Latest news with #TrustProject
Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Brussels opens door to selected US food imports as tariff threat looms
'We stayed firm on agriculture,' says EU official after US trade concessions Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro Euractiv Jul 28, 2025 15:33 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Brussels will facilitate more imports of US agri-food products deemed "non-sensitive" for EU farmers – including nuts, soybeans, fish, and bison meat – under a trade deal struck on Sunday. A senior EU official said Monday that the agreement, reached by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, also extends the so-called lobster deal, originally signed during Trump's first mandate in 2020. That deal has allowed duty-free US lobster exports to the EU ever since. While the US will continue to sell seafood and nuts to the EU, Brussels appears to have gained little in return for its agri-food sector, which remains exposed to Trump's 15% blanket tariff. American products – including pistachios, almonds, certain types of processed and raw fish, bison meat, some dairy products, and pet food – will enjoy greater market access to the EU, though final terms await a joint statement still being drafted. Notably, nuts and soybeans were among the products the EU had previously earmarked for retaliation in the event of new US tariffs. Tariff reductions could also extend to fertilisers, where the US could be an alternative supplier to Russia, the official said. More contentious items like beef, poultry, and sugar remain excluded from the concessions, they added. Brussels insists the move won't harm EU producers, as the goods are 'non-sensitive.' But European almond growers – especially in Spain, the world's second-largest producer – have long warned that cheaper Californian nuts threaten their survival. Meanwhile, Brussels is trying to salvage an exemption for spirits and wine – a highly lucrative export sector for the bloc that relies heavily on the US market – with negotiations still ongoing, the official said. The EU official maintained that the Commission 'stayed firm on agriculture' during talks with US counterparts.
Euractiv
6 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Germany's ‘butcher' minister told to push for greener diets
Government advisors in Germany are pushing for a shift in food policy to promote plant-based options and discourage excessive meat consumption Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Maria Simon Arboleas Euractiv Jul 23, 2025 16:14 3 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A government advisory board has urged German Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer to encourage citizens to eat less meat and embrace veggie alternatives, including lab-grown meat. Following his appointment last spring, Rainer, a trained butcher, said that Germans were mature enough to decide for themselves what to put in their shopping baskets. Just a few months later, the board, known as the agri-food advisory board (WBAE), handed him a report advocating for a shift away from his cherished meat products. The WBAE concluded that there is room for 'more sustainable diets' and that reducing consumption of animal products is key. One of its proposals is to slash the 19% VAT on plant-based foods, which it calls "tax discrimination' compared to the 7% rate applied to comparable animal products classified as staples. It also recommends gradually increasing taxes on meat and dairy. 'In terms of GHG emissions, plant-based alternative products such as soy drinks generally have advantages per kg of product over the corresponding animal products' the report states, calling for a 'climate label' to cover both animal and plant-based foods. But Rainer may not be ready to stomach the recommendations. 'It's important to me not to pit one against the other,' said the minister, who has sought to reverse course from his Green predecessor Cem Özdemir. Aware of the sensitivity surrounding food policy, the WBAE has packaged its recommendations in a '3R strategy': citizens should 'Reduce' meat consumption, 'Remix' animal and plant-based components, or 'Replace' meat with plant-based alternatives. The board's push is nothing new to Rainer, as we knew from day one he would be treading a tightrope on food policy matters. The coalition agreement between Rainer's conservative Christian Democrats and the centre-left Social Democrats already includes a pledge to support 'alternative proteins'. The WBAE report specifies that this includes cell-based meat and precision fermentation, which is used to replicate proteins and enzymes found in foods such as eggs and milk without involving animals. The board also hopes that the EU will adopt more 'innovation-friendly' rules. The European Commission is currently considering whether to fast-track the approval of so-called novel foods, many of which have drawn criticism from several EU farm ministers. The report also references another ongoing debate in Brussels: whether traditional meat terms can be used for plant-based products. While the EU executive recently yielded to pressure to tighten labelling rules, the German board is advocating a 'regulatory chill.' Meanwhile, the German government's advisory body endorsed the Nutri-score labelling system and joined criticism of the NOVA classification for ultra-processed foods, warning that it could penalise some plant-based products unfairly. Jeremias Lin contributed reporting. (adm, de)
Euractiv
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
More EU countries eye deportations to Afghanistan, says German interior minister
Berlin says other countries want in on controversial return operations. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Nicoletta Ionta Euractiv Jul 22, 2025 11:08 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Germany's recent deportation of criminals to Taliban-run Afghanistan is drawing attention from across Europe, according to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. 'We have spoken several times about the fact that the deportations to Afghanistan we have carried out are attracting great interest from other countries, who would like to take part in such operations,' Dobrindt said at an informal EU Home Affairs Council meeting in Copenhagen. Last week, Berlin deported a group of convicted criminals to Taliban-run Afghanistan and became the first EU country to let Taliban officials onto its soil to help carry out deportations. One of the key topics under discussion, Dobrindt added, is 'whether and how this can be realised.' 'We believe this is an innovative and absolutely necessary approach,' Dobrindt said, calling for agreements with third countries near countries of origin. Dobrindt didn't rule out Germany pursuing its own migration deals, noting that more and more countries 'have advanced plans to set up such structures.' 'We need partner countries, preferably close to the countries of origin, that through specific agreements are able to receive rejected asylum seekers and settle them in a dignified way near their homeland. This is the basic idea, which has our full support.' Acknowledging the political sensitivity, Dobrindt said: 'We know that for individual member states this can be very difficult, we've already seen that in the past.' Still, he believes a Europe-wide approach could work, as it offers greater chances of implementation." Dobrindt's comments follow a declaration by EU interior ministers on Friday stating that 'returns to Afghanistan and Syria must be possible.' The hardline statement, backed by a self-styled 'coalition of the willing' led by Germany and joined by France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Czechia, and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, calls for tougher migration rules across the bloc.
Euractiv
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Germany, UK pledge to coordinate on nuclear deterrence, security in landmark treaty
The joint pledge aligns with Merz's controversial push to extend the Anglo-French nuclear deterrent to the rest of Europe. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Nick Alipour Euractiv Jul 17, 2025 13:29 3 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a landmark friendship treaty on Thursday, which will see the two countries collaborate more closely on security matters, including on nuclear deterrence. The signing in London crowns a diplomatic effort that began last summer when Starmer and Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, announced that they would seek to sign the countries' first-ever bilateral friendship treaty. The endeavour, which they said would cover the "full bandwidth of the relationship" has been compared to the wide-ranging Treaty of Aachen, the friendship treaty signed by Germany and France in 2019. The final text – dubbed the Kensington Treaty – puts security at the heart of the relationship, building on last year's Trinity House Agreement. Both the UK and European countries have sought closer cooperation after Brexit and in the face of America's potential withdrawal from Europe's security architecture. Among the most eye-catching provisions is the pledge that both Berlin and London would "pursue deep exchanges" and "a close dialogue" on defence and strategic security policy, including on "nuclear issues" and "nuclear threats." The vow aligns with Merz's push to discuss the extension of the Franco-British nuclear deterrence to the rest of Europe, which remains controversial in pacifist-leaning Germany. Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said in May that they would create a high-level Franco-German security council, where such topics would be discussed. The German-British treaty also establishes annual strategic dialogues to be held between the countries' foreign ministers and senior officials to discuss security issues. Moreover, it includes a mutual assistance clause, which will "complement and strengthen" the mutual assistance clauses that are established by NATO and existing bilateral treaties between Germany, Britain, and France, a German government source said on Monday. The new treaty will complete the triangle of large-scale treaties between the three countries, which are also known as the E3. A senior EU diplomat said the point of such agreements and formats was "to strengthen the individual threads within the web of European relations," some of which had been severed by the UK's exit from the EU. Aside from security, the countries also commit to cooperating on fighting migrant smuggling, on limiting the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and on youth exchanges. The British government had been particularly keen for the treaty to reflect its focus on growth and trade, as a UK government source told Euractiv, although the treaty was somewhat limited by EU competences in this area. The treaty's future had been intermittently in limbo, however, after the collapse of Germany's government last year, prompting negotiations to be halted. Talks resumed after Merz's inauguration with a review of the existing text and some "resharpening," especially on security, the government source said. Both sides were closing in on a signing just one month into Merz's term, as was first reported by Euractiv. The text still has to be ratified by the German Bundestag. (mm)
Cision Canada
16-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
KuCoin's Remarkable First Half of 2025: Building Trust, Driving Innovation, and Shaping the Future
VICTORIA , Seychelles , July 16, 2025 /CNW/ -- KuCoin, a global cryptocurrency exchange leader, celebrates a remarkable first half of 2025, marked by strong growth, bold innovation, and enhanced compliance. With over 41 million registered users, the platform also set new benchmarks for security and compliance. Continue Reading Security and compliance have always been KuCoin's top strategic priorities and the foundation of its success. KuCoin solidified its position by achieving SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 certifications, underscoring its commitment to user safety. An AAA rating from ranks KuCoin among the top four most secure exchanges worldwide. Its integration with BitGo's Go Network for institutional-grade custody includes up to $250 million in insurance coverage. These efforts are part of the $2 Billion Trust Project — a long-term commitment to the KuCoin community. In 2025, KuCoin advanced its compliance efforts by submitting a MiCA license application in the EU and supporting the official opening of KuCoin Thailand — the first fully regulated local digital asset exchange under the KuCoin brand, licensed by the Thai SEC — marking a significant milestone in KuCoin's mission to build fast, secure, and user-friendly infrastructure for crypto users worldwide. These efforts reflect KuCoin's dedication to aligning with global regulatory standards while expanding into key markets like MENA and LATAM, where spot trading volume saw double-digit growth. Innovation drives KuCoin forward. KuCoin Pay expanded globally, enabling crypto payments for real-world services, such as retail purchases via AEON's VietQR and QR Ph codes in Southeast Asia . KuCard experienced over 30% growth in transaction volume and introduced 8.5% KCS cashback for high-tier users. The Trading Bot platform, with 8.9 million bots created, saw a 40% trading volume increase, fueled by AI enhancements. Over 170 new tokens and 106 futures assets were added, catering to diverse trading preferences. Beyond business, KuCoin's social impact shines. Initiatives that distributed 9,700 solar lamps and 5,000 menstrual kits impacted over 50,000 lives and earned the UNWWO CSR Award. Industry accolades include "Best Crypto Exchange 2025" from Forbes Advisor and CoinBureau, alongside top rankings from CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap. KuCoin's first half of 2025 reflects its dedication to trust, innovation, and global leadership. As it looks ahead, the platform is planning new market entries in several regions and is poised to shape a more secure, inclusive, and resilient future for crypto worldwide in the remainder of 2025. KuCoin's H1 report can be read in full here. About KuCoin Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 41 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots. KuCoin has garnered accolades such as "Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges" by Forbes and has been recognized among the "Top 50 Global Unicorns" by Hurun in 2024. These recognitions reflect its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Learn more: SOURCE KuCoin [email protected]
