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Slovakia Vows to Veto Russia Sanctions Without Gas Guarantees

Slovakia Vows to Veto Russia Sanctions Without Gas Guarantees

Bloomberg4 hours ago

Slovakia is withholding support for the European Union's latest raft of sanctions against Moscow unless its concerns about energy security are taken into account.
Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose landlocked country is still heavily reliant on Russian supplies, has called on the European Commission to provide safeguards to help mitigate the economic fallout.

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EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs
EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs

(Bloomberg) -- European Union leaders are discussing their response to President Donald Trump's latest proposal on trade after a briefing from Ursula von der Leyen. US Renters Face Storm of Rising Costs Philadelphia Transit System Votes to Cut Service by 45%, Hike Fares Mapping the Architectural History of New York's Chinatown Squeezed by Crowds, the Roads of Central Park Are Being Reimagined US State Budget Wounds Intensify From Trump, DOGE Policy Shifts The European Commission president told EU leaders at summit talks in Brussels on Thursday evening that she had received the latest US tariff offer, according to officials briefed on the discussion who declined to give any more detail. The question dogging the leaders and the commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, is whether to accept an asymmetrical trade deal with the US or risk escalation by striking back, provoking Trump's ire. Several member states argued against retaliation, with most suggesting that reaching a quick deal with the US is better than holding out for a perfect one, even if many of Trump's tariffs remain in place, according to two people briefed on the discussions. But there's still division, with Paris categorically rejecting any deal skewed in favor of the US and pushing for a complete removal of tariffs, another official said. The EU needs to reach an agreement with Trump by July 9, when tariffs on nearly all of the bloc's exports to the US increase to 50%. The US president says the EU takes advantage of US with its goods surplus and perceived barriers to American trade. 'We hope that the discussions with the US continue in an energetic mood in the coming days — the July deadline is coming soon,' Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden told reporters on his way into the summit. 'I wish the commission good luck.' Detailed discussions with the US are taking place on both tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as well as on key sectors, strategic purchases and regulatory matters the EU is hoping to address through its simplification agenda, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The US is asking the EU to make what the bloc's officials see as unbalanced and unilateral concessions, Bloomberg reported earlier. Discussions on critical sectors — such as steel and aluminum, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and civilian aircraft — have been particularly difficult. Officials believe the best-case scenario remains an agreement on principles that would allow the negotiations to continue beyond an early July deadline. Alongside a 10% universal levy on most goods — which is currently facing a US court challenge — Trump has introduced 25% tariffs on cars and double that on steel and aluminum based on a different executive authority. He's also working to expand tariffs on other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and commercial aircraft. Many of those duties are expected to stay, regardless of an agreement with the Trump administration, according to the people. The EU, which has been seeking a mutually beneficial deal, will assess any end-result and at that stage decide what level of asymmetry — if any — it's willing to accept. The EU's industry chief, Stephane Sejourne, told Bloomberg this week that the EU would need to respond to any tariffs — including a baseline 10% levy — with countermeasures. But some EU leaders, including Italy's Giorgia Meloni have indicated that they could live with some levies if it allows for a rapid deal that avoids an escalation in the conflict. 'When we discussed 10% with companies, it isn't particularly impactful for us,' Meloni told reporters in The Hague Wednesday after the NATO summit. 'I think a decision at 10% would enable us, as far as we're concerned, to keep working on things that we care about.' --With assistance from Charlie Duxbury, Olivia Fletcher, Michal Kubala, Lyubov Pronina, Maxim Edwards, Suzanne Lynch, Andrea Palasciano, Samy Adghirni, Donato Paolo Mancini, Jan Bratanic, Katharina Rosskopf and Sanne Wass. How to Steal a House Inside Gap's Last-Ditch, Tariff-Addled Turnaround Push America's Top Consumer-Sentiment Economist Is Worried Apple Test-Drives Big-Screen Movie Strategy With F1 Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Apple overhauls EU App Store rules following penalty
Apple overhauls EU App Store rules following penalty

The Verge

timean hour ago

  • The Verge

Apple overhauls EU App Store rules following penalty

Apple has introduced new App Store changes in the EU in an attempt to avoid being further penalized under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). On Thursday, the company announced a new tier system for its Store Services fee that's applied to purchases made outside apps, and it will only give developers access to the full set of App Store features if they give Apple a larger commission. Tier 1 of the Store Services fee will provide developers with only basic App Store features for a cheaper, 5 percent commission on in-app purchases, including app reviews, privacy nutrition labels, and access to Apple Support. This tier lacks many of the features developers benefit from on the App Store today, including automatic app updates, automatic app downloads, and other tools that could help developers promote their app. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose lawsuit against Apple resulted in a court order preventing Apple from taking a commission on purchases made outside the App Store in the US, has already called out limitations for developers who choose the cheaper tier. For full access to the App Store features, developers will need to use Tier 2 of the Store Services fee, which comes with a 13 percent commission. Apps on the App Store will be on Tier 2 by default, but developers can move their apps to Tier 1. Apple is also introducing a new fee: the Core Technology Commission. With the update, Apple will take a 5 percent commission on outside purchases made in apps distributed on the App Store. However, developers who signed on to Apple's alternate business terms will continue to pay the Core Technology Fee (CTF), a €0.50 per download fee that applies to apps for each annual install over 1 million. The iPhone maker says that on January 1st, 2026, it's going to move to a 'single business model' for developers in the EU. That means it's going to transition the Core Technology Fee to the 5 percent Core Technology Commission on digital goods and services sold on the App Store and alternative marketplaces. The changes come in response to the €500 million (about $570 million) penalty the EU served Apple with on April 23rd after ruling that its App Store 'anti-steering' practices — which restrict how developers can direct users to make external purchases — violated DMA rules. Apple will face interest payments on the $570 million fine if it fails to pay it by next month. The EU also issued preliminary findings for a separate DMA probe into Apple's Core Technology Fee and other restrictions for alternative iOS app stores, ruling that Apple failed to demonstrate they were 'necessary and proportionate.' Apple still plans on appealing the penalty. 'The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store,' the company said in a statement to 9to5Mac. 'We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal.' Apple didn't immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment. The EU Commission will now assess the changes that Apple has proposed before making a final decision on additional non-compliance fines.

EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs
EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs

Bloomberg

timean hour ago

  • Bloomberg

EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs

By , Jorge Valero, and Michael Nienaber Save European Union leaders are discussing their response to President Donald Trump's latest proposal on trade after a briefing from Ursula von der Leyen. The European Commission president told EU leaders at summit talks in Brussels on Thursday evening that she had received the latest US tariff offer, according to officials briefed on the discussion who declined to give any more detail.

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