Swiss to sell back Leopard II tanks to help Germany restock after Ukraine donations
Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid…
Trade
Latest reporting and analysis on trade.
German labour market shows signs of cracking as economy struggles
German companies are thinking twice about hiring staff amid an increasingly uncertain economic environment, according to a study by the Ifo Institute.
Perhaps now isn’t the time to be waving the trade war sabre: China, EV subsidies and property market travails
The visit of Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU’s Trade Commissioner, to China and Beijing this week couldn’t come at a worse time for his hosts.
EU warns China it will be ‘more assertive’ on fair trade
The European Union’s chief trade negotiator warned China on Monday during his trip to the nation that the bloc will be more forceful in upholding fair competition…
EU-backed trade tariffs will cost car manufacturers ‘billions’
A European Union-backed trade agreement with the UK will cost the continent's car manufacturers billions, an industry group has claimed.
EU Commission preparing to recommend Ukraine membership talks
The European Union’s executive arm is preparing to recommend starting membership talks with Ukraine in earnest, offering a boost to Kyiv as it seeks to ensure…
Belgium pushing for ban on Russian diamonds
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is trying to convince the diamond industry to take the last step in removing Russian diamonds from the international market.
Zelenskyy says unilateral grain embargo ‘supports Russia’ while at UN meeting
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19, criticised the grain embargo imposed on his country by…
The EU is wide open to Chinese infiltration – and Net Zero has made it worse
In London, the last few weeks have provided a glimpse into the way in which the liberal West has been infiltrated, and to an extent is being subverted by, the Chinese…
Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski slams EC decision on Ukrainian grain
European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has publicly disowned the decision taken by the EC to end the embargo on Ukrainian grain for five neighbouring…
Fury in Beijing as EU announces Chinese electric-car probe
A forthcoming EU probe into Chinese electric cars entering Europe has angered Beijing, with officials and state-run media outlets lambasting the Commission for attacking…
Polish minister says unilateral extension of Ukraine grain ban ready to be enacted
Polish economic development minister Waldemar Buda said a decree for Poland to unilaterally extend the grain embargo on Ukraine beyond the European Commission’s…
Ukrainian politicians told to boycott Polish events over grain ban
Parliamentary deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi told Brussels Signal that Ukrainian politicians will be absent from gatherings including the Karpacz Economic Forum in Poland…
Ukraine threatens to sue EU over grain-deal impasse
Ukraine has threatened to sue the European Union over a current impasse regarding the country's grain exports.
Dutch plans to ‘shrink’ Schiphol airport spurs anger and US sanctions threat
The outgoing Dutch government wants to "shrink" Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Demolition threat for UK billionaire’s luxury hotel that hosted key Brexit agreement
A five-star hotel in Surrey, England, that provided the backdrop to the signing of a key Brexit deal, faces demolition after its billionaire owner was found to have…
UK confirms three-month delay to post-brexit border checks
The UK government confirmed a three-month delay to post-Brexit border checks on European food imports that were due to begin in January 2024.
US Senator accuses American trade commission of helping EU with censorship law
A US Senator has accused the country's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of working with the European Union to help it impose its online censorship laws.
EC says any talk of extending Ukrainian grain ban ‘is premature’
The European Commission said Eastern European countries should not be discussing the extension of the current ban on Ukrainian grain.
US approves German purchase of Israeli missile-defence system
The United States has given Germany approval to purchase a $3.5 billion missile-defence system from Israel, reports on August 17 confirmed.
The Netherlands joins Germany in recession
The Dutch economy has contracted for the second quarter in a row, meaning the country is officially in recession.
Ryanair Charleroi airport strike frustrates Brussels holidaymakers
A strike by Ryanair pilots at Brussels’ South Charleroi airport looks set to frustrate holidaymakers and other travellers to and from the Belgian capital.
France is Europe’s top power exporter as Germany turns importer
France has overtaken Sweden to become Europe’s top net power exporter, while Germany has moved from exporter to importer during the first half of this year.
Poland presents EU with €1 billion bill for transit of Ukrainian grain
Poland is demanding €1 billion to pay for the infrastructure it says it requires to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain and other produce through the Polish-Ukrainian…
French Government to give tobacco shops €10k cash injection after rioting
Tobacconist shops in France that fell victim to last month's countrywide riots will be given a cash injection by the French Government, ministers have announced.
Ukraine says Poland asking it to ‘commit suicide’ over grain embargo
Poland is asking Ukraine to "commit suicide" with its request for Kyiv to accept European Union import restrictions on Ukrainian grain, a senior official within…
Niger halts exports of uranium and gold to France
Niger has turned more hostile towards the West, and France in particular, after the African country’s military coup d'état on July 26.
Brussels ‘hellhole’ video goes viral
A sharp rise in crime around the Brussels-Midi train station has gained public attention in Belgium after a video of a family left stranded there on the night of…
Meloni may signal plan to exit China Pact during US visit
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could notify the US as soon as this week about her plan to pull Italy out of a controversial investment pact with China, according…
Polish PM threatens to defy any Brussels’ decision to end ban on Ukrainian grain
In a bid to force the European Commission to extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain until the end of this year, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Poland…