US trade deficit surges, hits all-time highs with China and EU
According to data released by the US Commerce Department on Wednesday, the US trade gap increased 9.5 percent to $50.1 billion in July, from a revised $45.7 billion in the prior month.
European Union
European Aid To Iran Sends Signal To United States
The European Union’s decision to transfer millions of dollars in aid to Iran is a symbolic move intended to undermine the United States’ strategy of pressuring Tehran into re-negotiating the nuclear deal, analysts said.
EU minister: Brexit vote could ‘in theory’ be reversed
Britain’s vote to leave the European Union could ‘in theory’ be reversed although there is a still a strong probability it will go ahead, said the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici on Monday.
With the Return of US Sanctions, EU Enacts Statute Aimed at Keeping European Companies in Iran
In a bid to sustain trade and economic relations with Iran, the European Union is looking to its so-called ‘blocking statute’ that will forbid European companies from complying with enacted U.S. sanctions.
Has Europe become an Iranian tool to circumvent U.S. sanctions?
On Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in conjunction with the top diplomats of Britain, France and, for that matter, Germany, released a joint statement expressing ‘deep regret’ over the re-imposition of American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Trump strikes deal with Europe to buy more US energy
President Trump hashed out a trade deal on Wednesday that will lead to Europe buying more liquefied natural gas from the U.S. to diversify its energy supplies.
Twin Wildfires Near Athens, Greece Kill 20, Gut Vacation Resorts
Gale-fanned wildfires raged through holiday resorts near Greece’s capital, killing at least 20 people by early Tuesday and injuring more than 104, including 11 in serious condition, in the deadliest blaze to hit the country in more than a decade.
No deal: EU resists Trump’s zero-tariff trade offer, prepares new list of sanctions to add pressure
President Trump offered European nations and other countries a zero-tariff deal as a way out of an escalating trade war, but so far he has no takers despite a zero-tariff agreement signed last week between the European Union and Japan.
EU to sign its biggest free trade deal with Japan
The European Union and Japan will sign one of the world’s biggest free trade deals later on Tuesday.
U.S. rejects E.U. requests for exemptions from Iran sanctions
The United States rejected appeals from the European Union to give exemptions to EU countries that would be affected by sanctions on Iran.
Setting out vision for future ties, May presses Brexit plans
British Prime Minister Theresa May will set out a blueprint on Thursday for what her government calls ‘a principled and practical Brexit’, putting at its core a plan for a free trade area for goods that has angered many in her party.
U.K. Tory Rebels to Weigh Veto of May’s Brexit Deal
Euroskeptic Tories have failed to stop U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for a soft Brexit and are considering a radical last-ditch move that could bring down her minority government later this year.
Top UK official in charge of Brexit quits in fresh blow to May
Britain’s most senior official in charge of negotiating the country’s exit from the European Union resigned Sunday, two days after Prime Minister Theresa May announced she had finally united her quarrelsome government behind a plan for Brexit.
Warning of a global crisis, Germany’s Angela Merkel pledges ‘every effort’ to avert a U.S. trade war
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the European Union will make every effort to avoid a trade war with the United States, and underlined her country’s commitment to raise defense spending gradually — another point of contention with Washington.
Trump makes veiled WTO threat after EU warning on car tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump warned the World Trade Organization on Monday that ‘we’ll be doing something’ if the United States is not treated properly, just hours after the European Union said that U.S. automotive tariffs would hurt its own vehicle industry and prompt retaliation.
EU leaders agree to extend economic sanctions on Russia
European Union leaders agreed on Friday to extend their economic sanctions against Russia for annexing Crimea from Kiev and backing rebels fighting government troops in east Ukraine, an EU official said.
EU leaders agree on migration after late-night summit
European Union leaders reached an agreement on migration after almost 10 hours of chaotic talks in Brussels over the sensitive issue threatening their union and zone of free travel, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.
Iran reopens uranium plant after 9 years to step up enrichment
Iran on Wednesday reopened a nuclear enrichment plant that has been inactive since 2009, as Tehran geared up to bolster its enrichment activities should the 2015 nuclear deal collapse.
EU ready to open talks with U.S. to fix trade row
The European Union is ready to engage with the United States to solve a trade row triggered by Washington’s decision to impose metal impose tariffs, E.U. Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Thursday.
Hungary approves “STOP Soros” law, defying EU, rights groups
Hungary’s parliament on Wednesday approved a package of bills that criminalizes some help given to illegal immigrants, defying the European Union and human rights groups.