Finance & Trade

UK Leadership Candidates Vow to Jettison Irish Backstop

July 18, 2019

Reuters reports that the two candidates to lead the UK Conservative Party, and become the next Prime Minister, have both announced plans to scrap the “Irish backstop,” a provision in the currently negotiated UK-EU Brexit deal that would subject Northern Ireland to EU rules in case no further deal is agreed.
BoE Body: UK Has Limited Financial Risks of No-Deal Brexit

July 18, 2019

The Bank of England’s (BoE) Financial Policy Committee has published a report concluding that “the core of the UK financial system” is prepared for the risks associated with a no-deal Brexit and that the UK has taken action to mitigate the financial disruption that would occur in such a scenario.
Lawyer Calls for Reset of Brexit Trade Negotiations

July 03, 2019

Barrister Martin Howe QC calls on the next UK Prime Minister to scrap the previous withdrawal agreement concluded with the EU in favor of a simple UK-EU free trade agreement that would serve as a bridge to a future healthy and robust trading relationship between the UK and EU and between the UK and other countries.
EC Sets out Conditions for Irish Backstop Alternative

July 01, 2019

RTE reports that European Commission (EC) officials have set out five conditions for any “alternative arrangements” that could prevent the controversial Irish border backstop from coming into force in a Brexit deal, including no “hard border,” compliance with trade rules, and equal treatment across EU member states.
Switzerland Bans Trade of Shares on EU Exchanges

July 01, 2019

Swiss authorities have banned the trading of shares of Swiss companies on EU stock exchanges, retaliating over the refusal of EU officials to renew the "equivalence" designation for Swiss exchanges after negotiation of a framework treaty on Swiss-EU relations stalled.
Switzerland Retaliates Against EU Equivalence Announcement

June 25, 2019

Reuters reports that, in the latest dispute over the stalled EU-Switzerland partnership treaty, the Swiss government says it will retaliate against the EU’s refusal to extend an equivalence determination permitting EU companies to trade on Swiss stock exchanges by blocking EU exchanges from trading Swiss shares.
NGO Report Identifies “Alternative Arrangements” for Irish Border

June 24, 2019

The nongovernmental organization Prosperity UK has published a report identifying potential arrangements UK and EU leaders could pursue to ensure that Britain can establish an independent trade policy and that Ireland can avoid infrastructure along its border with Northern Ireland after Brexit.
UK Lawmakers Push for Post-Brexit Trade Deal with India

June 24, 2019

The Guardian reports that the UK House of Commons’ foreign affairs committee has highlighted the opportunity of facilitating immigration by skilled workers and students from India to help secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the country after Britain withdraws from the EU.
EU Institutions Offer Pension Fund as Part of Capital Markets Union

June 19, 2019

The EU institutions have completed another step in their construction of a Capital Markets Union by creating a “pan-European pension product” and facilitating the distribution of investment funds across EU member states.
EU Body Calls for Climate Adaptation in Energy System

June 19, 2019

The European Environment Agency has called for the adaptation of the EU’s energy system to prepare for a transition to clean energy and protect it against increasing “extreme weather events” and other phenomena caused by climate change.