The Tonight’s Digest tracks the increasing use of tariffs and trade as geopolitical levers, from Trump’s renewed campaign to pressure Greenland through Canada’s historic trade reset with China.
Washington’s position on Venezuela in the Americas is becoming more pronounced as Trump embraces acting President Delcy Rodriguez and prioritizes energy access, stability, and democratic restoration over the restoration of democracy.
The markets also found an unexpected bright spot, as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy oral tablet has seen strong prescription growth, signaling the potential for a turnaround in weight loss.
Trump Threatens Tariffs on Greenland
Trump used tariffs to force Greenland to buy him. He threatened countries that refused to back his bid with trade sanctions.
The president, speaking at the White House Healthcare Roundtable, invoked the national security argument, saying that Russia and China threatened the Danish territory which is already protected by NATO.
His pharmaceutical pricing strategy is mirrored in the threat of tariffs, which signals a willingness to weaponize global trade.
Jeff Landry is Trump’s Special Envoy. He insists that a deal will “should” be reached and plans a visit to Nuuk and Copenhagen in March despite their categorical refusals.
Danish military forces boosted their presence in response to a bipartisan US congress delegation.
According to polls, 83% of Americans are against the annexation and occupation of Greenland. 80% of Americans reject any military action.
Trump has redoubled his efforts, framing mineral-rich Arctic territories as essential for American dominance and positioning commercial coercion in his second term as standard statecraft.
Oral Wegovy is off to a great start
Novo Nordisk’s shares soared more than 5% on Friday, thanks to early prescription wins of its Wegovy oral pill. This is a vital rebound for the Danish pharmaceutical giant.
IQVIA’s data shows that 3,071 pills were filled during the first week after launch on January 5, surpassing Eli Lilly’s initial Zepbound Injection uptake.
The performance was described as “solid” by analysts at TD Cowen & Leerink Partners, who noted that Symphony Data reported 4,290 prescriptions in the week ended January 9th. These were primarily initial doses.
It is comparable to Lilly’s injections (12.4% average weight loss) but without the needle-phobia.
The data are preliminary and Lilly’s oral forglipron is expected to be approved in 2026.
Trump backs Venezuela’s Rodriguez
Venezuela’s rival power brokers played diplomatic Chess with Trump last week. Each was seeking legitimacy.
John Ratcliffe, CIA director, met with Delcy Rodriquez in Caracas to show the US was open to “improved cooperation” and discuss intelligence sharing.
At the White House in a symbol of wooing the president, Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition, presented Trump her Nobel Peace Prize 2025 medal.
Trump, however, sided with Rodriguez and called her “terrific”, while dismissing Machado’s party as having no domestic support in spite of its winning the Venezuelan disputed election 2024.
Rodriguez freed five American prisoner and promised oil cooperation. This confirmed Trump’s preferences: geopolitical security and access to energy over democracy restoration.
Carney secures China trade reset
Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, announced a landmark trade deal with Beijing last Friday. He described it as securing “historic gains” to both countries.
Carney, the first Canadian Prime Minister to visit China in 2017 and negotiate tariff relief of approximately $3 billion worth of export orders.
China has agreed to reduce canola seeds duties by 85% and 15% respectively, to be implemented in March. It will also remove the levies for canola meal as well as lobsters and crabs until year’s end. Canada allows 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles annually with a 6.1% tariff.
Carney acknowledged that the pact is a sign of Canada’s diversification away from Trump’s unpredictable protectionism.
Xi Jinping hailed the “new chapter” of cooperation in clean energy, security, multilateralism and multilateralism.
The post Evening Digest: Trump threatens Greenland Tariffs, Backs Venezuela’s Rodriguez and Canada resets China Trade may be updated as new developments unfold.
