Compared with Donald Trump, Xi Jinping looks like a far more reliable economic partner. In the coming year, China hopes to sign new trade deals with Gulf states, Switzerland and South Korea https://t.co/OjP9orFUQS ...

Trump to ease coffee and banana tariffs in Latin America trade deals https://t.co/LyNmsiX93O ...

The US president is signing trade deals in Asia that lock in higher costs for exports from the region https://t.co/SBzfdpTZXd ...

President Trump is making trade deals in Asia. Federal Reserve officials are preparing for today's interest rate decision. Get details on Bloomberg Surveillance. @tomkeene @ptsweeney @LisaMateoTV are LIVE on YouTube. https://t.co/ZwBCTHnAZR ...

Trump’s latest trade deals with members of Asean risks seeing them receive less than Washington gets in return, according to Bloomberg Economics https://t.co/aS93VavBMi ...

US President Donald Trump came to Southeast Asia wielding trade deals his office hailed as “historic.” The finer details, though, suggest a set of agreements that are uneven and with plenty of unknowns. https://t.co/YD3l53g0xd ...

Donald Trump is signaling he's in the mood for making trade deals, though the devil may be in the details: Here is your Evening Briefing. https://t.co/qwpn13MJcS ...

The Canadian prime minister talks about renegotiating trade deals under Trump, balancing climate goals with oil revenue and why Canada can’t afford to let Washington lead. https://t.co/XEPaCoe8hf ...

Trade & Politics - Canada's prime minister discusses renegotiating trade deals under the Trump administration [1] - Canada aims to balance climate goals with oil revenue [1] - Canada seeks to avoid following Washington's lead [1]

Economic Conditions - The economy is currently in a state of stagnation, with consumer confidence and CEO confidence both low, indicating a lack of movement in hiring and investment decisions [1][2][7] - Unemployment rates are not expected to rise significantly due to a combination of retiring baby boomers and returning immigrants, but the overall employment situation remains stagnant [4] Employment Trends - The job market is experiencing a downward trend, with private job reports indicating a decline, and the anticipated government jobs report being unavailable due to the government shutdown [3][4] - There is a notable lack of mass layoffs, but hiring is also not occurring, leading to a frozen employment situation [2][4] Inflation and GDP - Inflation is on the rise while GDP is declining, creating a scenario referred to as stagflation, which is concerning for the overall economic outlook [5] - The need for trade deals to be finalized is emphasized as a critical factor for economic recovery and moving out of the current stagnation [5] Market Sentiment - Despite negative economic indicators, the market remains optimistic, suggesting that executives believe in a potential resolution to current issues, particularly regarding tariffs [6][8] - There is a disconnect between market valuations, which are perceived as overvalued, and the actual economic conditions, leading to uncertainty among executives [7][8] Corporate Behavior - Companies are currently holding back on investments, spending, and hiring due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs and supply chain costs, which could negatively impact the economy [7][8]