The delegation’s collective wealth exceeds US$1.07 trillion, according to data from Forbes and United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings compiled by Quiver Quantitative, and each member holds a significant commercial stake in the bilateral relationship.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk leads the group with a personal net worth of US$827 billion, representing over 77 per cent of the delegation’s total wealth.
Archiv: Handel / Zonen / trade / zones
Trump-Xi meet as petroyuan rises on Iran war’s tide
As US credibility crumbles across the Gulf, China’s petroyuan fast emerging as the currency of Asia’s post-war energy order
China orders firms to ignore US Iran sanctions, daring US to enforce crackdown
(May 7, 2026)
A new directive, issued through China’s Commerce Ministry Sunday, invokes a 2021 „blocking statute“ that prohibits firms from complying with foreign sanctions deemed illegitimate.
Vor Trump Besuch in Peking: China blockiert US-Sekundärsanktionen – Firmen sollen weiter Iran-Öl kaufen
In einem der bedeutendsten Schritte gegen die US-Wirtschaftskriegführung hat das chinesische Handelsministerium seine Unternehmen offiziell angewiesen, die US-Sanktionen gegen iranisches Öl nicht anzuerkennen, nicht durchzusetzen und nicht zu befolgen. Es handelt sich um die erste Aktivierung der 2021 erlassenen „Blocking Rules“ (Regeln zur Abwehr ungerechtfertigter extraterritorialer Anwendung ausländischer Gesetze).
Pakistan Opens Six Routes for Iran Transit Trade Amid Crisis
Thousands of containers sit idle at Karachi port, their journey halted by ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
The “Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026” took effect on April 25, formally designating six specific land corridors. These routes now allow third-country cargo destined for Iran to move securely across Pakistani soil, backed by strict customs safeguards.
Panama Canal prices take flight on Iran butterfly effect
(April 24, 2026)
Vice president of finance Víctor Vial confirmed that while certain vessels have recently paid more than $1m to secure a crossing, such sums reflect temporary spikes in demand rather than structural pricing shifts. Before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, average auction prices ran between $135,000 and $140,000. That figure rose some 180% to around $385,000 between March and April as demand surged.
The canal makes three to five slots available each day through its auction mechanism, aimed at vessels that have not booked in advance.
The real reason Iran and the US cannot end the war: Money
n Iranian business newspaper reported in April that reconstruction would take at least 12 years.
“The nuclear issue is honestly Betamax now,” Alan Eyre, a former member of the US team that negotiated the Iran nuclear deal, told MEE, referring to the now obsolete 1975 video cassette player.
“Everyone is talking about what the Iranians are willing to give up. But that is largely a function of what they are willing to get,” he added. „What the Iranians want is money.“
Eyre said there are four ways Iran can be compensated for a deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and ends with an agreement on its nuclear programme: reparations, tolling, unblocking frozen assets, and sanctions relief. Of the four, he believes a toll in the Strait of Hormuz is the likeliest path for a deal.
Energie-Lockdown: Ägypten verhängt Sperrstunde
Als Reaktion auf die Energiepreisexplosion hat die ägyptische Regierung eine landesweite Geschäftssperrstunde verhängt. Ab dem heutigen Samstag müssen Geschäfte, Restaurants, Cafés und Einkaufszentren unter der Woche um 21 Uhr schließen. Donnerstags und freitags dürfen sie bis 22 Uhr geöffnet bleiben.
Zunächst wird die Maßnahme für ein Monat verhängt. Ministerpräsident Mostafa Madbouly begründete den Schritt mit den gestiegenen Energiepreisen. .
What Iran means for the dollar: a perfect storm for the petrodollar
(March 24, 2026)
The world saves in dollars in large part because it pays in dollars. The dollar‘s dominance in cross-border trade is arguably built on the petrodollar: globally traded oil is priced and invoiced in USD. This arrangement can be traced to a deal struck in 1974 where Saudi Arabia agreed to price oil in USD and invest surpluses in USD assets, in exchange for US security guarantees. Because oil is a core input to global manufacturing and transport, there is a natural incentive for global value chains to dollarize, and global surpluses to accumulate in USD.
The foundations of the petrodollar regime have been under pressure even before this conflict. Most Middle East oil is now sold to Asia not the US; sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran has already been trading off dollar rails; Saudi Arabia has been localizing defence, and experimenting with forms of non-dollar payment infrastructure such as Project mBridge.
The current conflict may expose further fault lines, by challenging the US security umbrella for Gulf infrastructure and the maritime security for global trade in oil. Damage to Gulf economies could encourage an unwind in their foreign asset savings held largely in dollars. In this context, reports that the passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz may be granted in exchange for oil payments in yuan should be closely followed. The conflict could be remembered as a key catalyst for erosion in petrodollar dominance, and the beginnings of the petroyuan.
War on Iran could be ‚catalyst‘ for erosion of US petrodollar, Deutsche Bank says
The petrodollar helps keep borrowing costs down for US consumers and Washington, giving them big advantages over peers
Iran may allow oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz trading in Chinese yuan
Iran is considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the oil cargo is traded in Chinese yuan, CNN reported, quoting a senior Iranian official.
Iran May Allow Oil Tankers Through Strait Of Hormuz, But There‘s A China Catch
Iran is reportedly considering a new approach to manage oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world‘s most critical energy routes. According to a senior official who spoke to CNN, Iran may allow a limited number of oil tankers to pass through the strait, but only if the oil cargo is traded in Chinese yuan.
Re: Request for an Investigation into the Conduct of Former Commissioner Peter Mandelson During and After his Mandate as EU Trade Commissioner (2004–2008) and Referral to the Independent Ethics Body
(February 25, 2026)
Commissioners are bound by obligations of integrity and discretion during but also beyond the end of their mandate. Article 245 TFEU requires Commissioners to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance of certain appointments or benefits after their term of office. Article 17(3) TEU further provides that Members of the Commission shall be completely independent in the performance of their duties and shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or other institution, body, office or entity.
The Code of Conduct for Members of the European Commission explicitly prohibits the use of confidential information obtained during the mandate for any purpose other than the exercise of official duties. There is no evident limitation period that would preclude an institutional inquiry by the Commission itself into whether these obligations were violated. The Commission has both the competence and, we would argue, the duty to investigate under Articles 17 and 245 TFEU, the Code of Conduct, and the Commission’s own institutional mandate to uphold the rule of law.
Together with over 60 law professors we asked @vonderleyen to open an investigation on Peter Mandelson’s exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein at the time the former was EU Trade Commissioner.
(February 26, 2026)
As reported by @POLITICOEurope
#playbook Full text of the letter:
Rechtsgelehrte fordern Untersuchung der Tätigkeit von Epstein-Freund Mandelson als EU-Kommissar
Während sich die britischen Medien auf Mandelsons spätere Rolle als Kabinettsminister unter dem damaligen Premierminister Gordon Brown (2008–2010) konzentriert haben, fordern die Professoren eine genaue Untersuchung seiner vierjährigen Amtszeit als EU-Handelskommissar. In dieser Funktion leitete er Verhandlungen, darunter die Doha-Entwicklungsrunde, die Verhandlungen über ein Freihandelsabkommen zwischen der EU und Indien (FTA) und Handelsstreitigkeiten zwischen der EU und der ASEAN.
Aus Dokumenten, die vom US-Justizministerium veröffentlicht wurden, geht hervor, dass Mandelsons Verbindungen zu Epstein von 2002 bis 2011 bestanden, also seine gesamte Amtszeit bei der EU-Kommission umfassten.
Iran unveils underwater missile tunnels, warns Hormuz will not stay safe if US attacks
(January 28, 2026)
The Strait of Hormuz sees more than 21 million barrels of oil pass through daily, accounting for around 37 percent of global oil traffic.
Akbarzadeh said Iran was able to track vessels sailing under different flags using modern technologies, stressing that Tehran does not seek war but remains fully prepared for one.
„If a war is imposed on us, the response will be more decisive than ever,“ he said, adding that Iran’s defensive readiness, particularly in air defence, was „very high“.
He warned that neighbouring states were considered friendly, but would be treated as hostile if their airspace, land or territorial waters were used in an attack against Iran.
What to know about the Strait of Hormuz as Iran plans military drill while tensions are high with US
Iran has warned ships that it will conduct a live fire drill Sunday and Monday in the strait, which sees a fifth of all oil traded pass through the tight corridor between the Islamic Republic and Oman.
‚IMPERIALISM WILL NOT STAND‘: Mark Carney BLASTS Trump over Greenland TAKEOVER | FULL SPEECH
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a strong rebuke to Donald Trump’s Greenland ambitions at the World Economic Forum. Carney emphasized Canada’s firm support for Greenland and Denmark’s sovereignty, reaffirmed NATO commitments, and highlighted Canada’s military investments to secure northern and western flanks. He also explicitly opposed the use of tariffs as leverage over Greenland, framing Trump’s intentions as imperialist.
China: Das Kapitalisten-Bordell von „Volksrepublik“ soll absaufen
(July 8, 2015)
In der Hierarchie unter den „Systemrelevanten“ herrscht Unruhe. Statt den Demokratien Europas fällt nun ein Sack Aktienkurse in China die Treppe runter. Eine kurze Erläuterung.
Zur Zeit fallen an den Geldmärkten in China die Aktienkurse. Vom schlimmsten Crash der Geldhändler seit 2007 ist die Rede. Offensichtlich ist dabei den Wenigsten unter 7 Milliarden KundInnen bewusst, dass dies im Zusammenhang mit dem nun auch für chinesische „Investoren“ flöten gehenden Abbaugebiet namens „Eurozone“ zu sehen ist.
Die Geldhändler-Seite „Bloomberg“ erläuterte diesbezüglich immerhin, dass der chinesische Premier Li Keqiang bei seinem Besuch in Brüssel Ende Juni 2015 auf „einen starken Euro und ein vereinigtes Europa“ drängte. Warum er das tat, will den Menschen so recht keiner erklären, jedenfalls keiner der Populären.
Über die Rolle dieser „Volksrepublik“ bei der systemischen Zersetzung und Entstaatlichung der Demokratien im Einflussbereich der „Europäischen Union“ und des Finanzsystems „Euro“ schrieb ich im Juli 2011:
„Dieser nach Strategie zwei und drei der von Noam Chomsky „Zehn Stragien der Manipulation“ geführte Staatsstreich von Banken, „Europäischer Union“ und „Internationalem Währungfonds“ gegen die als beliebige Konkursmasse der Alten Weltordnung betrachteten Staaten des Alten Europas, findet übrigens in der neuen Tributzone Amerikas, in China, eine sowohl verschwiegene, wie äußerst effektive Unterstützung. China strebt, entsprechend der hier bereits umschriebenen Vier Zonen der Ökonomie, von der Rolle der Handelszone (niedrige Währung, niedrige Löhne, niedriger Lebensstandard) auf zur Tributzone Amerikas.“
Greift die EU jetzt zur „Handels-Bazooka“?
Im eskalierenden Streit zwischen der EU und den USA um Grönland rückt ein handelspolitisches Instrument in den Fokus, das bislang noch nie zum Einsatz kam.
What is the EU anti-coercion ‚bazooka‘ it could use against the US over Greenland?
What does the instrument do?
The armoury allows the EU to take measures such as import and export restrictions on goods and services in its single market of 450 million people.
It also gives Brussels the power to limit American companies‘ access to public procurement contracts in Europe.
The EU last year threatened to use the weapon during difficult trade negotiations with Trump to avoid steep levies but the two sides struck a deal.
Stocks, dollar take tariff hit; gold gets safety bid
In currency markets, the euro recovered from an early dip to rise 0.3% to $1.1628, while sterling clawed its way back up to $1.3389.
The dollar eased 0.4% against the Swiss franc to 0.7988 francs, and 0.2% against the yen to 157.80.
Trumps Zölle wegen Grönland: EU holt zum Gegenschlag aus
Bei den Beratungen auf dem EU-Sondergipfel über die Reaktion auf den offenen Erpressungsversuch des US-Präsidenten dürfte die Aktivierung eines EU-Instruments zur Abwehr wirtschaftlicher Nötigung diskutiert werden – dieses wird auch als „Handels-Bazooka“ bezeichnet. Frankreichs Präsident Emmanuel Macron werde beantragen, das sogenannte Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) zu nutzen, hieß es aus dem Umfeld des Präsidenten. Das Gesetz ermöglicht der EU Gegenmaßnahmen, wenn wirtschaftlicher Druck ausgeübt wird, um politische Entscheidungen zu erzwingen.
What is the EU‘s anti-coercion instrument, and how does it work?
The ACI allows the EU to shut off access to the European single market representing 500 million consumers. It limits trade licenses and access to public procurement tenders. For American services, it means the European market would be off the table.
France to request activating EU anti-coercion instrument to deter US tariff threats: Report
Macron‘s entourage told broadcaster BFMTV on Sunday that the president will ask, on behalf of France, for the activation of EU‘s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), also known as trade „bazooka“ to deter Washington.
ACI is primarily a deterrent mechanism requiring approval by a qualified majority of member states and allowing the bloc to impose measures such as restricting access to public procurement or blocking certain investments.
France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and to its Charter.
It is on this basis that we support, and will continue to support Ukraine and that we have built a coalition of the willing for a robust and lasting peace, to defend these principles and our security.
It is also on this basis that we decided to take part in the exercise organized by Denmark in Greenland. We fully assume this decision, because security in the Arctic and at the outer edges of our Europe is at stake.
No intimidation or threat will influence us—neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations.
Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld.
It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners.
A stunned Europe finally wakes up to Trump’s Greenland threat
It’s not often that Europe speaks with one voice – or responds with such urgency.
But US President Donald Trump’s announcement Saturday of sanctions against several European countries that reject any US claim to Greenland, a Danish territory, was one of those moments.
An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors will take place in Brussels on Sunday in response to Trump’s threat, which he made after an estimate quarter of the population of Greenland’s capital Nuuk joined protests against any potential annexation.