Finance & Trade

Switzerland Bans Trade of Shares on EU Exchanges

July 01, 2019

Swiss authorities have banned the trading of shares of Swiss companies on EU stock exchanges, retaliating over the refusal of EU officials to renew the "equivalence" designation for Swiss exchanges after negotiation of a framework treaty on Swiss-EU relations stalled.
Switzerland Retaliates Against EU Equivalence Announcement

June 25, 2019

Reuters reports that, in the latest dispute over the stalled EU-Switzerland partnership treaty, the Swiss government says it will retaliate against the EU’s refusal to extend an equivalence determination permitting EU companies to trade on Swiss stock exchanges by blocking EU exchanges from trading Swiss shares.
NGO Report Identifies “Alternative Arrangements” for Irish Border

June 24, 2019

The nongovernmental organization Prosperity UK has published a report identifying potential arrangements UK and EU leaders could pursue to ensure that Britain can establish an independent trade policy and that Ireland can avoid infrastructure along its border with Northern Ireland after Brexit.
UK Lawmakers Push for Post-Brexit Trade Deal with India

June 24, 2019

The Guardian reports that the UK House of Commons’ foreign affairs committee has highlighted the opportunity of facilitating immigration by skilled workers and students from India to help secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the country after Britain withdraws from the EU.
EU Institutions Offer Pension Fund as Part of Capital Markets Union

June 19, 2019

The EU institutions have completed another step in their construction of a Capital Markets Union by creating a “pan-European pension product” and facilitating the distribution of investment funds across EU member states.
EU Body Calls for Climate Adaptation in Energy System

June 19, 2019

The European Environment Agency has called for the adaptation of the EU’s energy system to prepare for a transition to clean energy and protect it against increasing “extreme weather events” and other phenomena caused by climate change.
ECJ Adviser: EU Law Requires Unique Labeling of Israeli Settlement Products

June 19, 2019

Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) Advocate General Gerard Hogan has advised the ECJ that EU law requires goods produced in territories “occupied” by Israel since 1967 to be labeled with the geographical name of this territory and whether they came from an Israeli settlement.
EU National Ministers Advance Plan for Eurozone Budget

June 14, 2019

Reuters reports that national ministers of EU member states have agreed to key features of a eurozone budget that would become operational in 2021 to fund investments and reforms in countries that have adopted the euro, though some countries opposed the use of the budget to stabilize countries’ economies in the event of crises.
Study Finds Need for Irish Border Customs Posts in Event of No-Deal Brexit

June 13, 2019

The BBC reports that a study commissioned by Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy asserts that Ireland will have to build customs inspection points closer to its border with Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit and floats the idea of “integrated logistics centres” that would streamline customs checks in the future.
UK, South Korea Agree to Post-Brexit Free Trade

June 10, 2019

The BBC reports that, in another instance of UK government action to soften the economic impact of Brexit, British authorities have signed an outline deal with South Korea to continue free trade between the two countries after the UK withdraws from the EU.