Commerce Department

Shoppers unexpectedly cut spending in July as the boost from government tax refunds faded, causing retail sales to slip 0.6%. According to data released by the Commerce Department, excluding gas stations and auto dealers, retail sales fell 0.2%, although the lone services category – restaurants – registered a 0.5% increase.

Senate Democrats are probing a Korean firm regarding its $2 million payment to a Trump company. This investigation comes at a time when Base Co. LTD was involved in fighting a trade case before the Commerce Department.

Warren is demanding the Commerce Department provide its national-security analysis and disclose whether other agencies raised concerns about technology diversion related to UAE export controls following a Trump-era crypto deal.

Democratic senators criticized the Trump administration's inconsistent and opaque handling of AI security risks, warning that such actions could drive adoption of Chinese alternatives. They cited examples like the Hugging Face hack and the suspension of access to Anthropic's models as evidence of a flawed approach that undermines U.S. competitiveness.

The US economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026, driven by consumer spending and AI-related business investment but weighed by rising imports. Mortgage rates hit a one-year high, with the 30-year fixed rate reaching 6.66%, while consumer confidence fell to 90.8 in July amid rising gas prices and geopolitical tensions.

President Donald Trump's 50% tariff on Canadian imports could significantly impact Missouri, which exported $5.8 billion in goods to Canada in 2025. The state's economy relies heavily on manufacturing and agricultural exports to Canada, with small and medium-sized businesses comprising 84% of Missouri's exporters. Tariffs may raise costs, disrupt trade, and threaten 74,000 jobs tied to Missouri's $18.7 billion in total exports.

The U.S. economy slowed in the second quarter, with the Commerce Department linking the decline to the war in Iran. The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates despite three dissenting opinions supporting a rate hike, as discussed by Amna Nawaz and Greg Ip of The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. economy grew at 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.1% in Q1, driven by consumer spending and AI-related business investment but weighed by rising imports. Inflation, as measured by the Fed's PCE price index, remained above the 2% target at 3.7% year-over-year, prompting some Fed officials to push for rate hikes.

US GDP growth slowed to 1.5% in Q2 2026 due to rising AI-related imports, though consumer spending increased by 3.2%. The Federal Reserve’s inflation measure remained above its 2% target, and underlying economic strength showed growth despite import-driven drag on GDP.

The U.S. economy grew 1.5% in Q2 2026, below the 2.1% Q1 rate, as rising imports reduced growth. Consumer spending rose 3.2% annually, AI investment surged, but inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target at 3.7%. The Fed held interest rates steady despite dissent from regional presidents.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026, below expectations, with rising imports dampening expansion. Inflation, measured by the Fed’s PCE index, remained above 3.7% year-over-year, though it slowed slightly from May. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged, but three regional presidents dissented, advocating for rate hikes to address persistent inflation.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5% annual rate in the second quarter of 2026, slower than the 2.1% growth in the first quarter, with inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. The Fed left interest rates unchanged despite three regional presidents dissenting in favor of rate hikes. The economy showed resilience amid the Iran war and higher energy prices, with the job market adding 92,000 jobs monthly in 2026 compared to fewer than 10,000 in 2025.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026, below expectations and down from 2.1% in Q1. Inflation, as measured by the Fed's preferred PCE index, remained above the 2% target at 3.7% year-over-year in June 2026, though it slowed from 4.1% in May. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the fifth consecutive meeting, despite dissent from three regional presidents advocating for higher rates.

The US economy grew at a 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026, with consumer spending rising but imports reducing growth. Inflation, as measured by the Fed's PCE index, remained above the 2% target at 3.7%, despite a slight monthly decline in prices.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) urged the Trump administration to ban government agencies and contractors from using Chinese AI models, citing security risks from potential backdoors in open-source models. He also called for strict export controls on advanced computing equipment and advocated for nurturing a US open AI ecosystem to compete with China's.

In June 2026, the U.S. government ordered Anthropic to restrict access to its AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5, leading to an 18-day global shutdown. The Commerce Department required a license for foreign access, prompting the company to halt access entirely until June 30. The article highlights a lack of standardized processes for evaluating AI security risks and implementing proportionate remedies.

GCAP has officially expanded, and the article discusses the presence of Commerce Department representatives at the Farnborough air show. The focus is on the significance of these developments.

The Trump administration finalized a rule removing federal protections for endangered species' habitats under the Endangered Species Act, shifting responsibility to states. Experts warn states lack the legal frameworks and resources to prevent habitat destruction, while environmental groups and tribal nations have filed lawsuits challenging the change.

The Trump administration finalized a rule removing federal protections for endangered species' habitats under the Endangered Species Act, shifting responsibility to states. Experts warn states lack the legal authority and resources to prevent habitat destruction, while environmental groups and tribal nations have sued to challenge the change.

The Trump administration removed federal protections for endangered species' habitats under the Endangered Species Act, shifting responsibility to states. Experts argue states lack the necessary laws and resources to prevent habitat destruction, leading to lawsuits from environmental groups and tribal nations.

The Trump administration is considering measures to restrict Chinese AI models, including potential bans and Entity List additions, amid rising concerns over cybersecurity and competition. Efforts involve the Commerce Department, National Security Agency, and White House officials, with a focus on discouraging U.S. companies from using Chinese models like Kimi through procurement rules and public pressure.

Retail sales rose 0.2% in June, driven by resilience in categories like motor vehicles and online sales despite a 5.3% drop in gas station sales due to falling fuel prices. Consumers prioritized spending on cars and summer events, while inflation cooling provided some relief.

Retail sales rose 0.2% in June, driven by online sales and sporting goods, but overall spending slowed due to economic uncertainty and fading tax refunds. Inflation cooled as gas prices fell, but geopolitical tensions threaten recent progress.

Retail sales rose 0.2% in June amid economic uncertainty and fading tax refund benefits, with a 0.7% increase when excluding gas stations. Inflation declined to 3.5% year-over-year, driven by lower gas, clothes, and used car prices, while consumer spending on online platforms and sporting goods showed growth.

Retail sales increased 0.2% in June, driven by online sales and sporting goods amid economic uncertainty and declining gas prices. Excluding gas stations, sales rose 0.7%, while clothing stores fell 0.3%. Inflation cooled to 3.5% year-over-year as gas prices dropped to $3.94 per gallon.

Nvidia has shipped a small number of H200 AI chips to China and Hong Kong, according to a Trump administration official, following US approval of sales to 10 Chinese firms including Tencent and ByteDance. The shipments mark the first deliveries since December 2023 when President Trump authorized the sales.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh faces his first congressional hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he will address questions about task forces and his stance on interest rates amid inflation concerns linked to the Iran war. The Commerce Department is expected to report rising core inflation in June, which could prompt the Fed to tighten monetary policy.

The Trump administration's American AI Exports Program, aimed at promoting U.S. AI technology globally, received only 78 applications in its first round, far below officials' expectations. Industry skepticism about government incentives and concerns over restrictive policies, such as forcing Anthropic to limit foreign access to its models, have undermined the initiative's effectiveness as China's AI firms gain traction in developing markets.

The Trump administration is easing export controls for the UAE, with the Commerce Department favorably reviewing exports involving MGX, which used a stablecoin linked to President Trump's family for a $2B Binance investment. Senator Warren criticizes the move as involving a 'corrupt' provision.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated the company made 'many changes' during discussions with the Trump administration before releasing GPT-5.6. The new AI models were initially limited to partners under government pressure, and OpenAI received approval for public release. Anthropic PBC temporarily disabled models due to export controls, which were later lifted after cybersecurity safeguards were added.

Microsoft President Brad Smith criticized the Trump administration's AI policy for lacking transparency and clear rules, citing recent restrictions on advanced AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI as examples. The administration used export controls to limit access to Fable 5, Mythos 5, and GPT-5.6, but these actions have since eased, with Smith noting the government lacks adequate tools to regulate frontier AI effectively.

The Trump administration is preparing a list of Spanish goods for potential embargo after President Trump ordered a trade cut with Spain over its refusal to endorse NATO's defense spending mandate. The Treasury Department and other agencies are compiling options, which could destabilize the US-EU trade deal. Previous threats by Trump to cut trade with Spain have not yet resulted in formal action, but legal preparations are underway.

The Commerce Department is preparing new arms sale policies to assist US companies in foreign markets, according to a key official. The department aims to increase foreign defense sales through these initiatives.

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened to $77.6 billion in May as imports rose 3.3% and exports fell 3.2%. Increased demand for electronics, medicines, and AI-related technology drove higher imports, while the Trump administration’s tariffs and global supply chain disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz conflict failed to consistently reduce the deficit. New trade actions under Section 301 are being prepared to impose tariffs on countries restricting forced labor imports and those subsidizing domestic manufacturing.

The Trump administration has lifted restrictions on Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after cybersecurity concerns raised by Amazon's researchers. Anthropic now offers Fable 5 widely and limited access to Mythos 5 for approved U.S. organizations, while OpenAI restricts its new GPT-5.6 Sol model at the administration's request.

The Trump administration has removed restrictions on Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 AI model and partially restored access to Mythos 5, following cybersecurity concerns raised by Amazon researchers. OpenAI also restricted its new GPT-5.6 Sol model at the administration's request, as part of a new AI oversight framework.

The key inflation gauge reached a 3-year high in May, driven by rising gas prices and AI-related costs. Apple increased prices on Macs and iPads due to chip shortages, while the U.S. economy grew 2.1% in Q1 2025. Mortgage rates remained near 6.5%, and consumer spending declined amid higher gas prices.

The Trump administration is nearing an agreement to restore access to Anthropic's Fable 5 model after a 15-day suspension due to security concerns. Anthropic expects to reintroduce Fable 5 soon following government risk assessments, with the Commerce Department also allowing limited access to its cybersecurity model Mythos 5 for trusted users.

The Trump administration, along with the US Treasury and commerce department, requested OpenAI to limit the distribution of its new GPT 5.6 model to vet users. The government offices sought a staggered release to address potential concerns.

The U.S. has barred Polestar from selling new electric vehicles due to its Chinese ownership. The Commerce Department denied Polestar authorization under the Connected Vehicle Rule, leading the Geely-owned brand to cease U.S. sales.