Scholz’s botched China trip should be a wake-up call for Europe
You would think a European leader spooked by the prospect of transactional politics under a new Donald Trump administration might brush up on his bargaining skills…
Trade
Latest reporting and analysis on trade.
EU launches investigation into Chinese medical device market
The European Commission launched an investigation on Wednesday into Chinese public procurement of medical devices, in the latest move to try to protect European Union producers…
‘Russian economy to outgrow all advanced nations in 2024,’ IMF forecasts
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted the Russian economy will this year grow faster than those of the Western countries trying to isolate it.
Fragmented Europe to make new bid for US-style capital market
After years of struggling to raise capital in European Union markets, Mews - a hospitality software firm with Czech roots -finally secured funding by registering…
Germany courts Beijing as Scholz and Macron push for EU-China trade ‘rebalancing’
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron are advocating for a "rebalancing" of trade between Europe and China amid Berlin's efforts to…
Antwerp’s diamond chief not forever as he quits ‘over sanctions on Russian stones’
Ari Epstein, the Chief Executive of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), has resigned.
China’s trade minister warns EU over ‘green’ tech probes
China's top trade official warned Brussels against protectionism, saying Beijing was puzzled by European Union inquiries into "green" technology exports and the…
This will hurt: France braces for budget cuts
After decades of spending beyond its means, France must in the coming weeks show how it will avoid a budget crunch that is putting its credit ratings at risk and…
Despite farmers’ anger, EU to renew trade deal with Ukraine
European Union institutions have struck a deal to extend an agreement allowing the tariff-free importation of Ukrainian agricultural products - despite protests…
European Commission examines complaint about Hungary’s tax on foreign retailers
The European Commission is looking into a complaint about Hungary's tax on retailers, saying it will "ensure appropriate follow-up" after the Austrian government…
EU and Japan reach new tech deal, irking China
Japan and the European Union have agreed a new deal aimed at boosting both countries' technology sectors amid growing hostilities between China and the West.
EU-Canada free trade agreement in peril after French Senate rejection
The EU's free-trade agreement with Canada has been overwhelmingly rejected in France's Senate, which voted it down by 211 votes to 44.
France’s Macron says EU-Mercosur proposal is ‘very bad deal’ on visit to Brazil
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday during his visit to Brazil that a potential agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur…
European regulators close in on Big Tobacco’s new tea sticks
European governments are weighing the introduction of tougher rules on cigarette makers' new zero-tobacco heat sticks, moving to close the loopholes they were designed…
EU members call for revision of anti-deforestation law
A group of EU countries led by Austria is calling for urgent revisions to the bloc's anti-deforestation law set to go into effect at the end of the year, saying…
EU agrees new limits on Ukraine farm imports
The European Union reached a provisional agreement to grant Ukrainian food producers tariff-free access to its markets until June 2025, albeit with new limits on…
EU farmers win MEPs’ backing in Ukraine agri-trade spat
The European Parliament has backed European Union farmers on the sensitive topic of Ukrainian agricultural trade.
‘Wake up or there’ll be no coffee to smell,’ German trade group warns Brussels
Europe's coffee merchants are sleepwalking into a caffeine crisis, the German Coffee Association (GCA) has warned.
Trump’s ‘nationalism a danger to US’, German Vice Chancellor warns
Former US president Donald Trump's “nationalism” poses a danger to his own country, Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck claimed.
Polish Government claims credit for EC revision of transport deal with Ukraine
Poland’s Government crowed that it persuaded the European Commission to revise a deal on road transport between the European Union and Ukraine, which had prompted…
German travellers left waiting as transport workers walk out
Many thousands of Germans were left facing delays as train drivers, airport-security workers and Lufthansa ground-staff walked off the job, spelling further headaches…
EU agrees to ban goods made with forced labour, including many Chinese solar panels
The EU has decided to ban importing goods made using forced labour, in a move that also limits access to Chinese-made solar panels.
Hundreds of tonnes of Russian wood reach Belgium, despite EU sanctions
Belgian authorities have intercepted hundreds of tonnes of Russian wood despite EU sanctions that have been in effect since early 2022.
EU unblocks about €2 billion from suspended funding for Hungary
Hungary managed to unblock about €2 billion in European Union funds as Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government made further progress in the recovery of crucial…
EC withholds some UN funds for Palestine but ups overall aid budget
The European Commission will hold back part of a payment of €82 million for the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) - but increase overall aid…
MEPs back ‘quality’ produce protections amid farmers’ protests
MEPs have backed the implementation of further protections for so-called "quality" agricultural produce in the wake of the farmers' protests across Europe.
German home-building collapses amid economic downturn
Building permits for apartments in Germany fell 27 per cent in 2023, the statistics office said, underscoring a downturn in demand in the construction and real estate…
EC ‘taking action to help farmers’ after fiery Brussels protests
The European Commission has insisted it is already "taking action" to help farmers - despite the latest fiery protests in Brussels.
Brussels burns as farm protests return to the EU capital
Fires blazed outside buildings belonging to the EU institutions on the morning of February 26, as the EU-wide farmers' protests returned to the streets of Brussels.
Kyiv urges Poland to punish those behind Ukrainian grain spills
Kyiv has urged Poland to punish those responsible for Ukrainian grain spills at the border over the weekend, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said…