trade unions

The European Union is pressing the United Kingdom to raise its tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, according to a news report. The move would align Britain more closely with EU trade policy, as Brussels has already imposed duties on Chinese EVs it says benefit from unfair subsidies. The report is drawing attention given its implications for UK-EU trade relations and the global EV market.

The European Union and the Philippines have achieved a breakthrough in trade negotiations, prompting speculation that a broader trade agreement covering the whole Association of Southeast Asian Nations could follow. Observers are watching whether Brussels will build on the bilateral progress with Manila to pursue a region-wide deal with Asean, deepening economic ties with Southeast Asia.

The Business Secretary has warned that a renewed campaign to rejoin the European Union risks creating uncertainty for businesses. The intervention comes as debate over the UK's relationship with Brussels resurfaces, with the minister arguing that reopening the question of EU membership would leave companies facing unclear long-term conditions for trade, investment and regulation.

A Global Times commentary argues that the European Union cannot solve its energy price crisis through domestic measures alone, and that broader international trade cooperation is needed to bring costs down. It frames high energy prices as a structural problem best addressed through open trade rather than protectionist or unilateral policies.

Trade unions are intensifying efforts to counter what they see as a growing risk from artificial intelligence to their members' jobs. The push reflects broader concerns across labour movements about automation replacing workers and eroding workplace protections, with unions seeking safeguards, negotiations and policy responses as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

Attention is turning to the likely economic consequences for Germany of a free trade agreement between the European Union and India. Commentators are weighing how reduced tariffs and closer trade ties with India could affect German exporters, manufacturers and supply chains. With negotiations advancing between Brussels and New Delhi, businesses and policymakers are assessing the opportunities and risks for Europe's largest economy.

Canada's ambassador to the European Union has outlined what the country stands to gain from a deeper partnership with Europe, in a piece highlighted by Globe and Mail columnist Adam Radwanski. The remarks come as Ottawa weighs closer economic and political ties with the EU amid trade uncertainty with the United States.

The Business Secretary has cautioned Labour against any move to rejoin the EU customs union, setting out a clear position in an internal debate over the party's post-Brexit stance. The warning signals tension within Labour over how closely to align with Brussels, as the government seeks to keep its options on trade and regulation open.

The Financial Times argues the European Union lacks a coherent strategy for engaging close partners such as Canada, calling on Brussels to define clearer priorities for ties with like-minded countries outside the bloc. The commentary comes amid ongoing debates in Europe about trade, security and how to deepen relationships with trusted allies.

Attention is turning to whether the European Union is reconsidering its biofuels policy, a question trade publication Ethanol Producer Magazine poses in its latest headline. Brussels has shifted position on crop-based fuels several times over the past two decades, first encouraging them and then capping food-based ethanol and biodiesel over sustainability concerns. Any new rethink would matter for fuel producers, farmers and climate targets across Europe.