Trump's Trade Deals and Diplomacy Raise Concerns

Coca-Cola is launching a new version of its soda made with cane sugar in the US market this fall, following a social media post by President Donald Trump claiming he persuaded the company to replace high-fructose corn syrup. The new product will complement the company's existing portfolio and offer more consumer choices, although the flagship Coke recipe will remain unchanged and continue to use high-fructose corn syrup.

US President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with the Philippines and revealed more details about a similar agreement with Indonesia. Both deals involve a 19% tariff on goods imported from these countries by American businesses, while American goods exported to them will not be subject to tariffs. The agreements are part of a series of trade deals Trump has made in recent months, with a focus on the quality of the deals rather than quantity. The tariffs on goods from the Philippines and Indonesia were previously threatened to be higher, at 20% and 32% respectively, before Trump paused 'reciprocal' tariffs in April.

US President Donald Trump's letter to Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing regarding tariffs has sparked concerns that it may have unintentionally legitimized the regime, undermining US policy ahead of Myanmar's key election. Analysts warn that the letter could be seen as a 'diplomatic gift' to the junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021. The US and most Western countries do not recognize the junta as Myanmar's legitimate government.