Macron said that it opposed the free trade agreement reached between the EU and MERCOSUR. On December 12th, local time, French President Macron, who was visiting Poland, said that he disagreed with the free trade agreement reached between the EU and MERCOSUR. Macron said that the impact of the agreement on the agricultural market caused widespread concern, and France would not sacrifice its agricultural sovereignty. On the same day, Macron also said that Europe must strengthen its investment in security, build a European defense base and reduce its strategic dependence on the outside world. The EU and MERCOSUR reached a trade agreement on December 6th. The Southern Common Market was established in 1991. At present, its members are Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, of which the first four are founding members. The vast majority of goods among member countries are free to trade without tariffs, and a unified foreign tariff policy is implemented. It is understood that the trade agreement needs to be approved by at least 15 of the 27 EU member States, and it needs to be voted by the European Parliament before it can be approved. France, Poland and Italy opposed the agreement. (CCTV News)Central Economic Work Conference: Expanding high-level opening to the outside world and stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing on December 11th and 12th. The meeting proposed to expand independent opening and unilateral opening in an orderly manner, steadily expand institutional opening, promote the free trade pilot zone to improve quality and efficiency and expand the reform mandate, and accelerate the implementation of the core policy of Hainan Free Trade Port. Actively develop service trade, green trade and digital trade. Deepen the reform of foreign investment promotion system and mechanism. We will steadily open up the service industry, expand pilot projects in the fields of telecommunications, medical care and education, and continue to build the brand of "Invest in China". Promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", deepen and improve the overseas comprehensive service system. (Xinhua News Agency)European Central Bank President Lagarde: The decline in corporate profit margins is due to the increase in the cost of absorbing labor. European Central Bank President Lagarde: It is observed that corporate profit margins have declined. Inflation risk is not a two-way street. The prospect of economic productivity is improving. The decline in profit margin is due to the increase in the cost of absorbing labor.
Central Economic Work Conference: Promoting new urbanization and overall rural revitalization, and promoting the integrated development of urban and rural areas. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to promote new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization as a whole and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas. Strictly observe the red line of cultivated land and strictly manage the balance of cultivated land occupation and compensation. We will ensure the stable production and supply of grain and important agricultural products, and improve the comprehensive benefits and competitiveness of agriculture. Protect the enthusiasm of grain farmers and major grain producing areas, and improve the grain price formation mechanism. According to local conditions, we will promote the integrated development of developing the industry, strengthening the county and enriching the people, and do everything possible to broaden the channels for farmers to increase their income. Develop a modern metropolitan area, improve the level of modern governance of megacities, and vigorously develop the county economy. (Xinhua News Agency)The European Central Bank predicts that inflation will decline in 2025, and the European Central Bank currently predicts that inflation will cool down slightly faster than predicted in September. The bank's latest forecast shows that the average inflation rate in 2024 and 2025 is 2.4% and 2.1% respectively, while the previous forecast is 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. After cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, the European Central Bank said in a statement: "The anti-inflation process is on the right track." The bank said: "Domestic inflation has declined slightly, but it is still at a high level, mainly because wages and prices in some industries are still adapting to the past inflation surge, but there is a great delay." The European Central Bank maintains its inflation forecast of 1.9% in 2026, and predicts that the average inflation rate in 2027 will be 2.1%.Trump was elected as Time Magazine's Person of the Year for the second time, and Time Magazine awarded Donald Trump, who is about to re-enter the White House, with the recognition of his amazing political comeback and his historic year of assassination attempt and felony conviction. This result also confirms the general expectation. Since Bush in 2000, the magazine has awarded this honor to the winner in every presidential election. Trump was also named the magazine's person of the year when he first won the US election in 2016.
European Central Bank President Lagarde: The proposal to cut interest rates by 25 basis points has been agreed by everyone. European Central Bank President Lagarde said that the proposal to cut interest rates by 25 basis points has been agreed by everyone, and inflation is expected to reach 2% in the medium term. There are some discussions about cutting interest rates by 50 basis points, but it is generally believed that a 25 basis point cut is the right move. The wage level will reach a level consistent with the inflation target of 2%.Guo Liyan, Institute of Economics, China Macroeconomic Research Institute: It is a long-term and fundamental policy to continuously promote the construction of ultra-large-scale domestic market. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. Guo Liyan, deputy director of the Economic Research Institute of China Macroeconomic Research Institute, said in an interview that expanding domestic demand in an all-round way and continuously promoting the construction of super-large-scale domestic market are not just temporary measures to cope with risks and external shocks, but long-term and fundamental measures to promote Chinese modernization. The key is to boost consumption and improve the efficiency of investment, so that effective investment and potential consumption can form a virtuous cycle promotion mechanism, thereby consolidating and enhancing the main role of domestic demand in supporting the national economic cycle, and giving full play to the powerful supporting role of domestic demand for high-quality economic development and higher-level participation in international competition and cooperation. (The country is a through train)European Central Bank President Lagarde: The economy will strengthen over time.