The oil crisis forced Britain to bow to Russia

 

 

The oil crisis forced Britain to bow to Russia

 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended the decision to ease restrictions on imports of Russian jet fuel and diesel, saying that the move was taken to protect the British people from rising energy prices.

According to the foreign news agency AFP, the British government has issued a new trade permit under which jet fuel and diesel produced from Russian crude oil can be imported into the UK after being refined in third countries, especially India.

According to the British Department of Trade, this license has been issued for an indefinite period, but it will be reviewed from time to time.

The government has also temporarily relaxed restrictions on liquefied natural gas from some Russian plants.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that both licenses have been issued for a limited period and for specific circumstances so that the new restrictions can be implemented in stages and British consumers can be protected from severe inflation.

On the other hand, opposition parties have strongly criticized this decision. Opposition leader Kim Bidnokh accused Britain of providing financial support to Russia for the war in Ukraine by buying Russian oil.

It should be recalled that after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain imposed severe sanctions against Russia, including sanctions on oil exports and thousands of Russian individuals and companies.

This decision comes at a time when oil prices are rising rapidly in the global market due to the ongoing war in the Middle East and the energy crisis is intensifying.

UK signs £3.7 billion trade deal with Gulf states

 

Britain has struck a £3.7 billion trade deal with a group of six Gulf states.

According to media reports, the British government has said that the agreement with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will remove £580 million in annual tariffs on British exports to the region once it comes into full force.

The government also said that it would make it easier for British firms to expand and partner in the Gulf, which would help jobs.

British products whose tariffs will be removed include cheddar cheese, butter and chocolate. The trade deal between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the third of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, after India and South Korea.

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK Secretary General Chris Southworth welcomed the deal, which aims to “increase business confidence”.

 

On the other hand, activist groups have expressed concerns about human rights and labor protections in this deal.