The Briefing
All analysis, briefings, and deep-dives from Rex Lex.
The Commission has sent the car industry a technical proposal that would push back the rules of origin on electric vehicle batteries by a year, from 1 January 2027. The European car lobby says 82 per cent of EU electric vehicle exports to the UK would face the 10 per cent duty without a delay, at a cost of €1.47 billion next year. Nobody thinks twelve months is enough.
6 min read
The US President has issued a two-month ultimatum to the European Commission, threatening to raise tariffs to 'much higher levels' unless the EU ratifies its trade agreement by Independence Day.
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PM announces €200m Ukraine aid; positions Canada as defence investment hub amid US unpredictability
Beijing retaliates against European Union sanctions targeting Chinese companies aiding Russia with export restrictions, deepening US-China-EU strategic triangle.
The EU-Mercosur agreement moves toward provisional application in May 2026. Brussels calls it a strategic win. Critics call it a sellout of European agriculture — and they have a point.
3 min read
Beijing issued new guidance for its e-commerce sector on the same day an EU Parliament delegation concluded its first visit in eight years — a choreographed signal of both sides testing a limited commercial reset.
5 min read
A year ago today, Trump unveiled his Liberation Day tariffs. American households are $1,000 poorer. US manufacturing has not revived. And the EU is still paying the price for a war it did not start.
5 min read