This week, from September 28 to October 4: According to previous reports, on September 8 local time, the White House announced that US President Trump signed a document banning certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles, dairy products, and other goods from entering the US market, and imposing additional tariffs on more Canadian goods. The ban will officially take effect on September 29. According to reports, the first round of Brazil's presidential election is scheduled for October 4, and if no candidate wins more than half the votes, a second round will be held on October 25. According to a September 28 report, a delegation from the Japan International Trade Promotion Association (JITPA), led by former Japanese Foreign Minister and Liberal Democratic Party House of Representatives member Iwaya Takeshi, arrived in Beijing on the 27th for a four-day visit to China. According to previous CCTV News reports, in August this year, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi met with visiting US Central Command Commander Cooper. During the meeting, al-Zaidi reiterated that September 30 is the final date for the international coalition forces to end their military mission in Iraq and complete their withdrawal.
On August 18, 2026, local time, in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, a truck crossed the Peace Bridge from Canada into the United States. Visual China Group material photo. New US import ban on Canadian goods takes effect this week. According to Reuters, US Trade Representative Greer said on September 25 that even as the new US import ban on Canadian goods is about to take effect and Washington threatens to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian cars, parts, and steel starting in January next year, President Trump still does not mind maintaining the trade deadlock with Canada. According to previous Xinhua News Agency reports, the White House announced on September 8 that US President Trump signed a document that day, invoking Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, to ban certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles, dairy products, and other goods from entering the US market, and to impose additional tariffs on more Canadian goods. The announcement stated that since the US announced a 50% tariff on some Canadian goods on July 20, the Canadian government has maintained discriminatory practices against US alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and automobiles and published additional retaliatory measures. Therefore, the US will ban imports of certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles starting September 29. It is worth noting that the US has already imposed a 50% tariff on about 100 categories of Canadian products, including animal skins, cheese, furniture, base metals, and aluminum alloy products, since September 15, while canceling the previously imposed 50% tariff on some Canadian products. Greer said on the 25th that although this escalating dispute has strained US-Canada relations, triggered mutual retaliatory tariffs, and raised new doubts about the prospects of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Washington believes there is little need for compromise. After multiple rounds of failed negotiations, the US imposed a 50% tariff on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods in August, and Canada immediately introduced countermeasures. Starting September 8, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on more than 700 types of US goods worth about $20 billion. Reuters cited expert analysis saying that the Trump administration may hope to first reach an agreement with Mexico to gain greater leverage in order to secure a more favorable deal with Canada. According to Mexican officials, the next round of US-Mexico negotiations is expected to be held in October.
Brazil holds presidential election. According to reports, the first round of Brazil's presidential election is scheduled for October 4, and if no candidate wins more than half the votes, a second round will be held on October 25. Previously, Brazilian President Lula formally registered as the Workers' Party presidential candidate with the Superior Electoral Court. Lula will represent the left-wing camp and seek a fourth non-consecutive term. The right-wing candidate is former President Jair Bolsonaro's son, 45-year-old Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. A Datafolha poll shows that in the first round, Lula has 41% support and Flávio has 31%; if it goes to a second round, Lula leads Flávio 47% to 43%. Public opinion believes that as the most important left-wing governing country in Latin America, Brazil's election situation will have a profound impact on the country and the entire Latin American political landscape. Although Lula currently holds a slight lead in the polls, the right wing still has a chance to turn things around. "This will be a close race that could be rewritten by unexpected events." Public security issues may be Lula's biggest challenge. Polls show that violence is the issue Brazilian voters care about most. A survey conducted by the research firm Quaest found that 33% of voters listed it as their top concern, while the economy, in second place, accounted for only 15%. Lula promised to establish a dedicated Ministry of Public Security, while Flávio is trying to use public fear of crime to gain an advantage. Flávio has expressed support for the Trump administration's move to designate Brazilian criminal gangs as "foreign terrorist organizations" and vowed to take tougher measures, including building five "super prisons" at the highest security level. According to Brazil's "World Situation" website, on September 22 local time, Lula said at the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly that "Brazil's democracy belongs to the Brazilian people," Brazil will continue to be a sovereign state, and "no one can divert us from this path." He assured the international community that the election will be "transparent and competitive," and all candidates will enjoy the broadest freedom of speech. Speaking of Latin America, Lula advocated regional cooperation and said ideological differences should not hinder cooperation among countries. He stressed that the region once again faces threats to democracy and external interference. He also emphasized: "Brazil is not suited to being in anyone's backyard. We need partners with a positive agenda who can promote development."
Former Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi leads a delegation to China. According to a September 28 report, a delegation from the Japan International Trade Promotion Association (JITPA), led by former Japanese Foreign Minister and Liberal Democratic Party House of Representatives member Iwaya Takeshi, arrived in Beijing on the 27th for a four-day visit to China. Kyodo News reported on the 27th that Iwaya told the media before departure: "The more severe China-Japan relations are, the more we should seek a path to improve relations through dialogue." He said the purpose of this visit to China is to promote smooth economic exchange and achieve progress. He stated that if he can meet with Chinese government officials, "I hope to exchange views frankly." The report introduced that the delegation consists of about 50 people, including Japanese corporate executives. The delegation originally planned to visit China in June, but then-President former House Speaker Kono Yohei died shortly before the trip, and the itinerary was postponed. Acting President of JITPA and former Vice Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Hashimoto Gaku and others made a small-scale visit to China in June. Recently, Japanese lawmakers and business leaders have successively planned visits to China. According to Kyodo News, young members of the cross-party group "Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union" visited China on September 13. In addition, Japan's largest business group Keidanren and the Osaka-based Kansai Economic Federation are also planning visits to China in the coming months. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post published an article on September 15 saying that this series of Japanese actions is interpreted by the outside world as an attempt to break the ice in China-Japan relations before the APEC summit in November. But analysts warn that unless Japan's top leadership sends a clearer signal, these efforts to open diplomatic windows may have limited effect.
International coalition forces to withdraw from Iraq. According to CCTV News, on September 24 local time, Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Iraq and the US signed an agreement that day, and the US side will hand over the diplomatic support facility belonging to the US Embassy in Iraq at Baghdad International Airport to the Iraqi government. Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this move is part of the Iraqi government's arrangements to advance the end of the international coalition's military mission in Iraq and terminate foreign military presence in accordance with the established timetable. The above work is planned to be completed before September 30 this year. According to the agreement reached between Iraq and the United States, the US-led international coalition should end its military mission in Iraq against the extremist group "Islamic State" on September 30, 2025. However, some US troops transferred to the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq before the deadline and were responsible for "counterterrorism" operations in Syria until September this year. In July this year, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi visited the United States and met with US President Trump. Al-Zaidi stated that once the mission of the US-led international coalition against "Islamic State" ends on September 30, there will be "no reason" for armed factions to continue to exist, Iraqi security forces are capable of independently defending the country, and restricting weapons to the state is "a decision, not an option." One month after visiting Washington, al-Zaidi met with visiting US Central Command Commander Cooper in August. Al-Zaidi said that October 1 will be a brand-new day in Iraq's history, when Iraq will completely rid itself of all foreign military presence, realize its territorial sovereignty, continuously strengthen its security and military capabilities, and safeguard its own security and stability. The United States launched the Iraq War in 2003, basically withdrew its troops by the end of 2011, leaving only a small number of troops. The extremist group "Islamic State" seized large areas of western and northern Iraq in 2014, and the international coalition subsequently sent more troops to Iraq. In December 2017, the Iraqi government announced the defeat of "Islamic State."
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