Lisa O’Carroll
@lisaocarroll.bsky.social
Guardian correspondent covering international trade from EU persective, also post Brexit affairs and Ireland Former Brussels corr, Brexit corr + former media corr. Find me at lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
China "weaponising" EU relationship and winning.
Spoke to quite a few China experts and Imperial College rare earths and auto experts.
dashboard.ophan.co.uk/info?from=20...
Spoke to quite a few China experts and Imperial College rare earths and auto experts.
dashboard.ophan.co.uk/info?from=20...
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dashboard.ophan.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
China "weaponising" EU relationship and winning.
Spoke to quite a few China experts and Imperial College rare earths and auto experts.
dashboard.ophan.co.uk/info?from=20...
Spoke to quite a few China experts and Imperial College rare earths and auto experts.
dashboard.ophan.co.uk/info?from=20...
Analysis: China is now pushing EU into series of 'rolling crisis', weaponising its traderelationship and winning. Nexperia, just one example, say China watchers. Some ask if it is time for the EU to change tack and use anti-coercion instrument?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Nexperia row shows how China is weaponising trade – and winning
Experts say Brussels must stand up against Beijing using supplies of vital chips and minerals as ‘sword of Damocles’
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Analysis: China is now pushing EU into series of 'rolling crisis', weaponising its traderelationship and winning. Nexperia, just one example, say China watchers. Some ask if it is time for the EU to change tack and use anti-coercion instrument?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Davis Dimbleby on channel 4 this is the “most violent attacks on the BBC in my lifetime”. Panorama editor shd have been sacked over that edit. And he had no idea how this came to result in the DG and Turness who apparently was told by the board initially she cannot go
November 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Davis Dimbleby on channel 4 this is the “most violent attacks on the BBC in my lifetime”. Panorama editor shd have been sacked over that edit. And he had no idea how this came to result in the DG and Turness who apparently was told by the board initially she cannot go
Mohammad Baraka, the one Gaza man, working for the EU in Gaza during the war, evacuated and then dismissed, says he has yet to receive the €54k severance offered after near 20 Says EU lodged money frozen in Gaza, after flagged as potential corrupt payment.
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/vid...
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/vid...
Audiovisual Service
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu
November 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Mohammad Baraka, the one Gaza man, working for the EU in Gaza during the war, evacuated and then dismissed, says he has yet to receive the €54k severance offered after near 20 Says EU lodged money frozen in Gaza, after flagged as potential corrupt payment.
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/vid...
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/vid...
The one Gazan working for EU evacuated mid war. Taken to Egypt and promised life in EU. But this year he dismissed after office in Gaza closed. He is taking legal action against EU + needs financial help. 56k EU gave him after 20 years service is stuck in Gaza.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Palestinian man dismissed from Gaza border assistance role to sue EU
Exclusive: Mohammed Baraka’s case alleges discrimination on basis of nationality after EU counterparts were transferred
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The one Gazan working for EU evacuated mid war. Taken to Egypt and promised life in EU. But this year he dismissed after office in Gaza closed. He is taking legal action against EU + needs financial help. 56k EU gave him after 20 years service is stuck in Gaza.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Exclusive: Lib Dems demand to know how HMRC child benefit crackdown got go ahead after data from pilot scheme shows high error rate, with 46% of those originally flagged as emigrated, living in the country.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC trial of child benefit crackdown wrongly suspected fraud in 46% of cases
Exclusive: Almost half of families flagged as emigrants based on Home Office travel data were still living in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Exclusive: Lib Dems demand to know how HMRC child benefit crackdown got go ahead after data from pilot scheme shows high error rate, with 46% of those originally flagged as emigrated, living in the country.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
US and China deal did not inc steel. EU still facing 50% tariffs in US, UK 15%. Plus 407 products with steel elements also taxed.
I trawled US commerce site to find 700 products, from bikes to tin cans, r on potential next round of steel derivatives in Dec.
Brace.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I trawled US commerce site to find 700 products, from bikes to tin cans, r on potential next round of steel derivatives in Dec.
Brace.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Businesses worldwide brace for extra Trump tariffs on steel imports
Commerce department expected to add about 700 more items with steel content to levy list at request of US firms
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
US and China deal did not inc steel. EU still facing 50% tariffs in US, UK 15%. Plus 407 products with steel elements also taxed.
I trawled US commerce site to find 700 products, from bikes to tin cans, r on potential next round of steel derivatives in Dec.
Brace.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I trawled US commerce site to find 700 products, from bikes to tin cans, r on potential next round of steel derivatives in Dec.
Brace.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump + Xi do deal. China eases export controls of chips and rare earths for 12 months. US reciprocates pausing controls on security risk affiliates for year. Voila! Nexperia controls ease
theguardian.com/business/202...
Today Dutch PM + trade minister Sefcovic confirm China will grant exemptions
theguardian.com/business/202...
Today Dutch PM + trade minister Sefcovic confirm China will grant exemptions
China poised to lift ban on chips exports to European carmakers after US deal
Dispute began with Dutch government takeover of Nexperia and China halting exports, threatening car production
theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Trump + Xi do deal. China eases export controls of chips and rare earths for 12 months. US reciprocates pausing controls on security risk affiliates for year. Voila! Nexperia controls ease
theguardian.com/business/202...
Today Dutch PM + trade minister Sefcovic confirm China will grant exemptions
theguardian.com/business/202...
Today Dutch PM + trade minister Sefcovic confirm China will grant exemptions
It didn't take long for the French to move in on Shein, which audaciously launched inside a Paris department store today .
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
France moves to suspend Shein over sex dolls as debut store opens in Paris
The fast-fashion retailer has faced a backlash after the childlike dolls were discovered for sale on its website
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
It didn't take long for the French to move in on Shein, which audaciously launched inside a Paris department store today .
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Gaza doctor, who managed to get out in 2024 to Cairo, gets study place in Palestine friendly Ireland. She wants to further qualify and then return to Gaza. Bur Ireland rejects visa application.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Gazan doctor fears she will lose place on UCC course after visa application rejected
Baraa Mansour, who was evacuated from Palestinian enclave in 2024, says refusal of her visa is ‘devastating’
www.irishtimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Gaza doctor, who managed to get out in 2024 to Cairo, gets study place in Palestine friendly Ireland. She wants to further qualify and then return to Gaza. Bur Ireland rejects visa application.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
China v EU. "China confirmed that the suspension of the October export controls applies to the EU. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continue engagement on improving the implementation of export control policies," Maros Sefcovic said in a post on X. April export controls still apply of course.
November 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
China v EU. "China confirmed that the suspension of the October export controls applies to the EU. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continue engagement on improving the implementation of export control policies," Maros Sefcovic said in a post on X. April export controls still apply of course.
ICYMI This is an interesting reminder of the lengths women had to go to fight against Catholic Ireland in 1972. Mary McGee, the heroine who fought to end Ireland's ban on contraception. (it took more than 10 yrs more for "unmarried couples")
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Tributes paid after death of Mary McGee, who helped end Ireland’s ban on contraception
Mother-of-four brought legal case against government after customs seized her contraceptives package from UK
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
ICYMI This is an interesting reminder of the lengths women had to go to fight against Catholic Ireland in 1972. Mary McGee, the heroine who fought to end Ireland's ban on contraception. (it took more than 10 yrs more for "unmarried couples")
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Is Home Office using airline passenger booking data for benefit fraud crackdown? Today I report on woman who booked flight to Oslo for wedding, wedding cancelled. She didn't check in or travel but child beneft stopped as she had "emigrated". Are there GDPR issues?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Is Home Office using airline passenger booking data for benefit fraud crackdown? Today I report on woman who booked flight to Oslo for wedding, wedding cancelled. She didn't check in or travel but child beneft stopped as she had "emigrated". Are there GDPR issues?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
EU car industry "days away" from production line stoppages on back of chip shortage caused by China ban. Eu "no longer collateral damage" in US v China war, it's a target in itself - experts say
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
EU carmakers ‘days away’ from factories halting work in chip war with China
Industry body says reserves of Nexperia semiconductors are dwindling after Beijing bans exports of key components
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
EU car industry "days away" from production line stoppages on back of chip shortage caused by China ban. Eu "no longer collateral damage" in US v China war, it's a target in itself - experts say
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“China is repeatedly taking steps that bring EU industry and other industries around the world to the point of choking them off,
"It is no longer that Europe is collateral damage, it is China targeting Europe" - Andrew Small of German Marshall fund
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
"It is no longer that Europe is collateral damage, it is China targeting Europe" - Andrew Small of German Marshall fund
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
EU carmakers ‘days away’ from factories halting work in chip war with China
Industry body says reserves of Nexperia semiconductors are dwindling after Beijing bans exports of key components
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
“China is repeatedly taking steps that bring EU industry and other industries around the world to the point of choking them off,
"It is no longer that Europe is collateral damage, it is China targeting Europe" - Andrew Small of German Marshall fund
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
"It is no longer that Europe is collateral damage, it is China targeting Europe" - Andrew Small of German Marshall fund
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Home Office child benefit mess - woman had child benefit suspended for work trip she made before she was even pregnant. Why? HO didn't have record of her return. How did new system, implemented by HMRC, even get the green light? HMRC has stopped stopping payments
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC pauses child benefit crackdown after 23,500 families caught up in data error
Parents say they were treated as fraudsters because Home Office travel records failed to show their return to UK
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Home Office child benefit mess - woman had child benefit suspended for work trip she made before she was even pregnant. Why? HO didn't have record of her return. How did new system, implemented by HMRC, even get the green light? HMRC has stopped stopping payments
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC have now said the number of people who have been contacted and had their child benefit suspended is closer to 23,500 than up to 35,000 as previously stated.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC cuts child benefit for 23,500 families based on incomplete travel data
UK tax agency apologises after flagging people as having emigrated, often when they return via different routes
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:54 PM
HMRC have now said the number of people who have been contacted and had their child benefit suspended is closer to 23,500 than up to 35,000 as previously stated.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
One of the 34,500 who have had child benefit suspended has sent an invoice to HMRC for "wasting my time" for the three hours it took him putting together the bank, GP, and school records to prove he was not a fraudster. His crime: holiday to Spain 3years ago.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35,000 families based on incomplete travel data
UK tax agency apologises after flagging people as having emigrated, often when they return via different routes
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
One of the 34,500 who have had child benefit suspended has sent an invoice to HMRC for "wasting my time" for the three hours it took him putting together the bank, GP, and school records to prove he was not a fraudster. His crime: holiday to Spain 3years ago.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Exclusive: UK stops child benefit for 34,500 families after launching internal HMRC crackdown passed on airport and ferry tickets.
But they have netted ordinary travellers in their fraud crackdown including holiday makers, bereaved and sports participants
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
But they have netted ordinary travellers in their fraud crackdown including holiday makers, bereaved and sports participants
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35,000 families based on incomplete travel data
UK tax agency apologises after flagging people as having emigrated, often when they return via different routes
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Exclusive: UK stops child benefit for 34,500 families after launching internal HMRC crackdown passed on airport and ferry tickets.
But they have netted ordinary travellers in their fraud crackdown including holiday makers, bereaved and sports participants
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
But they have netted ordinary travellers in their fraud crackdown including holiday makers, bereaved and sports participants
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Did you get a letter from HMRC saying your child benefit is being stopped after going on short trip abroad?
If you are in NI, England, Wales, Scotland I'm interested if your benefit has been wrongly stopped.
May be other benefits have also been stopped.
lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
If you are in NI, England, Wales, Scotland I'm interested if your benefit has been wrongly stopped.
May be other benefits have also been stopped.
lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Do you know anyone who has received notice of benefits stopping because you have flown out of country but are now back? Email me at lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com. NI parents mistakenly hit in crackdown but there may be others
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
NI parents caught in UK crackdown lose child benefit after travelling via Dublin
Exclusive: new anti-fraud system fails to account for fact many return to country via airport in Irish capital
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Did you get a letter from HMRC saying your child benefit is being stopped after going on short trip abroad?
If you are in NI, England, Wales, Scotland I'm interested if your benefit has been wrongly stopped.
May be other benefits have also been stopped.
lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
If you are in NI, England, Wales, Scotland I'm interested if your benefit has been wrongly stopped.
May be other benefits have also been stopped.
lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Looks like this also affecting parents in Britain who have flown out of one airport and back to another.
Please get in touch if you have had letter from HMRC saying your child benefit stopped as they have no record of you coming home.
100s of NI parents already hit
Lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Please get in touch if you have had letter from HMRC saying your child benefit stopped as they have no record of you coming home.
100s of NI parents already hit
Lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Do you know anyone who has received notice of benefits stopping because you have flown out of country but are now back? Email me at lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com. NI parents mistakenly hit in crackdown but there may be others
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
NI parents caught in UK crackdown lose child benefit after travelling via Dublin
Exclusive: new anti-fraud system fails to account for fact many return to country via airport in Irish capital
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Looks like this also affecting parents in Britain who have flown out of one airport and back to another.
Please get in touch if you have had letter from HMRC saying your child benefit stopped as they have no record of you coming home.
100s of NI parents already hit
Lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Please get in touch if you have had letter from HMRC saying your child benefit stopped as they have no record of you coming home.
100s of NI parents already hit
Lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com
Do you know anyone who has received notice of benefits stopping because you have flown out of country but are now back? Email me at lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com. NI parents mistakenly hit in crackdown but there may be others
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
NI parents caught in UK crackdown lose child benefit after travelling via Dublin
Exclusive: new anti-fraud system fails to account for fact many return to country via airport in Irish capital
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Do you know anyone who has received notice of benefits stopping because you have flown out of country but are now back? Email me at lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com. NI parents mistakenly hit in crackdown but there may be others
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Exc: one family flew out of Belfast and came back thru Dublin. Another went to England and back via Dublin. Using UK flight data HMRC thinks these Northern Ireland parents have emigrated, so stopped their child benefit in a new govt crackdown on benefit fraud
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
NI parents caught in UK crackdown lose child benefit after travelling via Dublin
Exclusive: new anti-fraud system fails to account for fact many return to country via airport in Irish capital
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Exc: one family flew out of Belfast and came back thru Dublin. Another went to England and back via Dublin. Using UK flight data HMRC thinks these Northern Ireland parents have emigrated, so stopped their child benefit in a new govt crackdown on benefit fraud
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...