PARIS -- After more than 20 years of negotiations, the 27-nation European Union and Mercosur — a South American trade bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia — are still trying to finalize a major trade agreement that is sparking protests by European farmers. A draft deal was announced in 2019 , but disagreements over environmental, economic and political issues are delaying its final approval. Here’s a look at the deal, why it matters, and challenges it faces: It aims to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering over 700 million people and nearly 25% of global GDP. Much like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, its goal is to reduce tariffs and trade barriers, making it easier for businesses on both sides to export goods. For the EU, the deal would mean lower tariffs on products like cars, machinery and chemicals. Mercosur countries would benefit from better access to EU markets for agricultural exports such as beef, poultry and sugar. Negotiations began in 1999 and an initial agreement was reached in 2019, but it remains unratified due to significant opposition, particularly from France. European farmers, especially in France, worry that an influx of South American products would saturate their markets, undercutting local agriculture. One year after a massive European farmers’ protest movement, another round of protests have erupted across the continent, with many claiming that reduced tariffs or duty-free quotas for South American products could be fatal for them. For example, 99,000 tons of beef would face a reduced tariff of just 7.5%, while 180,000 tons of poultry would enter duty-free. According to the European Commission, this accounts for less than 2% of the EU’s annual beef consumption. Livestock farmers argue they cannot compete with South American producers, who benefit from lower labor costs, larger farms and less stringent regulations on practices such as the use of growth hormones compared to EU standards. In October, a European Commission audit found that Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of beef, cannot guarantee that its exports to the EU are free of the growth hormone “oestradiol 17-β,” which has been banned in Europe for decades. Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal are among EU countries pushing for the deal to be finalized by year's end. Germany, in particular, sees Mercosur as a key market for its automakers. In South America, leaders like Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva view the agreement as a boost for regional trade and economic growth. Countries like Uruguay and Paraguay also support the deal, hoping to diversify their trade partners and reduce reliance on China. Argentina’s President Javier Milei has also backed it, signaling a shift from his predecessor’s skepticism. The deal is also backed by industries in both regions. European carmakers and pharmaceutical companies see it as a way to access Mercosur’s growing markets. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has also expressed strong support, calling it “an agreement of great economic and strategic importance” — despite opposition from certain EU member states. France, with the biggest agriculture sector in Europe, has led opposition within the EU, along with Poland, Austria and the Netherlands. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for stronger environmental and labor standards, stating that “France would not sign the deal as is." France has also requested that the European Commission renegotiate the text, particularly by incorporating “mirror clauses,” which would impose identical standards on products traded between the two blocs. However, France’s ability to block the deal is limited, as trade talks fall under the authority of the European Commission, which negotiates for the 27 member states. Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have also criticized the deal, warning it could accelerate deforestation in the Amazon and increase the use of harmful pesticides. The Mercosur summit on Dec. 5-6 in Uruguay could be a key moment for the deal. However, even if the agreement is signed, it must be ratified by all 27 EU member states, the European Parliament and all member states’ national parliaments before taking effect. This would give France a chance to veto it. To speed up and make approval easier, the European Commission is considering splitting the deal into two parts: a broader cooperation agreement and a trade-focused agreement. The latter would only require a majority vote under EU rules, bypassing the need for unanimous approval. Under this plan, France would lose its veto power unless it can gather enough support to form a blocking minority. While countries like Poland and Austria have raised objections, their combined influence falls short of the threshold needed to halt the deal.WASHINGTON — Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.'” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.’s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
Hronsky scores 13 as Duquesne defeats Old Dominion 67-54As the star of the scathing documentary "Religulous" — "religious" plus "ridiculous" — Bill Maher has never hidden his agnostic views about faith. But that doesn't mean the stand-up comic doubts the reality of evil. Consider his blistering comment on smartphones, drawn from his "Real Time" talk show earlier this year. Far too many people think "they don't need reality," Maher told social psychologist Jonathan Haidt of New York University, author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness." "We've made reality obsolete — interesting choice," said Maher. "Parents today, it's kind of the worst of both worlds. Too much hovering in real life, where there is any left, and then none with virtual. You go in your room, lock yourself in there with the portal of evil that is the phone. ... I feel like parents, in each generation, ceded more control to children." In response, Haidt — a self-avowed Jewish atheist — stressed that modern life continues to eat away at the traditions of the past. "As life gets easier, as people get wealthier, as we move away from the old days, authority tends to decay — there tends to be less respect for authority, less respect for the old ways," said Haidt. "Kids need structure, they need moral rules. ... When it seems as though anything is permissible, it doesn't make people happy. It makes them feel disoriented and lost." Maher has made it clear that he is "not a tech enthusiast," noted Emily Harrison, in her "Dear Christian Parent" Substack newsletter. But the shocker in that HBO exchange was his claim that smartphones serve as a "portal of evil" in daily life. "Wait. What? ... Yes, smartphones can do lots of great things but they also have made the proliferation of pornography mind boggling (sic.) large," wrote Harrison. After all, five years ago, PornHub already was reporting 115 million visits "per day with smartphones accounting for almost 84% of their online traffic. So, is the smartphone a 'portal of evil'? Yeah, I'd say so." Here is the question that haunts Harrison: Why haven't more religious leaders been willing to address the scary trends linked to smartphone abuse in the urgent, even fiery language used by secular figures such as Haidt and Maher? "I think many church people don't want to hurt the feelings of people — to shame them, even. ... We don't want to say, 'It's a mistake to give these devices to children.' We don't want to say that smartphones are dangerous to young people — even if the evidence clearly shows that is true," said Harrison, reached by telephone days before speaking at Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Nov. 21 "Reclaiming Childhood" summit on mental health issues. "As believers, we don't want to say things that make people walk away feeling sad, and our pastors certainly don't want to make people mad," she added. "It's like we don't have enough faith to trust that telling them the truth could help them in the long run." In her newsletters, Harrison has pointed readers to the waves of statistics used by Haidt and other activists. For example, the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that since 2010 — when smartphones entered public life — anxiety has risen 52% among people ages 35-49, 103% among those 26-34 and 139% among those 18-25. An American College Health Association survey found between 2010 and 2020 anxiety rose 134%, depression 106%, anorexia 100% and substance abuse 33%. Also, the diagnosis of ADHD cases rose 72%, schizophrenia 67% and bipolar disorder 57%. It's time, said Harrison, for pastors to urge worshippers to turn off their smartphones on Sunday, and maybe even consider asking them to bring a copy of the Bible, as opposed to a phone app, to church. More parents need to support schools with "bell-to-bell" policies against the use of smartphones. Finally, she believes religious leaders should urge parents to stop giving smartphones to their children under the age of 18. "The whole 'give your kid a smartphone and tell them to stay off TikTok and Instagram' approach just isn't working," said Harrison. "Parents need to say the hard truths out loud and have faith that their kids will be grateful sooner or later."
Former president Jimmy Carter was ahead of his time as climate trailblazer
OpenAI is aiming to reach 1 billion users by 2025 as it rolls out new artificial intelligence products, builds its own data centres, and strengthens its partnership with Apple. The San Francisco-based company, known for its ChatGPT chatbot with 250 million weekly active users, plans to introduce AI “agents,” a proprietary AI-powered search engine, and deepen integration of ChatGPT with Apple devices. “We are coming into our own as a research lab serving millions and aiming for billions of consumers worldwide,” Financial Times cited Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s chief financial officer, as saying. The company recently raised more than $6 billion in funding at a valuation of $150 billion, making it the highest-valued startup in Silicon Valley’s history. Friar said OpenAI plans to continue raising both equity and debt to fuel its growth, including constructing data centres in the US Midwest and Southwest. “We’re in a massive growth phase,” she said, adding that advancing AI models remains a costly endeavour. Expanding AI reach OpenAI’s strategy includes launching “agents” — advanced chatbot-like assistants that perform web tasks, such as booking services or gathering information. Friar said 2025 could see the first highly successful agents helping users with everyday needs. Integration with Apple devices, which began last month in the US, is expected to significantly boost user numbers. A venture capital investor said OpenAI could quickly reach its goal of 1 billion users, using Apple’s global base of 2 billion iPhones. “If you get to that threshold, you’re competing with Google and Facebook,” the investor said. OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit business has seen the company expand its headcount to more than 2,000 employees and focus on monetising AI products to offset costs exceeding $5 billion annually. Navigating political hurdles OpenAI’s growth comes as it navigates a politically charged environment. Chris Lehane, the company’s policy chief and a veteran political strategist, is engaging with US policymakers to position OpenAI as a leader in “democratic” AI, countering Chinese-led technological advancements. Lehane said the company has been in discussions with the incoming Trump administration about AI’s role in national security and economic competitiveness. While tensions with former co-founder Elon Musk persist — including a lawsuit filed by Musk accusing OpenAI of deceit — Lehane stressed alignment with federal priorities on AI leadership.Pinstripes Reports Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter ResultsDaniel Penny doesn’t testify as his defense rests in subway chokehold trialArkansas DE Landon Jackson carted off field and taken to hospital with neck injury
An English couple revealed that they saved over $10,000 on kitchen renovation, after watching DIY videos on TikTok. Amber Morris and her husband, Dan, moved into their recently purchased four-bedroom home in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, in July. Built in 2002, the property needed “a refresh,” and the couple decided to begin by brightening and modernizing the kitchen. However, after receiving a $11,000 quote from contractors to renovate their kitchen, they decided to tackle the project themselves. Dan, a systems engineer, and Amber, a social media manager, opted for a budget-friendly alternative by purchasing $50 vinyl wraps for their countertops instead of replacing them entirely. The couple transformed the space themselves, using a $50 spray gun purchased on Amazon to repaint everything and personally installing a new sink, tap, and extractor fan. By mixing a custom paint shade at B&Q inspired by a Farrow & Ball color they liked, they saved $105. The entire kitchen renovation cost just $713, resulting in a stunning makeover with a bright and airy new look. Amber said: “We knew we wanted to make the kitchen brighter because it was quite dark. But $11K was silly money to pay for it — so we decided to do it ourselves even though we’re desk job people, not DIY people.” To prepare, they turned to TikTok tutorials and sought advice from their parents to learn the basics. “Before this, the most we had ever done was painted a wall,” Amber explained. “We worked out what we needed to buy to do it ourselves and crossed our fingers it would come together.” The pair kicked off their mid-July renovation project by dedicating a weekend to painting the walls and using a spray gun to repaint the cupboards. They spent $375 on a sink and taps to achieve a specific style but opted to install them themselves to save on costs. Related: The end result was a beautifully transformed, lighter and brighter kitchen space for the couple and their dog, Emmy.By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? National Politics | Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump’s mass deportation effort The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.PayMongo, a leading digital financial service for Filipino entrepreneurs, and Lazada Philippines, the country’s pioneer e-commerce platform, launched a partnership to integrate QR Ph, a digital payment option that enables customers to pay seamlessly and securely through QR codes. This new feature on the Lazada app, powered by PayMongo, offers Filipino shoppers a fast and convenient way to complete their purchases online. With the addition of QR Ph, Lazada continues to enhance customers’ shopping experiences while offering merchants a trusted solution for handling digital transactions. The partnership between Lazada and PayMongo demonstrates a shared commitment to promoting cashless payments and strengthening the country’s digital payments ecosystem. With PayMongo’s trusted financial infrastructure, the integration of QR Ph allows Lazada to streamline payment processing for its merchants, offering them a secure and reliable option to provide to their customers. This ensures smooth, efficient transactions that enhance the shopping experience and merchant operations. “We are excited to collaborate with Lazada on QR Ph, helping to drive the next wave of digital payments,” said PayMongo CEO PayMongo Jojo Malolos. “This partnership reflects our mission to make payments simpler, safer, and more inclusive for both merchants and consumers. Together, we’re helping more Filipinos participate in the digital economy, one transaction at a time,” Malolos added. Meanwhile, Lazada Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera shared, “We are always looking for ways to leverage technology to give our customers the best experience whenever they use Lazada.” “QR Ph is the latest offering in our suite of payment solutions, giving our users more options and making it easier for them to adopt digital payment methods,” he added. By integrating QR Ph payments, Lazada and PayMongo are paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative digital commerce landscape. As more consumers and merchants embrace digital payments, this partnership is set to play a vital role in strengthening the foundation of the Philippine economy—where convenience, security, and progress converge. Being business-savvy should be fun, attainable and A+. BMPlus is BusinessMirror's digital arm with practical tips & success stories for aspiring and thriving millennial entrepreneurs.
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.