Transatlantic News

Transatlantic News
03
Sep
The Council today gave its final approval for an ambitious overhaul of the EU customs framework – the most comprehensive reform of its kind in decades.
The updated legislation gives the Union a more modern toolbox and innovative new instruments to better facilitate global trade, especially in e-commerce, collect customs duties more efficiently and tighten controls on non-compliant, dangerous or unsafe goods.
Managing the rise of e-commerce
The updated union customs code clarifies that non-EU e-commerce platforms will be considered the goods’ importer when selling into the EU and are therefore responsible for ensuring...
02
Sep
G20 merchandise trade accelerated in Q2 2026. Measured in current US dollars, quarter-on-quarter import growth rose markedly to 6.7%, from the 5.2% growth recorded in the previous quarter, reflecting strong increases in a number of G20 economies. G20 merchandise exports growth remained broadly flat at 5.9%. Preliminary estimates also point to an acceleration in services trade, with exports rising by 3.4% and imports by 2.5%, as compared to 2.0% and 1.5% respectively in Q1 2026 (Figures 1 and 3).1
In...
02
Sep
Asheville, N.C., United States: International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivered the following remarks at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina:
“I would like to thank the Government of the United States for hosting this week’s G20 meeting, and Secretary Bessent and Chairman Warsh for their leadership in delivering a focused discussion on key global economic priorities.
During our discussions, there was a strong convergence of views around the importance of lifting potential growth...
01
Sep
Today, the Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE), as well as Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), under the Digital Services Act (DSA). These services declared that they reach at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU and thus meet the threshold for designation.
Following the notification of the designations, these services have four months, i.e. by January 2027, to comply with the additional DSA obligations for VLOPs and VLOSEs, such...
27
Aug
Blog | In a world of frequent shocks, central bank communications should anchor expectations by explaining how policy responds to changing conditions, rather than committing to a fixed path.
In a world of frequent and faster-moving shocks, where uncertainty is high and markets react instantly, central banks face a fundamental communications challenge: how to help the public understand monetary policy objectives while explaining how policy may evolve as economic conditions change. In this regard, explaining the policy framework, the reaction...
26
Aug
Once I was elected President of the European Council, I decided to visit each member state every year, to meet bilaterally with each European leader. These exchanges are first and foremost an opportunity to listen: to remain closely attuned to the concerns, priorities and expectations of the members of the European Council, and of the citizens they represent. They also allow me to share my perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead for our union. These visits take place...
24
Aug
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth in the OECD area increased slightly to 0.5% in Q2 2026, up from 0.4% in the previous quarter, according to provisional estimates (Figure 1). This reflected a mixed picture across the 30 OECD countries for which data were available. In Q2 2026, 27 countries recorded growth, but at varying rates, while 3 saw no change in GDP.
GDP growth in the G7 slowed to 0.3% in Q2 2026, down from 0.4% in Q1, reflecting slower...
20
Aug
€3.9 bn surplus for EU
Euro area
The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €8.6 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in June 2026, compared with + €4.8 bn in June 2025.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in June 2026 were €272.5 billion, an increase of 14.4% compared with June 2025 (€238.2 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €264.0 bn, a rise of 13.1% compared with June 2025...