International

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 10:37 UTC

  US questions workings and rules of WTO which favor “litigation over negotiations”

  

  The United States President Donald Trump’s trade chief said on Monday that the World Trade Organization (WTO) is losing its focus on trade negotiations in favor of litigation, and was going too easy on wealthier developing countries such as China.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 10:34 UTC

  Mercosur/EU hurdles remain, and a deal announcement might not be reached this week

  

  Free-trade talks between the European Union and Mercosur still face hurdles over beef and ethanol, and an expected deal announcement this week might not happen, officials involved in negotiations admitted on Monday. Mercosur diplomats on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires said EU officials had not presented improved offers on EU tariff-free imports for beef and ethanol as promised.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 09:21 UTC

  Falklands' election motivates support resolution in US House of Representatives

  

  The United States 115th Congress has tabled resolution 650 recognizing the results of the free and fair elections for the new Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands held on 9 November 2017. The resolution, 650, was submitted last week by Representatives Mario Diaz Balart, Derek Kilmer and George Holding, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 09:02 UTC

  Irish and French argue “a win for Mercosur in agriculture is a loss for EU farmers”

  

  Irish MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness is representing the European Parliament at the ministerial assembly on the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Argentina, which began on Sunday, and has warned that rushing towards a Mercosur/European Union deal would jeopardize the EU beef industry.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 08:51 UTC

  Welsh Labour MP calls for a second referendum on final Brexit deal

  

  A Welsh Labour MP is calling for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal because the “British people should have the last word”. Geraint Davies' backbench bill offering a vote on whether to accept the deal negotiated between the UK and the EU was published in detail on Monday.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 08:33 UTC

  Scottish Brexit minister calls for “basic answers” to the UK/EU deal

  

  Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell has called for “basic answers” about the deal struck with European leaders ahead of talks with UK ministers. Mr Russell is in London for a summit with members of the UK government and the other devolved administrations.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 07:50 UTC

  Strong reply to Netanyahu: No European leaders plan to adopt Trump's position on Jerusalem

  

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the EU on Monday to back a new U.S. peace initiative in the Middle East, after President Donald Trump's unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital met with widespread condemnation.

• Monday, December 11th 2017 - 16:37 UTC

  Futures market for Bitcoins took off on Sunday at Chicago Board Options Exchange

  

  The first-ever Bitcoin future jumped after it began trading on Sunday as the increasingly popular virtual currency made its debut on a major U.S. exchange. The futures contract that expires in January surged more than US$3,000 to US$18,010 four hours after trading launched on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The contract opened at US$15,000, according to data from the CBOE.

• Monday, December 11th 2017 - 16:02 UTC

  UK fishermen urge call for a short Brexit transition period: nine month is enough

  

  Fishermen's leaders have urged ministers to rule out a long Brexit transition as officials meet in Brussels for fish quota talks. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said only a nine-month transition period was needed for UK fleets to leave the Common Fisheries Policy.

• Monday, December 11th 2017 - 15:36 UTC

  EU/Japan sign free trade deal comprising 30% of global GDP and reaffirm rejection of protectionism

  

  The European Union and Japan have concluded negotiations on a giant free trade deal that they said was reached while “fighting the temptation of protectionism”, a message apparently directed at U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal, which the EU called its biggest ever, must be signed and ratified by both sides.