Trump Threatens Iran ‘Economic D-Day’; Treasury Bond Fix JPMorgan Warning

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) President Trump announced plans to subject Iran to an “economic D-Day,” underscoring his rising frustration with Tehran’s refusal to capitulate despite military strikes and an American blockade targeting its oil exports. Trump didn’t specify what measures he would take, but his threat to target Iran’s trading partners, none of which he cited by name, put an immediate focus on China, which buys the bulk of Iran’s oil. Trump demanded that all countries cease providing Iran access to exchange houses, cash transfers, swap lines, ship registries, front companies and avenues to smuggle out its oil. He also sought to rally other nations that have so far declined to support his war on the Islamic Republic, saying the US needs all its allies to help “isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat.”
2) A tentative trade deal between the US and Canada would lower tariffs on certain Canadian exports of steel and aluminum to 25% and cut duties on Canadian auto exports to 15%, according to people familiar with the matter. The details have yet to be finalized and are not expected to apply across the board. For steel and aluminum, different rates could apply to some derivative products that include those metals, said some of the people, who requested anonymity to discuss terms of the agreement before it is announced. Tariffs on the non-US content in autos exported from Canada would be reduced to 15% from 25%, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Talks between US and Canadian trade advisers continued Wednesday, less than 24 hours after President Trump paused planned 50% levies on billions of dollars of Canadian goods to allow more time to negotiate.
3) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made a fresh attempt to rein-in long-term borrowing costs from multi-year highs, sending Treasury yields and the dollar down. Just two weeks after releasing its planned schedule for buybacks this quarter, the Treasury Department on Wednesday said it’s “increasing, by at least double, the size of liquidity support buyback operations” for securities dated from the 10-year to the 30-year sector. The bold intervention to stem a potentially damaging rise in US borrowing costs has some investors saying the dollar will ultimately pay the price. Some market participants see the move as a turning point, with Washington taking a more active role in keeping its borrowing costs down. Coming after other recent efforts to rein in long-term yields, it’s reviving a concern that US policy could weaken faith in the dollar and push investors toward alternatives.

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