"We will not be satisfied with a provisional exemption," French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. "The increased tariffs cannot weigh like a sword of Damocles on trade relations among states," he said, warning that France would not "enter a battle with China." "This would be vain and pointless." The "real matter is redefining trade multilateralism while acknowledging the reality of China," he added, saying reforms were necessary in Chinese trade practices that have long faced criticism as unfair and overly subject to state intervention. "We have difficulties in steel overcapacity. We have an issue on the protection of our technologies, we do not want the plunder of French technologies," said Le Maire. The remarks, which partly restated earlier positions taken by France, come less than two weeks before Washington's metal tariff exemptions are due to expire for major trading partners, … [Read more...] about France rejects ‘vain and pointless’ trade fight with China
Trade
Fantasy Baseball: Early-season trading guide
The final week of April is suddenly upon us, and we realize that the baseball season is here in earnest. The time for days off, and early-season weather is over, with the meat of the season now at hand. The first few weeks are a time to fill holes and pick up missed free agents. With May coming, the time for self reflection begins. There is now enough of a sample size to make decisions about your team. If you’re honest with yourself, you should be able to look at your team and determine, “Can I win?” Is your team good enough, as currently constituted, to be there for the long haul? Although it’s impossible and irresponsible to think you’re team is ever good enough, you should know if your team isn’t, and where you need to make improvements. One of the classic aspects of Fantasy Baseball is the art of trading; knowing when to dump that player who is playing out of his head. And conversely, knowing when to pick up that player that everyone else has … [Read more...] about Fantasy Baseball: Early-season trading guide
US defends tough trade stance at global finance meeting
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is resisting pressure to back off President Donald Trump's tough America First trade policy at a meeting of global finance leaders worried about the threat of a damaging trade war.U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin charged that "unfair global trade practices impede stronger U.S. and global growth, acting as a persistent drag on the global economy." He urged the International Monetary Fund to do more to combat unfair trade practices.Mnuchin issued the comments Friday during the spring meetings of the 189-country IMF and its sister lending agency, the World Bank. The three days of meetings wrap up Saturday.Other countries have used the gathering to protest Trump's protectionist trade policies, which mark a reversal of seven decades of U.S. support for ever-freer global commerce. "We strongly reject moves towards protectionism and away from the rules-based international trade order," said Már Guðmundsson, governor of the Central Bank … [Read more...] about US defends tough trade stance at global finance meeting
Australia tells Remainer MPs that staying in EU customs union would kill trade deal
AUSTRALIA has warned Remainer MPs that staying in the EU customs union would kill an Oz trade deal. It came as Singapore offered a rapid agreement with Britain to prevent a “hard stop” after Brexit. Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop said her government also sees “enormous opportunities for more trade and investment”. But she warned rebel MPs in Westminster not to blow the chances when they vote next week on whether to try to keep Britain shackled to Brussels tariff and customs rules. She said that would mean “the opportunity for us to enter a free trade agreement with the UK standing alone would not be achievable”. Wealthy Asian city state Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said he was aiming for “continuity arrangement” as soon as Britain leaves the EU. MOST READ IN POLITICSHOME SEC HITS BACK Amber Rudd defends note to PM vowing to deport more illegal immigrants Border toll Brexit negotiators … [Read more...] about Australia tells Remainer MPs that staying in EU customs union would kill trade deal
Mnuchin fires back at trade critics
Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Published 7:22 p.m. ET April 20, 2018 Washington – — The Trump administration pushed back Friday against widespread complaints against its aggressive America First trade policies and urged the International Monetary Fund to do more to combat unfair trade practices. Wrapping up two days of talks, finance officials from the world’s 20 most powerful economies said that they had not reached any breakthrough on how to calm trade tensions between the United States and China, but all participants agreed that it was important to coordinate other economic policies as much as possible to preserve the strongest economic expansion since the 2008 financial crisis. “We have to keep this group working together,” said Nicolas Dujovne, the Treasury minister of Argentina. He noted that in addition to rising trade tensions, the G-20 finance officials focused on two other threats to growth from geopolitical risks and rising interest … [Read more...] about Mnuchin fires back at trade critics