Group 1 - The Canadian government has announced a last-minute suspension of the digital services tax, providing a breakthrough in the stalled US-Canada trade negotiations [1] - The tax, originally set to be implemented in 2024 with retroactive effects from 2022, was intended to impose a 3% tax on major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta [1][2] - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that this decision would clear obstacles for resuming trade talks, with a timeline set for July 21, 2025, as per the G7 summit [1] Group 2 - Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the cancellation of the digital tax would significantly advance negotiations for a new economic security framework between the US and Canada [2] - The core of the tax dispute revolves around Canada's attempt to address the tax gap from large tech companies that benefit from the Canadian market without fulfilling their tax obligations [2] - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessenet expressed strong opposition to the Canadian tax policy, arguing it discriminates against US companies and introduces retroactive taxation, which has not been seen in EU practices [2] Group 3 - The sudden policy reversal highlights the governance challenges of international tax rules in the digital age and reflects the deeper strategic competition between North American trade partners in the digital economy [3] - As the July 21 deadline approaches, the ability of both countries to reach consensus on key issues such as digital tax and supply chain security will be a significant indicator of North American economic integration [3]