Morning Notes...

Trying something new today. Given my weekday schedule this summer I am going to try and adjust how I blog so that I can update the site more frequently. So starting today I will be writing short posts about (relatively) breaking news and developing stories of the day. I will try to do this everyday but it will more likely be every two days. If I find one of the stories compelling enough I might blog at length about sometime in the evening, but that all depends. Anyway, here is the first installment of "Morning Notes"...

'Non' Fallout Begins

Following the French No vote on Sunday to the EU constitution, President Chirac began the cabinet shakeup he promised by replacing Jean-Pierre Raffarin as prime minister with former interior minister Dominique de Villepin. US citizens most likely remember de Villepin as the French foreign minister who became the face of opposition to the Iraq War at the UN. The move seems targeted outside of France, as de Villepin is highly regarded by European allies. Chirac certainly has some PR work ahead of him internationally, as many at the EU are calling for the shelving of the charter for a few years until France and the Netherlands (who holds their own vote June 1st, which is predicted to reject the constitution) can reverse their populations' opinion on the constitution. For those looking for an analysis of why the French voted as they did, we are having a discussion over at "the Duck". Contributions so far include Patrick and myself--Dan's should be forthcoming.

Let the Trade Wars Begin

The US will ask for a WTO dispute settlement panel to halt European subsidies to Airbus. Europe has said they will retaliate by counter-filing over Boeing (classic tit-for-tat strategy). In other news, China is dropping up to 81 export tariffs on clothing and textiles aimed at the EU and the US. The US has already imposed limits on textile imports from China and the EU is threatening to do the same. This dispute is likely to grow in the coming weeks.

"All Fired Up"

Taking a page out of Pat Benatar's book, Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was a little 'hot under the collar'--literally--during a press conference over the weekend.


Filed as: EU Constitution, France, de Villepin, US, EU, Trade Wars, China, Netanyahu