Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.

This week, Presidents Trump and Putin hold a controversial summit in Helsinki; ISIL may be attempting resurgence in Iraq and Afghanistan; Japan and the EU sign a trade deal; and more.

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Americas

The United States launched five separate trade disputes with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday. The disputes target China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and Turkey, challenging the retaliatory tariffs they imposed on U.S. exports. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the tariffs are illegal under the WTO agreement. "The United States will take all necessary actions to protect our interests, and we urge our trading partners to work constructively with us on the problems created by massive and persistent excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors," Lighthizer said in a statement.

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• Mexico says United States, Mexico aim to reach NAFTA deal by late August – The Wall Street Journal

Central & South Asia

Election violence in Pakistan resulted in over 100 casualties this week. A deadly suicide attack in the Baluchistan province killed almost 130 people at a campaign rally, including Nawabzada Siraj Raisan, a candidate running for a local legislature. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but the assertion has not been verified. The Pakistani military plans to deploy over 300,000 troops on election day on July 25 to prevent additional attacks.

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• U.S. general: No major changes in strategy likely in Afghanistan – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

China & East Asia

Japan and the European Union signed an historic trade deal this week, which creates an open trade zone for 600 million people and covers one third of the global economy. The deal reduces or cuts tariffs on almost all goods and reduces trade barriers on Japanese automakers and electronics companies. "Relations between the European Union and Japan have never been stronger," said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council. "Geographically, we are far apart, but politically and economically we could hardly be any closer." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe contrasted the trade deal with the rise in protectionism around the world, and said this new agreement "shows the world the unshaken political will of Japan and the EU to lead the world as the champions of free trade at a time when protectionism has spread."

Also check out:

• The trade war is complicating China’s efforts to fix its economy – CNBC

Europe & Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a controversial summit in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday. It is unclear what the two leaders spoke about or agreed to during their private two-hour meeting, but Putin said Trump agreed to secure Syria's border with Israel and that Russia and the United States would cooperate in Syria in other ways as well. Members of Congress in both political parties expressed concern that Trump seemed to side with Putin about whether Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to prevent the Trump administration from fulfilling Putin’s request to hand over 11 Americans, including former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, for questioning. The White House also announced that Trump invited Putin to Washington, D.C., for further talks this fall.

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• Brexit campaign group fined for breaking electoral law – The Washington Post

Middle East & North Africa

The Islamic State may be attempting a resurgence in both Iraq and Afghanistan, according to news reports this week. A series of kidnappings, bombings, and other violent attacks have officials worried about the potential growth of ISIL in remote areas of Iraq. "They are returning faster than I anticipated. That they have returned this fast is very dangerous," said an Iraqi counterterrorism expert. Attacks in Afghanistan by both ISIL and the Taliban have also intensified recently with ISIL hoping to expand its presence in Afghanistan.

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• Iran takes United States to court over nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions – The New York Times

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Economic unrest and tighter fiscal policies, in combination with current trade unrest, have Southeast Asian economies unsettled about the future of economic growth. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand are all facing the potential ramifications of a U.S.- China trade war. "If the United States and China escalate the tension with tit-for-tat moves, it could reduce our exports and foreign investment inflow and hurt domestic production," said an official from the National Centre for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast. Meanwhile, Indonesia is focusing on strengthening its local industries and increasing tourism to boost revenue.

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• Bad neighbors? Australia and New Zealand ‘not friends’ after deportation row – The Guardian

Sub-Saharan Africa

Former U.S. President Barack Obama visited South Africa to commemorate what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday this week. His speech, delivered to a crowd of around 15,000 people, pointed to Mandela’s example of "persistence and hope" and how "Mandela showed us the power of action; of taking risks on behalf of our ideals." Obama also traveled to Kenya where he met President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga. He also spent time with his step-grandmother and celebrated the launch of the vocation resource center his half-sister founded, Sauti Kuu.

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• Nigeria arrests Boko Haram members linked to Chibok attack – Star Tribune

Stay informed. We’ll see you here again next week.