About: USA
US cannot ‘take lightly’ threat Russia could use nuclear weapons – CIA chief
The threat of Russia potentially using tactical or low-yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine cannot be taken lightly, but the CIA has not seen a lot of practical evidence reinforcing that concern, CIA Director William Burns said on Thursday (14 April).
Is transatlantic trade back on the table?
As the Russian invasion is forcing the EU to cut many of the economic ties it still has with Russia, the US under president Biden are presenting themselves as the obvious partner for the future.
US pressure drives 18 European companies away from Nord Stream 2
The US government is confident its sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany will have an impact. In a document obtained by EURACTIV Germany, the State Department lists 18 European companies that have already ended their cooperation with the project. EURACTIV Germany reports.
As US formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, eyes turn to 2030 emissions goal
Thirty days after Joe Biden entered the White House, the US is officially back in the Paris Agreement. EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News reports.
US plans to end fossil fuel finance overseas, mirroring EU
US President Joe Biden has pledged to end public funding of ‘carbon-intensive’ fossil fuel projects overseas, bringing America in line with EU plans. However, the wording may leave the door open to gas, writes EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News.
MEPs back natural gas as a ‘bridge’ to 100% renewable hydrogen
Gas should be used as a bridging solution to produce hydrogen before green varieties made from renewable electricity become commercially available, according to a motion adopted in the European Parliament's environment committee.
Spain’s new Google and Tobin taxes to generate about €1 billion this year
Spain’s new taxes on digital and financial services, approved last year, came into force on Saturday (16 January). The first collection is expected in March or April, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Nord Stream 2: Europe stays quiet while US ‘tramples over EU sovereignty’
With the recent adoption of its defence budget for 2021, the US has further tightened the screw on Nord Stream 2, threatening sanctions on EU companies involved in the Russian-backed pipeline and putting the future of the project further into uncertainty. EURACTIV France reports.
Trump supporters storm US Capitol, delaying election certification
The US House of Representatives and Senate were forced to delay their proceedings to certify the November presidential election after armed protestors breached the Capitol building on Wednesday (6 January). The building is now on lockdown with politicians instructed to remain in their offices.
Five years on from Paris: Can US return to the climate scene provide impetus?
After four years of unravelling climate-friendly laws and regulations by the Trump administration, President-elect Joe Biden announced the US's return to the Paris Accord, accompanied by a battery of measures. EURACTIV France looks at what to expect from the return of the world's second largest CO2 emitter.
‘Geopolitical’ Europe aims to extend its digital sovereignty from China
The European Commission intends to act as a strong geopolitical player at next week's EU-China video meeting. But to do so, Europe must extend its 'digital sovereignty', also with regards to China. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German EU Presidency: Government sets priorities as ‘motor and moderator of Europe’
One week before Germany takes over the EU Council presidency on 1 July, its highly anticipated programme went through the cabinet, with priorities focused on managing the coronavirus crisis and its economic and social fallout. However, that was not enough to placate critics in the green and left-wing opposition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Free trade and Mercosur on the agenda for the German EU Presidency
The resumption of negotiations on the controversial Mercosur agreement and trade policy with the United States are among the priorities of the German EU Council Presidency. This is unlikely to please other member states. EURACTIV Germany reports.
US ambassador accuses Germany of ‘eroding’ NATO solidarity
In an op-ed published this morning (14 May) in the German newspaper Die Welt, US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell had strong words for the country’s leadership regarding its NATO commitments. EURACTIV Germany reports.
GMF President: ‘The coronavirus is accelerating many trends that were there before’
Nationalist reactions to the spread of the coronavirus have further worsened already strained transatlantic relations. But GMF President Karen Donfried believes that the pandemic will underline the importance of cooperation. An interview from EURACTIV Germany.
Amid COVID-19 recession concerns, US aircraft tariffs come into effect
The Trump administration enacted its planned duty rate increase for aircraft imported from the EU on Wednesday (18 March), amid the continuing spread of COVID-19 and fears of a subsequent recession. These measures will increase the rate from 10 to 15%, particularly impacting Airbus.
US allegedly wants to recruit German vaccine researchers
According to a report, US President Donald Trump is offering German scientists a lot of money if they come to the US. He also wants a coronavirus vaccine "only for the USA." EURACTIV's media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Expert : Germany could use EU presidency to shape EU-China relations
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, director of the Asia programme of the European Council of Foreign Relations, Dr Janka Oertel, described how Germany could play a pivotal role in changing the EU's relations with China and might even force the exclusion of Huawei from the planned 5G expansion across the EU.
For Germans, which US presidential candidate is more economically literate?
With Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren dropping out of the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are the only Democrats front-runners left in this year's presidential race. But do Germans thinks they are more economically literate than Donald Trump? EURACTIV's partner WirtschaftsWoche reports.
MEP Axel Voss publishes EU digital manifesto, warns of EU’s ‘digital dependency’
Conservative German MEP Axel Voss, also known as the father of the controversial copyright reform, has published a manifesto on European digital policy in which he warns that Europe should not become a "digital colony" of other powers. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany pledges to raise military spending, play more active role in NATO
Germany has pledged to play a more active role in NATO with Chancellor Angela Merkel promising to raise military spending to 2% of the country’s GDP by the beginning of the 2030s. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Job cuts at Deutsche Bank are just the tip of the iceberg
Deutsche Bank will withdraw from its global equity business and cut 18,000 jobs over the next three years. This is part of a bigger trend: investment banks are looking more towards the US, which can sometimes be problematic for Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
CDU party chief wants Germany to reach 2% NATO spending target
The leader of German Christian Democrats, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), stated on Wednesday (12 June) that German military expenditures would have to be raised to NATO's 2% spending target, while former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel proposed splitting Germany's military spending into two funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.