Articles in this Cluster
27-07-2025
President Trump said there is a "50/50 chance, maybe less than that" of a U.S.-EU trade deal ahead of an August 1 deadline, after which the U.S. may impose 30% tariffs on EU imports. The EU is prepared to impose tariffs on over $100 billion worth of U.S. goods if a deal isn't reached. A potential agreement could involve a 15% U.S. tariff on EU imports, similar to the recent deal with Japan, which committed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. and open its market to U.S. exports.
27-07-2025
The global week ahead is marked by crucial trade talks between the US and other countries, particularly the European Union, as President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline for a trade truce nears. Complicating matters are ongoing talks between the US and China, which may impact the EU negotiations. The corporate world is pressing for an agreement, with many European companies downgrading their outlooks due to tariffs and trade uncertainty. The week will also see a range of earnings reports from major European companies, including UBS, Santander, and Shell, as well as euro zone growth and inflation data releases.
27-07-2025
China's decision to keep its new rare-earth quotas secret is tightening its control over the market, and President Trump is right to prioritize US independence from China for these vital resources. Rare earths are crucial for many modern products and the US military, and China dominates the market, producing 90% of the world's supply. Trump's efforts to secure a mineral deal with Ukraine, buying Greenland, and a $400 million deal with MP Materials to revive US rare-earth production are steps in the right direction. The administration's goal is to achieve US self-sufficiency and end reliance on China for critical materials.
27-07-2025
US and Chinese officials are set to meet in Stockholm for trade talks, with China arriving at the negotiating table more emboldened than ever due to its firm grip on strategic minerals and better-than-expected economic growth. The talks are expected to focus on remaining US tariffs on Chinese imports, with Beijing seeking the removal of a 20% tariff imposed over fentanyl-related issues. China may also push for further rollbacks of US technology export controls and the blacklisting of Chinese companies. The US is led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has expressed optimism about the talks, while Chinese officials have kept the agenda vague. The negotiations may result in a 90-day extension of the current trade truce, which is set to expire on August 12.
27-07-2025
A US business delegation led by FedEx chief Rajesh Subramaniam will visit China this week, coinciding with the latest round of US-China trade talks, and is expected to meet senior Chinese officials to revive business discussions. The delegation is likely to include Boeing executives and the president of the US-China Business Council, Sean Stein.
27-07-2025
President Trump is visiting Scotland on a trip that combines presidential and personal business, touring his golf courses and meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade. The trip is unusual as it blurs the line between Trump's personal and presidential business, with some costs being covered by taxpayers. Trump is expected to discuss improving the US-UK trade agreement and potentially reaching a trade deal with the EU, having threatened to impose tariffs on countries that fail to reach a deal by August 1.
27-07-2025
President Donald Trump is visiting Scotland for a five-day trip to check on his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, and to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The meetings are expected to focus on advancing a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, building on a deal signed in June that reduced tariffs on car exports and aerospace goods. Trump and Starmer have a good relationship, according to Starmer, who said it was "in the national interest" for the two leaders to get along. The trip will also include security precautions, with Scotland Police confirming "significant" measures to maintain public safety and minimize disruption, as protests are expected. Trump will return to the U.K. in September for an official state visit, marking the first time the U.K. has invited a U.S. president for a second state visit.
27-07-2025
The European Union is being accused of being too soft on Azerbaijan due to its need for alternative gas supplies to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Critics argue that the EU has effectively given Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "a free hand" to crack down on opposition and press freedom, as well as re-establishing control over the breakaway Karabakh region, displacing its Armenian population. Despite concerns over human rights, the EU has continued to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visiting Baku in April and emphasizing the "great potential" for EU-Azerbaijan ties. The EU's reluctance to criticize Aliyev is driven by its desire to diversify its gas supplies, with Azerbaijan providing 4.3% of the EU's natural gas imports, and up to 40% for some member states.
27-07-2025
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been overshadowed by trade wars and other global events, leaving both countries at odds with the West. US President Donald Trump's threat of "very severe" sanctions on Russia if it doesn't reach a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days has done little to move Russia's President Vladimir Putin towards negotiations. Ukraine, reliant on Western support, has shown willingness to negotiate and compromise, including ceding territory for NATO membership, but Russia remains unresponsive. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces growing domestic unrest and international concern over its government's actions, including a reshuffle that concentrated power and moves to limit anti-corruption agencies' independence, potentially jeopardizing its EU membership aspirations and Western support.
