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On April 26, according to the Wall Street Journal, in order to simplify the negotiations on reciprocal tariffs, US negotiating officials plan to use a new framework developed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which lists major categories of negotiations, such as tariffs and quotas, non-tariff trade barriers, digital trade, product origin principles, economic security and other commercial issues. In these categories, US officials will put forward specific requirements for individual countries, but people familiar with the matter emphasized that this document may also be adjusted at any time. People familiar with the matter said that the United States initial plan is to negotiate with 18 major trading partners in turn over the next two months. The initial plan is to alternately participate in the talks with six countries per week for three weeks (six countries in the first week, another six countries in the second week, and another six countries in the third week) until the deadline of July 8. If US President Trump does not extend the 90-day suspension period he set by then, those countries that cannot reach an agreement will begin to face reciprocal tariffs.On April 26, after the United States announced additional tariffs on goods from many countries, Peruvian business people expressed concerns that the US governments extreme measures would disrupt the global trade order and may even trigger a global economic recession. Alvaro Barrenechea Chavez, vice president of the Peruvian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that the negative impact of the US tariff policy has begun to emerge and hoped that the US government would rethink. Recognizing the importance of countries working together to promote development, I think this is the best way to become a true "world citizen."Market news: Musks xAI company plans to raise about US$20 billion in a financing round.Conflict situation: 1. Ukrainian top commander: Russia tried to use air strikes as a cover to increase ground attacks, but was repelled by Ukraine. 2. Ukrainian Air Force: Russia launched more than 103 drones in the night attack on Ukraine. 3. Local officials said Ukraine launched an attack in the Belgorod region of Russia, killing two people. 4. The local governor said that Russia launched an attack on the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, killing one person and injuring eight people. Peace talks: 1. Trump: ① The situation between Russia and Ukraine is gradually becoming clear, and they are "very close" to reaching an agreement. ② Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO. ③ Ukraine has not yet signed the rare earth agreement and hopes that the agreement can be signed immediately. ④ It is foreseeable that the United States will conduct commercial cooperation with Ukraine and Russia after reaching an agreement. 2. Russian Foreign Minister: Russia is "ready to reach an agreement on Ukraine." 3. Russian Presidential Assistant Ushakov: Russia and the United States will continue to maintain active dialogue. 4. Russian Presidential Assistant: Putin discussed the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with the US envoy. 5. The differences between the United States, Europe and Ukraine are clear. The documents show that European countries and Ukraine have raised objections to some of the US proposals to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 6. Market news: As part of the peace agreement, the United States asked Russian President Putin to abandon the demilitarization requirement. Other situations: 1. President of Hungarys OTP Bank: We hope to return to all business areas in Russia after the (Russia-Ukraine) conflict ends. 2. Ukrainian President Zelensky: US ground forces are not necessary for Ukraine. 3. Trump said Crimea will remain in Russia, Zelensky: Never recognize it. Agreeing with Trumps view, Crimea cannot be recovered by force. 4. NATO Secretary-General Rutte met with Trump and senior US officials to discuss defense spending, NATO summit, and the Ukrainian conflict.Rising global trade risks, overall policy uncertainty and the sustainability of U.S. debt top the list of potential risks to the U.S. financial system, according to the Federal Reserves latest financial stability report released on Friday. This is the first time the Fed has conducted a semi-annual survey on financial risks since Trump returned to the White House. 73% of respondents said that global trade risks are their biggest concern, more than double the proportion reported in November. Half of the respondents believe that overall policy uncertainty is the most worrying issue, an increase from the same period last year. The survey also found that issues related to recent market turmoil have received more attention, with 27% of respondents worried about the functioning of the U.S. Treasury market, up from 17% last fall. Foreign withdrawals from U.S. assets and the value of the dollar have also risen on the list of concerns.

Analysis-Amazon Win Offers Unions Hope, But Problems Remain

Haiden Holmes

Apr 02, 2022 09:27

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The news on Friday that the United States' first-ever union would be joining the country's second-largest private employer ricocheted across labor organizations, as they started to see a road forward for enlisting employees and reversing decades of decline in their numbers.


Amazon now seems to be a more manageable target for them, albeit it remains a difficult one. Around 55% of votes cast at the Staten Island site went to the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), a newly formed organization led by former Amazon employee Christian Smalls.


The corporation said that it may submit objections and that regardless of whether or not the ALU's victory is formalized, it must still win a contract.


This may be as difficult as winning an election, according to Gregory DeFreitas, a Hofstra University professor of labor economics.


According to a federal document, Amazon spent more than $4 million on labor consultants in 2021 to attempt to convince employees.


"Amazon just has enormous resources for fighting unions and an enormous willingness to do whatever it takes to stay union-free," said John Logan, a San Francisco State University professor who researches anti-union operations.


Duplicating Amazon's success may be challenging. Local expertise and warehouse experience aided the ALU's leadership, which at times attempted to disassociate themselves from the efforts of national labor organizations.


"What succeeds are the leaders who employees know and trust," said Burt Flickinger, managing director of retail consultant Strategic Resource Group, who assisted several unions on organizing Amazon. Flickinger anticipates union organizing efforts to concentrate on more warehouses and Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market locations, noting that unions will need to rebuild depleted financial coffers in order to organize.


The victory in New York follows numerous previous victories at Starbucks coffee outlets. Additionally, it contributes to the perception that the labor movement is evolving. According to Joshua Freeman, a history professor at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, the ALU used creative organizing strategies, gaining momentum via social media.

The ALU solicited funds through a GoFundMe page.

Simultaneously, established unions are attempting to assist ALU leader Smalls. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is extending "any assistance we can," according to Mary Kay Henry, the union's president.

'SPREAD LIKE A BURNING FIRE'

On Friday, the renewed purpose was obvious among union leaders.


The Teamsters, who have been a stalwart opponent of Amazon's refusal to unionize one of its US locations for years, are continue their struggle "on the work floor, at the negotiating table, and on the streets," General President Sean O'Brien stated after the ALU's triumph.


At the SEIU's national headquarters, people cheered and leapt with excitement.


In an interview, Henry said, "This will spread like wildfire." "It's a great source of encouragement for employees opposing the five main airline businesses, for workers battling Starbucks."


Though not finalized, a lost union vote at Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse prompted some to fear that the ALU's triumph would be limited to labor-friendly states such as New York. That is not the case, according to Logan, the labor professor.


The next battleground will be on Staten Island this month at a second Amazon facility, but some of the company's food workers, as well as other employees and contractors, are mobilizing in Seattle.


"Suddenly, attempting to create a union at Amazon does not seem so pointless," Logan said, adding, "If you can win at Amazon, you can win elsewhere."