Coronavirus

Michelle Mone-Linked Firm Misses £122M PPE Repayment Deadline Following Court Ruling

A company linked to Conservative peer Baroness Michelle Mone has failed to meet a deadline to repay £122 million for breaching a COVID-19 PPE contract. The Department of Health and Social Care won its legal case against PPE Medpro after a High Court judge ruled some supplied gowns were not sterile. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has vowed to pursue the company “with everything we’ve got” to recover public funds.

PPE Contract Breach Leads to Missed Repayment Deadline

A company connected to Baroness Michelle Mone has reportedly failed to meet a critical deadline to repay £122 million following breaches in a COVID-19 personal protective equipment contract, according to recent legal developments. PPE Medpro, a consortium led by Mone’s husband Doug Barrowman, missed the Wednesday 4:00 PM BST deadline to pay damages awarded to the Department of Health and Social Care.

by Daniel R.CollinsOctober 15, 2025

International Business and Trade Policy

Trump Considers Cutting Trade Ties with China Over Cooking Oil, Soybean Disputes

U.S. President Donald Trump announced potential trade cuts with China, targeting cooking oil and other goods as retaliation for reduced soybean imports. This move escalates ongoing disputes over tariffs, technology, and geopolitical issues.

In a recent social media statement, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Washington is evaluating the termination of certain trade relationships with China, specifically mentioning cooking oil and other trade elements. Trump framed China’s decision to slash U.S. soybean purchases as an “Economically Hostile Act,” emphasizing that the U.S. could produce cooking oil domestically without relying on Chinese imports. This development underscores the deepening trade rift between the two nations, which has been fueled by disagreements over tariffs, technology, and broader geopolitical tensions.