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India stalls trade action on spirits duties
- India on Wednesday (11 April) temporarily blocked a request from the EU for the World Trade Organization to convene a dispute settlement panel to rule on the legality of India’s high import duties for wine and spirits. The EU is expected to make a second attempt within a month, which India will not be able to stop.
Chemicals cargo cartel under spotlight
- The Commission confirmed on Wednesday that it had sent formal charges to shipping companies alleged to have takenpart in a cartel for the bulk transport of chemicals. The legal move follows raids on some companies in February 2003. Norwegian shipper Odfjell Seachem and Dutch company Jo Tankers confirmed they had received statements of objections. Tokyo Marine was also raided in 2003 and Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group said then that it had been offered immunity. The companies have two months to respond.
Roaming rules ‘within reach’, says Reding
- On the eve of a vote at the European Parliament’s industry, research and energy committee today (12 April), Viviane Reding (right), the European commissioner for the information society, said that a political agreement on cutting charges for mobile phone calls abroad was "within reach". The industry committee is the last and most important committee to express its opinion. A vote by all MEPs is scheduled for May.
Poles in driving seat for Carrefour deal
- The Commission has agreed to a request from the Polish competition authority to be given responsibility for assessing the takeover of Ahold Polska, a Polish supermarket chain, by the French company Carrefour.
UK Finance Minister Gordon Brown is renowned in Brussels for not turning up to meetings with his EU counterparts.
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