Posts by sean
US to cut ‘de minimis’ tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%
The US is to cut the low value “de minimis” tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%, with a flat fee of $100 to remain, starting from May 14, modifying an earlier order imposed by Washington, a White House executive order has said. The move comes several hours after Beijing and Washington announced a…
Read MoreGeopolitics the top concern for international banks here
Nearly eight in ten international banks in Ireland say global political tensions could hit their business in the next five years. That’s according to a new report by the Federation of International Banks in Ireland (FIBI) and Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). FIBI represents more than 30 international banking and investment organisations – including…
Read MoreNew EVs licensed in April rose by 23% on last year – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of new electric vehicles licensed in April increased by 23% on the same time last year – rising to 1,783 from 1,444. This means the share of EVs among new private cars from January to April was 16% compared with 13% during the same…
Read MoreDonohoe to attend Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings this week
The Minister for Finance and President of the Eurogroup Paschal Donohoe is in Brussels this week to chair the Eurogroup meeting today and attend the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting tomorrow. At the Eurogroup meeting, Mrr Donohoe will update his colleagues on the latest developments at the recent IMF Spring meetings, including key…
Read MoreOil prices jump over 3% on US-China tariff reductions
Oil prices rose more than $2 today after the US and China said they would ease some of their tariff measures, lifting market sentiment that the world’s two largest crude users may be moving toward resolving their trade dispute. Brent crude futures climbed $2.11, or 3.3%, to $64.14 a barrel this morning. US West Texas…
Read MoreECB should keep steady hand, hold rates close to current levels, Schnabel says
The European Central Bank should stop cutting borrowing costs as turmoil in the global economy is fuelling price pressures and inflation was at risk of exceeding the bank’s 2% target in the medium term, ECB board member Isabel Schnabel has said. The ECB cut interest rates seven times in the past year as inflation has…
Read MoreAnnual inflation rate rises to 2.2% in April – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that annual consumer prices rose to 2.2% in April from 2% a month earlier. The CSO said this marks the second month in a row where inflation has been at, or above, 2%. The CSO also said the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which strips out…
Read MoreSenior civil servants to highlight concerns over AI
Senior civil servants are to highlight concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in the public service at the annual conference of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants. Delegates will gather in Portlaoise to discuss a range of motions put forward by the union’s more than 4,000 managers across 50 branches in the…
Read MoreChina’s exports top forecasts helped by foreign rush to beat tariffs
China’s exports topped forecasts in April, buoyed by demand for materials from overseas manufacturers who rushed out goods to make the most of US President Donald Trump’s 90-day tariff pause. The fortunes of trade-reliant businesses on both sides of the Pacific now hinge on talks between China and the US taking place in Switzerland this…
Read MoreTaoiseach to discuss EU response to US tariffs with von der Leyen
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will meet the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels this morning. His visit coincides with the EU publishing its proposed countermeasures to US tariffs, which would be implemented if it proves impossible to reach a trade deal with the Trump administration. The agenda for this morning’s meeting…
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