China to revise laws, regulations related to foreign investment law

The State Council, China's cabinet, said Wednesday it was necessary to amend laws and supporting regulations and policies to ensure the implementation of the foreign investment law.

Draft amendments for administrative licensing law, trademark law, construction law and electronic signature law were passed Wednesday at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Suggestions for revisions include adding the principle of "non-discrimination" in administrative licensing, substantially raising the amount of compensation for infringing exclusive rights to use trademarks, and cutting approval time for applications for qualified construction permits.

Last month, the National People's Congress passed the foreign investment law, a landmark legislation that will provide stronger protection and a better business environment for overseas investors. The law will become effective on Jan 1, 2020.

http://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/04/WS5ca5a017498e079e6801ccde.html

>>6084803

China, U.S. smoothly conclude 9th round of high-level trade talks

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhua) – China and the United States concluded here the ninth round of high-level economic and trade talks which ran from Wednesday to Friday.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, co-hosted the talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The two sides discussed the agreement text on technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights, non-tariff measures, services industry, agriculture, trade balance and enforcement mechanism, and achieved new progress.

The two sides also decided to continue their consultations regarding the remaining issues through various effective means.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/07/WS5ca93a48a3104842260b4ae4.html

Cuba newsprint shortage sounds alarm for economy

The newsprint shortages which forced Cuba's Communist daily to run a trimmed-down edition on Friday would pass off as a simple supply glitch in most other countries, but in Havana they carry chilling memories of the not-so-distant past.

The last time the government cut back on newspapers because of a lack of newsprint was in the early 1990s, when Fidel Castro ushered in a "Special Period" of drastic belt-tightening in the wake of the collapse of his main sponsor, the Soviet Union.

Today, the Caribbean state is facing difficulties once again, with US President Donald Trump – who has lashed out at Cuba for its support of Venezuela's socialist regime – determined to tighten Washington's six-decade trade embargo.

For long since, the country has relied on medical and teaching services supplied to countries like Brazil and, in particular, Venezuela, in return for cheap oil imports. But trade with Caracas has plummeted as sanctions-struck Venezuela's economic crisis deepens.

Cuba recently defaulted on a portion of its debt to Brazil, a big supplier of poultry.

https://www.france24.com/en/20190407-cuba-newsprint-shortage-sounds-alarm-economy

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Russia gave A LOT of loans recently to Venezuela.

Shows Russia does not have enough rubles to help BOTH Venezuela and Cuba along with helping out Syria and Iran. Nice spot to be in if you are POTUS and the leader of the free world.

All under the radar. Nothing reported.

Wonder what would happen if Germany would stop funding Nord Stream II?

Time to sit back, watch the rest of the movie, and see which country is more important to Russia.