Trade politics is in focus once more. The latest KORUS talks made little progress, reflecting the geopolitical landscape. The U.S. has applied sanctions against Venezuela’s cryptocurrency, it could target falling oil shipments too. Xi and Merkel team up to tackle steel oversupply. Also: India may appeal U.S. steel tariffs at the WTO; Knight-Swift continues trucking consolidation; DP World heads to Peru; Japan’s slowing trade boom; Trump’s China tariffs could be days away while China wants balanced trade; post-Brexit trade deals could start in 2021.