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KKR-backed ContourGlobal acquires energy storage projects in Italy

KKR-backed ContourGlobal acquires energy storage projects in Italy

Time of India3 days ago
Milan:
ContourGlobal
has acquired
battery energy storage systems
in Italy with a combined power capacity of around 1.6 gigawatt and storage durations of up to eight hours, the energy company owned by U.S. investment firm
KKR
said on Thursday.
Why It's Important
The battery projects, once fully developed, will position ContourGlobal for the first Italian auction, scheduled for September, in which the country will buy storage capacity to enhance use of renewable energy.
Context
Europe's
battery storage capacity
is expected to grow around five-fold by 2030, bringing with it increasing returns for energy majors, project developers and traders, as the cost of new projects falls.
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US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up worlds largest 2-way trade relationship
US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up worlds largest 2-way trade relationship

Mint

time2 hours ago

  • Mint

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up worlds largest 2-way trade relationship

Frankfurt (Germany), Jul 6 (AP) America's largest trade partner, the European Union, is among the entities awaiting word Monday on whether US President Donald Trump will impose punishing tariffs on their goods, a move economists have warned would have repercussions for companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump imposed a 20% import tax on all EU-made products in early April as part of a set of tariffs targeting countries with which the United States has a trade imbalance. Hours after the nation-specific duties took effect, he put them on hold until July 9 at a standard rate of 10% to quiet financial markets and allow time for negotiations. Expressing displeasure the EU's stance in trade talks, however, the president said he would jack up the tariff rate for European exports to 50%. A rate that high could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals much more expensive in the US. The EU, whose 27 member nations operate as a single economic bloc, said its leaders hoped to strike a deal with the Trump administration. Without one, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes. Here are important things to know about trade between the United States and the European Union. A lot of money is at stake in the trade talks. The EU's executive commission describes the trade between the US and the EU as "the most important commercial relationship in the world.' The value of EU-US trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. The biggest US export to Europe is crude oil, followed by pharmaceuticals, aircraft, automobiles, and medical and diagnostic equipment. Europe's biggest exports to the US are pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. EU sells more to the US than vice versa Trump has complained about the EU's 198 billion-euro ($233 billion) trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more stuff from European businesses than the other way around. However, American companies fill some of the gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings, and legal and financial services. The US services surplus took the nation's trade deficit with the EU down to 50 billion euros ($59 billion), which represents less than 3% of overall US-EU trade. What are the issues dividing the two sides? Before Trump returned to office, the U.S. and the EU maintained a generally cooperative trade relationship and low tariff levels on both sides. The U.S. rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EU's averaged 1.35% for American products. But the White House has taken a much less friendly posture toward the longstanding US ally since February. Along with the fluctuating tariff rate on European goods Trump has floated, the EU has been subject to his administration's 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tax on imported automobiles and parts. Trump administration officials have raised a slew of issues they want to see addressed, including agricultural barriers such as EU health regulations that include bans on chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef. Trump has also criticized Europe's value-added taxes, which EU countries levy at the point of sale this year at rates of 17% to 27%. But many economists see VAT as trade-neutral since they apply to domestic goods and services as well as imported ones. Because national governments set the taxes through legislation, the EU has said they aren't on the table during trade negotiations. 'On the thorny issues of regulations, consumer standards and taxes, the EU and its member states cannot give much ground,' Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Germany's Berenberg bank, said. 'They cannot change the way they run the EU's vast internal market according to U.S. demands, which are often rooted in a faulty understanding of how the EU works.' What are potential impacts of higher tariffs? Economists and companies say higher tariffs will mean higher prices for US consumers on imported goods. Importers must decide how much of the extra tax costs to absorb through lower profits and how much to pass on to customers. Mercedes-Benz dealers in the US. have said they are holding the line on 2025 model year prices 'until further notice.' The German automaker has a partial tariff shield because it makes 35% of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the U.S. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the company said it expects prices to undergo 'significant increases' in coming years. Simon Hunt, CEO of Italian wine and spirits producer Campari Group, told investment analysts that prices could increase for some products or stay the same depending what rival companies do. If competitors raise prices, the company might decide to hold its prices on Skyy vodka or Aperol aperitif to gain market share, Hunt said. Trump has argued that making it more difficult for foreign companies to sell in the US is a way to stimulate a revival of American manufacturing. Many companies have dismissed the idea or said it would take years to yield positive economic benefits. However, some corporations have proved willing to shift some production stateside. France-based luxury group LVMH, whose brands include Tiffany &Co, Luis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Moet & Chandon, could move some production to the United States, billionaire CEO Bernaud Arnault said at the company's annual meeting in April. Arnault, who attended Trump's inauguration, has urged Europe to reach a deal based on reciprocal concessions. 'If we end up with high tariffs, ... we will be forced to increase our US.=-based production to avoid tariffs,' Arnault said. 'And if Europe fails to negotiate intelligently, that will be the consequence for many companies. ... It will be the fault of Brussels, if it comes to that.' Many expect Trump to drop his most drastic demands Some forecasts indicate the US economy would be more at risk if the negotiations fail. Without a deal, the EU would lose 0.3% of its gross domestic product and US GDP would fall 0.7%, if Trump slaps imported goods from Europe with tariffs of 10% to 25%, according to a research review by Bruegel, a think tank in Brussels. Given the complexity of some of the issues, the two sides may arrive only at a framework deal before Wednesday's deadline. That would likely leave a 10% base tariff, as well as the auto, steel and aluminum tariffs in place until details of a formal trade agreement are ironed out. The most likely outcome of the trade talks is that 'the US will agree to deals in which it takes back its worst threats of retaliatory' tariffs well beyond 10%,' Schmieding said. 'However, the road to get there could be rocky.' The US offering exemptions for some goods might smooth the path to a deal. The EU could offer to ease some regulations that the White House views as trade barriers. 'While Trump might be able to sell such an outcome as a win' for him, the ultimate victims of his protectionism would, of course, be mostly the US consumers,' Schmieding said. (AP)

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship
US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship

America's largest trade partner, the European Union , is among the entities awaiting word Monday on whether U.S. President Donald Trump will impose punishing tariffs on their goods, a move economists have warned would have repercussions for companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump imposed a 20% import tax on all EU-made products in early April as part of a set of tariffs targeting countries with which the United States has a trade imbalance. Hours after the nation-specific duties took effect, he put them on hold until July 9 at a standard rate of 10% to quiet financial markets and allow time for negotiations. Expressing displeasure the EU's stance in trade talks, however, the president said he would jack up the tariff rate for European exports to 50%. A rate that high could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals much more expensive in the U.S. The EU, whose 27 member nations operate as a single economic bloc, said its leaders hoped to strike a deal with the Trump administration. Without one, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes. Here are important things to know about trade between the United States and the European Union. Live Events US-EU trade is enormous A lot of money is at stake in the trade talks. The EU's executive commission describes the trade between the U.S. and the EU as "the most important commercial relationship in the world." The value of EU-U.S. trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. The biggest U.S. export to Europe is crude oil, followed by pharmaceuticals, aircraft, automobiles, and medical and diagnostic equipment. Europe's biggest exports to the U.S. are pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. EU sells more to the US than vice versa Trump has complained about the EU's 198 billion-euro ($233 billion) trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more stuff from European businesses than the other way around. However, American companies fill some of the gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings, and legal and financial services. The U.S. services surplus took the nation's trade deficit with the EU down to 50 billion euros ($59 billion), which represents less than 3% of overall U.S.-EU trade. What are the issues dividing the two sides? Before Trump returned to office, the U.S. and the EU maintained a generally cooperative trade relationship and low tariff levels on both sides. The U.S. rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EU's averaged 1.35% for American products. But the White House has taken a much less friendly posture toward the longstanding U.S. ally since February. Along with the fluctuating tariff rate on European goods Trump has floated, the EU has been subject to his administration's 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tax on imported automobiles and parts. Trump administration officials have raised a slew of issues they want to see addressed, including agricultural barriers such as EU health regulations that include bans on chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef. Trump has also criticized Europe's value-added taxes, which EU countries levy at the point of sale this year at rates of 17% to 27%. But many economists see VAT as trade-neutral since they apply to domestic goods and services as well as imported ones. Because national governments set the taxes through legislation, the EU has said they aren't on the table during trade negotiations. "On the thorny issues of regulations, consumer standards and taxes, the EU and its member states cannot give much ground," Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Germany's Berenberg bank, said. "They cannot change the way they run the EU's vast internal market according to U.S. demands, which are often rooted in a faulty understanding of how the EU works." What are potential impacts of higher tariffs? Economists and companies say higher tariffs will mean higher prices for U.S. consumers on imported goods. Importers must decide how much of the extra tax costs to absorb through lower profits and how much to pass on to customers. Mercedes-Benz dealers in the US. have said they are holding the line on 2025 model year prices "until further notice." The German automaker has a partial tariff shield because it makes 35% of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the U.S. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the company said it expects prices to undergo "significant increases" in coming years. Simon Hunt , CEO of Italian wine and spirits producer Campari Group, told investment analysts that prices could increase for some products or stay the same depending what rival companies do. If competitors raise prices, the company might decide to hold its prices on Skyy vodka or Aperol aperitif to gain market share, Hunt said. Trump has argued that making it more difficult for foreign companies to sell in the U.S. is a way to stimulate a revival of American manufacturing. Many companies have dismissed the idea or said it would take years to yield positive economic benefits. However, some corporations have proved willing to shift some production stateside. France-based luxury group LVMH, whose brands include Tiffany & Co., Luis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Moet & Chandon, could move some production to the United States, billionaire CEO Bernaud Arnault said at the company's annual meeting in April. Arnault, who attended Trump's inauguration, has urged Europe to reach a deal based on reciprocal concessions. "If we end up with high tariffs, ... we will be forced to increase our U.S.-based production to avoid tariffs," Arnault said. "And if Europe fails to negotiate intelligently, that will be the consequence for many companies. ... It will be the fault of Brussels, if it comes to that." Many expect Trump to drop his most drastic demands Some forecasts indicate the U.S. economy would be more at risk if the negotiations fail. Without a deal, the EU would lose 0.3% of its gross domestic product and U.S. GDP would fall 0.7%, if Trump slaps imported goods from Europe with tariffs of 10% to 25%, according to a research review by Bruegel, a think tank in Brussels. Given the complexity of some of the issues, the two sides may arrive only at a framework deal before Wednesday's deadline. That would likely leave a 10% base tariff, as well as the auto, steel and aluminum tariffs in place until details of a formal trade agreement are ironed out. The most likely outcome of the trade talks is that "the U.S. will agree to deals in which it takes back its worst threats of 'retaliatory' tariffs well beyond 10%," Schmieding said. "However, the road to get there could be rocky." The U.S. offering exemptions for some goods might smooth the path to a deal. The EU could offer to ease some regulations that the White House views as trade barriers. "While Trump might be able to sell such an outcome as a 'win' for him, the ultimate victims of his protectionism would, of course, be mostly the U.S. consumers," Schmieding said.

Shubman Gills Net Worth In 2025: From IPL's Rs 26.5 Crore Earnings To BCCI's Central Contract - All You Need To Know
Shubman Gills Net Worth In 2025: From IPL's Rs 26.5 Crore Earnings To BCCI's Central Contract - All You Need To Know

India.com

time9 hours ago

  • India.com

Shubman Gills Net Worth In 2025: From IPL's Rs 26.5 Crore Earnings To BCCI's Central Contract - All You Need To Know

photoDetails english 2927330 Updated:Jul 06, 2025, 09:34 AM IST Net Worth Overview (2025) 1 / 10 As of 2025, Shubman Gill's estimated net worth stands between Rs 32 to Rs 34 crore (approximately 4-6 million dollars). This includes his IPL earnings, central BCCI contract, match fees, and several lucrative brand endorsements. IPL Journey and Salary 2 / 10 Gill's journey in the Indian Premier League began with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 when he was bought for Rs 1.8 crore. He remained with KKR until 2021 before joining Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 mega auction for Rs 8 crore. GT retained him for Rs 16.5 crore in IPL 2025, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league. Earnings from BCCI Contracts 3 / 10 Apart from IPL riches, Shubman Gill is also on a Grade A central contract with the BCCI. This entitles him to an annual salary of ₹5 crore. In addition to this base amount, he receives match fees for every Test, ODI, and T20I he plays, Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I. Brand Endorsements and Collaborations 4 / 10 Gill is one of the most in-demand faces for endorsements among Gen Z cricketers. He currently endorses top-tier brands including TATA Capital, Gillette, CEAT Tyres, Beats by Dr. Dre, BharatPe, My11Circle, and MRF. Lifestyle, Cars, and Assets 5 / 10 Known for his humble roots, Shubman Gill owns a lavish residence in his hometown of Ferozpur, Punjab. His collection includes a stylish Range Rover SUV and a rugged Mahindra Thar. Total Earnings Breakdown 6 / 10 To break down his known earnings: Shubman has made approximately Rs 26.5 crore from the IPL alone so far (Rs 1.8 crore with KKR and Rs 24.7 crore with Gujarat Titans). His BCCI earnings, both annual and match-related, are estimated at around Rs 6 crore in a year where he plays consistently. Add to that his endorsements, which could bring in Rs 2–3 crore annually, and Gill's net worth comfortably crosses the Rs 32–34 crore mark. Recent Performance vs England (Edgbaston 2025) 7 / 10 In July 2025, Shubman Gill delivered a career-defining performance in the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Scoring 269 runs in the first innings and 161 in the second, Gill registered a combined total of 430 runs in a single Test match, becoming the second-highest run-scorer ever in a Test, behind only Graham Gooch's 456. Record-Breaking Test Feats 8 / 10 Gill's 430-run effort made him the first Indian cricketer in history to score more than 400 runs in a Test match, breaking Sunil Gavaskar's record of 344 runs. He also became the first batter ever to score 250+ and 150+ in the same match. Captain's Class and Match Impact 9 / 10 Shubman's innings not only set personal records but also had a match-winning impact. As captain, he led India to a massive second-innings declaration of 427/6, setting England a target of 608 runs. His stroke play, patience, and temperament drew praise from all quarters. The Road Ahead: Legacy in the Making 10 / 10 At just 25 years old, Gill is already living up to, and in some cases, surpassing expectations set upon him when he first emerged from India's U-19 setup. His on-field excellence is translating into off-field wealth and stature. With his market value growing and performances like the one in Edgbaston boosting his global brand appeal, Shubman Gill's future looks not only bright but legendary.

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