The Bait and Switch Deal: The Legal Case Against Section 122 Tariffs

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Who would've guessed progressives would be quoting Milton Friedman? Yet here we are—22 Democratic Attorneys General just did exactly that, using the free-market legend’s words to take on President Trump’s new Section 122 tariffs. And, they’ve got a pretty solid argument.

Further, White House is slow-walking refunds. Judges shouldn’t let the Administration get away with another bait-and-switch.

Read the entire gifted article.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Tough Obstacles To Ending the War in Ukraine

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The simple fact that recent meetings between Trump and Zelenskyy, and the larger gathering of European leaders, was conducted in a friendly, co-operative fashion is itself notable given Zelensky's acrimonious White House visit in February and the sometimes contentious relations Trump has had with his European counterparts.

"If I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons," he [Trump] said in a Tuesday television interview.

But the path to heaven is narrow, as the saying goes, and there are still numerous obstacles to ending the war in Ukraine.

It's Not Candy Land, It's Game of Chicken

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A day before Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs are scheduled to kick in, the US president appears locked in a high-stakes game of chicken [or maybe Candy Land?], with the world's economy hanging in the balance.

Some nations labelled "worst offenders" are scrambling to make nice with the White House to end this game before it reaches a potentially devastating climax.  China, in contrast, is playing a different game, one of retaliation and resistance.

Meanwhile, Trump has pressed ahead, even as some allies – in Congress and on Wall Street – wonder if he's going too far.

Is Canada Throwing Mexico Under the Bus?

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Trump recently threatened he would impose a blanket 25% tariff on both Canada and Mexico when he takes office in January unless they secured their shared borders with the US. 

That said, Canada is being accused of throwing Mexico under the bus amid a tariff threat ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term in the White House.

Canadian officials were quick to distance their country's border issues from those of Mexico, arguing that drug smuggling and unlawful crossings at the southern border were much higher, and that Mexico was serving as a "back door" in North America for Chinese investment.

Those remarks have not gone unnoticed in Mexico.

Today in Global Small Business: Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity in 2023

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Is your organization ready to turn uncertainty into opportunity? Here's how you prepare.
• Are we in a prolonged sideways trend?
• Quote of the week:  "Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'" – Alfred Lord Tennyson
• The big opportunity behind global small businesses.
• The World Bank tells it like it is – 2022 in review.
• The White House looks back on 2022.

Today in Global Small Business: Bill Gates's List of Inventions That Will Change the World for the Better

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Bill Gates's list of inventions that will change the world for the better.
• Quote of the week:  “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell about it.” – poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019)
• A White House global economic program for women.
• The Johannesburg Business School (JBS) is looking at the global landscape.
• A family business is taking Welsh cider to a global audience.
• DHL launched an e-commerce app called DHL Africa eShop for global retailers to sell goods to Africa’s consumers markets.

Fast Track Authority Is Out of the Gate and a Winner

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The 60-38 Senate vote puts fast-track trade authority in the green light district until 2018.

Fast-track, or trade promotion authority, will allow the White House to send trade deals to Congress for up-or-down votes. The Senate will not be able to filibuster them, and lawmakers will not have the power to amend them.

Read more:  Senate approves fast-track, sending trade bill to White House

Tune In: It's National Small Business Week 5/12-5/16

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With the United States having more than 28 million small businesses, it's easy to understand how and why we honor these hard-working individuals who create jobs, spur economic growth and develop innovative measures to improve our world.  That said, there will be lots of excitement, conversations and celebrations around this important week - from SBA to the White House to well ... all the companies who salute the crucial role that small businesses play in our lives.  The national celebrations will be held in four major venues: San Francisco, May 12; Kansas City, May 13; Boston, May 15; and Washington, D.C., May 15-16.

Check out some of the activities and conversations below.

•  The White House Blog
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/05/12/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  Statement by the President of the United States on National Small Business Week:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/12/statement-president-national-small-business-week

•  SBA.gov
http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/official-sba-news-and-views/open-business/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  National Small Business Week site:
http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/

•  National Small Business Week 2014 - A Celebration of the Accomplishments of Small Business - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
https://www.uschamber.com/blog/national-small-business-week-2014-celebration-accomplishments-small-business

•  Small Business Week - National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
http://www.nfib.com/small-business-week/

•  Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
http://www.sbecouncil.org/2014/05/12/small-business-week-2014-needs-to-spark-bipartisanship-to-help-entrepreneurs-says-small-business-advocate/

Let's continue to support and celebrate small businesses every day!