Finance & Trade

EU Charges Amazon with Misuse of Data

November 12, 2020

Following an inquiry which included the procurement of a massive data set from Amazon, European Union regulators filed antitrust charges against the company, saying the online retail giant broke competition laws by using its access to data from companies that sell products on its platform to gain an unfair advantage over them.
Washington Examiner: German Defense Minister Takes a Stance on Huawei

November 04, 2020

According to Germany Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Chinese telecommunications giants, including Huawei, are facing a regulatory framework under which Germany will only work with trustworthy companies, thereby acknowledging that Chinese-made 5G wireless technology represents an intelligence crisis.
China and EU to Launch Pilot Program on International Patent Searches

October 24, 2020

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the European Patent Office (EPO) are set to launch a two-year pilot program enabling Chinese patent applicants to designate the EPO as an additional option for international searches creating a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two intellectual property (IP) offices helping Chinese applicants acquire IP protection in Europe.
Europe and Africa join forces for Global Tech Tax

October 13, 2020

In an effort to push for a global tech tax rate, Europe and Africa are joining forces through The Organization for Economic and Development to publish technical blueprints on how to tax digital companies across borders to compete with American skepticism and to aid in Covid economic recovery.
Finance Ministers Back EU Coronavirus Recovery Fund

October 06, 2020

Despite concerns that restrictions on uses of the money could slow payouts, ministers backed a bill to create the EU coronavirus recovery fund, clearing the way for EU ambassadors to sign off on the text and open European Council talks with the European Parliament on a final form of the legislation.
Britain has Offered the EU a Transition Period for European Fishing Fleets

October 01, 2020

The Guardian reports that Britain has offered the EU a three-year transition period for European fishing fleets to allow them to prepare for post-Brexit changes, allowing the catches of EU fishermen to be phased down by 2024 to allow enough time for European coastal communities to adapt.
The Daily Mail: Tens of Thousands of British Expat Accounts to be Closed Post-Brexit

September 21, 2020

Tens of thousands of British banking customers who live in Europe are to be stripped of their accounts and credit cards, after the UK Government failed to guarantee a continuation of pan-European banking rules post-Brexit.
Politico: Opinion: Germany Must Consider the Future of Euro-Chinese Relations

September 15, 2020

According to Matthew Karnitschnig writing in Politico, as Beijing continues to be a source of concern and human rights violations, Germany must seriously consider the future of Euro-Chinese relations.
Politico: Digital Tax on U.S. Tech Giants Faces Headwinds

July 29, 2020

According to Politico, the prospect of a Europe-wide digital tax on digital giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon is meeting bi-partisan headwinds from the Trump Administration and U.S. lawmakers, who, in response, have threatened to impose tariffs on popular U.S. imports of national products from Europe.
Landmark EU Budget Deal Could Create Long-term Disputes

July 22, 2020

Although hailed by European Union negotiators as a landmark deal that enhances EU fiscal integration, the €1.8 trillion European Union budget deal contains a national budget reform review mechanism by the European Commission that could raise sovreignty concerns at the national level.