Canada-U.S. Trade: Trade minister Dominic LeBlanc is back in Washington for meetings with U.S. senators and industry as a new tariff push looms, with an Aug. 19 deadline for 50% tariffs on selected Canadian goods. West Coast Pipeline Fast-Track: Ottawa is moving to designate a proposed West Coast oil pipeline as a “national interest” project under the Building Canada Act, a move that could speed approvals and limit some environmental reviews. Oil Prices & the Loonie: The Canadian dollar slid as oil prices dropped, even as Canada posted a fourth straight month of trade surpluses; manufacturing growth also picked up but raised questions about durability. Gas at the Pump: GasBuddy reports average gasoline prices easing in Regina and across Saskatchewan, offering a brief reprieve amid volatile global energy markets. Solar Supply Chain: Reuters reports the U.S. is weighing a polysilicon price floor and tariffs on related products, a potential shake-up for solar manufacturing and semiconductor supply chains. Critical Minerals & Tech Inputs: Europe is pushing to secure gallium supply; METLEN’s long-term deal to sell a major share of gallium output to a U.S. technology firm underscores the scramble for non-China sources. Bioenergy Investment: Power Wood Holdings agreed terms for up to CA$84M to build two advanced black pellet plants in Northern Alberta, targeting 700,000 tons of annual capacity.