Latest news with #TheCommission
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Not So Promising? Noel Leeming's 'Price Promise' Leads To Criminal Charges
The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges in the Auckland District Court against Noel Leeming, alleging multiple breaches of the Fair Trading Act, including the promotion and application of their 'Price Promise' which misled consumers. 'For over a decade Noel Leeming has prominently promoted their 'Price Promise,' which is their commitment to match any competitors' price. We believe their price promise claim was misleading and in breach of the Fair Trading Act,' Deputy Chair Anne Callinan says. 'Price match advertising gives the impression that customers will be able to show up and get a match for competitor's prices. It's crucial that businesses promoting any price match offer factor in the overall impression of the claims they make, and that all information is clear to customers. 'We believe Noel Leeming's price promise had many limitations and conditions which weren't made obvious to customers and made any price matches difficult to obtain. Fine print should not contradict advertising claims or be used to conceal important information which could be critical to a person's decision to buy goods or services. 'Noel Leeming has previously been one of our most complained about traders, and we were concerned about the range of issues consumers raised,' Ms Callinan says The Commission has also filed charges against Noel Leeming regarding promotions where the advertised product or price was different to what could be purchased. Other charges allege Noel Leeming gave incorrect or misleading information about consumers' rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act when customers complained about faulty products. 'We expect big businesses to be clear and honest in their advertising. Consumers should be able to trust the information they receive when they are buying goods and services,' Ms Callinan says. "The Commission will take action when we see misleading or deceptive conduct,' Ms Callinan says. Background Noel Leeming is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Warehouse Group Limited. The Commerce Commission is responsible for enforcing the Fair Trading Act. The Fair Trading Act is primarily concerned with trader behaviours that are likely to mislead consumers as to the price, performance or quality of their purchase. These behaviours can include anything from false claims about what a product is made from or where it comes from, through to key pricing details being hidden in fine print. The maximum penalty for breaches of the Fair Trading Act, is $600,000 per charge for businesses.
Euractiv
30-06-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
EU trade chief heads to US as Brussels races to avert Trump's 50% tariff
The EU's trade chief will fly to the US tomorrow for last-ditch talks with senior American officials, just days before Donald Trump's 50% blanket levy on European goods is due to enter into force. Maroš Šefčovič told reporters on Monday that he expects to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday. The US president has imposed sweeping tariffs since his return to the White House in January, including a 50% duty on all US imports of steel and aluminium, and a 25% levy on cars. Trump has also pledged to hike the current 10% baseline duty on most EU exports to 50% on 9 July, when sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" on many other US trading partners are also set to kick in. 'Of course, we'll do our utmost with my partners in the US to advance these negotiations as much as possible' before the 9 July deadline, Šefčovič said, adding that he had recently held 'very intensive and sometimes very intense discussions' with both Greer and Lutnick. Šefčovič's comments come after European Commission officials briefed EU ambassadors in Brussels on Monday about the current state of play in EU-US trade talks. Best-case scenario The Commission, which oversees the bloc's trade policy, told EU envoys that a 'best-case' scenario would be a so-called 'framework agreement' similar to the one agreed in May between the US and the UK, according to EU diplomats briefed on the discussion. The deal, which would be far shorter and vaguer than a traditional free trade agreement, would likely include a general statement of principles and commitments to clarify ongoing trade disputes, as well as pledges to remove specific tariffs on EU exports, the diplomats said. If no deal is reached – or no extension to the 9 July deadline is granted – the EU would likely impose retaliatory tariffs on €21 billion worth of US goods on 14 July, diplomats added. The bloc is also preparing a separate list of targeted goods, which could cover US exports valued at €95 billion. The outcome of Šefčovič's visit will be discussed by EU ambassadors in Brussels on Friday, and possibly also by the EU Council's Trade Policy Committee on Thursday, diplomats said. Conflicting signals Šefčovič's comments also come amid conflicting signals from the EU about whether the bloc would consider revising its regulations – especially those concerning digital companies and services – in order to strike a deal with Washington. In a sign that the bloc may be caving to US pressure to revise its Digital Markets Act (DMA) – long criticised by Trump and major US tech firms – Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week that EU officials are discussing 'non-tariff barriers like standards and norms' with their US counterparts. However, the following day, Matthias Jørgensen, a senior EU official involved in the negotiations, told members of the European Parliament's Trade Committee that 'changes to existing EU legislation' constitute 'red lines' for Brussels. Further muddying the waters, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – who previously said it is 'highly likely' that the 9 July deadline could be extended – suggested on Monday that the US is preparing to reimpose the sweeping "reciprocal" levies introduced on 2 April, which upended global trade and roiled financial markets before being suspended for 90 days on 9 April. 'We have countries that are negotiating in good faith, but they should be aware that if we can't get across the line because they are being recalcitrant, then we could spring back to the 2 April levels,' he told Bloomberg TV. 'I hope that won't have to happen.' (aw)
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Syria: UN Commission Hails Recent Action To Address Past Violations
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro highlighted the establishment of the National Transitional Authority and the National Authority for Missing Persons which are expected to help reveal the fate of the more than 100,000 Syrians estimated to have been forcibly disappeared or gone missing. They are also expected to expose the truth about systematic violations like arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, and about widespread attacks which killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and maimed millions during hostilities. Syria continues along the path to transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime last December. Wave of retaliatory attacks Mr. Pinheiro said the security vacuum left after the dismissal of the armed forces and security services, together with a lack of clarity on the new framework for justice, contributed to an atmosphere where victims of past crimes and violations attempted to take the law into their own hands and settle scores. Retaliatory attacks that took place in coastal areas in March, and on a smaller scale in other parts of the country, were 'in part a response to five decades of systematic crimes perpetrated by security forces with impunity which affected all Syrians,' he said. 'More recently, sectarian fault lines have also been fuelled by widespread hate speech and incitement against Alawis, off and online, including posts with false information reportedly often originating from abroad.' Eyewitness accounts The Commission conducted its latest visit to Syria last week and travelled to several locations on the coast where killings and looting had occurred. The team met with several civil and security authorities, as well as eyewitnesses and victims' families. 'First-hand accounts by survivors of these events…revealed in detail how residential areas were raided by large groups of armed men, many of them members of factions now affiliated with the State. They told us how the assailants detained, ill-treated and executed Alawis,' he said. He acknowledged the interim authorities' establishment of a National Inquiry to investigate the violations as well as an additional High-Level Committee to Maintain Civil Peace. Furthermore, dozens of alleged perpetrators have been arrested. "Protection of civilians is essential to prevent further violations and crimes,' he said. "We welcome the commitment of President (Ahmed) al-Sharaa to hold those responsible accountable to restore confidence for State institutions amongst the affected communities.' He also pointed to a deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus last Sunday, saying the authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities, and perpetrators and enablers must be held accountable. Foreign intervention Mr. Pinheiro told the Council that 'the Syrian conflict has had no shortage of internal challenges and grievances, many of which were made worse by foreign interventions.' In recent weeks, Israel has carried out a wave of airstrikes in and around Damascus, including near the presidential palace. Military bases and weapons depots in Daraa, Hama, Tartous and Latakia have also been targeted as part of its sustained military campaign in Syria. Several civilians were killed. Civilian casualties were also reported in the context of Israeli operations in the buffer zone in Quneitra and southwestern Daraa monitored by the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) 'These actions raise serious concerns of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law as UN Secretary-General (António) Guterres further stated recently,' he said. Millions in need Mr. Pinheiro reported that more than two million Syrians have returned home since December, including nearly 600,000 from neighbouring countries and just under 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). 'For many of the over seven million Syrians who remain displaced, massive property-related challenges will need to be tackled in the wake of industrial-scale destruction, pillage and confiscation of homes and lands,' he said. Moreover, he noted that 'despite the recent encouraging steps towards lifting of sectoral sanctions and opening the country to new investments, nearly 16.5 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance.' Among them are nearly three million people facing severe food insecurity. Mr. Pinheiro concluded his remarks, saying 'the interim authorities' repeated commitments to protect the rights of everyone and all communities in Syria without discrimination of any kind are encouraging' and 'should be met with the necessary support from the international community.' About the Commission The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was by the Human Rights Council in August 2011 with a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011. The members are Mr. Pinheiro and Commissioners Hanny Megally and Lynn Welchman.
Euronews
27-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Commission holds fire on retaliation in face of latest Trump tariff threats
The Commission maintains that dialogue with the US has not broken down, even though President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday evening new tariffs of 25% on EU goods. 'We stand for dialogue, openness and reciprocity,' Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said on Thursday, assuring that high level contacts were taking place between the US administration and the EU. 'We are still in the early stage of figuring out what's going on,' Gill added. The comment followed a statement by the EU executive on Wednesday night repeating that it is ready to react 'firmly' and 'immediately' if tariff hikes on EU goods are carried through, but no countermeasures have been announced at this stage. 'The EU will always protect European businesses, workers, and consumers from unjustified tariffs,' Gill said. In response to the US president's claim that the bloc was formed to "screw the United States,' Gill added that 'the EU has been a boon for the United States,' stressing that 'US investments in Europe are highly profitable'. Trump previously announced that customs duties of 25% would apply from 12 March on all imports of aluminium and steel into the US, including from the EU. His administration is also working on reciprocal tariffs on EU imports, on a country to country basis. Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič travelled last week to Washington to meet his US counterpart Secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick. 'It was a very productive meeting,' Gill said, adding that 'they had the opportunity to see where the other's principles and red lines lie'. The EU and US are engaged in a narrative battle over figures, meanwhile, with Trump claiming that the US suffers from a $300 billion trade deficit with the EU, while the latter argues that any deficit in trade of goods between the blocs is offset by a surplus in trade in services, which the EU claims reduces the US deficit to $50 billion. 'Barriers to fair trade are unjustified, especially between trade partners. It's a lose-lose for both,' Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné posted on X. The EU 'was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that,' posted Polish Prime minister Donald Tusk. The European Commission has been working on retaliation measures for more than two weeks, while attempting to negotiate with the Americans. A list of products already targeted in the trade dispute between the Trump administration in 2018 and the Europeans on aluminium and steel is ready. An arsenal of anti-coercion measures could also be applied, but the decision-making process would take longer for these as they require adoption by the 27 member states and might not enjoy full support. Such measures could cover services, and licensing of intellectual property rights.
