiations with the US will yield results soon, potentially leading to lower tariffs than those imposed on Vietnam. The Indonesian government plans to sign a $34 billion energy import and investment deal with the US, including a commitment to import energy worth $15.5 billion. US President Donald Trump has set a July 9 deadline for reciprocal tariff negotiations, which have already been agreed upon by several countries, including Vietnam and the UK. In contrast, talks with Japan are stalled due to disagreements over tariffs and trade imbalances, with Trump threatening to raise tariffs by up to 35% if an agreement is not reached before the deadline.
https://en.tempo.co/read/2024927/tariff-talks-underway-between-us-and-several-countriesIndonesia is facing a significant challenge with five vacant ambassadorial positions, including those for the United States, North Korea, Libya, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The longest-running vacancy is in Libya since 2017, while the US position has been empty since July 2023. Indonesian Deputy Chairperson Dave Akbarshah Fikarno Laksono emphasized the importance of a US ambassador, citing the country's strategic partnership in various sectors such as economics and defense. The current ambassadorial vacuum was caused by Rosan Roeslani being recalled to Indonesia to assume the role of Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, but Dave clarified that this does not diminish the US's importance.
https://en.tempo.co/read/2024892/the-appointment-process-for-indonesian-ambassadorsSouth Korean President Lee is reviewing a plan to send envoys to 10 countries including the European Union, Australia, Canada, France, India, and Russia, as part of broader diplomatic outreach efforts. The move aims to lay groundwork for summit diplomacy by briefing on Lee's state affairs policy and delivering friendly messages. This effort follows former President Yoon Suk-yeol's precedent of dispatching policy consultation delegations to the US and Japan after his election.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337680.shtmlUS immigration officials have been accused of mistreating a migrant, Ward Sakeik, who was held in an ICE detention centre for 16 hours without food or water. Sakeik, a refugee from Somalia, claimed he was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by officers at the facility in Texas. The incident has sparked outrage among human rights groups, with some calling for an investigation into the treatment of migrants in US custody.
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/handcuffed-for-16-hours-with-no-food-or-water-how-us-immigration-treated-ward-sakeik-at-ice-detention-centre-11751709426114.htmlUS President Donald Trump had a "very strategic call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses amid Russia's largest drone and missile barrage. Trump also spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, citing the need for protection.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/trump-very-unhappy-with-putin-call-says-he-wants-to-keep-killing-people-8828694US President Donald Trump announced he signed letters to 12 countries outlining tariff levels for goods exported to the US, with "take it or leave it" offers set to be sent out on Monday. The tariffs, which had been suspended for 90 days, are expected to take effect on August 1 and could reach up to 70%. Trump's strategy shift comes after repeated setbacks in trade negotiations with countries like Japan and the European Union, and amid a global trade war that has unsettled financial markets.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/07/05/trump-targets-12-countries-with-new-us-import-tariffs-as-90-day-suspension-nears-end/182908