Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

U.S. Economy Adds 151,000 Jobs in February; Trump Upends Decades of U.S. Policy with Pivot to Russia; Deadly Fighting Breaks Out in Parts of Eastern Syria; Markets React to Trump's Tariff Rollercoaster; Maternity Fund Created for Professional Women's Tennis. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired March 07, 2025 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, you're looking at the White House just minutes after we got the first U.S. jobs report,

reflecting a full month of Donald Trump's second presidency. The U.S. economy adding 151,000 jobs in February, unemployment edging up to 4.1

percent from January's 4 percent.

It is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It's 06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson from our Middle East

programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. Also coming up, Russian air strikes pummel Southern Ukraine overnight as President Zelenskyy calls for

a ceasefire.

He heads to Saudi Arabia next week to make his case to the U.S. directly. And President Trump says he sent a letter to Iran Supreme Leader urging him

to do a nuclear deal with the United States. Well, the stock market in New York opens in about 30 minutes from now.

And you have to wonder whether investors have that Thank God it's Friday, feeling given all three averages are on course for their worst week since

September 2024. Traders struggling to figure the likely impact of tariffs as the White House keeps moving those goal posts. And traders now will be

reacting to the news just out of those U.S. jobs numbers.

U.S. economy adding fewer jobs than expected in February. Well, CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich joins us from New York with more on that jobs report. And

what are we learning at this point? This was, of course, released just at last hour.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and this is the first full jobs report under President Trump's second term. This

jobs report revealed that 151,000 jobs were added in the month of February, a little less than that's expected, but still solid.

And the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1 percent, but we're still at historically low unemployment here in the U.S. In terms of sectors that

showed gains in jobs, that was in health care, finance and transportation and warehousing. Sectors here in the U.S. that lost -- saw declines in

hiring rather.

Where in leisure and hospitality, this is an industry here that usually is hiring pretty robustly. We saw declines in that space, and that is

potentially because of where businesses are feeling like consumers heads are at right now, maybe consumers are not going to be spending as much.

Going to be pulling back because of some of these sorts of economic conditions that consumers are experiencing with uncertainty, with tariffs

and rising inflation. We also saw that government jobs increased, however, declined when we basically pulled out the federal government aspect of

that. You saw declines in the federal government by 10,000 so not a terrible amount, but still significant.

And when you break that down even further, you see that those were jobs among USPS, that's the Postal Service and then other federal jobs. And

that's notable, because here in the U.S., we know that Elon Musk and DOGE has been really taking a hatchet to a lot of these federal agencies and

laying off workers as part of their initiative to reform government and get rid of waste and fraud, as they call it.

One thing to point out here that's a bright spot in this report is that wages are up 4 percent year over year, and that is outpacing inflation here

in the U.S., which is at about 3 percent. So that is good news for folks who may be worried about prices. Their paychecks are reflecting stronger

increases than what inflation sits at here in the U.S., Becky.

ANDERSON: Problem is on Wall Street, at least if not on Main Street, there is some real concern about what is going on with regard these tariffs and

the potential for inflationary pressure out there. Look, Donald Trump has stood down on some of these tariffs with Canada and Mexico covered under

the what's known as the USMCA trade deal, and his team talking about Trump's flexibility here.

But markets hate this chaotic flip flopping, and the indices frankly reflecting that they are on course all of these indices, the DOW, the S&P

and the NASDAQ for their worst week since September 2024.

[09:05:00]

What's your sense of what happens next?

YURKEVICH: Well, you can see that markets right now are mixed. Futures are mixed right now, I think that investors, by looking at where things stand,

are just trying to make sense of everything they've seen this week. What has happened with tariffs? What could happen with tariffs this jobs report,

while it's not where economists expected it to be.

It is still quite solid. This report may not capture, though, the totality of what is going on in the economy right now. As you said at your open, I

mean, TGIF for these investors, they're just trying to figure out where to land at the end of the day. But as you said, because of so much economic

uncertainty coming out of the White House.

It's been really hard for investors to grasp where this economy is going. This jobs report does give a little bit of the sense of where we were in

February. But of course, we are moving forward. Only time will tell, kind of where things end up for this economy. We know there have been some

cracks exposing with consumer confidence, with the Atlanta Fed, forecasting that GDP could decline in the first quarter of this year.

So, investors just really trying to parse through so much data and trying to paint a picture of what the business outlook may look like, but really,

Becky, it's nearly impossible right now.

ANDERSON: Yeah, exactly. And that is what traders are struggling with at the moment, trying to price these stocks, and indeed the kind of broader

sort of indices, when they have so little idea about what might happen between today and next week. We know, of course, April the second now is

another key date when it comes to these tariffs.

So, we look, of course, towards that for more indication. All right, Vanessa, always good to have you. Thank you. Ukraine's President, echoing

European calls for a month-long ceasefire with Russia after what he describes as a massive overnight attack. Russia targeting Ukraine's energy

infrastructure with hundreds of drones and missiles.

This video from a strike in Odessa. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeal for a ceasefire comes as we learn he will be heading to Saudi Arabia next

week, ahead of a resumption in talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials. Now that follows that explosive meeting at the White House a week ago

today.

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause military aid to Ukraine. Well, at a special EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, leaders approved a

major rearm plan to pump some $860 billion into defense for the continent. Nick Paton Walsh, following developments for us from Kyiv.

And amid all of this diplomacy, let's not lose sight of the fact that Russia has been pounding Ukrainian targets. Any hope in Kyiv, Nick that

talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia can help repair those strained ties and ultimately put a stop to what Ukrainians are living through at this point?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, you're right, the overnight bombardment where 67 ballistic missiles

were launched and about half of those taken down by air defenses, two dead so far from that. Another reminder of how urgently needed American Patriot

missiles are, the things that can take those ballistic attacks down.

Now, the first thing that potentially may run out after this U.S. military aid, pause and intelligence sharing pause has put into effect. And as it

was described by the Trump envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, as a move intended to like hit a paraphrase here, but hit a donkey in the face

with a plank to get their attention. That has left any Ukrainians here, I think a little apprehensive as to what these Riyadh meetings may indeed be

about.

Yes, the tone ahead of them is of rapprochement, as of senior Trump cabinet officials and Andriy Yermak, the Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff, getting

together, potentially signing that rare earth minerals deal, getting the protests back on track. But there is a lot of pressure now building up on

Kyiv ahead of these talks.

So, I think many are asking exactly what the nature of the ask is going to be from the United States. We don't have a clear idea as to what sort of

peace they have in mind. It appears that the limited month-long partial ceasefire initially suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron and also

by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which the air, the sea and energy infrastructure would be free from strikes by both sides.

That's something that the Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman of Russia appeared to suggest was not going to be in Russia's liking.

[09:10:00]

It wasn't exactly a rejection, but interesting that she said that it would just allow Ukraine to re-equip, to re attack. That's a talking point from

European powers about not giving a ceasefire to Russia's favor. So, the language of this flipping back and forth and at times not resembling the

reality of what we're seeing.

Becky, one important thing to point out today is that while we have all this diplomacy swirling and the extraordinary realignment of the United

States, no longer really Ukraine's ally, but describing itself as an intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow. I mean, just take a moment for that

to sink in after three years of Russian assault here on Ukraine.

There are front line changes too now. If you remember, back in August, Ukraine launched an incursion into Russia, into the Kursk region that has

come under increased pressure over the past month. Certainly, a lot of North Korean elements being used to increase the momentum of Russia's bid

to kick the Ukrainians out.

And we understand that a recent re introduction of some North Korean troops, possibly fresh unclear, is now causing the Russians to move

forwards again. And there are both Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers suggesting that the key access to Ukraine from the pocket that the

Ukrainians hold round the town of Sudzha.

I was there myself back in late August that, that is now in peril, and if that particular access road is cut, as it currently, is now under what they

call fire control, so the Russians can shoot at things as they go up and down of it that potentially imperils or not extinguishes those Ukrainian

pockets inside of Kursk.

That was Ukraine's main negotiating territorial point card, if you like it, in the parlance of President Donald Trump, and that now seems to be in

peril, but that's related to arms issues or intelligence issues, we don't know, but certainly Russia using this moment to pursue very clear military

goals, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, important stuff. Nick, always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed. Nick Paton Walsh is in Kyiv. Well as Europe looks to shore up

its defense capabilities after the emergency summit in Brussels. Russia lashing out at France over comments about its nuclear arsenal.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron remembers said that Moscow was a risk to Europe and suggested that European countries could be

placed under French nuclear protection. Now Russia's Foreign Minister said the comments are a direct threat. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Of course, this is a threat to Russia. If they consider us a threat, if they call a meeting of the Chiefs

of General Staff of European countries and Britain, they say that it is necessary to use nuclear weapons to prepare to use nuclear weapons against

Russia. This is, of course, a threat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, it's been a truly extraordinary week for global diplomacy, and that is something that is being keenly watched in Russia, of course, as

the U.S. President pivots to Moscow over the heads of Ukraine and Europe. Donald Trump up ending decades of U.S. and Western policy.

In fact, a top-rated news show in Russia has even begun talking about a new great Troi cup on the world stage, composed of Russia, the U.S. and China.

Matthew Chance is in Moscow with more. Matthew gives us the outlook from Russia. And what are these enormous sorts of geo political shifts, if you

will?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, yeah, I mean, look, I mean many Russians, including people you see on state media,

including Russian officials. I mean, they are, you know, absolutely beside themselves with glee at what they've seen unfold in front of them over the

course of the past seven or eight weeks since President Trump was inaugurated into office for his second term.

There have been so many concessions that have been made from the U.S. side. You know, most recently, of course, suspending military aid to Ukraine from

the United States, but also making it quite clear that Ukraine would not join NATO, you know, making it clear that there would be very painful

territorial concessions that would have to be endured by Ukraine in the event of any peace deal.

Something that you know, we all knew was probably going to have to be negotiated. But I think the thing is that there's been nothing asked from

the Russians in return, as far as we're aware. And you know, on state television, for instance, Russian television reporters have been except

grappling with that seismic shift.

Basically saying, on the one hand, President Trump and the politicians around him in the United States are talking about making Ukraine

successful, but on the other hand, they're giving Russia everything it needs to be successful in its war on the battlefield in Ukraine.

[09:15:00]

And so, it's that incredibly big about face. Which is, I think left everybody in Russia, sort of pretty astounded, Becky.

ANDERSON: Matthew, thank you. Matthew is in Paris -- Matthew is in Moscow. And more from Matthew in the hours to come. Well, you are watching "Connect

the World" live from our Middle East Broadcasting headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. Ahead on the show, I have a decades old war relic managed to halt

train services in France.

And what U.S. President Donald Trump says he is asking for, and what he describes as a secret letter to Iran's Supreme Leader?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, train services from Paris to London, Brussels and Northern France ground to a halt after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found on

the tracks leading to France's busiest train station Gare du Nord, state owned Railway Company says the quote really huge bomb could be a serious

threat to people's lives. CNN's Melissa Bell covering all of this from Gare du Nord station. What are you learning?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, just the size of the bomb, first start, Becky. This was, is a 500-kilogram bomb, of which

200 kilograms were sheer explosives. Now, it's not unusual that these kinds of unexploded ordnance are found across Northern France.

Remember, this was a part of the world that was so bitterly fought over and for so long in World War Two. What's really unusual about this one is where

it was found. It's about 03:30 a.m. they were doing some works on the line, on the train tracks to go from Paris to London through some of Northern

Paris's busiest suburb, Sand Dune.

And in the middle of the tracks, this unexploded ordnance was found, which means that for years, this thing has been shuttered by the speed and the

noise of many trains and never exploded. That's our great good fortune, but very unusual they define it in such a densely populated area and in the

middle of railway tracks, Becky.

ANDERSON: I mean, I don't think the irony will be lost on anybody that some World War Two ordinance is found on the track at a time when the

transatlantic partnership, which has been so strong since the Second World War, is falling apart at the moment. How long might it take for rail

services to resume? Because, I mean, you know, let's not understate how disruptive this has been.

BELL: I think you are right. The timing of this is pretty interesting, a reminder of what war had looked like around these parts of the world,

before that transatlantic alliance, huge amounts of traffic affected. It isn't simply all of the international, national and regional train services

that go from the Gare du Nord in and out of the Gare du Nord a complete stand still all day.

[09:20:00]

We think they might get up and running, at least the national ones later this afternoon. It's also motorways, the motorway that goes to Northern

France completely blocked, also so huge trouble on the -- essentially a weekend of commuting misery, specifically for those people who have been

hoping to have a quick weekend in London or vice versa in Paris, who have had to change their plans entirely.

Remember that this began very early this Friday morning. In fact, what we understand, Becky, is that the Eurostar itself won't likely be fully up and

running until tomorrow. A lot of very disappointed, people still this is a good news story. It was a very large bomb that lay under those tracks for

many decades, 80 years, Becky undisturbed, and we can be pretty relieved that it was found and extracted and de mined successfully.

ANDERSON: Absolutely, it's always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Looks like a nice day there in Paris. Thank you. Well, the U.S.

President says he has sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader this week. Donald Trump says he urged Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reach a deal with the

United States ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

Well, in an interview with Fox Business, he said he believes he can negotiate an agreement, quote, that would be just as good as if you won

militarily. CNN's Jennifer Hansler joins me now live. What more are we learning about this letter at this point, Jenni?

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well Becky, this is really an extraordinary statement from the U.S. President that he has tried to

directly contact Iran's Supreme Leader about these nuclear negotiations. Of course, you'll recall that it was under President Trump's first term, back

in 2018 that the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and order to pursue what they called a maximum pressure policy against Iran.

During that time, they did float the idea of a new nuclear deal, but Iranian officials back then said, you know, we had a deal, and you guys

walked away from it. Now, under the Biden Administration, they also attempted to revive the nuclear deal, but those efforts largely did not

succeed.

And by the end of the Biden Administration, there was acknowledgement that the JCPOA that had been negotiated under President Obama was largely

defunct. Now, if with the president again raising this idea of a nuclear negotiation while they are also still pursuing that policy of maximum

pressure, this is coming, Becky, as Russia has offered to negotiate a new deal.

It is unclear if the U.S. has had direct conversations with the Russians on this particular point as they're talking to them, you know, mostly about

the war in Ukraine and other bilateral issues. However, this is what the President said when he was speaking to Fox Business this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK ANCHOR: Reports now that Russia says it will help the United States negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. What

kind of a deal with Iran do you want to do? You said they cannot have a nuclear weapon?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Yeah. Well, there are two ways Iran can be handled militarily, or you make a deal. I would

prefer to make a deal, because I'm not looking to hurt Iran. They're great people. I know so many Iranians from this country.

BARTIROMO: Well, not the leadership?

TRUMP: No, not the leadership.

BARTIROMO: The people.

TRUMP: -- people, no, but the people of Iran are great people, but they had a tough regime, and they meet and they'd be shot in the streets. I mean, it

was a tough deal, but I would rather negotiate a deal. I'm not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good

as if you won militarily.

But the time is happening now. The time is coming up. Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran and I've written them a

letter saying, I hope you're going to negotiate, because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them.

BARTIROMO: You wrote a letter to the Khamenei --

TRUMP: Yes.

BARTIROMO: When did you send the letter?

TRUMP: Yesterday.

BARTIROMO: And you said, you better negotiate, or we want you to negotiate --

TRUMP: -- you better.

BARTIROMO: OK.

TRUMP: I said, I hope you're going to negotiate, because it's going to be a lot better for Iran. And I think they want to get that letter. The other

alternative is we have to do something, because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANSLER: Now. Becky, there is a lot of questions about how these nuclear negotiations would actually be carried out, if they would even be direct,

if the president is reaching out directly to the Supreme Leader. So, a lot of questions remain, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's fascinating, isn't it? It's good to have you. This follows just in the past 24 hours. Let's remind our viewers U.S. Treasury

Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. will collapse Iran's economy by shutting down the oil industry. And he said if I were an Iranian, I would

get all my money out of the rial now.

Timing is everything, isn't it? Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. Thank you, Jenni -- in

Syria, deadly fighting broke out between government forces and groups linked to the Former Dictator Bashar Al Assad.

[09:25:00]

Reinforcements were sent from Aleppo to Latakia after government checkpoints and patrols were attacked. A local official says many were

killed there. Well South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol may soon return home after a court in Seoul cancel his arrest warrant. Yoon was indicted in

January on charges of leading an insurrection.

Separately, lawmakers voted to impeach him for declaring martial law. The country's top court will decide in the coming weeks whether to uphold his

impeachment or reinstate him as president. SpaceX is facing another setback after its starship spacecraft exploded on Thursday just minutes after

lifting off from Texas.

This video of the unmanned spacecraft shows debris lighting up the sky near the Bahamas. This is the second consecutive failure for Elon Musk's rocket

program. This year, the FAA has ordered an investigation into the mishap. Well, in just a matter of minutes, U.S. market is set to open a look at how

investors are responding to the first jobs report of President Trump's second term. That is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World", these are your headlines is up. Ukraine's President is

echoing European calls for a month-long ceasefire with Russia after what he says are massive attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure.

Missile and drone strikes killed at least two people overnight. While the war rages on, European Union leaders agreed on a massive hike in defense

spending at a summit in Brussels. U.S. President Trump says he sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader this week.

Mr. Trump said he urged Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to negotiate with the United States on a deal ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. The U.S.

labor market continue to grow a bit in February, figures released last hour, show employers added 151,000 jobs, just shy though of what economists

had expected.

[09:30:00]

It is the first report to cover a full month under the second Trump Administration. The sweeping layoffs from federal agencies haven't yet

shown up in that data. Well, let's get the opening bell for you on Wall Street. It is 09:30 in New York and the U.S. markets then out of the gates.

It is Friday. Bit of a TGIF. I think today for investors, really, we have been suggesting this. It has been a chaotic week, traders finding it very

hard to set prices, given what has been going on with these tariffs and this trade war that the U.S. President has begun with, Canada, Mexico,

China, plus, plus.

Joining me now is CNN's Global Economic Analyst Rana Foroohar. Rana, it's good to have you this -- I'm going to talk about the markets and what's

been affecting them across the week in a moment, this jobs report, though, is going to be certainly front and center for many as they get into the

back end of what has been this roller coaster week. What do you make of it?

RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Well, you know, it's not a great jobs report, but it wasn't a terrible one. So, I think you can see in

the futures market right now, things are sort of flat. The concern was that, if this was a terrible report, it would be coming off the back of a

lot of uncertainty in the markets already.

You know, I mean, if you look at what Donald Trump inherited when he came into office, he inherited an S&P that was rising, consumer confidence that

was high, really the, you know, the most robust recovery post COVID in the rich world. What we have now is a very jittery S&P, consumers that are

buttoning up their wallets a little bit more.

And so, the sense that, OK, jobs report, while not terrible, you do see unemployment ticking up just a tiny bit. It's flat to slightly negative.

And so that would I, think, you know, warrant thoughts of a slowdown, potentially thoughts even, I hate to say it, but of stagflation, that's the

big worry right now.

We are going into a period in which you're going to see somewhat slower growth at the same time that you have more inflation.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. And why might there be more inflation? Because prices may be higher as a result of these tariffs. Problem is nobody knows,

neither you nor me, investors, traders. It doesn't seem points whether the U.S. Administration itself knows what policy is on these tariffs at this

point, and that's been the problem.

Look, and you mentioned the averages, the -- particularly the S&P. These three averages, and let's bring them up, if we can, the DOW, the NASDAQ and

the S&P headed, depending on what happens today, for their worst week since September 2024 I mean, certainly the S&P has been on a clip.

Look, I mean, you know, as I say, we don't know where these markets are going to sell at the end of the day, but your hearings, I understand it

from investors that there is a real loss of trust after this whiplash and constant uncertainty.

FOROOHAR: Yeah. 100 percent.

ANDERSON: How does the Trump Administration overcome that?

FOROOHAR: You know, it's interesting. It's a surprise to me, in some ways, that the president is flip flopping as much on tariffs as he is because of

the market reaction. There was a sense that, look, this is a president that's obsessed by the market. He's not going to do anything to upset the

markets.

Well, he is upsetting the markets. And even if he says, you know, goes back and eventually pulls back, particularly with Canada and Mexico to U.S.

allies into what was essentially the USMCA deal that he himself negotiated. There's a sense of why all the drama, you know, why are you putting us

through all of this and this anxiety?

You know, investors just want certainty. I've been talking to a lot of money managers, a lot of retirees that are just concerned about their

future, the next not just the next quarter, but the next 1, 2, 5, 10 years. Because eventually, if the president is like the boy who cried wolf, you

know, and you pull back and move forward too many times, the markets are just going to look for other hedges.

And I think that you can see the correlation right now between, say, U.S. political risk and the price of gold rising. You know that's one sense of

the hedge. People are looking for other places to put their money. I know plenty of folks that are looking for apartments in Europe right now and

saying, we just -- if we have any spare cash, let's not put it in the market.

Let's put it someplace else, some place outside the U.S. So, these are all hedges against a more uncertain future.

ANDERSON: It's fascinating. I haven't got time to do this with you now, but we got oil prices in an interesting space as well.

[09:35:00]

We're here, of course, in the UAE, GCC countries will be keeping a real eye on what these oil prices are doing, given that you know some prices now

below that which they need to balance their budgets on. And you can see the prices there. Brent just above 70. WTI crude down at 67.

I mean, if we talk in inflation, at least this drop in oil prices is going to help the Trump Administration. And we know that the U.S. President has

got his eyes keenly on getting that oil price a little bit lower. We'll do that next time you and I speak, I expect to speak to you on a regular

basis, if you don't mind, if you can make time for us, because your insight analysis is really important, Rana, thank you very much indeed.

Well, all of this back and forth on tariffs is giving Canadians some economic whiplash. Now they are trying to prepare for seemingly impending

tariffs whilst also adjusting to what is a new and decidedly different relationship with the United States. CNN's John King has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, INSIDE POLITICS (voice-over): British Columbia is a living post card, scenic mountains and gorgeous waters. The importance of

trade is everywhere you look. Canadian lumber waiting at rivers edge. Rail cars to carry Canadian crude oil, crops and more. The bustling Pacific Rim,

Port of Vancouver.

PETER XOTTA, CEO OF VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY: You'll watch it for eight hours. You'll see, on average, we've got 10 ships arriving and 10

ships leaving. We did about 160 million tons of cargo last year. 75 percent of that is those bulk commodities, but grain, coal -- sulfur and other

agricultural products outbound.

KING (voice-over): Peter Xotta is the port CEO.

XOTTA: It's devastating on both of our economies. We've thrived in North America by having a relatively open economy, and those trading patterns

that exist have been mutually beneficial to both countries.

KING (voice-over): President Trump paused the tariffs Thursday, another about face in what is now weeks of on again, off again, threats that

uncertainty, Xotta says, leaves Canada no choice but to find new markets, new partners.

XOTTA: It's been a wakeup call, right? It's been a wakeup call for Canadians that we need to figure out a way to not be as dependent.

KING (voice-over): This rift goes beyond what Canadians see as Trump's bad math. They are furious at his bad manners, his constant insults, calling

Canada the 51st state and its prime minister, governor.

DARRYL LAMB, MANAGER AT LEGACY LIQUOR STORE: We've been in this together for a long time. We fought wars together. We went to Afghanistan. We did

all this stuff together. Why? What are you doing here?

KING (voice-over): Darryl Lamb is the Brand Manager at Legacy liquors. Yes, this too is a front in the new trade war.

LAMB: There's yellow rose right there, from Texas right there. So --

KING: Is it popular?

LAMB: It is.

KING: And if this goes into effect, you can't sell this.

LAMB: It will be -- off the shelf.

KING: It's gone.

KING (voice-over): Tito's vodka too, also from Texas.

KING: Diagram of a trade war.

KING (voice-over): The Premier of British Columbia says his response to Trump tariffs will be to ban sales of alcohol from states Trump one that

also have a Republican Governor.

LAMB: We've gone through this before. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we were asked to remove all Russian products from our shelves.

KING (voice-over): Lamb says some customers rush to stockpile American favorites, but others want all American products off the shelves.

KING: So mad at Trump for what he saying about Canada that they're saying, get it out of here.

LAMB: No, 100 percent Absolutely. I'm just worried about this eternal relationship that we've had for 200 plus years being soured for four.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: John King reporting. And this news just into CNN, U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening new sanctions on Russia. In a post on Truth

Social, Mr. Trump said he is considering large scale banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace deal can be reached with

Ukraine.

This comes in response to Moscow's continued bombardment of Ukraine, and it is a notable turn from the U.S. President's recent comments saying that he

was open to lifting sanctions. You're watching "Connect the World". WTA players are celebrating a landmark moment for women's tennis. This comes

following the creation of a new maternity fund. Details on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

ANDERSON: Well, just in time for International Women's Day this weekend, professional tennis putting motherhood front and center. The Women's Tennis

Association announced on Thursday that its players can now receive a year of paid maternity leave. This landmark program fully financed by Saudi

Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

And it will also provide grants for fertility treatments. Patrick Snell joining me now, and this is a highly significant development being held as

a game changing moment for the sport, Patrick.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yeah, absolutely, Becky, very encouraging. No question about being welcomed by none other than one of tennis biggest

names, namely the two-time Grand Slam Champion from Belarus, Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

Becky, this is personal for Victoria, who gave birth to her son Leo, that was in very late 2016 but says there was no maternity leave policy in place

at the time that led to requesting her future in this sport. And I remember as well, Serena Williams also experiencing the limitations of a system for

returning mothers after the birth of her daughter, Olympia, that was in 2017.

It's not just existing moms either on tour, Becky, is that Azarenka believes could stand to benefit from the fund, moving forward, there's a

whole new generation of players who are going to feel empowered now to not have to choose between peak performance and future family planning.

It is really good to see you, Becky, and we still waiting more reaction from other players as well. But this is one topic that we will stay across,

because it is highly, highly significant. Back to you.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it is highly significant. It's just a good news story, which we need.

SNELL: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Patrick. Patrick is back with "World Sport" after this short break. I'll be back in 15 minutes for the second hour of our show.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

[10:00:00]

END