“When President Trump began raising tariffs earlier this year, government officials and economists feared Mexico’s export-led economy would take a devastating hit. Instead, Mexican exports to the U.S. have grown,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Because Mexico’s ultimate tariff rate ended up lower than for most other countries, the disparity has helped Mexican exports fill some of the gap left by Chinese products subject to higher levies.”

“Producers seeking a foothold in the U.S. have said that Mexico still has all the inherent advantages it had before tariffs—proximity to the U.S., a low-cost manufacturing industry and a frayed but intact free-trade agreement.”

President Donald Trump on Friday cast himself as the ultimate arbiter of any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, Politico reports.

Said Trump: “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.”

“President Trump plans several big announcements on Gaza in early January, but the next steps hinge on his meeting on Monday at Mar-a-Lago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” Axios reports.

“White House officials think Netanyahu is slow-walking the peace process, and fear he will resume the war with Hamas. But while the Israeli prime minister is butting heads with Trump’s team, he hopes to bring the president himself over to his more hawkish point of view.”

“President Trump is expected to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to try and reach agreement on the U.S. peace plan,” Axios reports.

“The meeting is a sign of significant progress in the talks. Trump said previously that he’d only meet Zelensky if he felt a deal was close.”