European parliament to vote this week on whether to include shipping in EU's emmission trading system
European Parliament to vote this week on whether to include shipping in EU’s emissions trading system
US Senate passes bill against Chinese officials over Hong Kong
THE Republican-controlled US Senate has unanimously passed a bill to impose sanctions on Chinese officials who threaten Hong Kong’s autonomy, as well as the banks and firms that do business with them, sending the legislation to the president’s desk, reported the Wall Street Journal. The bill was also passed in the Democrat-controlled House of…
Shipowning organisations seek delay to impending European hazardous material regulation
Shipowning organisations seek delay to impending European hazardous material regulation
EU efforts to soothe transatlantic trade tensions with US have stalled
US elections mean any breakthrough in European will likely be delayed until after November, says the EU’s trade chief Phil Hogan, reports Bloomberg. But failure to reach an accord could pave the way for Europe to impose tariffs on billions of dollars of American goods as soon as July. “We must acknowledge that the…
It’s Time to Remove a Century Old Restriction That Hurts Shipping Commerce: Let Foreign Built Ships Transport Goods Between US Ports
Mostly missing or infrequently discussed in the COVID-19 pandemic is the current oil crash deepening from crippling fuel demand, sending prices spiraling to an all-time low (crude oil future prices turned negative at some point). As Americans continue to work from home – traveling less than ever in recent history due to the crisis –…
US Trade Chief Vows to Push for 'Broad Reset' at WTO
© zhu difeng / Adobe Stock The Trump administration will push for a broad reset of “outdated tariff determinations” at the World Trade Organization to fix what it sees as years of unfair treatment of the United States, a top trade official told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the Geneva-based…
China loses WTO dispute against EU in 'market status' bid
BEIJING failed to win its battle to have the European Union recognise China as a “market economy” as defined by the World Trade Organisation, reports Bloomberg. The case was initially brought in 2016 and China lost an interim ruling on the matter last year. By not pursuing the matter China has provided the EU…
EU won't ally with US against China, foreign policy chief says
THE European Union’s foreign policy chief has ruled out a transatlantic alliance against China and dismissed “systematic rivalry” with Beijing, just hours before he is due to talk to his US counterpart, reported Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell called for a “big, positive agenda for…
No extension to Brexit transition period, but border controls will be eased, at first
© Cmanuel1973 | By Alex Lennane 12/06/2020 The UK government has confirmed it will not seek an extension to the Brexit transition period, but will relax border controls for imports, initially, and implement new controls, in stages, to give businesses more time to prepare. In what seems an admission that businesses – and customs – will not…
US ending special trade status threatens Hong Kong's transhipment traffic
By Sam Whelan 09/06/2020 The latest skirmish in the US-China trade war could “accelerate the demise” of Hong Kong as a major transhipment port. While the ‘phase one’ trade deal was signed in January, subsequent tit-for-tat blame rhetoric has steadily raised tensions between Washington and Beijing again. Hong Kong is now firmly caught in the middle,…
Australia: China won't ease tension after Oz pleads for WHO probe
AUSTRALIA has urged China respond to its requests to discuss easing tensions between the two trading partners after Canberra called for an international enquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus, Reuters reports. China, accusing Australia of playing “petty tricks,” has recently suspended beef imports from four of Australia’s largest meat processors and is…
Businesses exaggerating concerns about post-Brexit Customs, claims Gove
© Kubajunek By Alex Lennane 08/06/2020 Businesses are exaggerating their concerns about the additional customs declarations needed after the UK ends the Brexit transition period on 31 December, according to cabinet minister Michael Gove. He told parliamentary committee chairman Hilary Benn businesses were “amplifying their requests as a way to make government listen”. Mr Benn…
Greece aims to build on Chinese cooperation in Piraeus port
David Glass | Jun 09, 2020 Greece is determined to build on the success of the Chinese presence in Piraeus port, with the Greek government continuing with unfaltering commitment to enhance cooperation with China, Greece’s Development and Investments Minister, Adonis Georgiadis said. “We continue even faster and stronger than before to make our ties stronger,” the…
Opponents rally at news that EC consortia BER could be re-evaluated next year
EC competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager By Gavin van Marle 04/06/2020 Opponents of the EC’s recent decision to allow the liner shipping industry to continue to enjoy its exemption from antitrust consortia regulation until 2024, will not have to wait long to again voice their opposition. In response to question from German MEP Tiemo Wolken, competition…
People on the move - more changes at Transnet
News15 May 2020by WCN Editorial Portia Derby’s broom is still sweeping; change at X-Press Feeders; appointments in Finnish ports; Danesi to head up PSA Italia Tim Hartnoll has stepped down as CEO of Singapore-based X-Press Feeders and has taken up the role as Executive Chairman. He has been replaced as CEO by Shmuel Yoskovitz, up to now CFO.…
US President rules out renegotiation of Beijing-Washington trade deal
US President Donald Trump has ruled out any renegotiation of the trade deal Washington and Beijing reached in January, arguing that Chinese negotiators would only want any changes to benefit themselves, reported Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. When asked about a report in which China said it would like to reopen negotiations on…
Algeria to Lift Ban on Car Imports
© Sergey Kelin / Adobe Stock Algeria will resume car imports, the government said on Sunday, after a ban failed to reduce the import bill, as the North African member of OPEC tries to rein in spending to cope with a decline in energy earnings. The plan to allow car dealers to resume imports was…