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On February 19th, China submitted its "Position Paper on WTO Reform under the Current Situation" to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The head of the WTO Department of the Ministry of Commerce provided an interpretation of the position paper. The overall position outlines Chinas general understanding of the WTO and its basic attitude towards WTO reform. The position paper states that the WTO provides open, non-discriminatory, stable, and predictable institutional guarantees for economic globalization. While the multilateral trading system has been impacted by unilateral tariff measures, and trade tensions have intensified, WTO rules and mechanisms remain a crucial barrier against trade turmoil. Unilateralism and protectionism are not the solution; all parties should address the real challenges brought about by economic globalization through multilateral cooperation, domestic reforms, and inclusive and mutually beneficial development. The position paper emphasizes that economic globalization is an unstoppable historical trend. WTO reform should aim to strengthen multilateral trade governance, uphold the most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment as the cornerstone of the WTO rules system, and place development at the center of the WTO reform agenda. It should address long-standing unresolved issues while exploring and formulating new rules for the future.Reserve Bank of New Zealand Assistant Governor Silk: Even with a small rate hike, interest rates will only be near the bottom of the neutral range.Reserve Bank of New Zealand Assistant Governor Silk: Maintaining an accommodative policy for some time is in line with reality.Sources say Germany is considering purchasing more F-35 fighter jets from the United States.Market news: Vietnam Airlines is in talks with Boeing (BA.N) to purchase 30 wide-body passenger aircraft.

Oil Prices Decline As U.S. Stocks Rise And China Anxiety Rises

Haiden Holmes

Dec 30, 2022 11:24

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On Thursday, U.S. crude oil prices closed down as a result of an unexpected increase in U.S. weekly crude inventories and continued concerns about the demand outlook in the wake of intensifying cases in China.


On the New York Mercantile Exchange, oil futures settled at $78.40 per barrel, down $0.56, while Brent futures settled at $84.66 per barrel, down $0.53.


Contrary to expectations of a decrease of 1.5 million barrels, U.S. oil inventories grew by 718,000 barrels for the week ending December 23, as reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).


Inventories of gasoline unexpectedly declined by 3.1 million barrels, the highest decrease since September, above forecasts for a rise of 520,000 barrels, while distillate supplies grew by 282,000 barrels, below estimates for a decrease of 2.05 million barrels.


The EIA's mixed petroleum data comes at a time when numerous nations are poised to impose new travel restrictions on Chinese tourists, dimming some of the euphoria that had followed the month-long removal of COVID restrictions. Multiple nations, including the United States, Italy, and Japan, imposed testing requirements on Chinese tourists.


It is anticipated that the efforts of the Biden administration to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by acquiring crude oil in the first quarter of 2016 will increase demand.


According to Craig Erlam, a senior market analyst at OANDA, efforts to replenish strategic petroleum stocks "should be positive for the market and should have provided some support."


Goldman Sachs decreased its price forecast for Brent crude in 2023 to $90/bbl from $110/bbl before, citing the recent decline in commodity prices, but highlighted that it remained bullish on oil prices in the medium term.


Goldman Sachs commented, "For oil prices, we remain bullish on oil prices in the immediate future due to the prospect of rising China demand, decreased supply growth from US shale due to discipline/tight service markets, and OPEC+ quota reduction."