Latest news with #DerekMitchell
Politico
08-07-2025
- Business
- Politico
'Shock. Frustration. Anger.' Trump's tariff letters roil Asian allies
The White House is framing its decision to send letters as a means of shoring up meaningful engagement from the countries it contacted. 'We've got the leverage here,' a White House official said in an interview. When it comes to Japan and South Korea, in particular, 'We just haven't received serious offers from either of these countries, which is why we don't have a deal with either of them yet.' The White House is putting a particular emphasis in its talks with Asian governments on severing economic relations with China. In a preliminary agreement with Vietnam that Trump announced last week, the president said he would set a 40 percent tariff on goods shipped from the country that did not originate there. According to a draft framework, the deal will also 'establish favorable rules of origin' for each others' imports to reduce the transshipment of Chinese products. That agreement was greeted with concern among other governments in the region, particularly China, which said in a statement from its Ministry of Commerce that the country 'firmly opposes any deal made at the expense of China's interests in exchange for so-called tariff exemptions,' according to a spokesperson. 'We urge all parties to stand on the side of fairness and justice and on the right side of history in resolutely upholding international trade rules and the multilateral trading system.' And it underscores the uncomfortable position Trump's push to wall off China is putting other Asian countries in. Beijing's trade with ASEAN nations totaled more than $900 billion in 2024, roughly double the value of trade the region did with the U.S. last year. China has also invested billions in infrastructure in Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative. Washington is pressuring Southeast Asian countries to not only block Beijing from using their nations as conduits for Chinese goods heading to the West, but also to join the U.S. in cracking down on Chinese companies trying to dodge tariffs. But without any guarantee tariffs will remain off, and duty levels higher than the start of the second Trump administration, the latest threat has countries questioning whether a deal with the U.S. is worth spurning their largest regional trading partner. 'It affirms China's narrative that, 'America is not reliable. America's far away, but we're next door and we want to open our markets,'' said Derek Mitchell, who was ambassador to Myanmar in the Obama administration. Japan, a treaty ally and the United States' fourth-largest trading partner, is larger and more independent, economically and politically, from China than many of its Southeast Asian neighbors. But the relationship with Tokyo remains crucial to curbing Beijing's influence in the Asia-Pacific. And Trump's seeming disregard for the long history of cooperation between Washington and Tokyo, as well as between Washington and Seoul risks fraying ties with both capitals, said Tami Overby, a partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group who advises businesses on trade issues in South Korea.
The National
04-06-2025
- General
- The National
Citizens Advice Scotland in trans rights row over bathroom change
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) staff told staff last month that the charity would be enforcing a policy of 'male only' and 'female only' toilets on the basis of sex assigned at birth, according to an email seen by The Ferret. CAS's chief executive, Derek Mitchell, reportedly said in the email, sent May 6, that the charity was bound by 'legal constraints' following the landmark ruling by the UK Supreme Court in April on how sex should be interpreted under the Equality Act 2010. The ruling stated that, under the Equality Act 2010, the definition of 'woman' refers to 'biological sex', a decision gender critical campaigners claimed had brought 'clarity on the law'. READ MORE: Labour MPs visit Israel on lobbying trip in middle of Gaza genocide However, legal experts have pointed out that the ruling on the definition of 'man' and 'woman' relates to the 2010 Equality Act only, while campaign groups have also raised concerns over the interpretation of the ruling. Mitchell said the decision to enforce male and female-only bathrooms was in response to the ruling and subsequent interim 'guidance' offered by the UK's human rights regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). CAS's chief executive reportedly clarified that a separate single-occupancy bathroom would also be available 'for any colleague'. 'As an employer, CAS is required to comply with the law, and we need to ensure our practices and policies reflect current legal standards,' Mitchell said. 'This is not an expression of any view on the High Court ruling, it is our legal obligation as an employer.' Mitchell reportedly sent a second update two days later acknowledging the upset that had been caused due to the decision, but doubled down on claims that the charity was bound by the law to introduce changes. The decision has left staff at CAS feeling hurt, afraid, disappointed, and concerned by Mitchell's claim that the decision had been taken out of the charity's hands by legal changes, The Ferret reported. A spokesperson for CAS said they recognised 'this issue touches on deeply personal experiences and we will continue to monitor and review our approach should guidance change'. Lawyers and campaigners have said that the EHRC's update was neither intended as formal guidance nor legally binding, and therefore gives employers options on how they proceed. One staff member at CAS claimed neither the trade union nor the equality, diversity and inclusion committee were consulted ahead of the decision, according to The Ferret. Another staff member told The Ferret how CAS had built its workplace culture around inclusion and dignity, and that this policy change was effectively a 'slap in the face'. 'It's almost like it's polluted my work,' said one staff member. 'Because obviously when we consult, we're very respectful of any kind of pronouns. So I would like to think that we would treat our colleagues the same, and that the attitude from management would be the same.' Another said the decision to put this out 'without going through proper channels to make sure that the information that he's putting in there is correct' made them feel 'less safe within the organisation'. The Good Law Project have raised concerns since the ruling by the UK Supreme Court over how it is interpreted and whether or not it will impact other legislation that governs access to toilets and changing rooms in the workplace. Jen Ang, a human rights lawyer and director of legal firm Lawmanity, was shown the leaked emails by The Ferret. She said: 'The Supreme Court decision does not require employers to provide only separate toilets for men and women – it only clarified the meaning of 'sex' for purposes of the Equality Act and in so doing, shifted our understanding of what is required if single sex, mixed sex or only sex facilities are being provided by an employer. 'Employers must consider a range of factors in deciding what toilet facilities to provide, and be prepared to justify their decisions.' She claimed companies or charities that restricted access to some facilities on the basis of a protected characteristic like sex or gender reassignment without being able to justify the decision as a 'proportionate means to a legitimate aim', may be open to legal challenge in the future. READ MORE: Police issue statement after Scottish men killed in Spain shooting 'This is a good reason why organisations should start early with good faith efforts to gather the information they will need to make these decisions,' Ang added. 'By engaging with staff and service users to understand their requirements – and also why clear and practical guidance and support is urgently needed from our UK equalities and human rights regulators, and from our national governments.'
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Energy bills set to drop by £130 for thousands of Scots – but there's a catch
BILLS BOOST Energy bills set to drop by £130 for thousands of Scots – but there's a catch ENERGY bills for a typical household are set to fall by seven per cent, it emerged today. Regulator Ofgem announced the price cap will be reduced from July meaning typical charges will drop from £1,849 to £1,720. 2 Energy bills are set to fall by seven per cent in July Credit: PA But consumer experts warned households will still be nearly £600 worse off than before the energy crisis despite bills falling by £129. And charities warned that the energy market is still "broken", while growing numbers of Scots households were in arrears with power bills. The new price cap is still £582 more than the £1,138 level before the energy crisis hit in autumn 2021 - an increase of 51 per cent. Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'News of lower gas and electricity prices is always welcome, but it is cold comfort for customers who are paying so much more than they were before the energy crisis began. 'Many people are still struggling with the cost of living and are saddled with energy-related debts, and it could still be years before energy prices fall to pre-crisis levels." Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell said: 'Our energy market is broken, and thousands of people are facing mounting energy debt. 'We need to see long-term solutions that will enable all of us to heat our homes in a way that's affordable. We have called for a new social tariff to be applied to bills for low-income households, and for a robust energy debt write-off scheme to help those people who were forced into debt just to pay their bills." Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: "A fall in the price cap will be welcome news for consumers, and reflects a reduction in the international price of wholesale gas. However, we're acutely aware that prices remain high, and some continue to struggle with the cost of energy." Offgen reminded householders that they don't have to pay the price cap as "there are better deals out". Mr Jarvis added: "It's important to shop around, and talk to your existing supplier about the best deal they can offer you. And changing your payment method to direct debit or smart pay as you go can save you up to £136." From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April The price cap began to rise in October 2021 when wholesale gas prices increased by 50 per cent. In February 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine plunged energy markets into turmoil, and the cap peaked at £4,279 in January 2023. Before last July's General Election, Sir Keir Starner said people should be saving around £400 to £500 on their bills by 2029 due to his plans for renewables investment via GB Energy. But doubt has been cast on whether the public-owned firm can prompt a fall in household costs, partly due to wider global forces buffeting energy markets. The price cap news comes after whopping bill increases including council tax - up by average of 9.6 per cent, or £135 for a Band D home- and Scottish Water charges rising by 9.9 per cent or an average of £44.
