Cooling units or war engines? Chinese tech powers Russian drones in Ukraine
'Describing them as cooling units allowed the goods to be exported to Russia without alerting Chinese authorities,' three European security officials told news agency Reuters.According to internal documents seen by the news agency, Kupol signed a contract with Russia's defence ministry to manufacture more than 6,000 Garpiya drones in 2025 — triple its 2024 output. Over 1,500 units had already been delivered by April.The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said Russia was deploying around 500 of these drones per month, with components like engines, control systems, and navigation equipment all sourced from Chinese suppliers.Transportation records revealed that China Southern and Sichuan Airlines, including the country's largest carrier, transported drone components to Russian firms as recently as October, raising questions about enforcement of export controls.The engines were first routed through a front company, SMP-138, before reaching another Russian firm, LIBSS, which passed them on to Kupol, documents show. A contract explicitly stated the engines would be labelled 'cooling units' in shipping papers.China's foreign ministry rejected the allegations, asserting that it adheres to international laws governing the export of dual-use goods. 'China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council,' it said in a statement to Reuters.Western officials are raising the alarm. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday amid rising concerns over Beijing's indirect support of Russia's war effort."This does not help China and Europe come closer together, diplomatically," said Meia Nouwens, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "China's prime concern is to help sustain Russia's war effort to ensure the United States remains focused on Ukraine."The Garpiya drone — modelled on Iran's Shahed drones but powered by Chinese tech — is a centrepiece in Russia's expanding arsenal, further entrenching global tensions around the Ukraine conflict and sanctions enforcement.- Ends
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Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Explained: Donald Trump's landmark $1.35 trillion trade deal with EU before tariff deadline
In a significant breakthrough, President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the United States and the European Union have reached a comprehensive trade deal, just days before a 30 per cent tariff on European imports was due to take effect. U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal between the US and the EU.(REUTERS) After high-stakes negotiations in Scotland's Turnberry with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the two leaders revealed a new trade framework aimed at averting a full-blown transatlantic trade war. The deal, according to CNN, hailed by both sides as 'powerful' and 'historic', centers around new tariffs, large-scale energy purchases, and significant investment commitments. Also read: Donald Trump turns up to play golf amid protests against his Scotland trip What does the US-EU deal include? Under the terms of the agreement, the EU will purchase $750 billion worth of US energy, marking a massive expansion in transatlantic energy cooperation. Additionally, the 27-member bloc has committed to investing $600 billion more into the US than its current levels, stated another CNBC report. The report added that in exchange, Trump has agreed to impose a 15 per cent tariff on most European imports to the US, down from the 30 per cent rate he previously announced. The deal is expected to significantly ease trade tensions between the long-time allies. A CNBC report quoted Donald Trump declaring that this was a 'very big deal, biggest of all' as he stood alongside von der Leyen. Meanwhile, the European Commission chief, speaking after the meeting, acknowledged the difficulty of the talks and said, 'It is a good deal, it is a huge deal, with tough negotiations.' Donald Trump-EU deal impact The agreement was finalized just before the August 1 deadline, after which the Trump administration had vowed to raise tariffs on most EU goods from 10 per cent to 30 per cent. Earlier in the day, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had reaffirmed that Washington would not give further extensions, calling the deadline 'firm', reported CNN. Had the talks collapsed, Brussels was prepared to launch a major counter-tariff package targeting a wide range of US exports and invoke its new Anti-Coercion Instrument, a legislative mechanism designed to push back against economic pressure. Also read: Trump says US will work with Thailand and Cambodia, adds both 'want to settle' A fractured trade relationship The US-EU trade relationship is among the world's largest, valued at nearly $1.97 trillion in 2024, including both goods and services. While the EU ran a goods trade surplus, it faced a deficit in services, resulting in an overall $58.7 billion surplus with the US. Trump repeatedly criticized the imbalance and used it to justify tougher trade terms. 'The US and EU have one of the largest trade deficits,' he had said, defending the imposition of tariffs as leverage. FAQs What is the latest trade deal Trump announced? Trump and EU President Ursula von der Leyen finalized a deal where the EU will buy $750 billion in US energy and invest $600 billion more into the country in exchange for lower tariffs. Why was this deal considered urgent? It came just days before Trump was set to increase tariffs on European imports from 10 per cent to 30 per cent on August 1. What was at stake in the US–EU trade balance? The EU had a $58 billion overall surplus with the US in 2023, mainly due to goods exports, prompting Trump to demand fairer trade terms. What other trade deals has the Trump administration secured? The administration has renegotiated NAFTA (now USMCA), reached agreements with Japan and South Korea, and imposed tariffs on China during its broader trade overhaul. What is the proposed new tariff structure? Instead of the planned 30 per cent hike, the new deal imposes a 15 per cent across-the-board tariff on most EU imports. What are the key risks or criticisms? Critics argue the deal may strain diplomatic ties, shift costs to consumers, and provoke retaliation from other trading partners not offered similar terms.
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First Post
an hour ago
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US, EU strike trade deal with broad 15% tariff on most European goods
The US and the EU have finalised a framework trade agreement, introducing a sweeping 15% US tariff on most European imports. read more European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sits with U.S. President Donald Trump, after the announcement of a trade deal between the U.S. and EU, in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain. Reuters The United States struck a framework trade deal with the European Union on Sunday, imposing a 15% U.S. import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiralling battle between two allies which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at his golf course in western Scotland to push a hard-fought deal over the line. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
U.S. EU trade deal: Donald Trump slaps 15 per cent tariffs on European goods, auto. What is new in it? Is China next?
US-Europe Trade Deal US-EU Tariffs Live Events USA-China Trade Deal Nearing? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US President Donald Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Sunday announced they had reached a deal to end a transatlantic tariffs standoff and avert a full-blown trade war. The agreement came as the clock ticked down on an August 1 deadline for the European Union to strike a deal with Washington -- or face an across-the-board US levy of 30 percent. Trump told reporters the deal involved a baseline levy of 15 percent on EU exports to the United States -- the same level secured by Japan -- including for the bloc's crucial auto sector, which is currently being taxed at 25 percent. Now all eyes are on the world's second largest economy - US President also said the bloc had agreed to purchase "$750 billion worth of energy" from the United States, as well as $600 billion more in additional investments in the country. Negotiating on behalf of the EU's 27 countries, von der Leyen's European Commission had been pushing hard to salvage a trading relationship worth an annual $1.9 trillion in goods and EU has been hit by multiple waves of tariffs since Trump reclaimed the White House. It is currently subject to a 25-percent levy on cars, 50 percent on steel and aluminium, and an across-the-board tariff of 10 percent, which Washington threatens to hike to 30 percent in a no-deal 15 percent would be much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods, which average around 4.8 percent, it would mirror the status quo, with companies currently facing an additional flat rate of 10 the talks failed, EU states had greenlit counter tariffs on $109 billion (93 billion euros) of US goods including aircraft and cars to take effect in stages from August 7. Brussels was also drawing up a list of US services to potentially has embarked on a campaign to reshape US trade with the world, and has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs if they do not reach a pact with Washington by August 1. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had said Sunday the August 1 deadline was firm and there will be "no extensions, no more grace periods".U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday his administration was close to reaching a trade deal with China, but gave no other details. "We're very close to a deal with China. We really sort of made a deal with China, but we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.A1. While 15 percent would be much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods, which average around 4.8 percent, it would mirror the status quo, with companies currently facing an additional flat rate of 10 percent.A2. US President Donald Trump also said the bloc had agreed to purchase "$750 billion worth of energy" from the United States, as well as $600 billion more in additional investments in the country.
