Business
India Is In Active Talks With The US For Trade Agreement: Piyush Goyal
New Delhi: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that the government is actively talking to the US for a bilateral trade agreement.
The minister’s remark came after the US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared positive developments around trade talks and ease in bilateral ties.
In his address at the FICCI Leads Summit, Goyal said that trade negotiations are underway with the European Union. India is in talks with New Zealand as well, he added.
The minister further said that a trade agreement with Oman will be reached soon.
Earlier in the day, in a significant step toward easing tensions, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has resumed trade negotiations with India.
“I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations,” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump, on Tuesday, also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “very good friend” and said he looks forward to speaking with him “in the upcoming weeks”.
“I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our great countries,” he added.
Responding to the US President’s remark, Prime Minister Modi said that the discussions will unlock “the limitless potential of the India-US partnership”.
“India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people,” PM Modi posted on X.
In a White House press conference earlier last week, Trump referred to Prime Minister Modi as a “great Prime Minister” and declared: “I’ll always be friends with him.”
The relationship between the United States and India is unique, Trump said, adding that there was nothing to be concerned about.
PM Modi responded to his remark hours later, stating that he fully shares President Trump’s sentiments and appreciates them.
NEW DELHI: The West Asia conflict is pushing govt to look at a faster transition towards renewable energy, including the possibility of increasing ethanol blending in petrol from 20-25%, although in a calibrated manner. This will come along with increased refining capacity within the country, so that there is a buffer in the system and greater domestic resilience, those familiar with the discussions said, pointing out that sustaining refineries at 100% capacity is not sustainable.While Barmer refinery has begun operations, expansion at Numaligarh is underway and work on integrated refineries on the west coast is also under focus. Apart from a mega refinery in Maharashtra, a new facility in Gujarat is also planned.Officials said rising use of renewables, biofuels and hydrogen in the energy mix was no longer just an environmental issue, but a strategic necessity in a situation like the present one, where the military conflict in West Asia has disrupted global energy supplies, triggering a supply crisis and a surge in oil and gas prices.According to officials, 20% ethanol blending has helped India save 4.5 crore barrels of crude annually and reduce foreign exchange outflow by around ₹1.5 lakh crore so far. Given the concerns over fuel efficiency and impact on vehicles, govt is expected to take a gradual approach that addresses the anxiety on ethanol blending. The third pillar on energy is expanding the strategic petroleum reserves.
A cup of coffee and strawberry frosted donut with sprinkles at a Dunkin’ Donuts location in Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2017.
Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings owner Inspire Brands has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, the company announced on Friday.
If Inspire goes public, it will be one of the biggest-ever restaurant offerings. Private equity firm Roark Capital, which backs Inspire, is reportedly seeking a valuation of roughly $20 billion.
Inspire was founded in 2018 through a merger between Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Acquisitions followed: Sonic Drive-In later in 2018 and Jimmy John’s in 2019. And in 2020, Inspire took Dunkin’ and its sister chain Baskin Robbins private in an $11 billion deal.
Across those six chains, Inspire has more than 33,300 restaurants worldwide and $33.4 billion in annual sales, according to the company’s website.
Inspire isn’t the only restaurant company pursuing an IPO. Last month, Jersey Mike’s also announced that it had confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The market for initial public offerings has been tepid, although that could change later this year. Market volatility, economic uncertainty and recent poor performance among IPO stocks has led to a backlog of listings.
However, several blockbuster IPOs, such as the SpaceX offering that could value the company at more than $1 trillion, are anticipated in the coming months.
Millions of car finance payouts are in jeopardy after the UK’s financial watchdog indicated its compensation scheme faces significant delays, changes, or even collapse.
This uncertainty stems from four legal challenges against the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA has advised motor finance firms to prepare for the possibility that its redress scheme, which could see an average payout of £829, may not proceed.
The regulator stated that while a hearing date is unclear, these cases are unlikely to be heard before October.
In the meantime, it is in discussions about the “possibility of suspending some elements” of its compensation scheme, while still urging lenders to prepare for payouts.
But the regulator said it was also considering its options should parts of the scheme be quashed by the courts, including proceeding with a revised version or asking lenders to plan for a scenario where “there would be no scheme”.
This could mean lenders need to be ready to respond to complaints from car finance customers individually, rather than under the rules of an industry-wide programme set by the FCA.
“Many people will be frustrated that the legal action will delay payouts due to begin this year,” the FCA said.
“We remain committed to ensuring consumers receive any compensation owed as promptly as possible.”
The FCA set out the final details of its compensation scheme in March, which it estimated could cost the industry about £9.1 billion in total.
It had been expecting millions of claims to be paid out this year and the vast majority settled by the end of 2027.
The financial services arms of carmakers Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz and the car finance arm of French bank Credit Agricole, as well as Consumer Voice, a group representing consumers, are asking the courts to quash the scheme, arguing the rules are unlawful.
“Between the four separate legal challenges, it is claimed in effect that the FCA’s approach to establishing the schemes has been both unduly favourable to consumers and unduly favourable to lenders,” the watchdog said.
At least one claim alleges that the FCA has breached the rights of lenders under the 1998 Human Rights Act, according to the watchdog.
Despite the uncertainty of the legal cases, the watchdog is still advising consumers to complain directly to their lender if they think they might be owed compensation, which they can do for free using a template letter on its website.
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