The U.S. imposed a steep 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, triggering an economic crisis in the small African nation.

The move, part of a broader tariff campaign under Trump, disrupted Lesotho’s textile sector, which is heavily reliant on duty-free access to the U.S. through the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Lesotho’s economy, where garments account for 90% of manufacturing exports and 10% of GDP, has been hit hard. Thousands of workers were laid off after U.S. companies canceled orders in anticipation of the tariffs. The country’s government has declared a national state of disaster due to soaring unemployment and economic instability.

Despite a temporary 90-day suspension of the tariff, uncertainty persists. Lesotho officials dispute the Trump administration's justification—claiming Lesotho imposes 99% tariffs on U.S. goods—and await clarification. Meanwhile, factory closures continue, and efforts to find alternative markets are underway.

Source: Reuters

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that the Senate could vote this month on a streamlined Russia sanctions bill aimed at curbing Moscow’s energy sector and boosting U.S. leverage in Ukraine negotiations.

Thune noted "substantial progress" and said the bill could reach the floor “as early as this work period.” The Senate remains in session through August 1, while the House is expected to leave a week earlier.

With over 80 supporters, the bipartisan bill — led by Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal — has been crafted to give Trump more flexibility.

Missed deadlines on auto-landing.
Inability to operate safely in Swiss airspace.
Full capabilities now delayed to 2029.

I believe the Syrian government, in showing its flexibility to find a way to bring them in, their interests have been very clear and very defined.

To be candid, I believe the SDF has been willing to accept and negotiate, and the progress towards this side has been slow. My advice to them is to speed up that process. There is only one way, and that way is Damascus. That's the message.

When Minister Rubio talks about autonomy and sovereignty, what he's talking about is Iraq is one nation, Syria is one nation. The Kurds are a unique, valuable, and enduring community within those nations. I don't believe that he means an independent Kurdistan.

We've learned that federalism doesn't work. You can't have, within an independent nation, your own separate or non-national...

We need to all give up something and get to that end result: one nation, one people, one army, and one Syria.