#UK: Britain To Apply For Membership In Trans-Pacific Partnership Trading Bloc

[world politics news]

The UK will shortly submit its formal request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trading bloc, said UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss.

The CPTPP is a trading bloc established in 2018 between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The United States withdrew from the TPP in 2017, leading to the failure of the original trade deal, which required all signatories to agree. It was reconstituted in December, 2018 with the current members.

[FULL STORY HERE] 

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world. 

 

#UK: Free Trade Deal With Singapore Signed

[world politics news] 

Singapore and the UK has signed a free trade deal in the Southeast Asian city-state.

The deal will cover a trade relationship worth more than $22bn (£17bn).

The agreement largely mirrors an existing deal between Singapore and the European Union (EU).

It is part of a broader set of trade negotiations for the UK, as it seeks to replicate trade pacts which will cease when the EU transition period ends.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Final Brexit Deal Reached Between UK And EU

[world politics news] 

The EU and UK have reached a post-Brexit trade deal, ending months of disagreements over fishing rights and future business rules.

At a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: "We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny."

The text of the agreement has yet to be released, but the PM claimed it was a "good deal for the whole of Europe."

Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer - who campaigned against Brexit - said his party would vote for the deal in the Commons, ensuring it will pass.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BRAZIL: Negotiations Begin On Brazil/Mexico Free Trade Agreement

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The Brazilian government have announced that it had begun negotiations for a free trade agreement with Mexico, a pact that would be between the two biggest economies in Latin America.

The two countries began formal talks this week and it is hoped that the South American country will be able to increase trade with Mexico, mainly in agricultural products, Marcos Troyjo, special secretary for Foreign Trade and International Affairs at Brazil's Ministry of Economy, told reporters.

He explained that the exchanges are part of his government's efforts to open up its economy and be able to negotiate with all countries. A free trade agreement between the two countries for the import of automobiles and auto parts came into force in mid-March.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Uses Summit To Send Signals To Trump On Trade Issues

[world politics news]

US/China trade talks weighed heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping's mind at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on April 25-27, attended by leaders from 37 countries around the world.

And while Pres. Trump wasn't in attendance, Xi's speech seemed aimed at addressing concerns raised by him.

Xi vowed to "expand market access for foreign investment in more areas," "enhance protection of the lawful rights and interests of foreign intellectual property owners," "stop forced technology transfer" and "improve protection of trade secrets."

He also said China "will increase the import of goods and services on an even larger scale," "will not resort to the beggar-thy-neighbor practice of yuan devaluation" and "will overhaul and abolish unjustified regulations, subsidies and practices that impede fair competition and distort the market."

These are all central topics in the U.S.-China trade talka, and observers noted that Xi's previous confrontational tone has disappeared.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Record Trade Surpluses Spark Criticism From Trump, Domestic Unions

[world politics news]

Germany is on track to record the world's largest trade surplus for a third consecutive year. The country's $299 billion surplus is poised to attract criticism, however, both at home and internationally. Pres. Trump singling out the country as one of the main culprits for America's $460 billion trade deficit, and has threatened to slap tariffs on foreign automobiles in the US, Germany's most important export item. Germans counter by saying that German firms are estimated to employ a million people in China and more than 850,000 in the US. Domestically, trade unions have called for using the surplus for a hike in wages.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Euro Pres. Tusk Lays Out Options To Avoid "Hard" Post-Brexit Border Between EU's Ireland And N. Ireland

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One of the EU’s most senior leaders has said all member states will accept the first draft of the Brexit withdrawal treaty published on Wednesday, amid furor in Westminster over the EU’s plan for avoiding a hard border on Ireland. Donald Tusk, the European council president, said he was “absolutely sure that all the essential elements of the draft will be accepted by all”. He stressed that the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier – whose team drafted the Ireland protocol – had the full support of the EU institutions and the 27 member states that will remain in the union when Britain leaves.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel, Japanese PM Praise Free Trade During Abe Visit

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss a free trade deal being negotiated between Japan and the European Union. Merkel's defense of free trade in a speech during a trade show in Hanover was apparently an attempt to rebuke US Pres. Donald Trump's "protectionist" rhetoric. "In these times of inter-connectedness, we want to link together our societies and work together in an equitable way. That's what free trade is about," she said.

[FULL STORY NEWS]

#ECUADOR: National Assembly Overwhelmingly Passes Trade Deal With EU

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The National Assembly has approved the Protocol for Ecuador's Accession to the Trade Agreement with the European Union in a lopsided 97-1 vote. The agreement with the EU is said to benefit Ecuadorian trade by allowing the entry of agricultural and industrial products into the bloc with zero tariffs, which could translates into $2.7 billion.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Lower House Committee Approves Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

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A special committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, approved a proposal on Friday to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, along with relevant bills.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Wallonia Agrees On Canada Trade Deal After "Demands" Met

[world politics news]

Belgian political leaders have reached a consensus in support of the landmark EU-Canada trade deal, Prime Minister Charles Michel said, raising hopes it can be signed soon. Politicians from the French-speaking Wallonia region were holding up the deal, but now says their "demands" were met.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: PM Charles Michel and the EU's Jean-Claude Juncker.

#CANADA: Trudeau Gov't Will Sign Trans-Pacific Trade Deal; But Skeptical Parliament May Not Ratify It

[world politics news]

The Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has confirmed that it intends to sign the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal at a meeting next week in New Zealand. But the Liberal-dominated Parliament is far from certain to ratify the 12-country deal, which sets new international rules for sectors beyond trade, including intellectual property, which worries some experts.

#NEWZEALAND: #EU Starts Talks On Free Trade Deal With New Zealand

[world politics news]

New Zealand and the European Union have launched free trade talks that would give the small farming nation open access to Europe's 500 million consumers. The move was announced during a visit to Brussels by Prime Minister John Key, where he met European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.

Pictured: New Zealand PM John Key