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Finbarr Bermingham

@fbermingham.bsky.social

8.2K followers 700 following 5.5K posts

Senior Correspondent for Europe at the South China Morning Post. Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics. All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 19d

NEW: Could the EU dust off its trade bazooka to take on China? Europe weighs its options

A serious discussion is underway in the commission about using the anti-coercion instrument against China - my report.

Could the EU dust off its trade bazooka to take on China?

Alarm bells have failed so the bloc is considering a weapon that it originally planned to fire at the US.

www.scmp.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 15h

Leaders of Grenada, Ethiopia, Colombia, DRC, Angola, South Africa, Cabo Verde & Mauritania are in Brussels for VDL's Global Gateway Forum

From Europe, as well as commission, PM of Luxembourg and deputy PMs of Poland and Belgium. As an EU diplomat told me today, not a great look!

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 16h

With all the many problems facing Europe, glad to see these MEPs are keeping their eye on the big picture 🙄

Parliament pushes for ‘veggie burger’ ban | Euractiv

Lawmakers back stricter labelling for meat alternatives

www.euractiv.com

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Reposted by Finbarr Bermingham

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 1d

I know this is uncomfortable to admit, but there is a small area in England's second city where people are just not integrated with the rest of society. Many of them hold views that arguably go against British values.

Yes, we need to talk about the Tory conference in Manchester.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 17h

But the Chinese also must have felt they didn't need to make concessions on trade because the EU would not execute on its threats to retaliate.

See the lack of response to rare earths weaponisation, or the retaliatory pork tariffs.

Rather than patch up, Beijing was emboldened.

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 17h

The logic is that the Chinese knew Europe would be more on the ropes vis-à-vis the US than they were, because Beijing did punch back and Trump backed down. So they didn't bother offering anything knowing Europe would be in a tight spot.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 17h

Hard not to conclude that this unwillingness to punch back has also defined the EU's relations with China this year.

Many expected a Trump inspired détente, but the anticipated Chinese charm offensive barely materialised.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 17h

This was very predictable. Juncker and co all came out early on saying the only way to deal with a bully is to punch back.

Given the Ukraine imperative, the EU really was in an impossible decision. But should they have punched back?

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 17h

The US is demanding the EU water down its landmark supply chain law and parts of its green legislation just months after agreeing a tariff pact to avoid an all-out transatlantic trade war

on.ft.com/3VX93nT

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

UK Crown Prosecution Service says that a case involving alleged Chinese espionage in parliament collapsed after the government refused to provide evidence that China was a threat to national security.

www.ft.com/content/4ea5...

Spying case collapsed after UK refused to label China a ‘threat’, prosecutors say

Crown Prosecution Service had charged two Britons with espionage offences

www.ft.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Finally getting around to finishing Borgen Power & Glory.

Chinese ambassador being summoned by Danish foreign minister over a Chinese military drone launched over Greenland from a Russian base is just 🤯

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Reposted by Finbarr Bermingham

Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

“How can we move from a reactive attitude to a proactive attitude, one where we are not just trying to protect ourselves against weaknesses, but where we are also leveraging our strength?”

Superb reporting from @fbermingham.bsky.social once again 3/3

www.scmp.com/news/china/a...

Europe hunts for chokepoints it can weaponise in a new age of economic warfare

Bureaucrats look for leverage against coercion from Beijing and Washington but what would it take for Brussels to act?

www.scmp.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

🙏🙏

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Asked if this is a "new era of protectionism"

Sejourne: "We don't like tariffs and tariff-led industrial policy... I don't think it's the commission being protectionist, it is the others which are closing off and we have to protect our own sovereignty, and our jobs."

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sejourne: "We will certainly be discussing safeguard measures" in industries where "the issue of overcapacity has come up"

"It's a question of justice for our industrialists."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sejourne mentions chemicals and other sectors in which Commission has done action plans

"There are various sectors facing the same difficulties, the chemical sector and all the sectors where we've had an action plan, where our respective departments and the European Commission have worked"

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"I want to assure everyone we are not taking this decision lightly. We are for free and fair trade. We are for balanced relationship. But if our economy is affected by global overcapacity, which is often funded by illegal subsidies or not transparent trade flows, then we have to act"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic hints more probes on the way against China!

"We are of course looking at other sectors that are most affected by trade volatility and if need be, we would be acting also in in other sectors."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefco asked if there will be more tariffs in non-security related tariffs (clothing) to counter Chinese dumping

He says the problem has been aggravated by Trump's tariffs and trade diversion related to that.

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefco:

"First and foremost, we are not closing our market with upfront 50% tariff. What we are doing is continuing to trade with our partners, with a very clear quota"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

@joebarnes.bsky.social gets a chuckle from Sefcovic for asking if the EU is being hypocritical for following Trump's approach on steel

"I respectfully disagree with your description of our measures because we proceeded in in different way than the US."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"The approach of the US is towards tackling global overcapacity and protecting the steel industry. I hope we are clearly pointing out that we are taking taking on the challenge of global overcapacities ourselves as well and that it would be much more efficient if we do it together"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Asked why the US has not yet been interested in setting up a steel alliance to counter Chinese overcapacity, Sefcovic:

"I think that's a very good question"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"The discussion was that we should ringfence our markets against global overcapacity.... we will, of course, inform our American partners about these measures, and I hope this would help us start the discussion on ringfencing"

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic say they're hoping these tariffs will open the door to a discussion on "ringfencing" with the US, so EU steelmakers can get lower tariffs in the US.

Sefcovic: "It is quite clear we are not each other's problem... we supply the US with highly specialised steel."

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Sefcovic:

"On top of this, third countries are closing off their markets. They are raising tariffs, introducing safeguards, while the EU market remains largely open and under intense import pressure."

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