EU Parliament to vote on US trade deal amid tariff threats
The European Parliament will hold its final plenary vote on the Turnberry trade agreement with the United States on 16 June in Strasbourg, two weeks before Trump’s deadline.
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EU Launches Fertilisers Action Plan to Boost Food Security, Cut Dependency on Russian and Belarusian Imports
On 19 May 2026, the European Commission published its Fertilisers Action Plan to boost domestic supply, reduce import dependency on Russia and Belarus, and strengthen food security. The plan responds to fertiliser price volatility caused by the Middle East energy shock and ongoing sanctions regime.
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Parliament finalises foreign investment screening reform this week to better protect EU strategic sectors
Strasbourg – The European Parliament holds this week, during its 18-21 May 2026 plenary session in Strasbourg, the final vote on the revised EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation. The new framework aims to better protect strategic EU sectors against acquisitions by non-EU entities — particularly Chinese, Russian, and Gulf-region investors with politically sensitive ties. The…
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MEPs debate single market overhaul to remove barriers, boost SMEs and restore EU competitiveness
Strasbourg – The European Parliament debates this week with representatives of the Commission and Council a comprehensive plan to remove barriers in the single market, improve conditions for European businesses, and ensure their competitiveness in the global arena. The debate is one of the most anticipated of the 18-21 May plenary session and follows the…
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Anglo American Sells Australian Coal to Dhilmar for $3.875bn
In short: Anglo American announced on Monday 18 May 2026 that it has agreed to sell its Australian steelmaking coal portfolio to UK-registered Dhilmar Limited for cash consideration of up to US$3.875 billion. The deal comprises a US$2.3 billion upfront payment and a price-linked earnout of up to US$1.575 billion over five years. Completion is…
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EU-Mercosur Deal Enters Force: Tariffs Fall on Cars, Pharma, Food
Two and a half decades after negotiations first began, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement entered provisional application on 1 May 2026, immediately cutting tariffs on key European exports to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — a combined market of 260 million people and the world’s fifth-largest economic bloc by GDP. From day one, EU exporters of…
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Trump Threatens Big Tariff on UK Over Digital Services Tax
President Donald Trump threatens to impose a ‘big tariff’ on the UK unless it scraps the 2% digital services tax on US tech companies. EU member states with similar taxes (France ‘GAFA tax’, Italy, Spain) watch closely as transatlantic strain deepens.
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EU-Mercosur trade deal enters provisional application, creating world’s largest free trade zone
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement entered provisional application on 1 May 2026, opening EU exporters to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay. Cars, pharma and agri-food tariffs cut. Von der Leyen calls it ‘the largest free trade zone in the world’.
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EU-Mercosur trade deal provisionally launches, opening South American markets after 25 years
EU-Mercosur trade agreement starts being provisionally applied 1 May 2026 after 25 years of negotiation. Cuts tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals, most agri-food. Opens Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay markets to EU exporters from day one.
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Brussels Economic Forum: EU Leaders Map Strategic AI Playbook for Global Competition
The 26th Brussels Economic Forum on 7 May 2026 focuses on The EU’s AI Economy in the Global Race, with PM Luc Frieden, Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion and Commissioner Dombrovskis.
