EU leaders to agree push for U.S. trade deal

[SAT]

Europe's leaders will agree on Friday to push for a free-trade pact with the United States, according to a draft joint statement, putting the onus on the White House to respond to a proposal that would encompass half the world's economic output

The EU leaders' statement raises expectations that U.S. President Barack Obama may endorse the initiative next Tuesday in his annual State of the Union speech, which presidents traditionally use to lay out their priorities for the year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...2F+Top+News%29


Also... Just saw this summary of the Davos Summit and thought it interesting...

Davos power rankings: Who’s up, who’s down and who’s out?

In the category of "Down"

Russia: Dmitry Medvedev gave the worst major speech of the conference. It was wooden, full of platitudes, and left nobody impressed. In response to 78 percent of Davos attendees’ voting that governance was the biggest challenge in Russia, Medvedev shrugged off negative outlooks, saying, “It’s good that the scenarios are pessimistic. Because optimistic ones can get the government carried away.” I’ve long felt that Russia, faltering economically and questionable politically, should be thrown out of the BRICs. Davos now agrees.

http://blogs.reuters.com/ian-bremmer...-and-whos-out/

[SAT]

Re: EU leaders to agree push for U.S. trade deal

They do have a schedule to keep!

Canada, EU fail to settle differences over free trade pact

Canada and the European Union failed to settle their differences on a proposed free trade deal this week at top-level talks to hammer out an agreement that is already well behind schedule.

http://news.yahoo.com/canada-eu-fail...--finance.html

[SAT]

Re: EU leaders to agree push for U.S. trade deal

Cnav posted an article a couple of months ago stating the talk between the US and EU would actually happen quite quickly

[SAT]

Re: EU leaders to agree push for U.S. trade deal

From the first post...

Russia: Dmitry Medvedev gave the worst major speech of the conference. It was wooden, full of platitudes, and left nobody impressed. In response to 78 percent of Davos attendees’ voting that governance was the biggest challenge in Russia, Medvedev shrugged off negative outlooks, saying, “It’s good that the scenarios are pessimistic. Because optimistic ones can get the government carried away.” I’ve long felt that Russia, faltering economically and questionable politically, should be thrown out of the BRICs. Davos now agrees.

Tonight in Venezuela..
Absent Chavez devalues Venezuela currency to aid government finances

The devaluation will ease a shortage of greenbacks that has crimped imports and left many supermarkets barren of staples such as flour.

"It increases inflation and quality of life will suffer," said publicity worker Maria Gonzalez, 30, at a supermarket in the capital. "It's irrelevant whether or not Chavez comes back. He's an ideological icon of a socialism that doesn't exist."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...91710B20130209

Or Fox news...
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02...test+-+Text%29

[SAT]

Re: EU leaders to agree push for U.S. trade deal

EU, U.S. fire starting gun for free trade talks

"These negotiations will set a standard, not only for our future bilateral trade and investment, including regulatory issues, but also for the development of global trade rules," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a news conference.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...91C0OC20130213