EU To Scrap Tariffs On US Goods To Pave Way For Lower Car Duties

Winkelmann

Economic

Forex

Political

Summary:

BRUSSELS (Aug 28): The European Commission proposed on Thursday removing duties on imported US industrial goods in return for re

The European Commission proposed on Thursday removing duties on imported US industrial goods in return for reduced US tariffs on European cars, a key part of the trade agreement the EU and the US struck last month.The proposals mark the EU's first step in enacting the framework agreement between US President Donald Trump and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 27, which saw the EU accept a broad 15% tariff to avoid a damaging trade war.

The US agreed to reduce its tariffs on cars built in the EU to 15% from 27.5% from the first day of the month in which the EU's legislative proposal was presented — meaning now from Aug 1.The agreement ended conflict between the world's two largest trading and investment partners, although it is an asymmetric deal, with Brussels required to cut its duties and buy more US energy products while Washington retains tariffs on 70% of EU exports.

Trump has periodically railed against the EU, saying in February that it was "formed to screw the United States" and has been critical of the US merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 amounted to US$235 billion (RM990.99 billion).

EU governments have broadly said they accept the deal as the lesser of evils, mindful that Trump was otherwise set to impose 30% tariffs on almost all imported EU goods.The impact of removing industrial goods tariffs may in fact be modest, with two-thirds already tariff-free. The average EU rate for US goods is 1.35%, according to economic think tank Bruegel, although the EU does charge 10% for cars.The EU proposals also include farm produce concessions, such as zero tariffs on potatoes, reduced rates for tomatoes and quotas with zero or low tariffs for pork, cocoa and pizza.

It has excluded beef, poultry, rice and ethanol.

"We are protecting our defensive interests there. What we are giving are commitments that are certainly meaningful, but at the same time, I would observe that are not very costly for us today," a Commission official said, adding that other G7 countries had already liberalised trade with the EU.

The EU's legislative proposal will need to be approved by a majority of the EU's 27 members and by the European Parliament, which could take several weeks.Proponents of the deal recognise that increased US tariffs remain, but point to a unique arrangement for the European Union whereby pre-existing US duties, such as 2.5% for cars and up to 20% for cheeses, are not added to the broad 15% rate.Some products, including aircraft, cork and generic drugs are exempt from the 15% tariff, but steel, aluminium and copper are stuck at 50%.The agreement makes little mention of digital services. However, Trump on Monday threatened additional tariffs on all countries with digital taxes or regulations.

Source: Theedgemarkets

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Damon

Economic

U.S. consumer spending increased by the most in four months in July while services inflation picked up, but economists did not believe the signs of strong domestic demand would prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates next month against a backdrop of softening labor market conditions.

The report from the Commerce Department on Friday showed mild price pressures fromtariffson imports. Economists said the import duties have been slow to feed through to inflation as businesses are selling stocks accumulated before PresidentDonald Trump'ssweeping duties kicked in. Businesses have also been absorbing some of the costs.

"Sticky service sector inflation all point towards a difficult September policy decision in which we expect the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose 0.5% last month after an upwardly revised 0.4% gain in June, according to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast spending would rise 0.5% after a previously reported 0.3% advance in June.

Motor vehicle purchases led the broad increase in sales, helping to lift outlays on long-lasting manufactured goods by 1.9%. There were also increases in spending on recreational goods and vehicles, clothing and footwear as well as furnishings and durable household equipment. Spending on food and beverages jumped. But outlays on gasoline and other energy goods declined.

Overall spending on goods increased 0.8% after rebounding 0.3% in June. Outlays on services rose 0.4%, matching June's gain, and were lifted by financial services and insurance, healthcare as well as housing and utilities. Spending at restaurants and bars as well as on hotel and motel rooms fell.

Consumption is being supported by low layoffs that are underpinning solid wage growth. Wages increased 0.6% last month, but rising operating costs because of tariffs have left employers reluctant to increase headcount.

Employment gains have averaged 35,000 jobs per month over the last three months through July compared to 123,000 during the same period in 2024, the government reported this month.

A survey from the Conference Board on Tuesday showed the share of consumers viewing jobs as "hard to get" jumped to a 4-1/2-year high in August. Fed Chair Jerome Powell last week signaled a possible rate cut at the U.S. central bank's September 16-17 policy meeting, in a nod to increasing labor market risks, but also added that inflation remained a threat.

The Fed has kept its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 4.25%-4.50% range since December.

IMPORTS SURGE

Economists anticipate inflation will start rising in the second half of the year due to rising business costs and an inventory drawdown in the second quarter. Companies from retailers to motor vehicle manufacturers have warned that tariffs are raising their costs, which economists expect will eventually be passed on to consumers.

The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index increased 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.3% rise in June, the BEA said. Goods prices fell 0.1%, pulled down by a 1.7% drop in the costs of gasoline and other energy goods. Recreational goods and vehicles declined 0.9%.

In the 12 months through July, the PCE Price Index rose 2.6%, matching the gain in June.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE Price Index increased 0.3% last month, matching the rise in June. Services prices increased 0.3%, the most since February, after rising 0.2% for four straight months. It was fueled by a 1.2% jump in the costs of financial services and insurance.

In the 12 months through July, the so-called core inflation figure advanced 2.9%. That was the largest rise in core PCE inflation since February and followed a 2.8% increase in June. The Fed tracks the PCE price measures for its 2% inflation target.

The solid consumer spending bodes well for economic growth in the third quarter. But the strong demand is pulling in imports, which could blunt some of the boost to gross domestic product from consumer spending.

A separate report from the Commerce Department's Census Bureau showed the goods trade deficit soared 22.1% to $103.6 billion last month as imports jumped $18.6 billion to $281.5 billion. Goods exports dipped $0.1 billion to $178.0 billion.

An ebb in import flows led to a sharp contraction in the trade deficit in the second quarter, which added a record 4.95 percentage points to GDP growth that period.

The economy grew at a 3.3% annualized rate last quarter. GDP contracted at a 0.5% rate in the January-March quarter, weighed down by a sharp deterioration in the trade deficit that was driven by businesses front-running imports at a record pace as tariffs kicked in.

Source: TradingView

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Warren Takunda

Economic

Confidence among UK businesses has grown despite anxiety about the state of the economy, in a rare slice of positive news for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the run-up to her autumn budget.

An August poll of UK companies by Lloyds Bank showed that improved sentiment among manufacturers and retailers helped push overall optimism within UK plc up by two percentage points, with 54% of companies now feeling confident in the current environment.

It marked the fourth consecutive monthly increase in overall business sentiment, according to the Lloyds business barometer, driven by a growing number of businesses – roughly 63% – feeling strong about their own trading prospects. On that measurement alone, confidence reached its highest level since 2014.

About half of all businesses now expect to hire more staff in the coming year despite growing costs. The survey found 38% of companies are expecting to have to raise wages by 3% or more, with the vast majority – 83% – saying that higher employment-related costs would have a limited impact on hiring plans.

Overall optimism across the private sector comes despite jitters over the state of the economy, with levels of positive sentiment falling for the first time since the drop seen in April, when Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements prompted fears over the future of global trade. Economic confidence fell three points to 44% this month, Lloyds said, although that remained above the longer-term average of 19%.

However, the fact that business confidence continues to rise amid the economic gloom will be a rare piece of good news for the chancellor, given fears that a fresh round of tax increases – meant to bolster the public finances – could knock confidence and investment across the private sector as companies try to recoup and offset costs. Reeves is expected to announce a date for her autumn budget within days.

“This continued upward trend in business confidence suggests UK firms remain optimistic about their own trading prospects while there is a modest cooling of confidence in the wider UK economy,” Hann-Ju Ho, a senior economist at Lloyds Bank’s commercial banking arm, said. “Firms are focusing on what they can control, with many looking to pursue growth opportunities, including entering new markets and adopting new technologies.

“Wage expectations have seen a notable shift this month, but it remains to be seen whether this signals the start of a sustained trend or a temporary uplift, as they have been broadly stable in recent months.”

Source: Theguardian

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Adam

Commodity

Even though gold prices have posted outsized gains over the last couple of years, gold bull markets often last many years once they get going, and with a strong chance of U.S. stagflation on the near-term horizon, investors have no reason to reduce their positions, according to Ian Samson, multi-asset portfolio manager at Fidelity International.

Samson wrote in a research note that gold has earned its popularity among investors.

“It was one of the best performing assets in our portfolios last year, rising 27%, and it’s already up another 28% this year (to 25 August),” he noted. “Despite this, bullish environments for gold can run strongly for many years. Gold continues to provide diversification even when bonds do not, maintains an ultimate ‘safe haven’ status, offers protection against inflation and loose economic policies, and benefits from structural trends.”

Samson said Fidelity’s base case calls for “a US slowdown or even stagflationary environment” in the coming months, and the financial giant is retaining their positive outlook for gold prices. “The Federal Reserve is set to lower interest rates, despite inflation still around 3%, and with tariffs likely to keep prices elevated,” he wrote. “The tariff hit and a slowing labour supply will also lead to a weak growth environment.”

“This mix of falling interest rates, sticky inflation, and subdued growth should all bolster gold,” Samson said. “It should lead to a subdued US dollar, which is gold’s main competitor as a safe haven and store of value. We have never seen this scale of uncertainty and change around tariff policy, and the effects are yet to dissipate. Gold’s status as the ultimate ‘safe haven’ leaves it well placed for any further surprises.”

“In addition, the unrelenting size of the US budget deficit raises concerns about monetary debasement, which further boosts the long-term case for gold,” he added.

Samson said the structural argument for gold investment also remains strong. “Foreign reserve managers are still buying, and global gold ETF holdings continue to increase,” he said. “Multiple countries, including China, India, and Turkey are structurally increasing their holdings of gold, in a bid to diversify exposure away from the US dollar. Gold has long been a store of value and a diversifier, without the credit risk associated with paper currency reserves. More broadly, gold supply is very constrained, meaning even a small increase in portfolio holdings could move the dial. For instance, if foreign investors decide to move some of the 57 trillion US dollars they currently hold in US assets, gold is a likely beneficiary.”

Samson said that Fidelity International remains “happy to hold gold in our well-diversified multi-asset portfolios.”

“For much of the year this had been through a combination of passive instruments that track the gold price directly, and through a selection of gold miner equities,” he added. “The latter has outperformed in the last few months and we have taken the opportunity to book some profits, but retain exposure to the gold price.”

Gold is still holding comfortably above the $3,400 level on Thursday afternoon after hitting a session high of $3,423.18 per ounce just before 4 pm EDT.

Looming U.S. stagflation and gold’s record of multi-year bull runs mean there’s still plenty of price upside – Fidelity’s Samson_1

Spot gold last traded at $3,419.82 per ounce for a gain of 0.65% on the daily chart.

Source: kitco

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Michelle

Economic

Forex

US consumer sentiment declined to a three-month low as tariff-related concerns about the economic outlook and inflation persisted.

The final August sentiment index fell to 58.2 from 61.7 a month earlier, according to a University of Michigan survey released Friday. The preliminary reading was 58.6.

Consumers expect prices to rise at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next year, up from 4.5% last month, data released Friday showed. They saw costs rising at an annual rate of 3.5% over the next five to 10 years. That marked an improvement from the 3.9% seen in the preliminary survey earlier this month.

The figures underscore consumers’ anxiety about employment prospects and business conditions. About 63% of consumers expect unemployment to rise in the year ahead, an increase from the prior month and well above the same month in 2024. The August jobs report next week is projected to show employment growth remained moderate for another month.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Thursday said he would support an interest-rate cut in September and anticipates additional easing over the next six months to help bolster job prospects.

Unease about employment and household finances risks causing consumers, the primary source of economic growth, to pull back.

“Buying conditions for major purchases like durable goods and vehicles both worsened this month,’’ Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in a statement. “Growing shares of consumers mentioned high prices as well as tax/tariff considerations as factors weighing on buying conditions for cars in particular.”

However, government data released earlier on Friday showed consumer spending in July rose by the most in four months, boosted by income growth.

That report also highlighted the impact of price pressures on consumer sentiment. The so-called core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, ticked up to 2.9% on an annual basis, the most since February.

The university's sentiment survey showed the expectations index dropped to a three-month low of 55.9 -- worse than the preliminary reading of 57.2. The current conditions gauge also fell from a month earlier, to 61.7.

The survey was conducted July 29 to Aug. 25.

Source: Bloomberg Europe

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Adam

Economic

The big story

Picture this: you’re at a dinner party with three friends who are struggling to get along. One is picking fights with everyone, another is slipping you secret notes under the table, and the third is that old frenemy you’d rather avoid but can’t ignore. Awkward, right?

That is where India finds itself. Washington is piling on tariffs, Moscow is keeping India’s energy bills in check with cheap oil, and Beijing, despite a bruised relationship, is preparing to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi with open arms at the SCO summit in China this week. India’s juggling act on the world stage has never looked more complicated, or more consequential.

Trade with the U.S. has become a flashpoint. Washington has imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on imports from India, followed by another 25% penalty tied to India’s Russian oil purchases. That leaves duties on some Indian exports as high as 50%. The U.S. is India’s single largest export market, worth about $87 billion a year, nearly a fifth of its total merchandise trade. Key Indian sectors such as diamonds, garments and seafood are especially exposed.

Think of what that means on the ground. Diamond polishers in Gujarat, garment workers in Tirupur, and seafood processors in Kerala all depend on U.S. orders. Electronics and pharma are spared for now, but other sectors — which employ millions — are suddenly exposed.

The tariff fight comes even as the two countries deepen strategic ties. On a number of fronts, the U.S. and India are cooperating; the two countries are expanding defense cooperation, for instance, working together in the Quad, and advancing semiconductor supply chain talks.

Major U.S. firms, including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, have increased their investments in India in recent years. Yet trade frictions complicate the relationship, raising the question in Delhi: does Washington view India as a true partner, or simply another trading problem to manage?

Now, let’s turn to Russia. India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer, burning through more than 5 million barrels a day, so cheap energy isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. In 2021, just 1% of India’s crude came from Russia. Today it’s more than 35%, around 1.75 million barrels a day, saving Delhi over $17 billion since early 2022, according to analyst estimates. Those discounts have kept inflation in check and given Modi breathing space at home.

But there’s a second layer here. India is walking a geopolitical tightrope, with Pakistan tensions threatening to boil over. In that context, Russia is a vital security partner and central to India’s defense procurement, making it difficult for Delhi to pull away without weakening its security posture.

The catch? Washington isn’t impressed. U.S. officials including Peter Navarro and Scott Bessent argue Delhi is “profiteering” by paying above the G7′s $60 price cap on Russian oil and exporting refined fuels back to Europe.

Then comes Beijing, which represents perhaps the trickiest relationship of all. Modi is preparing for his first trip to China in more than seven years, where he will meet President Xi Jinping and stand alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Beijing says the event is a display of solidarity, tensions between India and China remain unresolved.

Border clashes in 2020 killed at least 20 Indian soldiers, prompting a freeze in high-level engagement. Since then, India has banned hundreds of Chinese apps, tightened foreign investment rules, and promoted self-reliance in key sectors. Yet trade between the two countries still hit $118 billion last year, with India importing far more than it exports. This imbalance frustrates Delhi but also underscores why cutting ties is not realistic.

Analysts say Modi is unlikely to secure a major breakthrough when he visits Tianjin. But showing up is a signal in itself — that India is willing to keep lines of communication open, even while deepening defense ties with Washington and buying cheap oil from Moscow.

Step back, and India’s position looks clearer. The U.S. is its biggest customer but also its harshest critic. Russia keeps the lights on, but at a political cost. China is the rival next door, yet too big to ignore. Delhi calls its approach “strategic autonomy.” It has worked for decades, but today the balancing act is under more pressure than ever.

Which brings us back to that dinner party. India wants all three guests to remain seated, however awkward the conversation may be. The real test is whether Modi can stop someone from banging the table, throwing down their fork, and storming out.

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Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser and Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said that a deal between the U.S. and India is “still very much possible” as the South Asian country puts forth substantial sweeteners.

Arnab Mitra, India consumer analyst at Goldman Sachs, said there could be a mass consumption revival in India driven by rural demand and upcoming GST reforms.

Meera Shankar, former Indian ambassador to the U.S., said India will not be able to entirely open up its agricultural sector because of domestic political sensitivities.

Need to know

Trade negotiations between India and the U.S. still ongoing. India’s Foreign Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India has “some redlines in the negotiations, to be maintained and defended.” He added that “it is our right to make decisions in our ‘national interest’.”

India and Russia reaffirm plans to boost bilateral trade. The two countries have vowed to expand their trade ties in a move indicating that U.S. President Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs on New Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil are unlikely to impact their partnership.

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor urges India to reassess Russian oil purchases. Raghuram Rajan said that Trump’s hefty tariffs send New Delhi a clear “wake-up call” to reduce its dependence on a single trading partner. He added that it is now important for India to “ask who benefits and who is hurt.”

In the markets

Indian markets fell Thursday, after a holiday the day before. It marked the first session since the additional 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. kicked in on Wednesday.

The benchmark Nifty 50 was down 0.85%, while the BSE Sensex index fell 0.87%. The 50-stock Nifty 50 has risen over 3% since the start of the year, while the BSE Sensex is up 2%.

The benchmark 10-year Indian government bond yield fell to 6.58%.

Source: cnbc

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Glendon

Political

Middle East Situation

Israel's military stepped up armed operations around Gaza City on Friday, ending temporary pauses there that had allowed for aid deliveries, as it announced the recovery of the body of Ilan Weiss, a hostage seized by Hamas.

Israel is pushing ahead with a plan to take full control of the whole Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, with the goal of destroying Hamas after nearly 23 months of war, while facing a global outcry over starvation in the besieged enclave.

"The local tactical pause in military activity will not apply to the area of Gaza City, which constitutes a dangerous combat zone," the Israeli military said.

The assault on Gaza City has gradually intensified over the past week as Israel has urged civilians to leave for the south of the Palestinian enclave.

The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said the military was operating with great intensity on the outskirts of Gaza City and would "deepen our strikes" as it pressed its assault.

It announced daily 10-hour tactical pauses in fighting across the enclave and new aid corridors in late July, after months of severely restricted humanitarian deliveries as images of emaciated children drew international criticism.

Last week the global hunger monitor that works with the United Nations and major aid agencies said it had determined there was famine in Gaza. Israel has rejected that determination.

Five people, including two children, died from malnutrition and starvation in Gaza over the previous 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths from such cases to 322 since the start of the war.

Israeli fire across the besieged Palestinian enclave killed 48 people on Friday, local health authorities said.

Reuters video showed a line of bodies in white bags lying outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City early on Friday as relatives sat crying nearby. One man cradled a much smaller body, one hand held across his face.

"What is the reason? Why did they strike them? Let them tell us, what did they do while they were sleeping? What did a three-year-old child do?" said Manal Sahweil, a relative of people killed in an airstrike.

The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, when gunmen stormed border defences, killing around 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies and seizing about 250 hostages.

Israeli forces recovered the body of Weiss as well as the remains of a second individual whose identity had yet to be cleared for publication, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

An Israeli military official said Weiss was killed on October 7, 2023, and taken from his home by Hamas fighters. His death was determined on December 3, 2023, the official said.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 63,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.