Use of electric vehicles in Africa is surging, led by Ethiopia, as soaring prices and fuel shortages compel countries to opt for cleaner and cheaper transport. More than 115,000 EVs are now on Ethiopia’s roads, accounting for about 8% of the national fleet. In 2025, it imported a third of Africa’s imports from China, ahead of other major markets in South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria. The country has enough renewable power capacity to support the transition away from fuel-burning engines, but gaps in charging infrastructure, affordability and grid reliability pose challenges. Officials say expanding EV adoption could reduce oil dependence and shield the country from global supply shocks.

A federal court has ruled against the new global tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. A split three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade in New York found the 10% global tariffs were illegal after small businesses sued. The court ruled 2-1 Thursday that Trump overstepped the tariff power that Congress had allowed the president under the law. The tariffs are “invalid″ and ”unauthorized by law,” the majority wrote. At issue are temporary 10% worldwide tariffs the Trump administration imposed after the Supreme Court in February struck down even broader tariffs the president had imposed last year on almost every country on Earth.

Cuba's pocket-size government ration book has been circulating for more than six decades. It once offered a bounty of products that have dwindled as the island's economic crises deepen. A growing number of Cubans depend on state grocery stores in the socialist country of nearly 10 million people. But the shelves remain largely empty in the state stores that have been diminished by a lack of government resources. Cuba imports up to 80% of its food and prices have soared for basic goods that increasingly are sold in U.S. dollars. Ration books are shrinking quickly as Cubans struggle to subsist on meager salaries and pensions.

The U.S. dollar has dropped about 10% against a basket of other major currencies since early 2025. That shift is starting to show up in everyday costs: A weaker dollar means Americans get less when traveling abroad and may pay more for imported goods like food, fuel and electronics. Economists say the effect on prices is usually modest, but it can add up, particularly when stacked on other factors, including inflation, tariffs and a spike in fuel costs due to the Iran war. President Donald Trump has openly supported a weaker dollar, arguing it helps American industry, and some executives agree, saying it's boosted overseas business.

General Motors is expecting a $500 million tariff refund after the Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most sweeping levies. That’s boosted the Michigan-based auto maker’s outlook for 2026. On Tuesday, GM said it’s now looking to rake in $13.5 billion to $15.5 billion in earnings before interest and taxes this year — up from previous forecasts of $13 billion to $15 billion. Companies big and small are seeking refunds on tariffs they paid that the Supreme Court ruled illegal in February.  And on April 20, the Customs and Border Protection agency launched an online system for claims.

Businesses have doled out up to $4 million to send ships through the Panama Canal while trying to avoid the Iran war's risks and effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Passage through the canal usually comes at a flat rate via reservations. But companies without bookings can pay more to cross through an auction that awards slots to the highest bidder. The average price to cross the canal ranges between $300,000 and $400,000 depending on the vessel. Businesses that wanted earlier crossings previously paid an additional $250,000 to $300,000. In a number of cases recently, companies have paid big money to jump the line. The canal’s administrator says one paid an extra $4 million.

A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court eventually struck down has launched. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said importers and their brokers could begin claiming refunds online beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday. It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States. Some users reported glitches with the new system. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in late February that President Donald Trump usurped Congress’ taxation authority when he set double-digit import tax rates on products from almost every other country.