Alyssa Pak

Jul 3, 2024 | foreignbrief.com | Alyssa Pak

China has requested that the EU remove its provisional tariffs of up to 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) by today. The European Commission is concerned about excessively high Chinese subsidies that may hurt European auto manufacturers. In late June, China’s Commerce Ministry and Germany’s economy minister agreed to hold further trade talks, but it is clear that in order for the EU to reconsider its decision, China will need to make significant concessions.

Jun 26, 2024 | foreignbrief.com | Alyssa Pak

Italian banking sector trade unions are expected to carry out the first-ever strike at Borsa Italiana, the Milan stock exchange, in the last two working hours of the day. Euronext, a major European stock exchange group, acquired Borsa Italiana in April 2021. This gave Euronext control over the MTS platform where Rome’s government bonds are traded, contributing to the tensions driving the current strike.

Jun 19, 2024 | foreignbrief.com | Alyssa Pak

Temperatures in areas of northern and central China will likely reach record highs this week. Highs of around 38 degrees Celsius are expected in many regions, with some provinces potentially reaching 44 degrees Celsius. The lack of rainfall in northern China this year has prompted concern over agricultural production, with both cultivated land and sown crops likely to suffer.

Jun 12, 2024 | foreignbrief.com | Alyssa Pak

EU antitrust regulators are expected to come to a decision regarding Lufthansa’s $348.5 million bid for a 41% stake in Italy’s state-owned ITA Airways, with the option to buy the rest later. The European Commission originally delayed the decision in late April after expressing competition concerns regarding both short-haul and long-haul routes between Italy and the US, Canada, and Japan.

Jun 4, 2024 | foreignbrief.com | Alyssa Pak

For the next two days, Russia is set to conduct artillery firing exercises in the Varangerfjord area, the maritime boundary between Russia and Norway. The Varangerfjord lies only eight kilometers from the Norwegian border town of Grense Jakobselv. Consequently, this will likely be perceived by NATO as a sign of Russian escalation in the Arctic amidst the war with Ukraine. Russia’s exercises are likely partly in response to NATO’s own largest exercises since the Cold War.