Chapter News

Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

Joint Statement of the United States and the European Union on a Tariff Agreement

21 August 2020| Brussels United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan today announced agreement on a package of tariff reductions that will increase market access for hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. and EU exports. These tariff reductions are the first U.S.-EU negotiated reductions in duties in more than two decades. Under the agreement, the EU will eliminate tariffs on imports of U.S. live and frozen lobster products. U.S. exports of these products to...

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Chapter News

Results of the June 2020 survey on credit terms and conditions in euro-denominated securities financing and over-the-counter derivatives markets (SESFOD)

Most widespread tightening of credit terms over three-month review period since SESFOD launched in 2013 Less-favourable price terms for non-financial corporations and less-favourable non-price terms for hedge funds Liquidity and trading deteriorated materially for all types of OTC derivatives, while initial margin requirements increased for almost all types Some insurance companies, hedge funds and investment funds faced strained liquidity situations linked to variation margins Survey respondents reported the most widespread tightening of credit terms and conditions over a three-month...

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Chapter News

ECB | Reduction in frequency of 7-day US dollar liquidity-providing operations as of 1 September 2020

ECB and other major central banks to reduce frequency of 7-day US dollar operations from three times per week to once per week, while 84-day operations continue to be offered weekly New frequency effective as of 1 September 2020, to remain in place for as long as appropriate to support smooth functioning of US dollar funding markets ECB and other major central banks standing ready to re-adjust provision of US dollar liquidity as warranted by market conditions In view of continuing...

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Chapter News

European Citizens’ Initiative: Commission decides to register ‘Right to Cure’ initiative

Today, the European Commission decided to register a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Right to Cure'. The organisers of the ECI call on the Union ‘to put public health before private profit make anti-pandemic vaccines and treatments a global public good, freely accessible to everyone'. The ECI lists the following objectives: Ensure that intellectual property rights, including patents, do not hamper the accessibility or availability of any future COVID-19 vaccine or treatment; Ensure that EU legislation on data and market...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

Coronavirus: EU Commission continues expanding future vaccines portfolio with new talks

The European Commission has today concluded exploratory talks with CureVac to purchase a potential vaccine against COVID-19. This is following the positive steps with Sanofi-GSK on 31 July and Johnson & Johnson on 13 August and the signature of an Advance Purchase Agreement with AstraZeneca on 14 August. The envisaged contract with CureVac would provide for the possibility for all EU Member States to purchase the vaccine, as well as to donate to lower and middle income countries or re-direct to European countries. It is anticipated...

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Chapter News

IMF | Aging Economies May Benefit Less from Fiscal Stimulus

In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers around the world are undertaking fiscal stimulus—a combination of spending increases and tax reductions—to support their economies. Even before the present crisis, the importance of fiscal policy has been increasing, with monetary policy constrained by near-zero interest rates. Our new staff research finds that age also matters when considering fiscal stimulus. Specifically, we find that fiscal policy isn’t as effective in boosting growth in economies with older populations, compared to economies with younger...

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Chapter News

FSB Continuity of Access to FMIs for firms in resolution: streamlined information collection to support resolution planning

This questionnaire provides common template for gathering information about continuity of access to financial market infrastructures (FMIs) for firms in resolution. The template takes the form of a questionnaire that all FMIs are encouraged to complete. The responses to the questionnaire should be published or made available in other ways to firms that use the FMI services and their resolution authorities to inform their resolution planning. The use of a common questionnaire should reduce the “many to one” nature...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

Coronavirus: Commission reaches first agreement on a potential vaccine

Today, the European Commission has reached a first agreement with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to purchase a potential vaccine against COVID-19 as well as to donate to lower and middle income countries or re-direct to other European countries. This is following the positive steps regarding the conclusion of exploratory talks with Sanofi-GSK announced on 31 July and with Johnson & Johnson on 13 August. Once the vaccine has proven to be safe and effective against COVID-19, the Commission now has agreed the basis...

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Chapter News

U.S. Federal Reserve Board announces individual large bank capital requirements, which will be effective on October 1

Following its stress tests earlier this year, the Federal Reserve Board on Monday announced individual large bank capital requirements, which will be effective on October 1. Under its framework for large banks—those with more than $100 billion in total assets—capital requirements are in part determined by stress test results, which provide a risk-sensitive and forward-looking assessment of capital needs. The below table shows the total common equity tier 1, or CET1, capital requirements for each large bank, which is comprised...

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Chapter News

U.S. Federal Reserve Board announces revised pricing for its Municipal Liquidity Facility

The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced revised pricing for its Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF). The revised pricing reduces the interest rate spread on tax-exempt notes for each credit rating category by 50 basis points and reduces the amount by which the interest rate for taxable notes is adjusted relative to tax-exempt notes. Today's changes will ensure the MLF continues to provide an effective backstop to assist U.S. states and local governments as they weather the pandemic. The MLF was established...

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