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Japan's major firms have agreed to large wage increases for the third consecutive year
Many of Japan’s largest companies, from Toyota to the tech conglomerates, have responded to union demands for wage increases for a third year in a row. They are trying to help employees cope with inflation while retaining staff due to labour shortages. On Wednesday, as annual "shunto", or "spring labor offensive" negotiations concluded at top firms, Hitachi Electronics said that it had agreed to an unprecedented 6.2% increase in wages per month in accordance with union demands. Toyota, Japan's largest carmaker, and the leading manufacturer in the country, has agreed to raises up to 24,450 Japanese yen ($165), as well as bonuses equivalent to 7,6 months of salary. The company did not reveal a percentage for the increase, but stated that the total pay increase for all employees will be the same as last year's which was the highest since 1999. A weaker yen and record corporate profits also helped to support the decision to raise pay this year. Economists predict that the average pay increase will be similar to the 5.1% increase last year, which was the largest increase in 33-years and allowed the central bank's super-loose policy to end. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NEC and other electronics companies also fully responded to the union's demands. Prior to 2023, the annual wage increases in Japan were only 1-2%. As a result, Japan is still well below the average of the OECD rich country group. Rengo, Japan’s largest umbrella group of labour unions with 7 million members said last week that its unions wanted an average increase of 6.09%. This was up from 5.85% the previous year, and marked the first time in more than 32 years when a higher rate had been requested. The "shunto", or "pay-increase" talks, this year are largely focused on whether small and medium sized companies which employ 70% of Japan's workers will also see strong increases in pay. Toyota plans to increase its payments for domestic components in order to fund the pay increases of suppliers. The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its policy rate to 0.5% from the current very low level. The government of Prime Minister Shigeru Shiba also wants to increase wages to stimulate consumer spending, as rising food prices and other essentials have kept inflation-adjusted wage growth at around zero. In January, the consumer inflation rate, which is used to calculate real salaries, including fresh food but excluding rent costs, increased to 4.7% on an annual basis. This was the highest reading for two years. Kazutaka M. Maeda is an economist with the Meiji Yasuda Research Institute. He said that a 5-5.5% pay increase this year "would just offset inflation, and not drive consumers spending." ($1 = 147.8900 yen) (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Additional reporting by Ritsuko Shimizu, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kentaro Okasaka and Kathleen Benoza; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) The annual salary talks are a defining feature of Japanese business. Relations between management and labour tend to be closer than in other countries. ($1 = 147.8900yen) (Reporting and editing by Edwina G. Gibbs; Additional reporting from Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shiraki Tetsushi Kajmoto Kentaro Okasaka Kathleen Benoza)
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Yemen's Houthis will resume attacking Israeli ships after Gaza Aid deadline has ended
Yemen's Houthis announced on Tuesday that they will resume attacks against Israeli ships traveling through the Red, Arabian and Gulf of Aden seas as well as the Bab al-Mandab strait. This marks the end of a relative calm which began in January, when the Gaza ceasefire was signed. From November 2023 onwards, the Houthis launched over 100 attacks against shipping. They claimed to be in solidarity with Palestinians due to Israel's conflict with Hamas. The group, which was responsible for the disruption of global shipping by forcing companies to take longer and more costly journeys through southern Africa, also sank and seized two ships during that time. The leader of Yemen’s Houthis warned Friday that the group will resume its naval attacks against Israel if Israel does not lift its blockade of Gaza aid within four days. Israel stopped aid trucks from entering Gaza on March 2 as the standoff over the ceasefire escalated. Hamas called for Egyptian and Qatari mediation to intervene. The group stated in a statement sent via email on Wednesday that "this ban will remain in place until the crossings into the Gaza Strip are opened and humanitarian aid including food and medical supply is allowed to be entered." They added that the ban was effective immediately. After President Donald Trump called for it, the U.S. State Department announced earlier this month that they were implementing the designation as a "foreign terror organization". Trump's January 2019 Agenda re-designated The Houthi movement is being designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, in order to punish it for its attacks against commercial shipping in Red Sea and U.S. warships that defend the vital maritime area. (Reporting from Jaidaa T. Taha in Cairo, Menna A. Alaa Eldin in Dubai, and Stephen Coates and Leslie Adler in New York)
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If Trump's trade war escalates, Canada may restrict its oil exports.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Energy Minister, said that if the trade dispute escalates with the U.S. further, Canada may take non-tariff steps such as limiting its oil exports or levying duties on exports. "When we talk about non-tariff reprisal, it can be about limiting supply or putting our export duties on certain products. Wilkinson told a reporter that it could go beyond energy and minerals. He also suggested that non-tariff measures could be used on minerals of critical importance, forcing the U.S. even more to depend on China. He said, "Everything's on the table." Canada is the largest supplier of oil imported to the United States. It provides around 4 million barrels a day, mainly to Midwest refineries that are designed to run the Canadian grades. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, escalated Tuesday's trade war against Canada. He promised to double tariffs that would take effect in just hours on all steel and aluminum imports from America's neighbor. However, he said later that he was likely to lower them if Canadian officials agreed to talk. Trump's latest salvo follows Ontario Premier Doug Ford's statement that he will impose a 25% surcharge to the electricity Canada's largest province supplies to over one million U.S. households unless Trump drops his tariff threats against Canada exports. Ford agreed to drop the surcharge after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, urging for cooler heads. Brian Jean, Alberta's Energy Minister, who is responsible for the majority of Canada's Oil Industry, stated earlier Tuesday that he wanted to de-escalate this dispute and provided Washington with several options. Canada has limited options for sending oil to other markets, so any restrictions on Canada's oil imports from the United States will hurt Canadian producers. Wilkinson stated that the Trans Mountain pipeline, as well as rail, could be used to transport some Canadian oil. He added, "I don't believe the threat is as great as it might be in other sectors for Canada's oil producers." Wilkinson said Canada may impose tariffs on U.S. Ethanol as part of the second tranche of trade sanctions if Trump escalates the trade war. Wilkinson stated that U.S. Ethanol, an important trade product for U.S. Farmers, would be "absolutely" included in the list if Trump were to move forward with his plans to impose tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods by April. Canada has threatened to impose retaliatory duties on US imports worth $155 billion. The first tranche of goods to be affected by tariffs is $30 billion, but the rest of the list will also be considered. Exports of U.S.-made ethanol to Canada have reached record levels in recent months, helping Canada to meet its clean fuel program. Wilkinson stated that it is cheaper than Canadian ethanol due to the subsidies provided by the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Farmers sent a record 1,54 million gallons ethanol to Canada last September, which is roughly twice the amount three years earlier. "We began the day at one point. "Things went in many directions and we ended back where we were yesterday," Wilkinson said about the rapid-fire movements that scrambled the financial markets. "It's crucial that we reach a conclusion that includes the removal of tariffs as soon as possible." Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Houston and Arathy Sommesekhar; Editing and proofreading by Nia and Lincoln Feast.
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If Trump's trade war escalates, Canada may restrict its oil exports.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Energy Minister, said that if the trade dispute between the United States worsens the country could take non-tariff steps such as limiting its oil exports or levying duties on exports. "When we talk about non-tariff reprisal, it may be about restricting the supply or imposing our own export duties on certain products. Wilkinson told a reporter that it could go beyond energy and minerals. "Everything's on the table." Canada is the largest supplier of oil imported to the United States. It provides around 4 million barrels a day, mainly to Midwest refineries that are designed to run the Canadian grades. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, escalated Tuesday's trade war against Canada. He promised to double tariffs that would take effect in just hours on all steel and aluminum imports from America's neighbor. However he said later he was likely to lower them if Canadian officials agreed to talk. Trump's latest salvo follows Ontario Premier Doug Ford's statement that he will impose a 25% surcharge to the electricity Canada's largest province supplies to over one million U.S. households unless Trump drops his tariff threats against Canada exports. Ford agreed to drop the surcharge after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, urging for cooler heads. Brian Jean, Alberta's Energy Minister, who is responsible for the majority of Canada's Oil Industry, stated earlier Tuesday that he wanted to de-escalate this dispute and provided Washington with several options. Wilkinson said that Canada may impose tariffs on U.S. Ethanol as part of the second tranche of trade sanctions if Trump escalates the trade war. Wilkinson stated that U.S. Ethanol, an important trade product for U.S. Farmers, would be "absolutely" included in the list if Trump were to move forward with his plans to impose tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods by April. Canada has threatened to impose retaliatory duties on US imports worth $155 billion. The first tranche of $30 billion worth of goods to be subjected to tariffs was identified by officials, but the rest of the list will also be considered. Exports of U.S.-made ethanol to Canada have reached record levels in recent months, helping Canada to meet its clean fuel program. Wilkinson stated that it is cheaper than Canadian ethanol due to the subsidies provided by the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Farmers sent a record 1,54 million gallons (roughly double) of ethanol to Canada last September. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Houston and Arathy Sommesekhar; editing by Nia William
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Argentine workers at Vicentin expand their strike over wages
A union leader announced on Tuesday that the Argentine oilseeds workers union SOEA would launch a nationwide strike on Wednesday in response to a wage dispute at soybean processing facilities owned by exports conglomerate Vicentin. Martin Morales, SOEA secretary, said that the strike would be carried out in conjunction with the Federacion Aceitera organisation. He added that Vicentin had only paid 30% to the workers' wages last month. He said that the strike would be expanded to all Vicentin factories in San Lorenzo, Ricardone and Rosario (in the port area). A union source said that the measure would be indefinite. Vicentin, once the largest processor of soybeans in Argentina, and for many years its most valuable export, has been facing bankruptcy proceedings since 2020. The company didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. Maximilian Heath, Brendan O'Boyle and Brendan O'Boyle contributed to the reporting.
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Regulator approves Cheniere Texas LNG plant expansion, says executive
A Cheniere Energy executive announced on Tuesday that U.S. regulators had approved the expansion of Cheniere Energy Corpus Christi's liquefied gas plant. Anatol Fygin, Chief Commercial Officer of the company, said that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had approved the construction of Midscale trains 8 & 9 for the company. Cheniere, the U.S.'s largest LNG producer, played a major role in helping the U.S. become the world’s leading exporter of supercooled gas. Cheniere expects to increase its production of LNG at its Corpus Christi plant in Texas by 3 million metric tons per year with the addition of two new production trains. The plant has a current capacity of 15 million metric tons per year. Cheniere is building Stage 3 at its Corpus Christi facility. Stage 3 will increase production by 10 million metric tons per year. Cheniere requested approval from FERC to build the Midscale expansion in March 2023. The approval was given on Monday by Feygin. The U.S. needs FERC approval to build LNG plants. (Reporting and editing by Simon Webb, Nia Williams, and Curtis Williams)
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CERAWEEK - Alberta energy minister proposes trade deescalation options for US
Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean stated on Tuesday that he has given the Trump administration several options for deescalating a trade conflict with Canada. He said that his province, which represents most of Canada's petroleum industry, respects Ontario's decision to impose retaliatory duties on its electricity exported to the U.S. this week, but is taking a slightly different approach in trying to reduce tensions. On Tuesday, the Ontario government announced that it would halt the tariff plan until talks with the U.S. could be concluded. Jean said to reporters at the CERAWeek in Houston, "We want de-escalate this situation." We've given them a number of options to de-escalate the situation and how we could work together for their long-term goals, which are to help their citizens have cheaper oil and gas. He claimed that "the truth is" that U.S. oil and gas has been purchased at a discounted price from Alberta for many years, and that U.S. refining plants designed to run on Canadian crude oil cannot be quickly re-tooled to process oil coming from other places. Canadian officials said that the tariff dispute between Washington and Canada provides Canada with a new reason to find ways to get its crude oil into new markets. Canadian energy has a long history. Proposals for several The last decade has seen the construction of major oil pipelines from Alberta to both the east and west coasts of the United States. However, they have been met with opposition by local and provincial interests. Trans Mountain was the only expansion project completed. Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Energy Minister, was defiant in his response to Trump's tariffs. He said at CERAWeek the trade war could lead to a "total breakdown of barriers" between provinces. Jean said Alberta "should look seriously" at the Asia-Pacific region. When asked what options Washington has to de-escalate the situation, Jean replied: "Drop all your tariffs. Let's get to work." (Reporting and writing by Timothy Gardner, Arathy S. Somasekar and Richard Valdmanis. Editing and revision by Chris Reese & David Gregorio.
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Unsolved ship crash off UK coast sparks race for answers
Three shipping and insurance sources told Reuters that the collision between a tanker transporting jet fuel to the U.S. Military and a container vessel off Britain's coastline is an unusual event, which raises questions about what went wrong in spite of safety measures. Stena Immaculate, the chemical tanker flying the U.S. flag and the Solong container ship flying the Portuguese flag were still on fire Tuesday. A day after a morning collision that left a large hole in the side of the tanker. It is not expected that either vessel will sink. Little is known so far about the events that took place. One source, who is a maritime specialist and an insurer with experience in collisions at sea, described the incident as unique. He also said that it was odd that the Solong hadn't slowed down. The source stated that authorities could begin to answer questions about the incident once they had obtained the voyage data recorders of the vessels. Another source said that both vessels were equipped with a variety of technological aids. These included two radar systems, automated plotting radars, public AIS tracking systems and VHF radios to contact coastal authorities. Shipping data revealed that the Stena Immaculate was built in 2017, and it underwent an inspection for safety certification in 2023. Its next renewal is due in 2027. Data shows that the Solong, which was built in 2005, will be subject to a safety certification renewal survey in October. Shipping sources say that such accidents are rare off Britain's coastline. The Sea Empress, which sank on the rocks near Milford Haven in Britain's West Coast in 1996 and spilled over 70,000 tons of oil was the worst. Both the manager and owner of Stena Immaculate said that the container ship struck the tanker while it was anchored, whereas the owner Solong described the incident as an accident. Safety measures are in place Shipping sources stated that AIS tracking data indicated the Solong was close to its maximum speed of 18 knots and had sailed through the waters many times. Although the area of the incident near the North Sea, off the coast of Britain, is known to have rougher weather, depending on the season and the location, there are strict safety measures in place to ensure navigation during times of reduced visibility. According to a third source who, like the other two, declined to identify themselves due to the sensitive nature of the matter, such incidents are not uncommon in the world, but this incident was "spectacular", because both ships caught fire. A tanker carrying approximately one million barrels bitumen mixture was involved in an accident near the Chinese port of Qingdao, during heavy fog. Oil spilled into the Yellow Sea. According to the shipping sources, the first step after Monday's accident would be to address any injuries or deaths and manage the effects of any pollution. British maritime minister Mike Kane informed lawmakers that both crews were safe, despite the British government's assumption that one Solong sailor was dead. Stena Bulk - the owner of the tanker - said that search and rescue experts had "been invaluable throughout this difficult situation". The British police arrested an individual on suspicion of gross negligent manslaughter following the collision. Authorities have also launched a criminal probe into the collision's cause. Sources said that although the incident was still under investigation, procedures were in place to at least provide a frame. Third source: Britain is a coastal state that has mastered the art of managing casualties. It also had top-tier insurers on board. ITOPF, an independent advisory group that provides information on oil spills, has found that in 2024 there will be six major spills and four minor ones. This compares to 18 spills in 2009 and more than 100 in the 1970s. (Reporting and editing by William Maclean, Jonathan Saul)
Salvage crews arrive at the scene of a jet fuel tanker crash near UK
Salvage crews headed for a damaged tanker of jet fuel off the coast of England, on Tuesday. A day earlier it had been hit by a container vessel in an unsolved collision which has raised fears of an environmental catastrophe.
The coastguard reported that both crews abandoned the ships after the accident and brought 36 people ashore. Rescue teams called off their search for a crew member of the Portuguese flagged container ship Solong on Monday.
Stena Immaculate was at anchor and carrying jet fuel for the U.S. Military when the smaller Solong struck it, causing massive fires and explosions as well as releasing fuel in the sea.
The aerial TV footage from Tuesday showed that the Stena Immaculate had a large hole in its hull and fire damage all along the vessel's length. However, the flames which engulfed it after the collision seemed to have died down. The Solong is not visible in this footage.
Dutch marine company Boskalis was appointed to salvage the oil tanker. Four ships with foam and extinguishing agent were heading to the scene.
The British government said that equipment to minimize pollution at sea such as spray dispersants and containment booms for oil spills were ready.
According to the government, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a group of environmentalists from East of England are assessing the potential environmental impact and monitoring the situation by air.
ENVIRONMENTAL HARM
The authorities and operators of the vessel have not yet explained how the accident happened or why the multiple safety systems aboard modern vessels failed in their attempts to prevent it.
MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics site, reported that the 140 metre Solong was on its way to Rotterdam when it struck the 183 metre Stena Immaculate, anchored near Immingham in northeast England.
British officials stated that the incident was not treated as an issue of national security and at this point, there were no signs of foul play. According to two maritime security sources, there were no signs of malicious activity or involvement in the incident.
Crowley, the U.S. Logistics group that operated the vessel said Monday it is unclear how much jet fuel was spilled after at least one cargo tank was damaged.
According to a report by maritime data provider Lloyd's List Intelligence, 15 containers of sodium-cyanide were found on board the Solong, a toxic chemical mainly used in gold mining. Also, an unknown amount of alcohol was also present.
These cargoes may pollute the ocean, causing harm to large colonies of seabirds, such as puffins, gannets, and the fish that they feed on.
The accident occurred in the early morning hours of Monday on a busy waterway. British rescue teams, including aircraft, lifeboats, and other vessels, were called to respond.
The U.S., and Portuguese authorities are responsible for the overall investigation of the crash. Reporting by Phil Noble and Sarah Young; Writing by William James and Sarah Young; Editing by Paul Sandle, Bernadettebaum, and Bernadette Baudette Baum.
(source: Reuters)