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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Florida was signed here in Jacksonville Tuesday by Governor Ron DeSantis and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch. The new memorandum of understanding is the ninth agreement of its kind between the UK and states here in the US and according to Secretary Badenoch, it is by far the largest to date. The agreement is aimed at increasing investments between Florida and the UK as well as strengthening trade, academic research, and business relationships. Priority areas laid out in the agreement include space, fintech,...

The United States ran a merchandise trade deficit of $165.0623 billion in the first quarter of 2016, which was down slightly from the $165.7159 billion merchandise trade deficit the United States ran in the first quarter of 2015, according to data released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. The U.S. exported $347.5618 billion in goods during the quarter and imported $512.6241 billion. The bilateral merchandise trade deficit with China during the first quarter was $77.9461 billion—by far the largest with any nation. […] The second largest bilateral merchandise trade deficit the United States ran during the quarter was the $16.9356 billion...

In what has been called “a definite turning point,” China’s direct investment in Europe over the last couple of years has multiplied by a factor 10, according to a new study. EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht welcomed the news, saying that “we need the money.” “Our dataset shows a profound post-2008 surge,” says the new study, presented on Thursday (7 June) in Brussels by consultancy firm Rhodium Group. “From €700 million yearly 2004-2008, to roughly €2.3 billion in 2009 and 2010, to €7.4 billion in 2011.” Most of that money went to France—with more than €4.5 billion in investment...

BANGKOK, Thailand -- France accused the United States of "blackmail" tactics to pressure poor countries into ceding rights to make cheap generic HIV drugs, while the AIDS Conference issued a stirring call Monday to get more medicine to millions of needy in the developing world. "A vicious terrorist is out there. It is not Osama bin Laden, it is AIDS," Hollywood actor Richard Gere told the conference. "The biggest threat to our livelihood, our happiness is AIDS." A U.S. official denied the French allegation as "nonsense," while conference delegates lamented World Health Organization figures that show only about 7 percent...