The World Trade Organization has decided: The reciprocal tariffs between the USA and China violate WTO rules. However, there will not be much progress in this matter. The spiral in the trade war is now turning in completely different areas anyway – tariffs are "old school," and the focus is on capital movements and knowledge transfer.
By Amelie Richter
The rifts between developed and developing countries on the so-called loss and damage fund remain wide. Even at its penultimate meeting before COP28, the Transitional Committee made little relevant progress. The time until the decision is running out.
By Bernhard Pötter
With the Greening Freight Package, the Commission is proposing a legal framework for standardized counting of CO2 emissions in the transport sector. The Commission does not want to make participation mandatory for transport service providers. There is opposition to this – from the industry, of all places.
By Markus Grabitz
At the first African climate summit, countries find a common line for the upcoming UN negotiations: a fair financial system, a global carbon tax, 300 MW of green electricity by 2030 and more aid for growth and development. Kenya was criticized for compliance and the idea of a fossil fuel tax.
By Redaktion Table
Creating more momentum on reducing methane emissions is one of the top five goals of COP28. COP President al Jaber aims to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry to near zero by 2030. But the COP hosts, the United Arab Emirates, have not reported their methane emissions to the UN for the past decade. The UAE is a poor role model that could slow efforts in other world regions.
By Nico Beckert
At the G20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend, the host country India had ambitious plans for the climate issue: Expanding renewables, reducing fossil fuels, financial aid, debt reform, changing lifestyles. But Russia and China have little interest in success.
By Goswami Urmi
IAA Mobility: German automotive suppliers are among the heavyweights in the industry. However, amid electrification, competition from China and South Korea is rapidly catching up. Their core competence: battery technology. The outcome of this race is uncertain.
By Carsten Hübner
BYD, Nio and others are making waves at the IAA. Alongside their effective market entry strategies in Germany, the Chinese automakers bring persistence. Currently, Germany's established giants are dismissive of the competition.
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George Soros' Open Society Foundation wants to withdraw from Europe – but not as extensively as initially announced. For the EU, however, even a partial withdrawal would be a problem. The European Parliament is now calling for more commitment to civil society.
By Eric Bonse
Many important digital laws have already been completed and are being implemented – such as the DSA and DMA. Other pieces of legislation are still hotly debated – like the AI-Act. An outlook on the digital agenda for fall 2023.
By Corinna Visser
