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This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker keeps a wall of embarrassing photos of former coworkers I started a new job at a start-up a few months ago and one of my coworkers, who I work closely with, has a wall next to his desk where he has pinned up half a dozen enlarged photos of everyone who has left the company recently. He finds an old school photo, or them in a costume, or with braces, whatever he thinks is funny. As soon as someone puts in their two weeks, their photo goes up on the wall. He recently got told by HR to take the photos down after someone complained. Everyone in my corner of the office is vocally on his side and against the reporter. They all seem to agree that the photos are all in good fun and shouldn’t be something to get upset about. They joke about making everyone take down family photos to show the reporter how silly they are. I have had a neutral opinion of the photo wall so far, but now I am on the side of the reporter. If I were to resign, I definitely would not like the idea of my photo on that wall. I also don’t want to say anything since the team is very chummy and I’m trying to fit in as the newbie. What should I do? Are the photos appropriate or not? That’s a really odd thing for him to do, and HR was right to tell him to stop. It wouldn’t be a big deal if he did it once or twice as a good-natured joke with resigning employees who he was friends with, but it’s his system that he does every time someone leaves? He’s in the wrong to make a big deal of being told to stop, and the coworkers who are outraged that he was told to stop are being ridiculous too. If it’s “all in good fun,” then they’d surely want to be sensitive to anyone who doesn’t want to be included, right? The fact that they’re not says that it’s not really “in good fun” at all. But as for what you should do as a new person, it’s okay to just stay out of it! If someone directly asks what you think, you can shrug and say, “Eh, if someone was upset by it, it doesn’t seem that weird that the company told him to stop.” 2. Manager says staff absences are too high I work at a company where each employee receives PTO that can be used for sick or personal reasons. PTO requires a doctor’s note or written explanation for absences longer than three consecutive days. Each person also has a separate bank of vacation time. The amount of paid time off we are given is typical for our industry. Most people use all or most of their vacation time and some of their PTO as needed. While various employees have had medical issues and/or leaves of absences over the years, I don’t think anyone abuses the system. It doesn’t seem like anyone has excessive absences. One of my managers, Dan, disagrees. He has made several comments in the past year to indicate that employee absences are too high (within the allotted time, he admits, but still too high in his opinion). He called a meeting this week specifically to discuss attendance. Dan feels absences are to blame for a big issue we’re having, and he asked us to brainstorm ways to increase attendance without spending any money (insert eye roll). I disagree. The issue we’re having has about 10 causes — half could be solved by management with moderate effort (like reworking the production schedule), and half are out of our control (such as industry-wide supply issues). Attendance may be a minor cause but not enough to warrant the time and effort we are now dedicating to “solve” it. It feels like scapegoating, putting the blame on us rather than attempting to address the other causes. However, Dan is senior management and well-liked by the CEO/owner, so no one ever challenges him. No one spoke up in this meeting, although several colleagues later told me they were shocked and upset. Even if attendance was the sole cause of the issue, my opinion is that if people are not exceeding their allotted PTO and vacation time, then they are within their right to take the time given to them. Am I wrong? If I’m correct, then do you have any suggestions on how to tell him that? Dan does not take well to anyone questioning his opinion, so it would need to be carefully worded. We are meeting again soon to hear what (free!) ideas we’ve come up with. You are correct. If the company offers paid time off, it’s part of people’s compensation and they should take it, and managers should expect they will take it. Dan sounds like A Problem, so I’m not sure there will be any benefit to trying to set him straight (as opposed to just letting him continue to wring his hands over the dreadful problem of people using their time off). But if you want to, you could try saying, “The amount of time off in our benefits package is consistent with industry norms and people obviously need time off in order not to burn out, so if you think there’s a coverage issue, we should look at increasing staffing.” After delivering this bad news to him, you could then immediately pivot to other solutions to whatever he’s reacting to, like changes to the production schedule and planning differently for supply issues. If he starts actively interfering with people’s ability to use their time off or making people feel they’ll be penalized if they do, that’s time to bring in HR, framing it as “not allowing people to use their promised benefits.” 3. When I ask my team for updates, should I share my own as the boss? I am a new department head and would like to introduce a weekly check-in during our department meeting to ask everyone what they are currently working on and what they accomplished in the past week. Should I include myself in this process and answer these questions as well for transparency reasons? My work is much more abstract than that of my team members, and many of my tasks are repetitive (meetings, etc.). My progress is often harder to define because it largely depends on the progress of my team. Yes. It doesn’t need to be comprehensive, but you should have at least one thing to share each week about what you’re working on, ideally something that will be relevant to at least some of the team. That said … do you have a good reason for introducing these meetings? You very well might! Sometimes it’s really important for reasons of communication or team cohesion that people regularly hear about what others on their team are working on. Sometimes, though, this kind of meeting isn’t a great use of people’s time and can feel like something that’s happening because the manager vaguely thought it sounded like a good idea but can’t tie it to any real impact on people’s work. I’m not assuming it won’t be useful in your case — it often is! — just urging you to make sure you know what results you’re looking for from it (and how you’ll know if it is or isn’t getting you those results), and can communicate that to your team too. 4. Measles and traveling for work conferences I am attending a national conference next month and, given the current measles outbreak, I asked my doctor about the need for a booster since my last (and only) MMR vaccination was decades ago. My doctor did recommend that anyone with an immunization history like mine get a booster, which I did. We have many other employees also attending national conferences, and I wonder how much we can say to encourage them to check with their own doctors about a booster during this outbreak. Would there be any liability for not mentioning it? Your company can absolutely encourage people to make sure they’re up-to-date on vaccinations, and can cite the measles outbreak specifically and suggest people check with their doctors to see if they need any boosters and/or can share info like this from the CDC (or this piece from NPR, which does a better job of answering “do I need a booster as an adult?”). But there’s no legal liability to not mentioning it, either. 5. Start date coincides with a planned vacation I’m hoping to get a job, and there’s a good chance I’m a lead candidate. They want overlap with the existing job holder and the new person, which sounds great to me. Problem is, that person’s last day is the Friday before my kid’s spring break, for which we already have paid plans for Sunday through Wednesday. Do I bring this up at all now, or wait until I have an actual offer? And then, is “doing the right thing” offering to come back that Thursday, which would cause some childcare complications, or is it reasonable to ask for the whole week off? To clarify, this would be the first week of me in the role flying solo. There is a part-time assistant. This is in the middle of a big organization-wide project. In my current job, I’ve had to work every single vacation I’ve ever taken, near or far. I’m trying to get away from that. This organization doesn’t have that culture, but this timing really stinks. Wait until you have the offer. Then explain you have pre-paid vacation plans for that week and that normally you’d suggest starting after that but you know they’d like you to have overlap with the person leaving, and so you’re hoping you could simply take that week unpaid, so that it works out for everyone. I wouldn’t start by offering the Thursday return date; wait and see how they respond. If they seem worried about it, at that point you can offer the Thursday return date as a compromise. It’s great to move away from working every vacation, but this this is a different set of circumstances — this is trying to work something out when you’re brand new to a job and wouldn’t normally expect to have a full week off right after starting. Related: everything you need to know about time off when you start a new job View the full article

China dominates market in metals used in range of products, including those crucial for national securityView the full article

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The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has announced its strong support for the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02). The legislation aims to eliminate barriers preventing independent auto repair shops from accessing critical tools, software, and repair manuals that are currently available only to manufacturers and authorized service centers. In a letter sent to Rep. Dunn from NFIB’s Principal in Foreign Government Relations Andrea McGee writes, “NFIB represents approximately 300,000 small and independent businesses across the country. As the role of technology becomes commonplace in vehicle manufacturing, Americans are essentially driving computers on wheels, leaving many independent vehicle repair shops struggling to gain necessary vehicle data access to perform even the simplest of repairs.” The REPAIR Act seeks to provide independent repair shops with guaranteed access to vehicle repair data, ensuring they can continue serving their communities. NFIB noted that 89% of its members support the right of customers and repair shops to access the necessary information from manufacturers to repair their products. While the current right-to-repair “handshake” agreement between automotive industry groups provides some access to repair data, NFIB emphasized that it lacks accountability. “It provides no recourse or accountability when automakers stall or withhold pertinent vehicle data from independent vehicle repair shops or when third-party automotive repair information websites or software increase the fees required to access the vehicle data,” McGee says in the letter. According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, independent repair shops handle over 70% of aftermarket vehicle repairs. Without guaranteed access to repair data, NFIB warns that small businesses—particularly those in rural areas—will face significant challenges. “Without access to an independent vehicle repair shop, consumers will be forced to spend more time away from their own businesses and take more money out of their pockets,” McGee says. NFIB underscored the critical role independent repair shops play in local economies, particularly in rural areas where they may be the only option for vehicle maintenance. “Independent vehicle repair shops provide cost- and time-saving services to their communities. NFIB represents countless businesses in rural areas that only have local independent vehicle repair or aftermarket parts shops,” the letter noted. NFIB expressed its commitment to working with lawmakers to advance the REPAIR Act through Congress. “NFIB thanks you for introducing this important legislation and looks forward to working with you this Congress to advance this bill,” McGee writes in the letter to Rep. Dunn. As the bill moves forward, NFIB continues to advocate for policies that support small businesses and independent service providers in the automotive industry. Image: Envato This article, "NFIB Supports Bipartisan REPAIR Act to Aid Independent Auto Shops" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has announced its strong support for the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02). The legislation aims to eliminate barriers preventing independent auto repair shops from accessing critical tools, software, and repair manuals that are currently available only to manufacturers and authorized service centers. In a letter sent to Rep. Dunn from NFIB’s Principal in Foreign Government Relations Andrea McGee writes, “NFIB represents approximately 300,000 small and independent businesses across the country. As the role of technology becomes commonplace in vehicle manufacturing, Americans are essentially driving computers on wheels, leaving many independent vehicle repair shops struggling to gain necessary vehicle data access to perform even the simplest of repairs.” The REPAIR Act seeks to provide independent repair shops with guaranteed access to vehicle repair data, ensuring they can continue serving their communities. NFIB noted that 89% of its members support the right of customers and repair shops to access the necessary information from manufacturers to repair their products. While the current right-to-repair “handshake” agreement between automotive industry groups provides some access to repair data, NFIB emphasized that it lacks accountability. “It provides no recourse or accountability when automakers stall or withhold pertinent vehicle data from independent vehicle repair shops or when third-party automotive repair information websites or software increase the fees required to access the vehicle data,” McGee says in the letter. According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, independent repair shops handle over 70% of aftermarket vehicle repairs. Without guaranteed access to repair data, NFIB warns that small businesses—particularly those in rural areas—will face significant challenges. “Without access to an independent vehicle repair shop, consumers will be forced to spend more time away from their own businesses and take more money out of their pockets,” McGee says. NFIB underscored the critical role independent repair shops play in local economies, particularly in rural areas where they may be the only option for vehicle maintenance. “Independent vehicle repair shops provide cost- and time-saving services to their communities. NFIB represents countless businesses in rural areas that only have local independent vehicle repair or aftermarket parts shops,” the letter noted. NFIB expressed its commitment to working with lawmakers to advance the REPAIR Act through Congress. “NFIB thanks you for introducing this important legislation and looks forward to working with you this Congress to advance this bill,” McGee writes in the letter to Rep. Dunn. As the bill moves forward, NFIB continues to advocate for policies that support small businesses and independent service providers in the automotive industry. Image: Envato This article, "NFIB Supports Bipartisan REPAIR Act to Aid Independent Auto Shops" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A West Virginia man has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to pay employment taxes withheld from his employees’ wages and for obstructing the IRS’ efforts to collect those taxes, the Department of Justice announced. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Christopher Jason Smyth operated Stat EMS LLC, an ambulance service in Pineville, from 2012 through part of 2017. Prior to founding Stat EMS, Smyth operated another ambulance business that accrued millions of dollars in employment tax liabilities before filing for bankruptcy. He then created Stat EMS under a nominee owner while continuing to run the business in the same manner as before. As the operator of Stat EMS, Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees’ wages and remitting them to the IRS. However, for years, he failed to fully pay those taxes. Instead, he diverted company funds to pay personal expenses and transferred money to businesses controlled by his friends and family. The IRS determined that Stat EMS accumulated approximately $3.3 million in unpaid taxes. When the IRS assessed the unpaid taxes against Smyth personally and attempted to collect them, he engaged in deceptive conduct to evade payment. According to the Department of Justice, Smyth misled an IRS revenue officer by falsely claiming he had no personal bank accounts and did not use accounts belonging to others. In reality, he routinely deposited his paychecks into an account held in a relative’s name. He also denied involvement in several businesses, despite having signature authority over their bank accounts. Following his conviction, Smyth was sentenced to three years in federal prison. The sentence underscores the consequences of failing to meet employment tax obligations and attempting to obstruct IRS enforcement actions. This article, "West Virginia Ambulance Business Owner Sentenced to Three Years for Tax Crimes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A West Virginia man has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to pay employment taxes withheld from his employees’ wages and for obstructing the IRS’ efforts to collect those taxes, the Department of Justice announced. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Christopher Jason Smyth operated Stat EMS LLC, an ambulance service in Pineville, from 2012 through part of 2017. Prior to founding Stat EMS, Smyth operated another ambulance business that accrued millions of dollars in employment tax liabilities before filing for bankruptcy. He then created Stat EMS under a nominee owner while continuing to run the business in the same manner as before. As the operator of Stat EMS, Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees’ wages and remitting them to the IRS. However, for years, he failed to fully pay those taxes. Instead, he diverted company funds to pay personal expenses and transferred money to businesses controlled by his friends and family. The IRS determined that Stat EMS accumulated approximately $3.3 million in unpaid taxes. When the IRS assessed the unpaid taxes against Smyth personally and attempted to collect them, he engaged in deceptive conduct to evade payment. According to the Department of Justice, Smyth misled an IRS revenue officer by falsely claiming he had no personal bank accounts and did not use accounts belonging to others. In reality, he routinely deposited his paychecks into an account held in a relative’s name. He also denied involvement in several businesses, despite having signature authority over their bank accounts. Following his conviction, Smyth was sentenced to three years in federal prison. The sentence underscores the consequences of failing to meet employment tax obligations and attempting to obstruct IRS enforcement actions. This article, "West Virginia Ambulance Business Owner Sentenced to Three Years for Tax Crimes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

President Donald Trump said he inherited an "economic catastrophe" from his predecessor in a joint address to Congress, though markets fell Tuesday on fears of a budding trade war with Canada and Mexico. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. As someone who gets to see “the future” unfold in research and development labs around the world, I’ve grown comfortable with our global food landscape constantly evolving. Part of the fun! Anticipating the trends that shape this evolution isn’t just important—it’s essential. First, there are macro trends that continue each year and can’t be ignored. By 2030, our global population will increase to 8.6 billion. This growing population needs more food, and we need to find new ways to meet this need with less impact to our planet. This requires innovation and building resilient food supply chains to connect people and families around the world to the nutrition they need and the food they love. In addition, new dynamics are reshaping consumer behavior and market demands at a rapid pace. Here is a glimpse of the top food trends and the innovations that are poised to redefine the food landscape in 2025. 1. Health and nutrition: Food gets more personal As health consciousness grows, consumers are aligning eating habits with wellness goals. While high protein diets and mindful eating still top the list, calorie reduction is quickly taking center stage. GLP-1 weight management medications can help reduce overall calorie consumption, but they’ll also push demand for nutrient-dense, protein-rich and gut health-focused foods. This evolving landscape calls for targeted innovations to meet these tailored consumer needs. Functional foods that cater to individual health objectives are also surging. Consumers want personalized nutrition and ingredients with benefits like immunity promotion, mental clarity, and gut health. And let’s not forget the reigning king of macronutrients: protein. From savory snacks to hearty meals, consumers continue to prioritize protein throughout the day. Whether it’s steak, chicken, seafood, plant-based alternatives, mycoproteins, or dairy, companies are adjusting offerings to meet diverse preferences. 2. Value redefined: The rise of at-home premiumization Inflation and rising food costs have consumers balancing premium experiences and taste with perceived value. Consumers are prioritizing affordable indulgences. Our research shows that 77% are reducing their restaurant spending, while 46% are still eating premium treats at home. From private label options to smaller serving sizes and packaging, brands are looking to maintain quality while catering to budget-conscious shoppers’ desire for premium experiences at home. That includes partnerships with foodservice operators and retailers to ensure that premium products, recipes, and more are accessible for dine-in or at-home experiences. One example is the Sam’s Club prime rib sliders, which quickly became a popular shelf staple in the U.S. We also see this expanding to bold, multicultural tastes that resonate with the culinary curious around the world. 3. Indulgence without compromise Consumers are craving treats that satisfy indulgent desires without sacrificing health. While there will always be those moments to fully indulge—usually holidays and celebrations—we’re seeing a trend toward healthier choices for the every day. Globally, more than 20% of people actively seek foods lower in salt, sugar and fat, with the percentage increasing with age. For example, PepsiCo recently reduced saturated fat in Lay’s potato chips in China by 50%. Consumers are also reducing sugar intake, with 66% of Americans trying to limit sugars. Innovative sweeteners that offer a choice for reduced and zero calorie food and beverages are becoming more popular, ranging from sports drinks, soda, and coffee to baked goods and ice cream. 4. Food tech: Revolutionize innovation through generative AI Generative AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s revolutionizing food development and operations. McKinsey estimates GenAI could add $2.6 to $4.4 trillion of global productivity annually, with $40-70 billion to come from agriculture. That’s why we’re investing and adopting new technologies that can safely support our people and deliver results. At Cargill, we’re piloting AI-driven research tools to accelerate knowledge sharing and product development. Our teams use AI to aid in everything from optimizing fermentation enzymes to microbiome assessments and ingredient reformulations, to help bring new solutions to market more quickly, using ingredients that meet fast-changing consumer preferences and supply challenges. Shaping tomorrow’s table The food industry’s transformation in 2025 is brimming with potential. New consumer trends are pushing innovators to deliver solutions that meet these health, nutrition, convenience, and indulgence trends with tastes and flavors that consumers love. And while trends may adjust year to year, I’m a strong believer that it takes an ecosystem approach to make these solutions possible at a global scale. Partnerships are needed across the food supply chain, starting with farmers, and connecting to food favorites that show up in restaurants and on the grocery shelf. This intersection of new food innovations that can meet our growing population’s needs around the world is what excites me most about the future of food. Florian Schattenmann is CTO and vice president of R&D and innovation at Cargill. View the full article

Goal comes despite slowdown in domestic economy and mounting trade tensions with USView the full article

Speech comes as president has unleashed aggressive agenda to reshape US trade and foreign policyView the full article

Proposed sale of more than 80mn sq feet of ‘non-core assets’ comes amid aggressive cost-cutting agendaView the full article

All batteries age, and the lithium ion battery in your iPhone is no exception. Overtime, the battery degrades, meaning it can no longer hold as much of a charge as it could when it was new. After a few years of using the phone, you may notice your phone needs more frequent juice-ups throughout the day. When the inevitable happens to you, you don't need to buy a new iPhone. Instead, you can simply replace the battery at a relatively inexpensive cost. Depending on your iPhone, you may not only notice an increase in time away from the charger, but also a boost in performance, since iOS slows down the processing power of your iPhone when its battery is too degraded. Though replacing your battery is possible, it could certainly be easier. Apple secures the battery to the inside of most iPhones with strong adhesive. To remove it, you need to pull on a few tabs that are easy to break, making the removal process more precarious than it should be. The battery itself is also fragile, and you'll need to remove and reattach some very delicate cables. Despite all of this, it's possible to replace your battery yourself, but it's simpler to opt to take it to a repair shop. (Apple would prefer you use one of its own.) All that said, the process is notably easier with three of the iPhone 16 devices—including the newly released iPhone 16e. Some iPhone 16s use a different adhesiveThe iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e all ship with a new type of battery adhesive that makes repairs much easier. At first glance, it doesn't seem like much has changed: When you pry open the back case of your iPhone, you'll still find a tab on its battery. However, that tab isn't meant to be pulled yet. Instead, you need to apply an electric current through the adhesive holding the battery to the device for 60 seconds. The current is enough to shake the battery loose, at which point, you use the tab to gently pull the battery away from the iPhone. You don't need to worry about damaging the battery, since the battery will be so loose, gravity could remove it. As iFixit explains, the tech works by oxidizing the adhesive with the electric current. That breaks the bonds that actually makes the glue adhesive, so it no longer sticks to the surface it was connected to. It's quite technical, and I am no expert, but it's really cool tech—and something that makes replacing the battery in your iPhone 16, 16 Plus, or 16e safer and easier. Apple probably didn't make these changes out of its concern for customers. Instead, it's likely in response to an EU law that requires smartphones to have "replaceable batteries" by 2027. Europe has had quite an influence over Apple's decisions in recent years, requiring the company to open up many of its closed platforms, including allowing independent app stores and browsers on iOS. That said, if you own an iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max, you won't find your batteries any easier to repair. These devices still come with Apple's traditional battery adhesive, so their batteries are just as difficult to replace as ever. It's not clear why Apple opted to skip this new adhesive on the Pro phones, but it is possible that it's simply trialing the fresh tech on some of their devices, not all—especially while there's still time before that EU law takes effect. Perhaps the entire iPhone 17 line, Pro iPhones and all, will sport easy-to-remove batteries. For now, it seems it's just the less expensive models that benefit. The iPhone 16e has some added repairabilityIn addition to this new adhesive, Apple added some additional repairability perks to the 16e. The biggest is that Apple now has a guide for repairing the USB-C charging port on this particular iPhone, the first time the company has issued a manual for such a repair. However, as iFixit reports, this repair is not easy. It involves removing a number of iPhone components in the way of the port, including the back glass, front camera, top speaker, battery, among others; lift up the logic board, then access the USB-C port to repair it. This was apparently the procedure before, but now Apple has a step-by-step guide confirming the difficulty of the repair. Finally, you don't need to be as careful when opening the back cover on the 16e: One of the metal clips that holds the back cover in place now guards an important flex cable. With other iPhones, you can easily slice this cable while sliding pick tools into the back case when opening it, but the clip here ensures you won't damage the cable in the process. View the full article

The U.S. has entered a trade war. Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, could have wide-reaching and long-lasting impacts on the bottom line of millions of Americans. These follow reciprocal tariffs, where the U.S. matches the tariffs other countries charge for imported U.S. goods, imposed last month by the White House. (Canada and China have already retaliated with tariffs of their own.) The duties hardly come as a surprise. Trump has been clear about his intention to slap tariffs on many countries since the campaign (though he did delay this round a month ago). He also utilized tariffs during his first term in the White House. Trump has claimed that tariffs have economic benefits for the U.S., though there is wide disagreement among economic experts about that theory. The Tax Foundation estimates Trump’s tariffs will reduce after-tax incomes by 2.2%. For a household making $100,000, that’s $2,200. The Tax Policy Center is a bit less pessimistic, saying the tariffs will reduce after-tax incomes by 1%. A November report from the National Retail Federation stated, “A growing body of economic research has attempted to assess the impacts of the proposed tariffs on the U.S. economy. In nearly every case, the conclusion has been the same: a net negative impact on the United States with results ranging up to $7,600 in additional costs annually per household.” Some companies are already warning customers that they will be forced to raise prices, while others are insisting they won’t. That’s likely to be a continually evolving list. (Trump, for instance, has already threatened to increase the Canada tariffs after that country announced a retaliatory levy Tuesday—and has previously threatened the European Union with a 25% tariff). The bottom line is this: Tariffs will impact your finances, possibly more than you might imagine. Here are a few ways they could force some belt tightening. Groceries and household goods The most immediate impact from the tariffs will likely be felt at the grocery store. Roughly half of the vegetables consumed in the U.S., as well as 40% of the fruits imported are from Mexico. And some 90% of all avocados consumed come from Mexico. Over the past two decades, the volume of fresh vegetables imported by the United States, primarily from Mexico and Canada, rose nearly 200%, according to a 2021 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. and Canada, meanwhile, have the largest two-way trade in live cattle and beef in the world. Price increases could come quickly on both sides of the border. Even French fries are likely to get more expensive. Canada sent some $1.7 billion worth of frozen fries and other “prepared potato” products to the U.S. in 2023. And tequila and beer drinkers are likely to pay more, also, as Mexico is the heart of the tequila business and Modelo is the top-selling beer brand in the U.S. Exports of wood charcoal (and other wood products) from Canada to the U.S. in 2023 topped $11.5 billion, so summer barbecues will be doubly hit. And electronics, toys, clothing and sporting equipment are all markets that are heavily dependent on China, which has shown the ability to mass produce playthings that meet U.S. safety standards. Retirement accounts Since Trump confirmed he planned to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the stock markets have been in a tailspin. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 are now negative for the year and the Dow is barely clinging to positive territory (but is lower than where it stood when Trump was elected). Bitcoin is also lower since the start of 2025 (by almost 9%), despite the announcement of a national crypto reserve on Sunday. Stock markets ebb and flow naturally over the course of time, of course. And retirement accounts are long-term savings vehicles. But for people who are drawing on them now or plan to soon, big drops in the market could have a direct impact on the money that they have available for their retirement. Home and car prices Canada is one of the leading suppliers of lumber to the U.S. (and lumber futures hit a 30-month high on news of the tariffs.) Meanwhile, China and Mexico make most of the drywall. And many auto manufacturers assemble vehicles sold in the U.S. in Mexico. Car and truck prices could rise by as much as $12,000 by some estimates. And home builders might have to raise prices as well, which could impact not only the price of new construction, but existing homes on the market as well. “Rising costs due to tariffs on imports will leave builders with few options,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a statement. “They can choose to pass higher costs along to consumers, which will mean higher home prices, or try to use less of these materials, which will mean smaller homes. … We may see buyer’s willingness to pay rise for existing homes as newly built homes get pricier which would mean rising prices for existing homes, too. “ View the full article

The Trump administration could announce a pathway for tariff relief on Mexican and Canadian goods covered by North America's free trade agreement as soon as tomorrow, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday. View the full article

Change comes after thousands of workers were fired, causing chaos across the USView the full article

The banking sector has stabilized significantly since the spring of 2023, but elevated interest rates have created lingering issues on bank balance sheets. View the full article

President’s protectionist moves spark concerns about retaliation and damage from escalating trade warView the full article

Google launches QR code feature for Business Profiles, making it easier to send customers directly to the review page. The post Google Business Profile Update: QR Codes For Review Pages appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Google is beta testing Creator Partnerships in Google Ads. This new feature lets advertisers find and promote high-quality YouTube Shorts featuring their brand. How it works: Advertisers can discover Shorts videos from YouTube creators that mention their brand or products. The feature is powered by BrandConnect, Google’s creator marketing platform. Once enabled, Creator Partnerships can be accessed under the Tools section in the Google Ads interface. Why we care. This tool enables brands to leverage user-generated content (UGC) and creator collaborations more effectively, potentially boosting ad performance and reach. Between the lines. This move aligns with the growing trend of brands utilizing authentic, creator-driven content in their advertising strategies. What they’re saying. Kevin Kaneria, who shared a screenshot of the feature on LinkedIn, highlighted its potential for easily linking and promoting creator videos directly from Google Ads accounts. Bottom line. While in beta and available on an invite-only basis, Creator Partnerships could significantly impact how brands collaborate with creators and utilize short-form video content in their advertising campaigns. View the full article