.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........BRUSSELS — Europe’s top trade official said Wednesday that new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are distorting global trade and could damage hopes for economic growth.Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Union’s trade commissioner, also said the bloc would not offer any concessions in order to be exempt from the U.S. import duties ahead of a May 1 deadline in talks.“We are a seeing a recovery and a potential growth in trade and global growth but it is threatened by these tariffs,” she told reporters in Strasbourg, France. “We can see already tendencies of distortion of trade that affects the EU as well.”ADVERTISEMENTLast month, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum, but granted the EU … [Read more...] about EU says US tariffs are ‘distorting’ global trade flows
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EU says US tariffs causing ‘distortion’ in global trade
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom says that new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are distorting global trade and could damage hopes for economic growth.Malmstrom told reporters Wednesday that "we are a seeing a recovery and a potential growth in trade and global growth but it is threatened by these tariffs."Europe's top trade official added: "we can see already tendencies of distortion of trade that affects the EU as well."Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum, but granted the EU a temporary exemption until May 1. … [Read more...] about EU says US tariffs causing ‘distortion’ in global trade
EU tells Turkey to be ’neighbourly’ to win membership
BRUSSELS — The EU on Tuesday criticised Turkey’s efforts to win membership of the bloc, saying recent spats with European states were "not conducive to good neighbourly relations". In its latest report on Ankara’s long-stalled bid to join the union, the European Commission said "serious shortcomings" on democracy and the rule of law remained. The Turkish foreign ministry hit back at the report, saying the Commission showed "that it was once again unwilling to understand the difficulties of the period we are passing through" and was "far from understanding the realities of Turkey". It complained that the Commission was "unable to be objective and balanced." The report focused particularly on rows including Ankara’s arrest of two Greek soldiers and its promise to prevent the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas. "Tensions in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean were not conducive to good neighbourly relations … [Read more...] about EU tells Turkey to be ’neighbourly’ to win membership
Facebook says users must accept targeted ads even under new EU law
MENLO PARK, Calif. (Reuters) - Facebook Inc (FB.O) said on Tuesday it would continue requiring people to accept targeted ads as a condition of using its service, a stance that may help keep its business model largely intact despite a new European Union privacy law. FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Facebook logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo The EU law, which takes effect next month, promises the biggest shakeup in online privacy since the birth of the internet. Companies face fines if they collect or use personal information without permission. Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman said the social network would begin seeking Europeans’ permission this week for a variety of ways Facebook uses their data, but he said that opting out of targeted marketing altogether would not be possible. “Facebook is an advertising-supported service,” … [Read more...] about Facebook says users must accept targeted ads even under new EU law
EU pushes to approve Japan trade deal, mindful of Canada near-miss
By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission will put forward a proposed free-trade agreement with Japan for fast-track approval on Wednesday, hoping to avoid a repeat of the public protests that nearly derailed a trade pact with Canada two years ago. The European Union and Japan concluded negotiations to create the world’s largest economic area in December, signalling their rejection of the protectionist stance of U.S. President Donald Trump. Now they want to see it go into force. The agreement would remove EU tariffs of 10 percent on Japanese cars and the 3 percent rate for most car parts. It would also scrap Japanese duties of some 30 percent on EU cheese and 15 percent on wines, and secure access to large public tenders in Japan. The commission, which negotiates trade agreements for the EU, will present its proposals to the 28 EU members, along with another planned trade agreement with Singapore. EU countries, the European Parliament, and the … [Read more...] about EU pushes to approve Japan trade deal, mindful of Canada near-miss