EU: GERMAN publishers get another two weeks to salvage theircontroversial, cross-border price-fixing scheme, according to the German Book Trade Association. The commission gives the book binders until Jan. 17 to table new proposals to revise their regime with regard to Internetsales and Austrian re-imports of German books, among other sticking points. Published january 12, 2000 Top FRANCE: In Europe, the costs are currently paid by shipowners, but one proposal is to shift some of the burden to the oil companies, which charter the vessels. That is the rule in the US as a result of the Exxon-Valdez disaster. TotalFina, which chartered the Erika, is now helping foot the bill from the Erika on a voluntary basis. The company will spend about $92 million. Published january 12, 2000 Top Emu trade surplus up $7.11bn Euro-zone countries reported a year-on-year increase from E6.4bn ($6.59bn) to E6.9bn in its trade surplus ending October 1999, according to the European Union statistics agency Eurostat. Exports accounted for E75.4bn worth of trade while imports accounted for E68.5bn during the year. Its trading surplus with the UK, its largest trading partner, increased from E22.6bn between January and September 1998 to E23.1bn of the same period in 1999. ECB governor sees 3% growth Christian Noyer, vice-president of the European Central Bank, said that euro-zone economies could grow by 3 per cent or more in 2000. However, Mr Noyer stressed that member governments would need to implement structural reforms of labour and product markets to bring European growth rates up to US levels. Mr Noyer said that a further depreciation of the euro against the dollar would become a problem if it posed a threat to price stability. Published january 12, 2000 Top USA: "The delay shows we have a good relationship with the commission," says a spokesman for the association. The original deadline in the dispute, which goes back eight years, was Friday. Until the commission approves the regime, it is technically a cartel operating illegally. Published january 12, 2000 Top BRAZIL: Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi and the EU are talking about an official visit for the long-isolated leader. No invitation has yet been given, and the initiative came from Gadhafi. But a commission spokesman says there is "clearly a rapprochement." EU sanctions against Libya were partially lifted or suspended after the country last year surrendered two suspects in the 1986 Pan Am airplane bombing over Scotland. Published january 12, 2000 Top JAPAN: Private industry broadcaster welcomes a commission proposal to require greater financial transparency for public-sector companies. Richard Eyre, chief executive of British broadcaster ITV, says the rules are useful not only for broadcasters that have dual funding from the state and from advertising, but also for those -- like the BBC -- which operate commercial ventures. Published january 12, 2000 Top CHINA: "It must be clear that they are not using the public purse to achieve a competitive advantage with their commercial ventures," he says. The draft directive would tighten rules obliging railways, post offices, energy and telecoms companies and some banks to keep separate accounts for commercial and public service operations. Published january 12, 2000 Top INDIA: In a white paper on the environment due this spring, the commission will look at who bears costs for cleaning up spills from tankers like the Erika last month. Published january 12, 2000 Top RUSSIA: Alexis Herman, labour secretary, said she saw no signs of inflationary pressure as the labour department released employment data.The department reported the fastest rise in non-farm payrolls since July 1999 with 315,000 jobs added to payrolls in December 1999 compared with 222,000 jobs in November. The data was stronger than the 224,000 forecast. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings rose 0.4 per cent during the same period to $13.46. The jobless rate remained at 4.1 per cent when compared with the previous year.