Stories for July 1st 2020

Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 10:34 UTC
Macron in a rally declares he opposes the trade agreement of EU with Mercosur

French president, Emmanuel Macron, declared his opposition to the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur. In addition, 265 civil society organizations were also mobilized against the agreement. The decision follows the defeat of Macron in the municipal elections and the strong advance of the Greens.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 10:14 UTC
Covid-19 collapse in working hours; ILO says situation of the Americas is particularly dire

The coronavirus crisis has taken a much heavier toll on jobs than previously feared, the UN said Tuesday, warning that the situation in the Americas was particularly dire. In a fresh study, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that by the mid-year point, global working hours were down 14% compared to last December - equivalent to some 400 million full-time jobs.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 10:07 UTC
Colombian Senate approves trade agreement with the United Kingdom

A bilateral trade agreement between Colombia and the United Kingdom has passed in Colombia’s plenary senate session and now passes to the Andean nation’s lower house for approval. <br />
The legislation seeks to maintain uninterrupted trade access, terms and conditions between Colombia and the UK that have existed under the Colombia – European Union agreement.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Kiwi longliners meet at Falklands; San Aotea on Thursday leaves for New Zealand

A 25-day slog across the frigid Southern Ocean is finally over for a New Zealand Sanford fishing vessel on a mercy mission to help the crew of a fellow fishing boat who spent months at sea in rough waters near Cape Horn due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:53 UTC
The most powerful EU member takes the rotating presidency of the block

The European Union’s most powerful member, Germany, takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency as of Wednesday amid a raft of challenges — from COVID-19 and the economic devastation it has wrought, to Brexit, trade with China and tensions with the United States.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Chinese May imports of Brazilian soybeans at their highest level in two years

Beijing customs data indicates that Chinese soy imports from Brazil (now its largest supplier), reached its highest level in two years in May. China is the world’s largest importer of soy.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:33 UTC
EU rejects British proposals “to maintain benefits of the single market without the obligations”

British proposals to give the City of London access to the European Union are “unacceptable” because they seek to maintain the benefits of the single market without the obligations, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:27 UTC
UK economy shrinks the most since 1979, as households slashed spending

Britain’s economy shrank by the most since 1979 in early 2020 as households slashed their spending, according to official data that included the first few days of the coronavirus lockdown.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Japan aims to clinch a trade deal with Britain by end of July: auto tariffs, main interest of Tokyo

Japan and Britain aim to clinch a trade deal by the end of July and Tokyo wants to secure at least the same automobile tariffs as it has in its existing European Union trade pact, Tokyo’s chief negotiator said.
Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:07 UTC
WTO confident of securing an agreement on cutting fisheries subsidies this year

The World Trade Organization (WTO) aims to secure an agreement on cutting fisheries subsidies this year, the chair of the talks, and a WTO official said on Tuesday, despite the cancellation of a major meeting due to COVID-19.