- Tensions arise between the White House and the Fed
- Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU got suspended
- Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine price has been announced
Tensions Arise Between the White House and the FED
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asked the Fed to return unused contingency funds. The Fed, which refused to accept the request, made a statement that “the nature of emergency opportunities must continue to be the basis of the economy”. Mnuchin asked the Fed by sending a letter. In the letter, Mnuchin, who wanted the Fed’s four emergency lending programs to be extended by 90 days, demanded that other programs expire on December 31 and that $455 billion of funds to be returned to the Treasury for use by the US Congress in other areas.
In order to combat the economic effects of the pandemic, the CB managers stated that financial support should also increase, while there was an ’emergency fund’ tension between the Treasury Department and the Fed in the USA.
Mnuchin recalled that all programs signed by Donald Trump and initiated under the Coronavirus Aid, Support and Economic Security Act (CARES) will expire at the end of the year.
In a statement made by the US Central Bank, which did not accept the request, it was stated that “The Fed prefers the emergency facilities created during the coronavirus pandemic to continue its important role to be a basis for the still damaged and fragile economy”.
Mnuchin recalled that all programs signed by US President Donald Trump and initiated under the Coronavirus Aid, Support and Economic Security Act (CARES) will expire at the end of the year.
Brexit Negotiations Between the UK and EU Got Suspended
The face-to-face Brexit talks between the European Union (EU) and the UK were suspended due to the detection of Covid-19 in a negotiator. Talks are expected to continue from afar.
EU Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier shared on his Twitter account: “One of the negotiators in my team had a positive Covid-19 test. We decided to suspend negotiations at our level with Britain’s Brexit Negotiator David Frost for a short time.”
“I am in close contact with Michel Barnier about the situation. The priority is the health of our teams. Thank you to the EU Commission for their emergency assistance and support,” Frost said on his social media account.
Authorities announced that they will continue to work remotely for the EU-UK trade agreement, which will take effect within six weeks.
In addition, the British government spokesman said, “Direct talks will continue when it is decided to be safe.”
Brexit process till now:
In the UK, which consists of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Brexit decision was taken with 52 percent against 48 percent in the EU referendum held in June 2016.
Britain, which officially left the EU on January 31st, is holding extensive negotiations with the Union on bilateral relations, especially on trade.
In the negotiations between the EU and the UK, “ensuring fair competition”, “how to resolve commercial disputes” and “fishing” are problematic issues.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the commercial relations between the two parties will be made according to the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules after December 31.
Throughout the transition period to this date, the UK continues to follow to EU rules.
Pfizer and BioNTech Vaccine Price Has Been Announced
EU agreed to pay 15.5 euros ($ 18.34) per dose for Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine
The European Union can pay more than $ 10 billion for the Pfizer-BioNTech and CureVac vaccines.
The EU agreed to pay 15.5 euros ($ 18.34) per dose for the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine. These prices mean 3.1 billion euros will be paid for 200 million doses under the agreement.
When an additional 100 million doses are ordered under the agreement, the total amount to be paid can reach 4.65 billion euros.
The price may be cheaper than the price the US would pay for the first doses, according to Reuters. The official said the EU has agreed to pay 10 euros ($ 11.84) per dose for 225 million doses of Curevac vaccine. The company had set the price of the vaccine at 12 euros.
It was announced that Pfizer / BioNTech’s vaccine provided more than 95 percent protection in the results of the third stage clinical trials.
WHO: Extremely difficult 6 months awaits Europe
According to the news, World Health Organization (WHO) Europe Director Hans Kluge announced that more than 29 thousand people died in Europe in the last week due to coronavirus.
Kluge added that the number of new cases started to decrease with the strict measures and curfews.
Dr. Kluge said that 28 percent of the worldwide number of cases and 26 percent of the casualties are in Europe.
