The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/18 at 11:00 EST

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/18 at 11:00 EST

Hi, Steve Patterson here, host of The Debaters, the show where we answer your most burning questions, like, do candles deserve more appreciation? Canada's best comedians wax on about it in this week's new episode, so listen wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Claude. The trade deal known as Coosma is up for review in the new year. In recent weeks, Donald Trump's chief trade negotiator floated the possibility. that the U.S. President could walk away from the North American trade agreement. But Prime Minister Mark Carney tells CBC that Trump hasn't given him any indications

that he's interested in ripping up the deal. Darren Major has more. We talked about the process for reviewing, renegotiating, Kuzma. Prime Minister Mark Carney met with his U.S. and Mexican counterparts on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup draw earlier this month. Carney said much of their private deliberations laid out the groundwork for the upper coming Kuzma review. Just days after that meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer suggested it's possible Trump could tear up the agreement during the coming negotiations. Could it be

exited? Yeah, it could be exited? Could it be revised? Yes. Could it be renegotiated? Yes. Greer tabled a report to Congress just yesterday that said Trump will only commit to keeping Kuzma if changes are made. But Carney says that the president hasn't given him any indication that he's interested in leaving the deal. Rather, the prime minister says, Trump is looking for adjustments to the trade pact. The U.S. is currently imposing hefty tariffs on a number of Canadian sectors, including steel and aluminum. Carney says addressing those levies will need to be part of the Kuzman negotiations in the new year. Derrim Major, CBC News, Ottawa. The European Union has committed to finance Ukraine's war efforts over the next two years. And this morning in Brussels, it's debating

how? Crystal Gamansing has more. Leaders have a choice today, borrow against their own budget, to keep Ukraine afloat or use some of the Russian frozen assets held mostly in Belgium. Belgium has fought against the idea, fearing legal liabilities and Russian retaliation. Victor Orban is the Prime Minister of Hungary and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. To give money means war. The issue of what the EU calls the repatriation loans runs the risk of fracturing the unity among the bloc of nations. Leaders have pledged to share any legal liabilities from using the Russian frozen assets. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen still acknowledges it will be a tough day.

Most important part is that at the end of the day, we have secured the funding for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Voldemir Zelenskyy says the decision by EU leaders must make Russia feel like its desire to continue the war next year is pointless. Crystal Gamansing, CBC News, London. while European farmers are driving their tractors into Belgium, site of the EU meetings, protesting a proposed free trade deal with South American countries. The farmers say they're worried this trade deal will undercut their livelihoods. The EU is hammering out an agreement with the countries known as Mercosur, and that's Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia.

The deal would progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocks over the next 15 years. An Alberta clipper with winds gusting to 90 kilometers an hour is bringing blowing snow in near whiteout conditions to southern Manitoba. The system is expected to bring 10 to 20 centimeters of snow across the region with higher amounts possible in some areas before ending later today. The perimeter highway has now been closed along with portions of the Trans-Canada Highway. Tears and sobbing filled a Jewish funeral home in Sydney, Australia today. A funeral was held for 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Hanukkah Massacre. Fifteen people were murdered last Sunday at Bondi Beach. Rabbi Yehoram Oman delivered the eulogy for the girl.

The tragic, totally cruel and fathomable murder of young Matilda something that's painful to all of us as if our own daughter was taken from us. A 24-year-old is now charged in connection with the deadly attacks, including murder and terrorism. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Claude Fagg.