U.S. & China sign trade deal today at the White House

Today the United States and China signed a “Phase 1” trade deal in Washington, D.C. The deal signed by President Trump and Vice Premier Liu He is a truce of sorts to a year long tariff war. It halts the U.S. from applying tariffs to $156 billion of Chinese products with the promise that China will increase spending in the agricultural and technology sectors. The deal also includes protection for U.S. companies who will no longer be required to share technology in order to do business in China.

The agreement upholds a reduction of tariffs from 15% to 7.5% on Chinese goods for the U.S. consumer market but does not go so far as to change the 25% duty on thousands of other Chinese goods and materials, the brunt of which has been felt primarily U.S. importers.

The full text of the trade agreement is contained in the NPR article below.

NPR: Trump Signs ‘Phase One’ China Trade Deal, But Most Tariffs Remain In Place

WSJ: U.S., China Sign Deal Easing Trade Tensions

PortMiami’s progress praised in final State of the County speech by Mayor Gimenez

Yesterday Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez delivered the annual State of the County address, his last as Mayor, and praised the record year by PortMiami in 2019. PortMiami reported a 3.4% gain in cargo traffic at 1.12 million TEUs (20 foot container equivalents), and a 22% increase in cruise traffic by welcoming 6.8 million passengers.

Cruise Hive: PortMiami Announces Best Performance in its History

Miami Herald: In his last major speech as county mayor, Carlos Gimenez touts ‘fantastic turnaround’

WSVN: Miami-Dade mayor delivers final State of the County address

Cruise and Airline industries pledge donations to aid Australian brushfire recovery

TIn response to the brushfires that have devastated Australia since September 2019, Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have pledged donations to the Red Cross and other organization to assist recovery efforts.

The Carnival Foundation has pledged over $1 million from the Arison family and $250,000 to the Red Cross on behalf of its 5 cruise lines that sail from Australia. The Red Cross has also received pledges of $250,000 from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and $100,000 from Singapore Airlines. We applaud these companies and while the recovery efforts may take years or even decades there is solace in knowing that companies are stepping up to assist Australia in its time of need.

Travel Weekly: Cruise lines pledge Australian bushfire relief cash

Six new cruises will sail from Florida in 2020

Virgin Voyages will begin sailing from PortMiami in March 2020, one of six new cruise ships that will sail from Florida this year.Royal Caribbean Cruise’s Odyssey of the Seas debuts at Port Everglades and Florida will also see debut sailings from Regent Seven Seas Splendor, Celebrity Apex, and Enchanted Princess ships. The list also includes Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras which will sail from Port Canaveral and is the first Nort America-based ship to run on liquefied natural gas.

CBS 4 News: Six New Cruise Ships Will Sail Out of Florida in 2020