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The talks pave the way for President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping that is tentatively set for March 31-April 2.

President Donald Trump on March 14 called on other countries to send warships to keep the strait open, saying he hopes China, France, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. would take part.

Sens. Steve Daines (R‑Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D‑Nev.) said Congress’ upcoming work on a multiyear highway policy measure presents a chance to advance permitting reforms.

The Trump administration said it’s making progress on building a web-based portal to handle refund requests for almost $170 billion in global tariffs that were overturned by the Supreme Court.

The U.S. economy, hobbled by last fall’s 43-day government shutdown, advanced at an unexpectedly sluggish 0.7% annual rate from October through December, the Commerce Department reported.

Brent crude traded near $100 a barrel following one of the most volatile weeks ever for the oil market, with investors bracing for more upheaval as Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut.

If higher energy costs persist, routing cargo through Panama can cut voyages by between three and 15 days, depending on the route, while reducing fuel consumption, Ricaurte Vásquez said.

The administration has rushed to construct a new tariff regime after the Supreme Court ruled that the president violated the Constitution by imposing many of his previous duties using an emergency law. 

It’s unclear how much extra oil the step will free up in practice, and it represents a fraction of what has been lost because of the Hormuz turmoil this month.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office blasted the lawsuit, noting it comes as gas prices climb amid the Iran war and as some drivers consider going electric.