Finance & Trade

UK Welcomes Trump Plans on Post-Brexit Trade

January 18, 2017

The office of UK Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed comments from US President-elect Donald Trump predicting that the US and the UK would "very quickly" negotiate a free trade agreement after Britain leaves the EU and has suggested the two countries could engage in short-term "scoping decisions" on trade prior to Brexit.
Dutch Official Calls for EU Deal on UK Corporate Taxes

January 18, 2017

The Guardian reports that the Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Lodewijk Asscher, has asserted he will seek to require the UK to sign up to regulations on corporate tax avoidance, preventing the country from becoming a successful "tax haven" outside of the EU, before agreeing to any post-Brexit EU trade deal with Britain.
Shipping Companies Object to EU Emissions Plan

January 17, 2017

Reuters reports that representatives of the shipping industry have objected to an EU vote to include shipping companies in the bloc's emissions trading system, which applies a tax to businesses to offset their greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the unilateral application of emissions rules would "create market distortion while generating trade disputes."
UK Body Seeks New Financial Deal After Brexit

January 17, 2017

TheCityUK, a membership body for financial services companies in Britain, has published a paper calling for the negotiation of a unique arrangement between the UK and the EU on financial services after Brexit that is not necessarily based on current EU regulations permitting financial "passporting" throughout the bloc.
Business Group Promotes Post-Brexit UK-Ireland Trade

January 13, 2017

The British Irish Chamber of Commerce, a private sector trade organization, has organized a British Irish Gateway for Trade service linking businesses in the UK and Ireland to promote continued economic links between the countries following the UK's exit from the EU.
Abbott: EU Stymies Free Trade with Outsiders

January 11, 2017

In the foreword for a report by UK politicians, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott calls for Britain to take advantage of its decision to break with the "protectionist" policies of the EU by signing a free trade agreement with Australia and other "economically advanced Commonwealth countries."
ECJ Official: EU Members Must Ratify Singapore Trade Deal

January 05, 2017

Bloomberg reports that, in a warning sign to UK officials who wish to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU following Brexit, an Advocate-General of the Court of Justice of the EU has issued an opinion finding that all EU member states must approve a trade deal with Singapore before it becomes effective.
Australian Official Predicts Quick UK Trade Deal

January 03, 2017

Australian High Commissioner to Britain Alexander Downer has called on British officials to proceed quickly with leaving the "protectionist" EU and has predicted that the negotiation of a free trade agreement between Australia and Britain will be "no problem."
Businesses Express Concern on Future of Swiss Tax

December 09, 2016

A survey by auditor KPMG reveals the concern of businesses operating in Switzerland that the country will lose its competitive edge as a favorable jurisdiction for corporate tax planning as it adopts global, harmonized tax standards developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the EU.
UK Explores Continuation of EU Trade Deal Terms

December 08, 2016

Politico reports that the UK Government is investigating its ability to maintain the terms of EU trade deals with non-EU countries following its exit from the bloc.