Good morning.

Three quick headlines worth tracking.

President Trump Confirms Canada, Mexico and Chinese Tariffs.

🛑 Trump confirmed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports will take effect Tuesday, with an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods, sending U.S. stock indexes sharply lower. Canada called the tariffs "an existential threat" with thousands of jobs at stake, while all three countries have promised retaliatory measures. The president dismissed economic concerns, suggesting foreign manufacturers should "build their car plants in the United States”. More - BBC

OPEC+ Announces Oil Production Increase

🛢️ OPEC+ will proceed with a 138,000 barrels-per-day production increase in April, the first step in restoring 2.2 million barrels daily by 2026 despite prevailing low prices. The surprise decision sent Brent crude tumbling 2.8% to a three-month low, potentially reflecting Saudi Arabia's response to President Trump's recent call to lower oil prices. The move comes despite projections of a 450,000 barrel-per-day global supply surplus later this year from non-OPEC sources. More - Bloomberg

Gaza Ceasefire Unravelling

🇵🇸 Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid to Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire expired, demanding Hamas accept a new U.S. proposal that would extend the truce for 50 days in exchange for releasing half the remaining hostages. Hamas rejected this as "a blatant attempt to evade the agreement," while Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of violating international law by "using food as a weapon." With both sides preparing to resume fighting, pressure mounts from Israeli hostage families and the international community to prevent renewed hostilities. More - BBC

Live Country Data, Connected in Minutes

We’re all short of time and one thing I am incredibly focused on with Decis is getting you the information you need as easily and quickly as possible. Why would you have to jump through hoops to set up a data service or wait for the analyst to get you a country brief?

So when I built the API, the intent was to make everything as smooth as possible: the sign up, coverage selection, connection to your systems.

What does that mean in reality?

It means you can be set up and connected in just a couple of minutes. Here’s how.

Try the API yourself - api.decis.ai 

(And if you beat my time, let me know.)

Americas Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇸🇷 Suriname, 🇧🇸 The Bahamas, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, 🇺🇸 United States Of America, 🇻🇪 Venezuela

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis, 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Regional News Summary

Brazil's economy is experiencing a complex mix of growth and challenges. In January 2025, the country exceeded expectations by creating over 137,000 new formal jobs, and food sales from its food processors also surpassed forecasts, indicating a positive trend in the economic landscape [SOURCE - The Rio Times]. However, this growth is overshadowed by the government's populist policies, which are raising concerns about Brazil's fiscal future [SOURCE - The Rio Times].

In the energy sector, Brazil has taken significant steps by defending oil exploration and joining OPEC+, while also pushing for reforms within its energy sector [SOURCE - The Rio Times]. Despite these advancements, the country faces a stock market crash that has left investors reeling [SOURCE - The Free Press Journal].

Internationally, Brazil's relations are evolving. The country has joined BRICS, enhancing its role in global trade, and signed a deal with Russia to develop secure payment systems [SOURCE - TASS]. However, tensions with the United States have escalated, particularly with former President Trump hinting at sanctions against Brazilian officials [SOURCE - The Rio Times].

Turning to Mexico, the U.S. has confirmed plans to impose 25% tariffs on various imports from Mexico and Canada, effective March 4. This decision is expected to significantly impact the automotive sector, with U.S. automakers expressing concern over the tariffs' effects on their Mexican operations [SOURCE - Newser]. In response to the growing tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Mexico's security cabinet to strengthen ties amid a travel warning issued for Mexico due to safety concerns [SOURCE - Rio Times].

Despite these challenges, Mexico's economy shows resilience, with Home Depot announcing a $1.3 billion investment that is expected to create thousands of jobs [SOURCE - Rio Times]. However, the automotive sector may still face hurdles due to the impending tariffs [SOURCE - Malay Mail].

In the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is seeking a U.S. extension for Shell's gas project in Venezuela, a move that underscores the region's complex energy dynamics [SOURCE - Yahoo Finance]. Meanwhile, escalating tensions between Colombia and Venezuela have resulted in violence, with a recent explosives attack in Colombia injuring 17 people [SOURCE - The Sun].

In Haiti, gang violence has surged, leading to a humanitarian crisis with over one million people displaced [SOURCE - Scoop]. The U.S. has cut its overseas development program budgets by over 90%, raising concerns about the adequacy of international aid to Haiti [SOURCE - Hurriyet Daily News].

Carpe tomorrow!

PS - Yes, I know I said that I was going to stop the daily SITREPs but the truth is that I enjoy putting these together and it is an easy way for me to add another layer of quality control to the app. So it’s back to the daily cadence.