The World Trade Organization (WTO) plays a vital role in enforcing the global trade rules and resolving disputes between nations.

The WTO has today (Wednesday 2 October) issued its ruling on US retaliation rights in the Airbus dispute. It states that the US can be authorised to apply tariffs worth $7.497 billion annually on the UK, France, Germany, Spain (‘the Airbus nations’) and the wider EU.

The UK government is clear that resorting to tariffs is not in the interests of the UK, EU or US. We are working closely with the US, EU and European partners to support a negotiated settlement to the Airbus and Boeing disputes.

We are also seeking confirmation from the WTO that the UK has complied fully with WTO rulings regarding support to Airbus, and should not be subject to tariffs.

The UK is confident that it has fully complied with WTO rulings in the Airbus dispute.

A ruling is expected in the coming months to confirm whether the Airbus nations are in full compliance with WTO law. The US is allowed to seek authorisation to retaliate before the WTO’s ruling on whether or not the Airbus nations are now in compliance. However, we believe that resorting to tariffs now would be short-sighted and counterproductive.

The WTO has previously ruled that both the US and the Airbus nations need to take further steps to bring support to the aerospace industries into compliance with WTO law. The UK and other Airbus nations have now taken steps to bring their support fully in line with WTO rulings.

In contrast, the US has taken no steps to bring its support to Boeing into compliance with WTO law. The EU will in some months equally be granted rights to impose countermeasures against the US.

Travel advice for Welsh fans travelling to Trnava for the Slovakia vs Wales FC match on Thursday 10 October 2019.

• Date: Thursday 10 October 2019
• Venue: City Arena Stadium (Anton Malatinský Stadium), Trnava, Slovakia
• Kick-off time: 7.45pm (local time)

As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Slovakia.

Passports and insurance

• you don’t need a visa to travel to Slovakia, but your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months after entry
• if you lose your passport, you’ll need to get an Emergency Travel Document from the British Embassy in Bratislava
• take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance – your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be valid only for urgent treatment
• for more guidance please see our travel advice for Slovakia

Getting to/from the airport

By taxi

• it takes 20 minutes to get from the airport to city centre of Bratislava (Slovakia’s capital) – there is no airport in Trnava. There are a variety of taxi options available in Bratislava including private hire, app-based and metered cabs
• some visitors have reported being severely over-charged by local taxis
• with private hire it’s best to negotiate a price before leaving – for a journey to one of the major hotels in central Bratislava expect to pay 15-20 EUR and make sure any taxi you take has a taxi sign or clear taxi branding on it
• if taking a metered cab ensure the taxi meter is switched on
• check that the taxi has working seatbelts

By bus

• bus no. 61 links Bratislava airport with the city centre from the Main Railway Station (Hlavná železničná stanica), 05:00 am to 11:00 pm in peak times every 10 minutes (20 minutes outside the peak times)
• bus no. 96 goes to the airport from the direction of Petržalka, Prokofievova
• night line N61 provides direct connection between Bratislava Airport, Main bus station (Hlavná autobusová stanica) and Main railway station (Hlavná železničná stanica)
• the trip from the airport to the city center usually lasts 30-40 min
• one single ticket costs 0,90 € (60 minutes Mon-Fri, 90 minutes weekend) and the ticket has to be bought on the station in the automat and then validated in the bus

Getting to the Stadium: City Arena Trnava Stadium (also known as Anton Malatinský Stadium)

Bus

Special buses will be arranged for Welsh fans from Bratislava to Trnava around 02:00 pm on Thursday 10.10.2019 (organised by Welsh Football Association) departing from the city center and the Main bus station.

City Arena stadium is located right in Trnava’s city centre. It lies right on the southern edge of the historic town centre, a few hundred metres from the central square. The stadium itself is part of a larger new development including a shopping mall and cinema.

Address

Športová, 917 01 Trnava

The match

Where fans should enter the stadium

Welsh supporters will be seated in sectors 15,16,17 and 46,47,48 (Gates C and D) – see stadium plan. There will be no special leaving procedures – as the same gates (C and D) will be used to leave the stadium.

Entry procedures

Access to the stadium can be slow. Please use gates C and D to enter the stadium. Expect to be searched at least twice. To avoid last minute delays get to the stadium early. The stadium opens 2 hours before the kick-off.

Restrictions

In addition to items which would usually be prohibited in the UK, please note the following items that will also not be allowed to be taken into the stadium: flares, fireworks, alcohol, cans, glass, plastic bottles or containers, coins, lighters. Also, umbrellas are not allowed – please take your raincoat with you in case of bad weather. If you do bring any of these items they will be confiscated by the Slovak authorities.

Alcohol and smoking

Alcoholic beverages can be purchased in the stadium, but not brought in from outside. Smoking will not be allowed.

There are no Embassy offices in Trnava, the nearest is in Bratislava.

Address: Panská 16, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia

Local phone number: +421 2 5998 2000

International phone number: +44 20 7008 1500

Email: britishembassybratislava@fco.gov.uk

Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday: 8.30am-5pm (local time)

Friday: 8:30am-2am (local time)

Emergency services phone number in Slovakia: 112

The 3 new buildings have been delivered as part of a £300-million project by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which is working with contractor Skanska to transform the site into a brand-new tri-service training facility.

The new physical training centre includes a gym with cardiovascular suite, weights room, fitness studio, sports halls and squash courts. It also has offices, changing facilities, showers, disabled facilities and internal and external stores.

The fitness and weights areas are each designed according to industry best practice and use leading edge technology with biometric access controls, so personnel won’t ever have to worry about forgetting their keys. The medical dental centre has 4 dental suites, 5 GP consulting rooms, nurse consulting rooms, audiometric testing rooms, a casualty reception and treatment rooms. It also houses offices, a pharmacy dispensary, physiotherapy treatment areas and an activity space.

The band building provides rehearsal and practice rooms, a drill shed and ceremonial changing rooms. The building is virtually all double height for noise compliance and its design will also enhance acoustic performance.

Matthew Richardson, DIO’s Principal Project Manager, said:

We are pleased to be working with Skanska to deliver these fantastic new facilities. The new buildings will provide our armed forces personnel with first class, modern health and leisure facilities that should make their overall experience of the college an enjoyable one.

Brigadier Stephen Shirley, who will oversee the college when it opens, said:

The new combined medical and dental centre, physical training centre and band and drill area will provide both our students and permanent staff with modern facilities to support their health needs and enable them to enjoy much-earned recreational time. The facilities are superb. I am very proud to be leading on such a prominent project that will bring modern, multi-purpose facilities to Worthy Down.

Paul Weale, Project Director for Skanska, added:

We’re pleased that the buildings meet both the military and DIO’s expectations, in terms of their function and quality. These buildings have been created through strong collaboration between the DIO and Skanska and we hope they will enhance the health and well-being of military personnel and their families at Worthy Down for years to come.

All 3 of the new buildings meet modern design standards in terms of thermal insulation, air leakage and heat recovery. Wind catchers have been added to the roof of the sports halls to maximise the use of natural ventilation, while multiple chimneys provide improved air circulation.

Once completed the site will enable the MOD to train personnel more effectively and efficiently to deliver the best possible support for military operations.

Published 8 April 2019
Last updated 29 January 2020 + show all updates

Trade Envoy to Lebanon Lord Richard Risby, ended a two-day visit to Lebanon. Lord Risby is the first trade envoy assigned to Lebanon by the UK Prime Minister, a role dedicated to deepening trade and investment ties between the UK and Lebanon.

During his visit, Lord Risby met with a wide range of political, economic and business figures and officials including President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, in addition to MP’s, Ministers for Economy, Energy, Transport and Telecommunications.

Discussions focused on various economic and trade issues including the UK’s growing bilateral trade relations with Lebanon after the signature of the Association Agreement during the UK-Lebanon Tech Forum in London on 19 September. This agreement provides a platform for trade between the UK and Lebanon to grow, with total trade worth £603 million in 2018. It also provides the certainty for British and Lebanese consumers and businesses to continue trading following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The agreement will provide a framework for cooperation on and development of political, economic, social and cultural links.

Lord Risby’s visit comes at a challenging time for Lebanon. Earlier this month the Government of Lebanon set out further proposed reforms on top of those already committed to at CEDRE. Lord Risby discussed how the UK can continue to support these reforms, including through the Capital Investment Programme, and getting more UK companies involved in infrastructure projects, oil and gas and other opportunities. Lord Risby also visited the Beirut Container Terminal Consortium – operating Beirut Container Port – a joint venture between Lebanese and UK companies that has in over 15 years created more than 3000 local jobs, boosted container handling four-fold to 1.2 million.

At the end of his visit, Lord Risby said:

I am pleased to visit Lebanon for the first time after my appointment as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Lebanon, a country that has great trade and business potential. It is clear there is much work to be done to address the areas of economic concern here, but UK-Lebanese relations have never been stronger. On 19 September we saw Lebanese and UK Ministers sign the UK-Lebanon Agreement in London which signals continuity and confidence in our trading relations as the UK leaves the EU.

My meetings with Lebanese officials and senior business people highlighted Lebanon’s great potential and unfolded opportunities for more UK private companies to invest in Lebanon. I look forward to more British and Lebanese companies doing business with each other, as the UK remains a committed partner investing in Lebanon’s security, stability and prosperity’.

At a reception held in honor of Lord Risby, Ambassador Chris Rampling addressed his guests from across the business, trade and political spectrums saying:

It’s a great pleasure to receive Lord Risby whose role is dedicated to deepening trade and investment ties between the UK and Lebanon. Coming less than a year after the inaugural investment forum between the UK and Lebanon last December, and the Association Agreement signature between both our countries in London on 19 September, this is a clear demonstration of how rapidly our two countries ties have grown stronger.

As I have said before, the UK supports the Government of Lebanon’s programme and CEDRE: economic reform will be painful, but it is urgent for Lebanon to regain confidence. The Association Agreement is truly an important milestone in UK and Lebanese relations, which are stronger today than ever before. Britain remains firmly behind Lebanon’s steps towards long-term security, stability, and prosperity.