Auteur/autrice : David

Foreign Trade and Development

Finnish leaders comment on US steel tariffs

Summary:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö has commented on the steel tariffs set by President Donald Trump, saying that it seems that the tariffs do not create major threats to Finland. However, a more extensive trade war that would spread as a chain reaction would be very harmful to Finland, a country which depends on exports.

President Niinistö said in an interview with STT that there is always a risk of an escalating situation, but found that changes might be made to the tariffs and final conclusions should not be drawn yet. President Niinistö added that he thinks the tariffs are one way for President Trump to show his voters that he keeps his promises made in the election campaign.

In addition, President Niinistö pointed out that Trump has already implied that there may be exemptions to the tariffs. “How flexible the US is with the tariffs, nobody knows,” President Niinistö said.

President Niinistö found that the tariff decision shows that protectionism is here to stay, one way or the other. If the trade war spreads, it can have an impact on third parties, not only the US and its trade partners.

According to President Niinistö, the European Union must take a common stance in the situation, so that it would not have diverse voices.

Minister for Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen pointed out that Finland has good trade relations with the United States, and particularly measured by added value the US is an important partner for Finland.

Minister Virolainen added that the EU should now stand united in the situation. She found that the EU should now give Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström the full mandate to take care of the negotiations and to avoid a full-scale trade war.

Minister Virolainen also believed that the tariffs could still be cancelled. She mentioned that President Trump’s tariffs would take effect on 23 March, so there would be some time to affect the decision.

Vice President of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen said in an interview to STT that the US cannot use the threat of steel tariffs to get better trade conditions from the European Union. President Trump has hinted that the EU could get an exception from steel tariff, if the tax on import cars is decreased. Vice President Katainen finds that car tariffs are part of a wider whole. Mr Trump’s style of trade negotiations with threats is not acceptable, Katainen finds.

According to Mr Katainen, the European Union keeps searching for a solution to the steel tariffs dispute with the United States. Speaking at a discussion event arranged by the European Commission Representation in Finland, Mr Katainen noted that it seems the US administration does not know what it wants.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat, Keskisuomalainen (E-edition, PDF) , MTV – Finland, Turun Sanomat, Turun Sanomat (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 12.3.2018
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Cherished by Macron, idea of citizen survey well-received in EU countries

Summary:
A majority of EU countries is going to participate in the proposal by the French President Emmanuel Macron to consult EU citizens on the future of the Union. Only Hungary and the UK are not participating.

The consultation sounds organised, but at least in Finland there is no clear picture of how the discussions are to be utilised. In Finland, Ministers have promised to hold open discussion events.

The European Parliament’s Information Office in Finland will also arrange events. The idea of a web survey has not been very popular in Finland. The Government has proposed that instead, there could be a few extra questions on the Union’s future in the eurobarometer survey.

Media:  Etelä-Suomen Sanomat
Date: 11.3.2018
Journalist: STT
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Finland condemns poisoning attempt

Summary:
According to Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, the poisoning attempt of the Russian agent, Sergei Skripal, in the UK is a very severe blow to international security. He finds that Russia should contribute to the investigation of the crime.

President Niinistö said that both alternatives proposed to the events, the fact that Russia has been an active player in the events, and that the dangerous substances are not under its control, are both very worrying.

According to the President, Finland is ready to give all its support and help to the UK.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini expects that Russia acts like a responsible country and answers the questions it has been asked. According to Minister Soini, it is expected that Russia will respond in some way to the UK’s decision to banish 23 Russian diplomats due to the poisoning case.

Minister Soini added that the murder attempt was a very serious issue. « It is severe that chemical weapons are used in Europe. We have to find out who did it and they must face justice, » he said.

The Minister said that Finland would be ready to help the UK in the investigation, if it has the competence, but it will only help if the UK asks for it.

Minister Soini pointed out that now the relations between the UK and Russia are extremely cold. He hopes that they can solve their problems, because it must be done.

Media:  Aamulehti , Demokraatti.fi, Kaleva
Date: 14.3.2018
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Bank strike closes branches, slows down services and delays meetings

Summary:
Finnish banks started a new two-day strike on Thursday, 4 January, as the parties did not reach agreement in settlement negotiations. The previous strike was held last week. The finance industry strike is expected to affect customers similarly to last week’s strike. Most branches are closed and other services are limited. However, a new twist to the strike that begins on Thursday is that the ICT industry supports it so that they do not fix problems in bank systems during the strike. Banks inform their customers about the strike’s impacts on their websites. The customers are advised to prepare for slower services and longer waiting hours, In addition, meetings may be rescheduled.

Media:  YLE Uutiset
Date: 3.1.2018
Journalist: Vesa Sundqvist
Main source: –

President Niinistö’s message in New Year’s speech: « Finland likes to offer services when there is demand for them »

Summary:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö spoke about various topics in his annual New Year’s speech. In the part that focused on foreign affairs, President Niinistö talked about the major powers, North Korea and climate change. According to President Niinistö, the small Finland has its own place in world politics, and the country likes to offer its services to others when there is demand for them, while the world is spinning around and major powers control world politics. President Niinistö is concerned over the shrinking roles of the European Union and United Nations (UN). Finland supports the initiative to reform the UN, with the aim to increase the effectiveness and responsibility of the organisation, the President said. In his speech, President Niinistö also expressed a wish on stopping climate change and progress of the Paris Climate Agreement. He pointed out that Finland is taking responsibility in the sector. The planet is not only for us, it is for continuity, and that we must guarantee, the President stated.

Media:  Ilta-Sanomat
Date: 1.1.2018
Journalist: Mika Lehto
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Ministry headed by Soini gets a new name

Summary:
The official Finnish name for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs changes from ulkoasiainministeriö to ulkoministeriö. The Ministry’s Swedish and English names remain unchanged. At the beginning of the year, the Ministry also gets a new visual look and logo.

Media:  Demokraatti.fi
Date: 31.12.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –

In his second term, Sauli Niinistö would like to lead Finland “by way of three peaces”

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat interviews President Sauli Niinistö, who says that if he was re-elected in the upcoming Presidential elections in January, he would approach his second term through « three peaces ». By this, the President means avoiding wars, as well as maintaining the peace of nature and society. What comes to relations with Russia, President Niinistö finds that they are as good as they can be under the circumstances. « Under the circumstances means that Finland was the first to condemn the Crimea takeover and Finland has shown its support to sanctions, » the President adds. He declines to comment on under what circumstances Finland should join NATO. However, the President says that if Sweden joined NATO, Finland should consider its options. In EU affairs, President Niinistö does not believe that Brexit is a breaking point for EU. When Finland becomes EU president in autumn 2019, President Niinistö thinks that Finland should then keep mutual solidarity as well as security issues on the agenda.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 3.1.2018
Journalist: Olli Pohjanpalo
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Retour sur le Café Européen du 13 décembre à la Maison de Robert Schuman

Hier s’est tenu le dernier Café Européen de l’année 2017 à la Maison de Robert Schuman (Scy-Chazelles).
Un moment d’échange autour d’un buffet aux spécialités scandinaves dans un cadre magnifiquement décoré aux couleurs aux couleurs de la Finlande, jusqu’aux moindres détails avec un chemin de lanternes à l’occasion de la St Lucie, ponctués d’activités pour faire découvrir ce pays qui vient de fêter ses 100 ans d’indépendance.

Un résumé de la présentation de la Finlande, par le consul honoraire de Finlande à Nancy, Daniel Grandmougin, qui a eu lieu est disponible juste ici :

Après cette présentation du pays ça a été au tour de Laurent Thurnherr, le directeur de la Maison de Robert Schuman de faire découvrir aux auditeurs l’histoire, le parcours et le rapport à la France de grands peintres finlandais comme Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Hugo Simberg, et de nombreux autres artistes du 20ème siècle.

Hugo Simberg – L’ange blessé – 1903

Par la suite, les personnes présentes à ce Café Européen ont pu déguster certaines spécialités finlandaises comme les délicieux Korvapuusti au buffet tout découvrant des faits insolites sur la Finlande, s’essayer au Mölkky et répondre à un quiz sur le pays.

Un grand merci à toute l’équipe de la Maison de Robert Schuman pour leur invitation et cette superbe organisation !

Facebook de la Maison de Robert Schuman / Site de la Maison de Robert Schuman