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The EU's behemoth trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc was — once again — kicked down the road today, as familiar internal rifts again proved stronger than the push to seal the deal.

EU delays Mercosur signing as 25-year curse drags on

Italy forcing a further postponement to the beleaguered trade deal leaves it open to being torpedoed by the European Parliament.

politico.eu

When the world’s largest tobacco company needed help lifting international restrictions on its products, it enlisted an unlikely ally: the European Union, a leader in tobacco control. Read our joint investigation with @theexamination.org www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

EU officials acted to aid tobacco giant abroad, documents show

The EU’s actions were a “great help,” Philip Morris International said in an email.

politico.eu

#Trade & #GlobalEurope: In the new scramble for #Africa’s resources, #Europe tries to right old wrongs, by @zimmerfrau.bsky.social | Politico www.politico.eu/article/in-t...

In the new scramble for Africa’s resources, Europe tries to right old wrongs

Ursula von der Leyen says African countries should benefit from resource extraction — but Brussels has yet to deliver on that promise.

politico.eu

NEW: Ursula von der Leyen says African countries should benefit from resource extraction — but Brussels has yet to deliver on that promise. www.politico.eu/article/in-t...

In the new scramble for Africa’s resources, Europe tries to right old wrongs

Ursula von der Leyen says African countries should benefit from resource extraction — but Brussels has yet to deliver on that promise.

politico.eu

Ursula von der Leyen says African countries should benefit from resource extraction — but Brussels has yet to deliver on that promise, writes @zimmerfrau.bsky.social as EU and African leaders meet in Luanda. www.politico.eu/article/in-t...

In the new scramble for Africa’s resources, Europe tries to right old wrongs

Ursula von der Leyen says African countries should benefit from resource extraction — but Brussels has yet to deliver on that promise.

politico.eu

NEW: The European Commission is set to present a list of sectors that it wants to be exempted from U.S. tariffs to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer when they meet EU ministers next Monday. www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

EU to present tariff exemption wishlist to top Trump envoys

Brussels will put forward request to U.S. officials to exempt goods like medical devices and alcohol from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

politico.eu

I have two missions in life: - securing world peace - dissuading people from organising a "quick preparatory call ahead of next week's panel".

Officials and observers across the Atlantic know full well that should the court strike down the tariffs, in cases brought by a dozen Democratic-run states and two sets of private companies, Trump will find a way to replace them. www.politico.eu/article/dona...

After US judges trash Trump’s tariffs, it’s no time for Europe to gloat

The EU would face more uncertainty if the U.S. Supreme Court shoots down President Donald Trump’s most sweeping tariffs.

politico.eu

"China was seeking to halt research by Laura Murphy, professor of human rights and contemporary slavery at Sheffield Hallam, into allegations Uyghur Muslims in the north-western region of Xinjiang were subject to forced labour." www.bbc.com/news/article...

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show

Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.

bbc.com

Brussels is racing to put together a new plan by the end of this year to diversify European supply of so-called critical raw materials — such as lithium and copper — away from China. The thing is: We’ve been here before. www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

The EU wants to escape China’s grip on critical minerals. Can it afford to?

Ursula von der Leyen has announced an action plan to secure supplies, but without serious money it risks becoming a relabeling exercise.

politico.eu

Commission chief von der Leyen is looking to fly to Brazil to ink the long-awaited deal with Mercosur on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give the green light. The date of the signing was floated by Costa at a leaders summit last week. with @zimmerfrau.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...

EU eyes final signing of Mercosur deal before Christmas

Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would jet into Brazil to ink the long-awaited accord on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give the green light.

politico.eu

Scoop: EU eyes final signing of Mercosur deal before Christmas (Alternative headline: Friedrich Merz wasn’t wrong, but may have jumped the gun last week.) By @camgijs.bsky.social and @zimmerfrau.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...

EU eyes final signing of Mercosur deal before Christmas

Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would jet into Brazil to ink the long-awaited accord on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give their green light.

politico.eu

China tightens its rare earth choke hold on Europe Here’s the money quote: “In the short term there’s nothing you can do, except try and negotiate with the Chinese.” Worth your time, by @zimmerfrau.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-n...

China tightens its rare earth choke hold on Europe

Despite the EU’s efforts to diversify its supply of critical minerals, Beijing’s skillfully crafted dominance gives it immense geopolitical leverage.

politico.eu

Back at the office after a lovely break in France and Ireland. What have I missed in the trade policy world? Hit me up ☕

The European Commission is eyeing a possible signature of its long-awaited partnership agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries on Dec. 5 in Brazil, four EU diplomats told @politico.eu w/ @camgijs.bsky.social @koenverhelst.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Brussels aims to sign Mercosur trade deal on Dec. 5

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff crusade has pushed the EU toward completing its long-awaited agreement with the South American bloc.

politico.eu

Trump's tariff game can sometimes seem like a highly technical, unpredictable and abstract calculation. But for locals on the Irish coast, power politics determine no less than their personal future. My dispatch www.politico.eu/article/irel...

Ireland’s ‘Viagra Village’ in the eye of Trump’s tariff storm

Investments by U.S. Big Pharma in Ireland’s County Cork have brought jobs and prosperity. Donald Trump’s tariffs could change all that.

politico.eu

The EU ombudsman will investigate the commission’s decision to delete a text exchange between Macron and von der Leyen about the Mercosur trade deal. @politico.eu was first to report on the text’s existence back in 2024 👀 www.politico.eu/article/eu-w...

EU watchdog probes Macron’s text to von der Leyen requesting Mercosur delay

The EU executive could not provide access to a text message from the French president to the Commission president, first revealed by POLITICO.

politico.eu

Earlier this month, I cycled around Ringaskiddy in southwestern Ireland with the aim of putting a human face to the impacts of Donald Trump's tariff games. Here's the story. www.politico.eu/article/irel...

Ireland’s ‘Viagra Village’ in the eye of Trump’s tariff storm

Investments by U.S. Big Pharma in Ireland’s County Cork have brought jobs and prosperity. Donald Trump’s tariffs could change all that.

politico.eu

Some goodies for our Pros this morning 👀 1) Ahead of today’s round of negotiations on how the EU will go about screening foreign investments, I’ve got my hands on the 4-column document outlining the bloc’s latest thinking. Spoiler? The two big fights remain. pro.politico.eu/news/205173

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to pull off a grand diplomatic coup on Monday by collecting several Western countries together to recognize a Palestinian state, but he’s a long way from delivering a genuine breakthrough in Gaza. www.politico.eu/article/emma...

Macron wants a big diplomatic win on Palestinian statehood. But Europe is split.

The French president is seeking to build a diplomatic counterweight against U.S. support for Israel, but his efforts will do little to end the war in Gaza.

politico.eu

During the UN General Assembly next week, a growing number of nations are bucking the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state. But the move highlights the limited options available to countries that want to break with Washington on Israel.

Europe, Canada, Saudi Arabia poke at Trump with Palestinian statehood

France and others frustrated with U.S. inaction on Israel have few options to reorient the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

politico.com

Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas unveiled plans to downgrade trade ties with Israel over findings of human rights abuses in Gaza. The measures would only target some 37 percent of Israel’s total exports to the EU, but mark a major shift in the bloc's approach. www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...

EU unveils plan to hit Israel with tariffs, sanctions amid Gaza war outcry

European Commission moves to get tough on Israel — but now it needs member countries on board.

politico.eu

The EU wants to boost cooperation with India, including on defense — just as U.S. President Donald Trump pressures it to slam New Delhi with massive tariffs over its enablement of Russia’s war in Ukraine. www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

EU wants closer India ties despite Russia links

The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas warns that Indian oil purchases from Russia are “an obstacle” to closer ties.

politico.eu

The EU plans to propose sanctions on more Chinese companies linked to the Kremlin’s war effort this week, as part of its efforts to persuade Trump to finally press Russia to end its war. w/ @camgijs.bsky.social @victorjack.bsky.social @gabrielgavin.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

EU plans more sanctions on China. Will that be enough for Trump?

Donald Trump says he’ll slap a harsh embargo on the Kremlin if Brussels turns the screws on China, but EU diplomats suspect the U.S. president is stalling.

politico.eu

www.politico.eu/article/quit... If Donald Trump is going to slap sanctions on Russia, there are a few things he’d like NATO allies to do first. But meeting some of these demands will be easier than others. w/ @camgijs.bsky.social @zimmerfrau.bsky.social @gabrielgavin.bsky.social

Quit Russian oil? For the EU, Trump’s other demands are even harder.

From facing down Hungary and Slovakia to taking on Turkey and China, meeting the U.S. president’s requests will be challenging.

politico.eu

A coalition of European leaders has convinced US President Donald Trump that Russia is not interested in ending its war in Ukraine and must be forced to the negotiating table. Now they have to persuade an unpredictable White House to agree on how to make that happen.

Trump finally wants to put the squeeze on Russia. Now comes the hard part.

Europe targets new sanctions on Moscow. Washington eyes tariffs and trade deals.

ow.ly

European lawmakers accused Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of striking a bad, one-sided trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump after she defended the accord in her annual State of the Union address Wednesday. www.politico.eu/article/parl...

Parliament chiefs seize moment to savage von der Leyen for her Trump trade deal

European Commission boss gets a rough ride from European lawmakers after defending her transatlantic agreement.

politico.eu

President Ursula von der Leyen used her annual State of the Union speech to announce the European Commission will take a tougher approach on Israel ― including by proposing a suspension of the EU's trade accord with the country. www.politico.eu/article/urus...

Von der Leyen vows to punish Israel’s ‘extremist ministers’ and pause payments

“What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable,” EU Commission president tells a noisy European Parliament during State of Union address.

politico.eu

My favourite kind of workday. Story coming soon!