Chapter News

European Commission | EU unveils savings and investments union strategy to enhance financial opportunities for EU citizens and businesses

The European Commission has adopted its strategy for the savings and investments union (SIU), a key initiative to improve the way the EU financial system channels savings to productive investments. It seeks to offer EU citizens broader access to capital markets and better financing options for companies. This can foster citizens’ wealth, while boosting EU economic growth and competitiveness. The savings and investments union is a horizontal enabler that will create a financing ecosystem to benefit investments in the EU’s strategic objectives. As highlighted in...

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Member News, Trade & TTIP Related

Jaguar Freight | The Weekly Roar – A Suez Canal update, turbulence in air cargo, trade compliance, tariffs and uncertainty for manufacturers, and the top tech trends of 2025.

Renewed hostilities in the Red Sea mean hopes are fading for container lines when it comes to resuming Suez Canal transits. Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. warships following American airstrikes in Yemen. The President justified the strikes, saying he’s protecting Red Sea shipping, although experts link them to pressure on Iran. The Houthis also vowed to resume attacks on Israel-linked vessels. MSC CEO Soren Toft continues to reiterate that the Suez Canal remains unsafe, and...

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Member News

Ogletree Deakins | DEI Executive Orders “Unblocked” | EEOC Issues Technical Assistance on DEI

Key Developments from Washington, D.C. DEI EOs “Unblocked.” T. Scott Kelly and Zachary V. Zagger have the details on a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that will allow the federal government to enforce its DEI-related executive orders (EO) (EO 14151 and EO 14173) while a decision on the merits awaits appeal. This means that the federal government can once again, for example, require federal contractors to certify that they do not operate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs...

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Chapter News

IMF and the Statistical Community Release New Global Standards for Macroeconomic Statistics

Washington, DC: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released the seventh edition of the Integrated Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM7, the Manual) (https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Data/Statistics/BPM6/draft-bpm7-wcv.ashx). This new edition provides updated global standards for compiling external sector statistics, including balance of payments and integrated international investment position. It highlights key changes in the global economy, such as the increasing economic interconnectedness, digitalization, and innovations in financial markets since the time of the last update of the manual in 2009. The launch of BPM7 marks the...

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Chapter News

EU External Action Service | European Council conclusions on competitiveness, European defence and security and migration

III. COMPETITIVENESS  11. A more competitive Union will be a stronger Union, better able to protect its citizens, its values and its interests on the global stage while sustaining its prosperity and the European social model. The need to invest in our defence and our competitiveness are closely interlinked. The European Council underlines the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, building on the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal and on its conclusions of 6 March 2025 on...

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Chapter News

ECB | AI adoption and employment prospects

By António Dias da Silva and Marco Weissler | AI is already part of many workers’ daily routines. Some fear losing their jobs, but most don’t. The ECB Blog looks at how workers are using AI tools, how they feel about it and what that means for work in the future. This post is part of a miniseries related to the ECB conference “The Transformative Power of AI”, on 1-2 April 2025, bringing together researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Learn more here. The...

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Member News

Panitch Schwarze | Experts Must Understand Their Sources of Supporting Information

Damages experts have been known to rely upon many sources of information in preparing their positions regarding how much to award in damages/royalties. However, a recent U.S. district court decision cautions that a damages expert must understand their sources of information. By extrapolation, this should apply to any expert witness. In a Memorandum Opinion issued on March 14, 2025, Judge Richard Andrews of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled that the defendant’s damages expert opinion should...

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Member News

Vulcan View: The latest EU developments 17 March – 21 March

European Commission unveils its White Paper on Defence to rearm the EU On Wednesday, 19 March, the European Commission unveiled its White Paper on Defence, setting out a vision to rearm Europe by ensuring the European defence industry can produce at the requested speed and volume; and facilitating rapid deployment of military troops and assets across the EU. The White Paper introduces plans for a true European defence union in which EU countries will remain in charge of defence, while benefiting from added EU benefits to strengthen...

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Member News

Trepp | FOMC Meeting Sparks Uncertainty as Commercial Real Estate Markets Brace for Potential Slowdown

At the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the Federal Reserve kept the policy interest rate unchanged and reiterated expectations of two rate cuts for 2025. Chairman Powell expressed considerable uncertainty regarding the new administration’s policies, noting heightened risks to growth, employment, and inflation. For commercial real estate (CRE) professionals, while current economic conditions remain robust, it’s important to acknowledge the potential downside risks in the macroeconomic environment that may affect business decisions. Economic Outlook The Federal Reserve's Summary of Economic Projections revealed...

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Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

European Commission | Commission’s Action Plan to secure a competitive and decarbonised steel and metals industry in Europe

Today, the Commission takes action to maintain and expand European industrial capacities in the steel and metals sectors. The Action Plan on Steel and Metals is designed to strengthen the sector's competitiveness and safeguard the industry's future. The European steel industry is fundamental for European economy, providing inputs to critical sectors such as automotive, clean tech, and defence. A strong steel and metals industry in Europe is crucial to guarantee the EU's security in the current geopolitical context and to deliver on...

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