Trump, Anwar Sign US-Malaysia Trade Deal on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday signed a new trade agreement aimed at strengthening US access to critical minerals. Under the deal, Kuala Lumpur pledged not to impose bans or export quotas on rare earths and other key minerals shipped to the United States, as China continues to tighten its control over the global supply chain.

The United States has proposed prohibiting Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace while flying to or from American airports, a US document has shown, as the rival superpowers try to thrash out a trade deal.

The US Department of Transportation noted in a tentative order on Thursday a “desire… to prevent competitive imbalances arising between US and Chinese air carriers as a result of unequal access to third-country airspace.”

'HEAVY LIFTING': @President Donald J Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a trade deal on Sunday, setting a flat 15% tariff on cars and more. Europe will buy $150 billion in U.S. energy and pump another $600 billion into U.S. investments under the deal.

Thailand Seeks Trade Deal to Avoid 36% U.S. Tariff

Thailand is offering new trade concessions to the U.S. in a bid to prevent a 36% tariff on its exports. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said Thailand hopes to slash its US trade surplus by 70% within five years via enhanced bilateral trade—and would even accept a tariff range between 10–20% if necessary. A revised proposal is expected before the July 9 deadline to preserve existing 10% caps

Tinubu Ignored as Trump Invites African Leaders to White House.

President Bola Tinubu has been left out of a summit at the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Senegal, Mauritania, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Gabon for talks on economic cooperation.

The meeting, scheduled for July 9, is aimed at strengthening commercial ties between the United States and selected African nations.

According to a White House source, President Trump will host the group for a working lunch emphasising that “African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners”.

This invitation, it is understood, is part of Trump’s broader strategy to shift focus from traditional aid—deemed wasteful—to investment and trade deals under his “America First” agenda.

The summit comes amid a significant tightening of U.S. foreign aid to Africa, redirecting diplomatic efforts toward mutual economic gain.

President Tinubu, meanwhile, is currently on a two-nation diplomatic tour. He arrived in Saint Lucia on June 28, engaging in a state visit that included meetings with the Governor-General and Prime Minister, an address to the joint Parliament, and a working luncheon with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

Following his Caribbean engagements, Tinubu is set to travel to Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7 for the 17th BRICS Summit, attending as a “partner country”.