17th January 2026 – 23rd January 2026
LOCAL NEWS
1. Marina Hadjimanoli Promotes EU Shipping Priorities and Bilateral Ties with the UK
The first meeting of the Shipping Working Group under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU has been successfully completed, marking the beginning of a substantive dialogue on the future of European shipping and the strengthening of cooperation among EU member states. Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hadjimanoli, emphasized that the Cypriot Presidency remains committed to advancing policies that enhance the sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience of European shipping.
During her working visit to London, which took place on the 18-21 January 2026, , Mrs. Hadjimanoli held a bilateral meeting with her British counterpart, Keir Mather, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Shipping, and Decarbonisation, as well as a meeting with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. In her discussions with Minister Mather, she presented the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council and extended an invitation to the High-Level Ministerial & Stakeholders’ Conference scheduled for April, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom.
As part of the visit, Mrs. Hadjimanoli also hosted a reception at the Cyprus High Commission in London to celebrate Cyprus’ re-election to the IMO Council and its assumption of the EU Council Presidency. The event was attended by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, ambassadors, officials from various countries, and members of the Cypriot diaspora. In her speech at the reception, Mrs. Hadjimanoli reaffirmed Cyprus’ strong commitment to supporting the IMO’s work and contributing actively and constructively to its mission, guided by the principles of dialogue, consensus, and cooperation for the benefit of global shipping. She also outlined the vision of the Cypriot Presidency, highlighting a Europe that is open to the world, focused on building partnerships, investing in dialogue with its neighbours, and promoting meaningful, productive collaboration at both regional and international levels.
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SDM 18/01 - Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanoli travels to London for a working visit
Mononews 19/01 - Marina Hadjimanoli: The first meeting on shipping in Europe took place
Mononews 22/01 - Marina Hadjimanoli: We support the leading role of the IMO
Cyprus shipping minister outlines EU presidency goals during London visit | Cyprus Mail
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. EU-Mercosur deal likely to take effect provisionally from March
Further to our Union’s previous report on the trade agreement between the EU and the MERCOSUR countries, the trade agreement which was signed on the Saturday 17th January 2026 was discussed at the plenary session of the European Parliament held in Strasbourg on Wednesday, 21st January 2026. During the session, a proposal to request a legal opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on whether the EU–MERCOSUR trade agreement complies with EU treaties was put to a vote and was approved. The motion warned that the deal, may be incompatible with existing EU law, and that guidelines for negotiation issued by the Council of the EU may not have been “respected” by the commission.
It should be noted that four of Cyprus’ six members of the European Parliament voted in favour of a motion to request an opinion from ECJ. Brussels views the agreement as a major geopolitical gain that will strengthen the EU’s trade presence and influence in Latin America. While Germany and Spain support the deal, several member states — notably France, Poland, and Hungary — along with many farming groups, have voiced opposition. The Cypriot government had been a fervent supporter of the deal, with Trade Minister Michael Damianos having told the Cyprus Mail that the agreement “creates clear and substantial benefits for the Republic of Cyprus, both in terms of trade and services”.
As a result of this development, the European Parliament’s vote to ratify the deal, which had been expected to take place in February or March, will now not take place until after the ECJ delivers its ruling on the deal’s legality. This process is expected to take at least a year, with some reports on Wednesday having suggested that a ruling may not be reached until 2028.
However, EU law allows the deal to be provisionally implemented without a vote in the European Parliament, though a decision to do this in light of Wednesday’s vote would be seen to sour relations between institutions in the bloc. According to an exclusive Reuters’s report, an EU diplomat stated that the EU's free trade deal with South American countries will probably be applied on a provisional basis as soon as March. "The EU-Mercosur agreement shall be applied provisionally once the first Mercosur country has ratified it," the EU diplomat told Reuters. "That will probably be Paraguay in March," the diplomat added.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz.told delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he regretted the decision by the European Parliament, which meant another obstacle had been erected.
“But rest assured: We will not be stopped. The Mercosur deal is fair and balanced. There is no alternative to it if we want to have higher growth in Europe,” he said on Thursday, 22nd January 2026.
On Friday, January 23, 2026, the head of the EU’s executive commission said that the European Union is willing to implement a sweeping free trade agreement with the Mercosur group of South American countries on a provisional basis, despite a vote by the EU parliament to delay ratification for legal review.
The EU would be ready to act as soon as at least one Mercosur country ratifies, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the conclusion of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels where several national leaders raised the issue. “There is a clear interest that we ensure that the benefits of this agreement apply as soon as possible,” von der Leyen said at a news conference. “In short, we will be ready when they are ready.” No formal decision to implement the deal had been taken yet, she said.
Related Articles
The European Parliament initiates legal process for the EU–Mercosur trade agreement - EUROMETAL
Most Cypriot MEPs vote to send EU-Mercosur deal to court | Cyprus Mail
How Brussels failed to stop Mercosur trade deal fiasco – POLITICO
EU–Mercosur deal stalls again as politics overtakes economics
3. EU suspends approval of US trade deal, Trump walks back tariff threat
US President Donald Trump, who had previously threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight European countries that opposed his push to “buy” the Arctic island, stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday 21st January 2026, that he had reached a "framework" deal on Greenland's future and would not carry out threats to put new tariffs on eight Nato members.
Europe vowed an “unflinching” response to any new tariffs and stocks, suspending, prior to Trump’s announcement, the approval of a key US trade deal agreed in July in protest against Donald Trump's demand to take over Greenland. That agreement set US levies on most European goods at 15%, down from the 30% Trump had initially threatened as part of his "Liberation Day" wave of tariffs in April. In exchange, Europe had agreed to invest in the US and make changes on the continent expected to boost US exports. As a result, bonds and the U.S. dollar staged a steep sell-off on Tuesday, as investors panicked about the fresh possibility of a trade war.
But Wall Street’s major averages jumped after Trump’s walk-back on Wednesday, with stock futures pointing to an extension of those gains on Thursday morning. The rebound rippled globally, with equities listed in Europe and Asia also rising when regional markets reopened Thursday.
With respect to the suspension of the EU – US Trade Deal, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, declined to say whether Trump’s announcment could salvage the trade deal, adding that it would take "some time" to understand its implications. "We have to look what this so-called solution would mean," he said.
However, European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said "With the removal of the tariff threat by the U.S. we can now return to the important business of implementing the joint EU-US statement”. The Commission will soon make a proposal "to roll over our suspended countermeasures, which are set to expire on February 7," Gill said, adding the measures would be suspended for a further six months. "Just to make absolutely clear -- the measures would remain suspended, but if we need them at any point in the future, they can be unsuspended," Gill said.
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EU to suspend 93 billion euro retaliatory trade package against US for 6 months | Reuters
Trump tariffs: U-turn after Greenland 'deal' revives TACO trade talk
EU suspends approval of US trade deal
Trump suspends European tariffs after 'framework' Greenland deal agreed | Euronews
European lawmakers suspend U.S. trade deal amid Greenland tariffs
EU lawmakers freeze EU-US trade deal after Trump tariff threat | Euronews
European officials suspend US trade agreement amid tariff dispute over Greenland - ABC News
4. International Chamber of Shipping launches comprehensive Deck Procedures Guide – Strengthening shipboard safety resources
On the 22nd January 2026, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced the release of its new Deck Procedures Guide, a vital addition to ICS’s suite of shipboard operational guidance.
According to ICS, this publication addresses a critical gap in maritime safety guidance by providing the industry’s first comprehensive resource dedicated specifically to deck operations.
Covering the full spectrum of deck-side activities, the guide includes practical procedures for cargo operations, mooring and anchoring, bunkering, heavy weather preparations, and maintenance of core equipment across all ship types. It also features guidance on compliance with the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, as well as an interactive risk assessment tool and adaptable checklists to support safe and efficient operations. One chapter addresses the emerging challenge of alternative fuel bunkering, including LNG, methanol, and ammonia, developed in collaboration with leading operators and reviewed by the Society for Gas as Marine Fuel (SGMF).
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ICS launches new deck procedures guide, includes alternative fuel bunkering | Manifold Times
5. US seizes seventh tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports
On the 20th January 2026, the U.S. military seized a Venezuela-linked, Liberian - flagged tanker in the Caribbean, marking the seventh such interception since President Donald Trump launched a campaign to control Venezuela’s oil exports.
According to Reuters, the U.S. Southern Command, said the tanker was apprehended “without incident” and was operating in defiance of a U.S.-established quarantine of sanctioned vessels.
The U.S. government has filed for court warrants to seize dozens more tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, sources told Reuters last week.
Related Articles
After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico | Reuters
US seizes seventh tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports - SAFETY4SEA
U.S. forces seize seventh sanctioned tanker linked to Venezuela in Trump’s effort to control its oil
6. US pressure on Iran could deepen Chinese reliance on Russian-trading tankers
The United States has intensified its measures targeting Iranian oil exports by imposing sanctions on nine vessels identified as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” and eight associated companies, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. These actions, form part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to pressure Iran in response to the recent crackdown on domestic protests and ongoing concerns over regional destabilization.
This move follows prior U.S. measures, including the designation of the Houthis in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and sanctions on vessels and individuals facilitating the delivery of petroleum products to Houthi-controlled ports, which were intended to prevent illicit revenue flows from undermining international sanctions regimes. Analysts note that these sanctions may further disrupt global tanker markets, with Chinese importers potentially turning to Russian shadow fleet vessels to source crude in the event of broader enforcement or tariffs on countries deemed to be “doing business” with Iran.
U.S. officials have also signalled the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and multiple guided-missile destroyers, to the Middle East, reflecting heightened geopolitical tension. While President Trump emphasized the U.S. preference to avoid military engagement, the combination of sanctions, financial restrictions and naval presence constitutes a multifaceted approach aimed at restricting Iran’s ability to generate revenue from its oil exports. Recent market data indicates a sharp decline in Iranian crude exports, falling from over two million barrels per day in October 2025 to less than 300,000 barrels per day in recent weeks. While data limitations exist, this suggests that Iran’s influence on global crude tanker markets is waning and that key importers, particularly China, are diversifying their sources, which could amplify reliance on shadow fleet operations.
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Attachment 1: TradeWinds 19/01 - US pressure on Iran could deepen Chinese reliance on Russian-trading tankers
Reuters 23/01 - US targets Iran's 'shadow fleet' over crackdown on protesters
7. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
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Attachment 2: US Treasury Report for week 17/01/2026- 23/01/2026
8. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Attachment 3: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 24 December 2025 – 21 January 2026
Nothing important to report from the ILO and the House of Representatives.