Latest news with #Leyen
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Revamped invasive species bills head to governor for second time
Bettina ivy being sold in a retail store. Bettina ivy is the same as English ivy, an invasive plant on the bill's list of 39 species, but it is meant to be grown indoors. (Photo by Sarah Hagen / Capital News Service) By Sarah Hagen/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers recently sent the governor twin bills that he vetoed last year, which aim to protect the state's native wildlife by educating consumers on invasive plants. Del. Holly Seibold, D-Fairfax, introduced House Bill 1941 and Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Fairfax, introduced Senate Bill 1166. The bills, which passed with bipartisan support, require stores to post signage to educate shoppers on invasive species and encourage native plants as an alternative. Consumers are often unaware of the harm that these readily available plants can cause when introduced to local environments, according to Seibold. 'Not only do these invasive plants degrade Virginia's ecosystems, but they can also harm the infrastructure around us by clogging waterways and impeding power line access,' Seibold said in a subcommittee meeting. Christopher Leyen lobbied with Blue Ridge Prism, a nonprofit dedicated to invasive plant education, to get the bills passed. The main goal of the bills is to ensure consumers are aware of invasive plants and their impact beyond common knowledge, according to Leyen. 'It allows you to be thoughtful about how you use that plant,' Leyen said. 'Are you disposing of it properly? Are you planting it in ways that it's not going to spread?' Invasive species cost Virginia more than $1 billion a year, according to the Virginia Invasive Species Working Group. They cause the decline of native species by stealing necessary resources and habitats, and often spread quickly due to a lack of native predators. State group says Virginia should budget more for invasive species management Stores posting signage near invasive plants is an easy, cost-effective way to educate consumers on these effects, according to Leyen. 'What takes you pennies to implement saves thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars,' Leyen said. This is the second attempt by lawmakers to pass such legislation, after Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed both bills last year. Youngkin supported educating consumers on invasive species but was against the $500 fine enacted on businesses 'for the sale of plants with low levels of invasiveness,' according to his veto statement. The bills also overstepped the state's authority, he said. The current version of the bills removed the fine. The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would instead issue a stop-sale order on unlabeled plants, which would be lifted as soon as signage was placed. A smaller, more specific list of 39 invasive species was created from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's established list of 103 species. It was developed to most effectively target invasive plants sold in stores, Leyen said. The list includes species such as the Bradford pear tree, periwinkle, fountain grass, English ivy and more. The state government already prohibits invasive species from being planted on state grounds, and commercial landscapers must notify landowners before planting them. These bills are merely closing the gap for retail customers, according to Leyen. The governor has until March 24 to approve, amend or veto legislation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
India, EU agree to push for conclusion of free trade pact this year
NEW DELHI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Union have agreed to push for the conclusion of a free trade agreement this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. The EU is India's largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral trade reaching $137.5 billion in 2023-24 fiscal year, marking a growth of about 90% over the previous decade. Talks for an India-EU free trade agreement, stalled for eight years, resumed in 2021, now cover investment protection and geographical indications. Leyen is in India on a two-day visit from Thursday, accompanied by leaders of EU member nations, coinciding with escalating geopolitical tensions, with Brussels and New Delhi set to outline key areas for deeper cooperation under their strategic partnership. Troubled times offer great opportunities for partnership between India and the EU, and Prime Minister Modi and she had agreed to push to conclude a free trade pact this year, Leyen told a business conference. "We both stand to lose from a world of spheres of influence and isolationism, and we both stand to gain from a world of cooperation and working together," Leyen said ahead of her talks with Modi. "But I believe this modern version of great power, competition is also an opportunity for Europe, and India to reimagine its partnership," she said.
Voice of America
26-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
EU will ask India to cut tariffs on cars, wine to boost ties, reduce reliance on China
The European Union plans to urge India to lower its high tariffs on cars and wine to boost trade, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on China, a senior official from the bloc said, ahead of a visit by the European Commission president to New Delhi. Echoing U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of reciprocal tariffs, the official said the EU would press India to cut tariffs on some goods and broaden market access for its products, while offering flexibility on agriculture issues to expedite free trade agreement talks. "The Indian market is relatively closed, especially to key products of commercial interest to the European Union and our member states' industries, including cars, wines and spirits," said the official, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions. EC President Ursula von der Leyen's two-day visit from Thursday, accompanied by leaders of EU member nations, coincides with escalating geopolitical tensions, with Brussels and New Delhi set to outline key areas for deeper cooperation under their strategic partnership. Leyen will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, followed by discussions with trade minister Piyush Goyal. The next trade negotiations round is scheduled for March 10-14 in Brussels. The EU's call for lower tariffs comes amid Trump's threats to impose reciprocal tariffs from early April, which has caused anxiety for India's exporters. Analysts from Citi Research estimate potential losses of about $7 billion annually. The EU is India's largest trading partner in goods, with trade nearing $126 billion in 2024, marking an increase of about 90% over the past decade. Reducing reliance on China As part of its "de-risking" strategy, the EU aims to strengthen economic and security ties with India, diversify supply chains, and reduce reliance on key products from China. The EU also views India as a vital ally in addressing security challenges, the official said, including cyber threats and tensions in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific. Leyen is also expected to seek India's support for a "peaceful and just deal" for Ukraine's security, the official said. The EU and India could sign an agreement to share classified security information to tackle common threats such as cyber attacks and terrorism, while exploring defense equipment trade. Despite these potential benefits, trade analysts said the visit may not yield tangible results. For substantial cooperation, the EU should acknowledge India as a data-secure country, said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Delhi-based think-tank Global Trade Initiative, and India's former negotiator on trade talks with the EU. "While both parties have concerns about China, neither sees it as a top priority," Srivastava said, adding India is focused on border tensions with China, while the EU is more concerned with the Ukraine-Russia conflict and NATO matters.
