International

The energy supply, a challenge to attract the investments that Trump is looking for to the United States

The United States seeks to promote foreign direct investment at a time of optimism, driven by the will of Donald Trump’s Government to generate jobs in manufacturing and other sectors. One of the main challenges pointed out by regional representatives is the large-scale supply of energy.

“Thanks to the Trump Administration, our flow of possible (investment) agreements is greater today than it has ever been,” Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said categorically at the SelectUSA investment summit, an event that usually attracts more than 5,000 participants and that this year local authorities face with special enthusiasm to the policies of the federal government.

“It is obvious that we are not going to achieve all those investment contracts, but I think that our economy will continue to thrive in the current panorama,” added Reeves, who leads a state that concentrates plants of companies such as Toyota, Rolls Royce or Airbus and who wants to attract capital from new sectors, such as data centers.

Although Trump has applied tariff pressures to encourage foreign investment, several multinational executives highlighted the “good time” to invest in the US, both for regulatory agility and for the protection of intellectual property.

Siemens CEO Barbara Humpton said the country is experiencing a “vibrant era,” highlighting government initiatives in technology, artificial intelligence and high-speed rail. Siemens has focused recent investments in the manufacture of trains in North Carolina and electrical equipment in Texas and California, essential for data centers.

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The high energy demand of these servers represents a great challenge, especially for the state of Virginia, the largest data center hub in the world.

“The demand for energy will not decrease, but quite the opposite,” said its Secretary of Commerce, Juan Pablo Segura, who highlighted initiatives such as the development of new generation nuclear reactors.

“We want that reactor to be operating by 2030, and with our current regulatory framework I think we can achieve it,” he added.

One of the great objectives of the Trump Administration in terms of energy is to make a plan that has been developing for years and that has encountered obstacles in terms of economic viability, to build a pipeline that allows to supply from Alaska 20 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) each year to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam or Thailand.

The idea is to transport natural gas from North Slope, the northernmost region of the United States, to the port of Nikiski, from where it would be liquefied and sent by ship to Asia in a journey of about 8-9 days, almost four times less than what it takes to arrive the Texas LNG that the US sells to this region of the world.

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The problem is that the construction of a gas pipeline almost 1,300 kilometers long in such a remote area has been estimated at about 44 billion dollars (about 39,641 million euros).

In any case, the governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, believes that given the current scenario, the gas could already be “flowing” in 2028, as he said on the opening day of this summit that concludes on Wednesday.

“Tariffs and trade have changed the equation,” he admitted regarding the reluctance shown so far by the major buyers of US LNG in the region, Japan and South Korea, two countries whose economy depends in turn greatly on what they export to the US and that are negotiating these days so that Trump’s threat to impose tariffs of 24% and 25%, respectively, does not come true.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.