Search Results for: Russia

BY KEITH NUTHALL

BRITAIN may have introduced its Bribery Act, with supporters saying this was a gold plated regulation promoting commercial honesty with tough measures, but the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) does not seem that impressed.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has released a report that while commending "the UK for the significant increase in foreign bribery enforcement actions" included some serious criticisms and requests that Britain improves its anti-bribery performance.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has signalled it is prepared to launch World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes actions should non-EU governments impose import bans on European meat and livestock over Schmallenberg Virus outbreaks. A meeting of the EU’s Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health late last week (Thursday and Friday) concluded such restrictions would be "disproportionate and scientifically unjustified".…

BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN CANCUN

Eduardo Orendain, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT), has told just-drinks how his sector is increasingly focused on growing non-USA exports. American consumers drink 80% of Mexico’s tequila exports, with US sales lifting 5.5% last year to 125 million litres, but Orendain said: "We realise there is a growing need to diversify our export markets," adding that there is a particular focus on emerging markets.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL AND CARMEN PAUN, IN BRUSSELS

THE EUROPEAN Commission’s plans to lavish Euro EUR9.1 billion on developing energy transmission networks that link the energy systems of the European Union’s (EU) 27 member states go to the heart of the EU’s raison d’être: that Europe’s compact countries can achieve more in concert than in competition.…

BY LEAH GERMAIN

THE GOLDEN rule of investments has and continues to be – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The most recent example of this advice being disregarded causing a high profile court case involves R Allen Stanford, Texan-banker and former multi-millionaire.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has called on Belarus to reverse a ban on exported horned livestock and pigs from the European Union, which it has imposed over the Schmallenberg virus. Noting that the disease has not been found in pigs, Brussels health spokesman Frédéric Vincent told the Meat Trades Journal that the move was "disproportionate": it was imposed after Russia launched a similar ban – the two countries are part of a new customs union and generally follow each other’s lead in such matters.…

BY KARRYN MILLER

A STROLL through Myeong-dong, one of Seoul’s busiest shopping districts, gives a good idea of the magnitude of the popularity of South Korea’s cosmetics and skincare industry: according to the Korea Tourism Organisation there are approximately 1,000 cosmetic shops and hundreds of skincare stores within this small quadrant, alone.…

BY MJ DESCHAMPS

BILATERAL trade agreements between European Union (EU) and emerging economies have helped cushion EU plastics moulders and machinery suppliers as more important domestic markets have weakened in recession and the Eurozone crisis.

It is a two-way street: lower priced machinery from China and India has made inroads into EU markets for applications requiring less technologically sophisticated kit.…

BY RAHIMULLAH YUSUFZAI, IN PESHAWAR

THE PAKISTAN government has shied away from selling off Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in its latest privatisation announcement, with court proceedings and opposition within the company deterring a sale. PSM was not among the 23 public sector banks, insurance firms, electricity supply companies, postal services, hotels, railways, and other concerns listed for inclusion by the government’s Privatisation Commission in a new round of sell-offs beginning in April.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers is seeking an agreement with Russia and Belarus that would better coordinate the operation of their electricity systems with those of the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The council’s working party on energy is drafting a proposal for EU ministers that – if approved – would "authorise the [European] Commission to negotiate an agreement between the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the European Union on electricity system operation of the Baltic States."…