2025-11-21 20:51
WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A group of U.S. House lawmakers on Friday called on the Trump administration to enforce key provisions of a rule issued by former President Joe Biden's administration that requires new consumer protections for disabled passengers using wheelchairs. "These standards ensure that passengers with disabilities can travel safely and with dignity," said the letter signed by 14 Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee including Greg Stanton, Rick Larsen and Andre Carson. Sign up here. United Airlines (UAL.O) , opens new tab, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) , opens new tab, American Airlines (AAL.O) , opens new tab, Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) , opens new tab and JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) , opens new tab airline trade group Airlines for America filed suit in February challenging the rule that set stricter standards for accommodating passengers with wheelchairs. The U.S. Transportation Department said in September it would not enforce the provisions pending a review, including one imposing liability on airlines for mishandled wheelchairs. Another requirement was that airlines reimburse passengers using wheelchairs the difference between a fare on a flight taken and one the passenger would have paid if their wheelchair could have fit in the cabin or cargo compartment of a different aircraft. USDOT and the airline group did not immediately comment. The rule also requires carriers to reimburse passengers for damage to wheelchairs and to notify passengers about their rights in writing when they are checking wheelchairs or scooters. Last year, USDOT said an estimated 5.5 million Americans use a wheelchair or other mobility device. Data shows for every 100 wheelchairs or scooters transported on domestic flights at least one is damaged, delayed, or lost. In October 2024, USDOT fined American Airlines a record $50 million for its treatment of disabled passengers, including failing to provide some with adequate assistance and mishandling wheelchairs. Last week, USDOT withdrew a Biden plan to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when U.S. flight disruptions are caused by carriers. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lawmakers-urge-us-enforce-biden-wheelchair-air-travel-rules-2025-11-21/
2025-11-21 20:39
Nov 21 (Reuters) - (This Nov. 21 story has been corrected to clarify that the deal between Hungary and the United States concerns the existing nuclear plant, known as Paks I, and not the Paks II project to be built by Russia's Rosatom, in paragraph 4) The United States on Friday issued a Russia-related general license allowing certain transactions with the Paks II civil nuclear power plant project in Hungary, according to the Treasury Department website. Sign up here. The license allows exceptions to U.S. sanctions on the project being built by Russia over Moscow's war on Ukraine. It allows transactions linked to the nuclear power plant project involving some Russian banks, including Gazprombank, VTB Bank, and the Russian central bank, the Treasury Department notice showed. The move came after Hungary signed an agreement this month on nuclear power cooperation with the United States as President Donald Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Under the deal, Hungary will buy American nuclear fuel and U.S. technology to store spent fuel at an existing plant, known as Paks I. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-issues-license-allowing-some-transactions-with-hungarian-nuclear-power-plant-2025-11-21/
2025-11-21 20:29
Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday to ease regulatory requirements on certain coke oven processing plants, the White House said. Coke ovens are manufacturing plants or blast furnaces for making coking coal, a key raw material in steelmaking. Sign up here. The proclamation gives some plants an exemption from certain emissions requirements for a period of 2 years beyond their compliance dates under the Coke Oven Rule, according to the text of the proclamation released by the White House. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-signs-proclamation-ease-regulations-some-coke-oven-processing-plants-2025-11-21/
2025-11-21 19:44
BRASILIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Brazil's government said on Friday that 22% of its exports to the United States remain subject to a 40% extra tariff after President Donald Trumpexpanded the list of exemptions to include goods such as coffee, meat and fruit. Those products are also hit by the U.S. base tariff of 10%, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services said, citing 2024 export values. Sign up here. Speaking to reporters, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said that before Washington's decision on Thursday, the share of products facing the full 50% tariff had stood at 36%. Alckmin said 238 products were removed from the extra tariff list, calling it the biggest breakthrough in trade talks so far. He noted, however, that goods such as fish, honey, grapes, machinery, engines and footwear remain subject to the surcharge. Figures released by the ministry on Friday show that about 51% of Brazil's exports shed the extra 40% tariff, with 15% of them still subject to a 10% rate and the remaining 36% facing no additional duty. Meanwhile, about 27% of Brazilian exports to the U.S. are subject to levies under Section 232 investigations, which impose tariffs on sectors such as steel, aluminum, wood, copper and furniture. Negotiations are ongoing as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signaled he is willing to meet Trump in person soon, although no meeting has been scheduled, said Alckmin. "We were optimistic, and we want to reiterate that we remain optimistic. The work is not finished," he said. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-tariff-relief-leaves-22-brazils-shipments-still-hit-2025-11-21/
2025-11-21 18:52
BUENOS AIRES, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Argentine officials did not speak with U.S. banks about a $20 billion rescue package, the country's economy minister, Luis Caputo, said on Friday in a post on social media. Caputo made the comments after the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that a planned $20 billion bailout for Argentina from JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) , opens new tab, Bank of America (BAC.N) , opens new tab, and Citigroup (C.N) , opens new tab, had been shelved as bankers pivot instead to a smaller, short-term loan package. Sign up here. “We never spoke with the banks about a bailout, nor about 20 billion. It’s just another ‘operation’ whose only purpose is to create confusion,” Caputo wrote on X. In October, the U.S. Treasury reached a $20 billion exchange-rate stabilization agreement with Argentina, to be paired with a bank-led debt facility for the same amount. The deal came just days ahead of a midterm election that was crucial for Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei. Bankers now say the debt facility is no longer under serious consideration, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Instead, lenders are planning to loan Argentina around $5 billion through a short-term repurchase, or "repo," facility, it said. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/argentina-did-not-discuss-20-bln-bailout-with-banks-minister-says-2025-11-21/
2025-11-21 17:45
BOSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said on Friday that monetary policy is in the right place amid a resilient economy, in comments that suggest she remains skeptical of the need to cut interest rates again at next month’s monetary policy meeting. Given where inflation currently stands, "restrictive policy is very appropriate right now," and the current state of the economy "makes me hesitant as I look forward to think about what the next policy move should be," Collins said in an interview on CNBC. Sign up here. She noted that maintaining something close to the current level of monetary policy will help ensure that as tariff pressures pass through the economy, still-high inflation will eventually moderate. Collins, who currently holds a vote on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, is one of a number of skeptics on the Fed when it comes to the prospect of lowering the cost of short-term borrowing at the central bank's December 9-10 meeting. The Fed cut rates at both its mid-September and late October meetings, with the federal funds rate target range now at between 3.75% and 4%. Rate cuts were aimed at providing insurance for a softening job market, while at the same time putting continued downward pressure on inflation levels which continue to breach the Fed's 2% target. As the December meeting looms into view, a wide range of policymakers have expressed skepticism over a December rate cut, as they have been deprived of data due to the government shutdown. That said, hopes for an interest rate cut got a shot in the arm from New York Fed leader John Williams, who spoke on Friday and nodded toward an easing. In her interview, Collins said the September hiring data released this week was mixed and comes in a broader environment where the economy appears to be resilient. Collins said she would be watching the job market for signs of slowing and if it did, it would affect her monetary policy outlook. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/feds-collins-leans-against-december-rate-cut-cnbc-interview-2025-11-21/
