Tag: European Union

• Friday, December 20th 2013 - 06:11 UTC

  Brazil denies EU charges of protectionism and discriminating tax measures

  

  Brazil on Thursday strenuously denied European Union charges it engages in protectionism and said it would show its trade programs conform to WTO rules. The EU took Brazil to the World Trade Organization Thursday, complaining it was using taxes to discriminate against imports and illegally help its exporters

• Friday, December 20th 2013 - 05:57 UTC

  Argentina files complaint with WTO against EU duties on bio-diesel

  

  Argentina has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the European Union’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties on its biodiesel exports. The duties are “clearly protectionist” and will affect annual sales worth more than 1.5 billion, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday on its website.

• Thursday, December 19th 2013 - 05:41 UTC

  Euro-zone agrees on banking reform, another step towards banking union

  

  Euro-zone finance ministers have agreed on a long-awaited pact on how to deal with failing banks in the region. It aims to create a 55bn euro fund - financed by the banking industry, over the next 10 years. The fund would be backed by a new agency, which will decide on how to deal with failing banks.

• Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 02:53 UTC

  Ireland exits bailout program but difficulties remain; Portugal next in the queue

  

  Ireland's prime minister has marked the end of the country's bailout program with a speech to the nation. In a televised address, Enda Kenny said Ireland's “good name and our credibility” had been restored. Meanwhile Portugal could be the next in the list after a review of the economy was advanced six months.

• Friday, December 13th 2013 - 12:57 UTC

  Argentina surprised by EU request to delay another month trade negotiations with Mercosur

  

  The European Union has asked for a one-month delay in the exchange of proposals to kick off free-trade negotiations with Mercosur, Argentine Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich confirmed on Thursday. The news was first reported by Sao Paulo newspapers on statements from Brazilian Foreign minister Luiz Fernando Figuereido.

• Thursday, December 12th 2013 - 06:54 UTC

  EU admits difficulties and requests Mercosur to delay the exchange of tariff proposals

  

  The European Union has formally requested that the exchange of tariff proposals with Mercosur for the creation of a cooperation and free trade zone, originally scheduled for next week, be delayed until 2014. The message was received by the Brazilian delegation at the recent WTO Bali discussions.

• Sunday, December 8th 2013 - 22:08 UTC

  Praise for Falklands world-wide diplomacy

  

  Falkland Islanders have been praised for their international campaign of diplomacy explaining their democratic credentials to the world and proclaiming their overwhelming referendum vote for self-determination and retaining their links with the United Kingdom.

• Friday, December 6th 2013 - 23:16 UTC

  Europe demanding a decision from Mercosur on advancing the trade talks

  

  The European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso called on Mercosur to decide whether it wishes to advance in trade talks with the European Union jointly, as a block, and suggested the idea of a 'two-speed negotiation', since it is clear that Brazil is interested in advancing and wants to reach an agreement.

• Wednesday, December 4th 2013 - 21:47 UTC

  Tory MPs want Spain pressed on the 'legal problems' of Ceuta and Melilla claimed by Morocco

  

  A Tory MP has asked the British Government to press Spain within the European Union over “legal problems” arising from Ceuta and Melilla. Philip Hollobone, the Conservative MP for Kettering, made the request in a written parliamentary question on Gibraltar tabled in the House of Commons.

• Wednesday, December 4th 2013 - 06:18 UTC

  New effort by Brazil to have Mercosur comply with the EU agreed timetable

  

  Brazil trusts Mercosur and the European Union can exchange the proposed tariff lists for a free trade agreement keeping to the original schedule, before the end of the year, according to the country's foreign ministry.