Asia and the EU

Latest news about Asia and the European Union

Asia and the EU

South Korean Kia posts record 2012 production in Slovakia — 10 January 2013, 14:18 CET

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said on Thursday that it had raised output by 15 percent at its Slovak plant last year, assembling 292,000 cars despite a gloomy outlook for the European Union -- its key export market.

EU 'dismayed' at Saudi beheading of Sri Lankan maid — 10 January 2013, 11:18 CET

The European Union expressed dismay Thursday that Saudi Arabia had beheaded a Sri Lankan maid convicted of murdering her employer's baby, despite repeated appeals for a stay of execution.

French shipyard lands billion-euro luxury liner deal — 28 December 2012, 15:53 CET

Officials hailed some rare good news for France's struggling economy on Friday after an ailing shipyard landed a billion-euro contract to build a luxury liner for a US cruise company.

Samsung drops injunction requests against Apple in Europe — 19 December 2012, 00:02 CET

South Korean tech giant Samsung is to drop a legal request to ban Apple products in five European countries but will maintain lawsuits for alleged patent infringement, a Samsung spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

EU urges quick trade talks after Japan vote — 17 December 2012, 18:50 CET

European Union president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday congratulated Japan's Shinzo Abe for his sweeping election win while urging the swift opening of trade talks.

EU trade agreement with Singapore — 16 December 2012, 18:44 CET

After more than two years of talks, the European Commission has concluded the negotiations for a free trade agreement with Singapore. The deal offers real opportunities for EU exporters in Singapore and sets new standards. It will level the playing field in Singapore and is a stepping stone to greater engagement across South-East Asia.

EU, Singapore agree on free-trade deal — 16 December 2012, 18:42 CET

The European Union said Sunday it had completed final negotiations on a free-trade deal with Singapore, the bloc's 13th-largest trading partner and home to more than 8,000 EU companies.

Sweden probes how its arms ended up in Myanmar — 12 December 2012, 11:58 CET

Sweden's export control agency said Wednesday it was investigating how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Myanmar soldiers in breach of European Union sanctions.

EU says North Korea missile launch would be 'provocative act' — 10 December 2012, 22:03 CET

EU foreign ministers said Monday that a planned missile launch by North Korea would be a "provocative act" in breach of UN resolutions and require an international response.

US petitions WTO over Argentina barriers — 06 December 2012, 17:07 CET

The United States filed a complaint against Argentina's trade barriers at the World Trade Organization Thursday, joining Japan and the European Union in an attack on Buenos Aires's import licensing rules.

South Korea's LG to appeal European fine for price-fixing — 06 December 2012, 11:08 CET

LG Electronics vowed on Thursday to appeal against a European Commission fine of nearly 500 million euros for price-fixing, calling the penalty unfair and discriminatory.

China, EU protect each others' asparagus and ham — 01 December 2012, 00:30 CET

Your "Dongshan Bai Lu Sun" asparagus for my "Prosciutto di Parma" ham: a deal between China and the European Union to protect each others' 10 famous foods came to fruition Friday.

Japan hails EU approval for free trade talks — 30 November 2012, 11:07 CET

Japan on Friday welcomed the green light given by the European Union to launching negotiations on a massive free trade deal between the two economies.

EU okays free trade talks with Japan while protecting cars — 29 November 2012, 18:15 CET

European Union trade ministers agreed Thursday to launch negotiations on a mega-sized free trade deal with Japan while pledging to safeguard Europe's struggling car makers.

US overtakes EU as China's top export market — 20 November 2012, 11:15 CET

China said Tuesday that the United States has overtaken the European Union as its biggest export market, as the continent's debt crisis has sent demand slumping.

China M&A activity in Europe increasing: study — 19 November 2012, 13:17 CET

Chinese merger and acquisition activity in Europe in the first quarter of 2012 surpassed that of European firms in China for the first time, a study has shown, highlighting China's growing global impact.

French minister hails EU duties on Chinese ceramics — 16 November 2012, 21:23 CET

French Industrial Renewal Minister Arnaud Montebourg hailed on Friday temporary European Union (EU) measures against Chinese ceramic imports, using a visit to this iconic city to warn EU partners against being "naive" on trade issues.

EU anti-subsidy investigation on solar panel imports from China — 08 November 2012, 13:46 CET

The European Commission has launched an anti-subsidy ("countervailing duty") investigation into imports of solar panels and their key components (i.e. solar cells and solar wafers) originating in China.

China imposes duties on steel tubes from EU, Japan — 08 November 2012, 12:49 CET

China said Thursday it was imposing duties on steel tube imports from the European Union and Japan as it concluded an investigation into products it says were sold at prices below market levels.

EU probes subsidies for Chinese solar panel makers — 08 November 2012, 17:39 CET

The European Commission opened a fresh probe into Chinese solar panel makers on Thursday, raising the heat in the latest tit-for-tat dispute between China and its Western trading partners.

Easier to work with second-term US president: Juncker — 07 November 2012, 10:38 CET

Europe will find it easier to work with a re-elected US president than with a new leader in Washington, the head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers said Wednesday.

Leaders praise Australia PM for sexism speech — 07 November 2012, 00:26 CET

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Wednesday that world leaders congratulated her at the Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos on her now famous misogyny speech, which went viral on the Internet.

Eurogroup head optimistic about Greece despite strike — 06 November 2012, 16:35 CET

The head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers said Tuesday he was "very optimistic" that Greece would be able to carry out austerity reforms despite a 48-hour strike called by enraged workers.

EU urges Greece to strike deal with creditors — 06 November 2012, 16:35 CET

European Union president Herman Van Rompuy urged Greece on Tuesday to reach an agreement with its troika of creditors so that it can receive a new financial lifeline.

Asia-Europe leaders warn on global economy — 06 November 2012, 13:02 CET

Asian and European leaders warned Tuesday of "substantial" uncertainties facing the global economy and pledged to work together to strengthen economic ties.