The governments of the United States and Japan have announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening their military ties amid growing aggression from China, The New York Times reports.
Lloyd J. Austin III, US Secretary of Defense, Anthony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State, Yoko Kamikawa, Japanese Foreign Minister, and Minoru Kihara, Japanese Defense Minister, held a press conference in Tokyo to express concern over China’s rapid military build-up.
The new measures include the creation of a joint force headquarters subordinate to the U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, as well as increased joint production of air-to-air missiles and air defense interceptors. Anthony Blinken noted that the new headquarters will allow for closer cooperation to ensure greater peace and stability.
These changes are a response to China’s aggressive actions in East Asia, particularly in the East China and South China Seas. In addition, they emphasized the importance of the mutual defense clause in the US-Japan treaty in the face of growing security threats.
U.S. and Japanese officials reaffirmed their strong opposition to China’s attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion. During the 2+2 meeting in Tokyo, they discussed further steps to strengthen the alliance, especially in light of the upcoming changes in the US leadership following President Biden’s announcement of his re-election bid.
Mr. Blinken and Mr. Austin also discussed the deployment of U.S. troops in the region, which remains a key deterrent against possible conflicts with China or North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Biden previously announced increased military cooperation, including Japan’s purchase of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Further cooperation includes the production of Patriot interceptor missiles, which are being supplied to Ukraine to protect it from Russian attacks. After their visit to Tokyo, Blinken and Austin plan to visit the Philippines to participate in another 2+2 dialog.
Thus, the United States and Japan are taking significant steps to strengthen their military alliance to ensure peace and stability in the region amid growing tensions with China.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (AmCham) opposed Bill #11416 regarding amendments to the tax law because it would discriminate against bona fide transparent taxpayers, encouraging tax evaders and increasing the shadow economy.
“Any proposed change should reflect sound tax policy and a commitment to tax compliance and tax fairness. Unfortunately, the recently proposed tax policy changes (Bill No. 11416) do not meet these principles and will further discriminate against transparent businesses, increase the distortion of competition between taxpayers and tax evaders, undermine trust and contribute to an increase in the shadow economy,” the association emphasized in a statement released by the press office on Thursday.
AmCham called on the government and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine to intensify efforts to combat the shadow economy to ensure budget revenues and fair competition.
It is noted that the association estimates that losses from illegal markets for excisable goods in the last year alone exceed $1 billion.
“Other examples illustrate the seriousness of this problem in many sectors of the economy. For example, the share of the shadow market of iPhones alone is 71%, which results in losses to the State Budget from non-payment of VAT amounting to about $135 million, while losses from tax evasion by fixed Internet providers approach $100 million annually. In the HoReCa sector, only five companies pay 31% of all taxes paid in the restaurant business, while there are more than 40,000 restaurants in Ukraine,” the association claims.
It is emphasized that the biggest concern in the proposed tax changes is the 1% profit tax, which will be applied to the income of businesses.
AmCham believes that it is such a tax that should not be introduced as it is a completely new sales tax alongside the existing VAT tax regime.
“As far as we know, no country in the world has a sales tax and VAT at the same time, as it is proposed in Ukraine,” the association stated.
AmCham has no doubt that the proposed changes will significantly increase the overall tax burden on bona fide taxpayers who report their income in a transparent and legal manner, will encourage participants of the shadow economy to redouble their tax evasion efforts as the rates will become even higher, will create significant difficulties for doing business in Ukraine, will demotivate existing businesses to invest further, and will force new investors to reconsider their business plans, will reduce foreign direct investment in Ukraine, and will reduce the tax burden on the Ukrainian economy.
In addition, the association opposed discrimination against bona fide, legitimate taxpayers due to the introduction of new taxes, such as the proposed excise tax in euros on sweetened carbonated waters, aimed primarily at U.S. and international companies.
At the same time, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine understands the urgent need to broaden the tax base by extending the military levy to all categories of private entrepreneurs as well as legal entities to ensure that all taxpayers contribute to financing the fight.
However, the association’s experts believe that a sharp one-time increase in the military levy to 5% could lead to a decrease in real wages and increase the attractiveness of informal employment, so we call for a more gradual approach to increasing this percentage.
AmCham also welcomes the government’s determination to “level the playing field” by preventing unfair competition from businesses that evade tax or benefit from preferential treatment.
To this end, it is proposed to abolish the EUR150 limit on cross-border e-commerce, which makes all such parcels subject to VAT, as this is in line with European and international practice and will significantly increase tax revenues to the budget.
The Chamber is convinced that the source of additional tax revenues is the fight against tax evasion and ensuring equal rules for all, rather than increasing taxes for bona fide taxpayers, who already bear the greatest burden.
It is emphasized that discrimination against bona fide taxpayers will harm transparent business and significantly increase the shadow economy.
AmCham calls on parliament and the government, with the support of the IMF, EU and G7 member states, to ensure that taxes are distributed among all market participants so that new tax policies do not disproportionately target bona fide taxpayers in Ukraine to the detriment of further economic growth and investment.
On Monday, July 29, wind gusts of 15-20 m/s are expected in Kiev and the region, Ukrgidrometcenter reports
“Warning about dangerous meteorological phenomena in Kiev and Kiev region. In the afternoon on July 29 wind gusts of 15-20 m/s. І level of danger, yellow”, – stated in the message Ukrhydrometcenter in Telegram on Sunday.
Experts urge to stay away from billboards, power lines, large trees, do not park vehicles near them; close windows tightly; remove from balconies and loggias objects that can fall out.
On Monday, July 29, at night in the west and north, during the day in the east, south, most of the central regions and the northern part of the country in some places short-term rain, thunderstorms; in the rest of the country without precipitation.
The wind is westerly, north-westerly, 7-12 m/s, with gusts of 15-20 m/s in the western and northern regions.
The temperature at night 14-19°, in the south of the country up to 23°, in the western regions 11-16°; in the afternoon 21-26°, in the central regions in some places 28-30°, in the eastern regions and southern part 29-34°.
In Kiev on Monday, July 29, there will be short-term rain at night and no precipitation during the day.
The wind is predominantly north-westerly, 7-12 m/s, gusts of 15-20 m/s. The temperature will be 15-17° at night and 23-25° during the day.
According to the Central Geophysical Observatory named after Boris Sreznevsky. Borys Sreznevsky in Kiev on July 29, the highest daytime temperature was 38.0° in 1936, the lowest nighttime temperature was 10.1° in 1923.
Tuesday, July 30, in Ukraine will be dry, only in the northeastern part and in the northern, at night also in most eastern regions in some places short-term rains, thunderstorms.
The wind is north-westerly, 7-12 m/s, in some places gusts of 15-20 m/s. Temperatures will be 11-16° at night and 21-26° during the day; in the south of the country it will be 15-20° at night and 25-30° during the day.
In Kiev on July 30, short-term rain and thunderstorms are expected in places. The wind is north-western, 7-12 m/s, in some places gusts of 15-20 m/s. The temperature will be 14-16° at night and 23-25° during the day.
Agrarians in all regions of Ukraine have already harvested 22.325 million tons of new crops from 5.872 million hectares, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported on Friday.
According to the report, more than 19 million tons of grains and more than 3 million tons of oilseeds have already been harvested.
It is specified that 14.7 million tons of wheat have been harvested from 3.502 million hectares at a yield of 42 c/ha, 3.8 million tons of barley from 1020.2 thousand hectares at a yield of 37.9 c/ha, 416.3 thousand tons of peas from 189.8 thousand hectares at a yield of 21.9 c/ha.
Ukraine also continues harvesting oilseeds. In particular, more than 3 mln tons of rapeseed have been harvested from 1086.3 thou hectares with a yield of 28.3 c/ha and 0.3 thou tons of soybeans from 0.2 thou hectares with a yield of 19.3 c/ha.
Also, the top three in terms of grain harvesting are farmers of Odesa region – 733.3 thou hectares, Dnipropetrovska – 630.7 thou hectares, Mykolaivska – 536.5 thou hectares. Khmelnytsky region is the leader in terms of yield with 64 c/ha.
Farmers in Poltava region have completed harvesting early grains and pulses.
The Ukrainian Sea Corridor has transported 60 million tons of cargo in 11 months of operation, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported on Facebook.
“60 million tons – the cargo turnover of the ports of Greater Odesa for 11 months of the Ukrainian Corridor,” the USPA said in a statement on Friday.
It is noted that 40.6 million tons of this volume are grain cargoes. They were exported to 46 countries.
“The bulk carrier Manta Hacer with 25.2 thousand tons of Ukrainian humanitarian wheat is moving through the Ukrainian corridor to Yemen. This is another vessel chartered by the UN World Food Program,” the USPA said.
The Administration emphasized that despite the war and the enemy’s insidious shelling of port infrastructure, including hangars for storing agricultural products, Ukraine remains a key player in the issue of global food security. This is especially true for grain exports to Asia and Africa.
Earlier it was reported that during the 10 months of operation of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, cargo exports reached a record high of 55 million tons. In mid-July, it reached 57.55 million tons.
