IGAD Treaty Entry into Force, Canada Investment Summit and U.S.-Canada Tariff Changes

The IGAD Council of Ministers met in Djibouti on September 15 and recorded that five of the organisation’s seven member states had ratified the 2023 IGAD Treaty, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for it to enter into force. The Council endorsed the formal entry into force of the Treaty and directed the Secretariat to undertake the legal, institutional and administrative steps required for operationalisation.

The same communiqué directed stronger regional maritime governance and coordination around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, called for coordinated diplomacy on Sudan, reaffirmed the transition framework for South Sudan and endorsed in principle an IGAD Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said the first Canada Investment Summit, held with investors from nearly 30 countries managing more than $100 trillion in assets, generated nearly $500 billion in new investment commitments to Canada.

The announcement included nearly $100 billion in new capital commitments from pension funds, insurers and institutional investors, roughly $325 billion in financing commitments from major banks, and more than $14 billion to be mobilised by investment funds. The sectors identified included critical infrastructure, energy, mining and critical minerals, defence, AI, digital infrastructure and transport.

Changes ordered in U.S. proclamations issued on September 8 took effect at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on September 15. The White House modified the scope of Canadian products subject to additional duties under section 338, adding some products and removing others from the 50 per cent additional duty framework.

The administration’s accompanying fact sheet said the product additions and removals took effect on September 15, while separate import bans on selected Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motor-vehicle products were scheduled to take effect on September 29.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the Security Council on September 15 that the situation in and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait had become increasingly volatile, citing intensified fighting along Yemen’s west coast and reported Houthi advances toward the strait and islands in the southern Red Sea.

The UN briefing said commercial shipping flows through the Red Sea appeared unaffected at that stage, while warning that the advance had added to market concerns amid continuing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

The North Atlantic Council met in KFOR format on September 15 and received the final briefing of KFOR Commander Major General Özkan Ulutaş. NATO said an ongoing optimisation of KFOR’s posture followed a steady improvement in the security situation and was being implemented gradually.

NATO described the process as conditions-based and fully reversible if security conditions deteriorate. KFOR will retain the staffing, equipment, readiness and flexibility required to implement its UN mandate. Major General Roberto Vergori of Italy is expected to succeed Ulutaş in mid-October.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing on September 15 as China and ASEAN marked the fifth anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership and the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations.

China’s official account said Beijing was ready to work with ASEAN states to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and advance negotiations on a Code of Conduct. Kao said the South China Sea should not become an obstacle in ASEAN-China relations and that ASEAN was ready to work with China to safeguard regional peace and stability.