17 April 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. How China is fighting U.S. tariffs

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

America’s New Trade Policy and Its Global Impact

• In the past three months, a major economy launched an aggressive “national-first” trade policy, using trade as a tool to force concessions from partner countries.
• A key feature of this policy was “reciprocal tariffs” aimed at eliminating what it considered unfair trade practices.
• However, on the day these tariffs were to start, implementation was delayed by 90 days for 57 countries, with only one major country excluded from this postponement.
• The main goal of this delay was to push targeted countries to enter bilateral trade agreements and reduce their trade deficits with the initiator country.

Escalation into a Trade War

• One major economy immediately opposed the tariffs and responded with equal tariffs.
• In retaliation, an additional 50% tariff was imposed, taking the total to 104%.
• The other country then raised tariffs to 125%, resulting in a countermeasure of 145%.
• Despite the trade war, critical electronic imports like computers, smartphones, and semiconductors were excluded from the tariffs, showing heavy dependence on these imports.
• There was internal confusion in the government about whether electronics tariffs would be included, creating policy uncertainty.

Strategic Pause and Bilateral Deals

• The 90-day delay was part of a strategy to negotiate favorable deals using tariff threats as leverage.
• The idea was to force countries to lower tariffs and make trade more balanced.
• However, the current administration had changed how it negotiated—centralizing decision-making and sidelining the official trade negotiating agency.
• This made it hard to finalize agreements, especially given the large number of countries (57) and the wide range of issues involved.
• A recent report identified various trade barriers in these countries, suggesting major policy changes would be needed to meet demands.

Impact on Developing Countries

• For example, one developing country would have to open agricultural markets, reduce subsidies, change food distribution systems, and amend patent laws affecting medicine availability.
• It would also be required to change rules on data storage and genetically modified food imports.
• These demands are seen as unfair and hard to meet.

Response from a Major Asian Economy

• A key Asian economy retaliated strategically by reducing its export dependence on the aggressive trade partner—from 19.2% in 2018 to 13.5% in early 2025.
• It increased trade with regional partners like ASEAN and other major countries.
• It holds two strong cards: control of 92% of global rare earth mineral production and large holdings of foreign treasury bonds, which it has reduced significantly since 2018.

Need for Global Coordination

• The risk of global economic disruption is high.
• Major economies must come together to promote multilateral trade rules and discourage unilateral trade measures.

2. Type 5 Diabetes Officially Recognized by International Diabetes Federation (IDF)

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 11)

Analysis of the news                                      

Recognition of a Long-Ignored Diabetes Type

• Type 5 diabetes, a condition affecting lean and malnourished youth in low- and middle-income countries, has finally been recognized as a distinct form by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
• Though reported as early as 1955 (J-type diabetes), and later termed “malnutrition-related diabetes” by the WHO in 1985, it was delisted in 1999 due to insufficient evidence.
• Its official recognition in April 2025 marks a significant step in understanding diabetes in undernourished populations.

Understanding Type 5 Diabetes

• Type 5 diabetes arises from malnutrition-induced damage to pancreatic beta cells, resulting in poor insulin production.
• Unlike Type 2 diabetes, where insulin resistance is the issue, Type 5 involves inadequate insulin secretion due to developmental deficiencies often stemming from childhood or prenatal malnutrition.
• It affects young adults with extremely low body mass index (BMI <18.5), and has largely been misdiagnosed due to lack of formal classification.

Distinct Markers and Characteristics

• Patients with Type 5 diabetes show no autoimmune or genetic markers, very low insulin secretion, and lower hepatic glucose production compared to Type 2 diabetes.
• Body scans reveal significantly less fat, and diets are typically low in protein, fibre, and essential nutrients.
• These characteristics set it apart clinically and metabolically from other diabetes types.

Origins Traced to the Womb

• Malnutrition often begins during fetal development. According to experts, inadequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy hampers fetal pancreatic development, increasing diabetes risk.
• Historical factors like colonization, famine, and labour-intensive livelihoods contributed to chronic undernutrition in populations like India, compounding risk over generations.

Treatment and Future Directions

• Management of Type 5 diabetes requires nutritional rehabilitation, particularly high-protein diets, and careful monitoring of carbohydrate and fat intake to promote healthy weight gain.
• Medication or insulin is prescribed case-by-case. The IDF working group now aims to establish diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols tailored to diverse, under-resourced settings.

3. INDIA-UZBEKISTAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE DUSTLIK-VI BEGINS AT AUNDH, PUNE

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2122061 )

India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI:

• The exercise is scheduled to be held from April 16 to April 28, 2025.
• It is a bilateral annual military exercise conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan.
• The previous edition was held in Termez District, Uzbekistan in April 2024.
• The theme of the exercise is “Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in a Semi-Urban Scenario.”
• It simulates a counter-terrorism scenario involving territory capture, raids, SHBO, STIE, and drone operations.
• The exercise aims to strengthen tactical interoperability, promote camaraderie, and enhance defence cooperation between the two nations.

Prelims Facts

1. Studied over 21 years, new species of frog named after Assam college

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

Arya Vidyapeeth bush frog:

• Leptobrachium aryatium is a newly discovered species of frog found in Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Guwahati, Assam.
• It is named after Arya Vidyapeeth College, highlighting the institution’s positive influence on the locality once known for liquor production.
• The species is notable for its fiery orange-and-black eyes, a unique reticulated throat pattern, and a smooth, rhythmic call at dusk.
• The frog belongs to the Leptobrachium genus, which includes 38 species and is distributed from Southern China to Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
• Initially misidentified in 2004, recent DNA and morphological studies confirmed it as a distinct species.
• Its discovery highlights the biodiversity of Garbhanga Forest, which faces threats from urban expansion and habitat loss.

2. Turtle 03233’s Epic Journey Redefines Olive Ridley Migration

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Cover Page, Page – 01)

Analysis of the news

Scientific Significance

• Researchers believe this journey indicates a previously undocumented migration route and nesting behavior.
• Traditionally, Olive Ridleys are known for mass nesting (arribada) along Odisha’s coast, but the solitary nesting in Ratnagiri suggests a broader nesting range.
• This challenges the belief that they exclusively return to eastern coasts for reproduction.

Tagging and Tracking Techniques

• The turtle had a flipper tag, a passive tracking tool that provides information only upon recapture or discovery.
• Although satellite tags offer detailed migration data, they are rarely used due to high costs.
• Maharashtra has now joined Odisha in using flipper tags, having tagged 64 turtles along its Konkan coast to track patterns and enhance protection.

Conservation Implications

• This discovery underscores the importance of protecting nesting habitats on both the east and west coasts of India.
• Scientists emphasize the need to expand research by tagging more turtles to confirm if this migration is a regular phenomenon or an outlier.
• Broader protection strategies and increased data collection will help refine conservation policies.

Community Involvement

• Local volunteers, or kasav mitras, played a crucial role in identifying and reporting Turtle 03233, highlighting the importance of community-based conservation in marine ecosystems.
• Their involvement ensures nesting beaches remain undisturbed, aiding in turtle conservation efforts.

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