The British and German governments are prepared to postpone questions about the trade relationship between the U.K. and the EU until after the Brexit deadline in order to reach a withdrawal treaty by November, reports Bloomberg.
Why it matters: The issue of future trade ties has been a main sticking point throughout Brexit negotiations, with the EU rejecting much of Prime Minister Theresa May's "Chequers plan" to remain in the bloc's single market for goods, but not services. Working out the details at a later date would allow negotiators to focus on the question of the Irish border, another significant point of contention on which there has reportedly been recent progress, per Bloomberg, and give May more room to maneuver politically. In the interim, the U.K. would continue to abide by EU rules.
U.K. police have charged two alleged Russian intelligence officers, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and illegal use of a nerve agent in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England earlier this year.
Richard Liu, the billionaire CEO of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, was arrested in Minneapolis Friday on suspicion of rape, according to the city's police department.
The latest: Liu, who was released Saturday without any charges, is back at work in China, a company spokesperson told Axios. A Minneapolis police spokesman told the Wall Street Journal that the investigation into the alleged incident is ongoing.
Why it matters: This high-level U.S. diplomacy is freighted with importance for the Trump administration’s South Asia strategy. The White House sees India as a key partner in U.S. efforts to push back against Beijing’s rising influence in Asia.Pompeo and Mattis will try to reaffirm the strength of the U.S.–India relationship, which has suffered recent strains after years of growth and warmth.
An analysis by UBS estimates that the United Kingdom's GDP is 2.1% lower than it would have been had the country voted to remain in the European Union, reports Bloomberg.
The big picture: Brexit won't take effect until March of next year, but the study suggests uncertainty surrounding trade and potential supply chain disruptions has already resulted in lower investment (down 4%) and consumption (down 1.7%). With negotiations stalled ahead of a November deadline, the U.K. has officially begun preparing for the far-reaching economic and social consequences of a "no deal Brexit."
