Energy & Commodities
Canada, which has not imported any Russian oil in three years, has made a symbolic gesture in banning these same imports this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“While Canada has imported very little amounts [of crude oil] in recent years, this measure sends a powerful message,” Trudeau said, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
Canada, the WSJ recalls, has been among the most aggressive sanction proponents against Russia, while Europe, which imports a quarter of its oil and almost 40 percent of its gas from Russia, has been more hesitant about the possibility of shooting itself in the foot with sanctions.
For now, the focus has been on the financial sector and government assets abroad, with a side focus on bans on Russian state media. While direct oil and gas sanctions have been kept off the table, there has been fear that current sanctions, including the cutting off of several Russian banks from the SWIFT international transaction reporting system, would affect oil and gas flows.
Indeed, Reuters reported yesterday that a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to Malaysia might fall victim to the sanctions. The Linda, according to the report, is the property of a company called PSB Leasing, which is a unit of Promsvyazbank—one of the targets of Western sanctions. The report cited the bank as saying it was no longer the owner of the vessel…read more.
That’s right – I can’t believe it but Ozzie and I are taking another plunge into the icy waters of English Bay next Sunday to raise money for Special Olympics and the individuals and families with intellectual disabilities like Down Syndrome, autism, Fragile X etc. People who are regularly forgotten, overlooked and ignored in our communities but you can help change that by making a donation.
I’ve been called the biggest cold water wimp on the planet and it’s true. Ozzie doesn’t like it either but says it’s worth it to see my tears, the blue tint of my skin and the whimpering.
Here’s my wishful thinking part – if everyone who follows and listens to MoneyTalks were to donate just $20 we’d make a massive difference. You’d get a tax receipt – so for most the net cost would be just $15.
Please do it now – CLICK HERE – takes only a minute to help improve the lives of some wonderful people.
Get bold and cold to help Special Olympics BC athletes get back in the game!
CLICK HERE to donate and see Mike and Ozzie hit the waters of Pacific Ocean in their finest plunge outfits!
The pandemic has deepened the isolation experienced by far too many people with intellectual disabilities. Plunge for Special Olympics BC is a fun and accessible way for all of us to connect and show we care about people with intellectual disabilities and creating inclusion.
Help Special Olympics BC’s dedicated athletes with intellectual disabilities safely return to the sports and the friends that matter to them.
- According to Bloomberg, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has ceased the issuance of dollar-denominated letters of credit for physical Russian commodities purchases.
- Beijing’s move is an apparent attempt to comply with U.S. and European sanctions.
- On Friday morning, in a telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi allegedly urged Putin to negotiate with Ukraine.
Beijing, a key Russian ally, has moved to restrict financing for Russian commodities purchases through two of China’s largest state-owned banks, Bloomberg reports, as Russian forces advance to Kyiv only a day after launching a full-scale invasion plan.
According to Bloomberg, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has ceased the issuance of dollar-denominated letters of credit for physical Russian commodities purchases, and the Bank of China has also restricted financing on some level, though details are not forthcoming.
Beijing’s move is an apparent attempt to comply with U.S. and European sanctions, but also follows a move on Thursday to assist Moscow by lifting restrictions on wheat imports from Russia, the world’s top producer of wheat.
The Chinese restrictions had been put in place earlier due to fears of a fungal disease.
China’s commodities financing restrictions come despite the lack of any US or European sanctions targeting Russia’s energy industry…read more.