Wage growth slows in major economies, EU's tax on 'dirty' imports may fragment global trade. JetBlue's bid for Spirit blocked. Haley and DeSantis face uphill battle to stop Trump. Insights on Iowa caucuses, presidential election strategies, and legal challenges faced by Trump. The correlation between trade, supply chains, and emission reduction is discussed.
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Quick takeaways
Wage growth in major economies is slowing down, which could lead to central banks cutting interest rates to control inflation.
Donald Trump's victory in Iowa does not guarantee his nomination or success in the general election, as results in other states may differ and the electorate in New Hampshire tends to be more moderate.
Deep dives
US Wage Growth Slows Across Major Economies
Wage growth in the US and other major economies is slowing down, with a decline in advertised wages and salaries in December. Central bankers see this as an opportunity to cut interest rates in order to control inflation. Lower wages mean less spending power, and this trend is expected to persist.
Donald Trump's Victory in Iowa Caucuses
Donald Trump won the Iowa caucuses by a significant margin, securing the largest vote share ever for a Republican candidate in this state. However, winning the Iowa caucuses does not guarantee nomination or success in the general election. The results in Iowa may not be indicative of other states, as the electorate in New Hampshire, for example, tends to be more moderate and less likely to support Trump.
EU Carbon Tax Creates Concerns About Competitiveness
The European Union's upcoming tax on carbon-intensive imports, such as steel, has raised concerns about its impact on trade and competitiveness. While the tax aims to align imports with the emission standards faced by EU producers, there are worries that it could lead to re-shoring of production and a two-tier system where green production goes to Europe while less climate-regulated countries receive coal-based products. The effects on steel prices and the complexity of differing tax policies across countries are also points of concern.
Wage growth is slowing in the world’s largest economies, a federal judge stopped JetBlue’s planned deal to buy Spirit Airlines, and the EU’s tax on ‘dirty’ imports could fragment global trade. Plus, the FT’s Lauren Fedor explains the uphill battle for the Republican presidential nomination that Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are facing.
The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.