this is business briefing. i'm sally bundock. let's look at the headlines. the trans—pacific let's look at the headlines. the tra ns—pacific partnership will let's look at the headlines. the trans—pacific partnership will be formally signed today in chile. booth babes at the geneva motor show — is there a role in 2018? we've been finding out. donald trump's trade war could start today. there are some gains in asia as people try to make sense of donald trump's trade tariff plans. let's begin with donald trump's trade wall. —— war.

that's if reports are to be believed that the president will do what he threatened last week and sign a proclamation imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium imported to the us. but white house officials are now suggesting some countries could be excluded from the planned tariffs. and while us steel firms cheer the prospect of protection for their industry, other american companies aren't so sure that meddling in decades of trade policy is a good idea, as kim gittleson found out. brookland puri is used to focusing on its craft beer. it's like us and ales. —— brewery. but from the steel in its case to the aluminium in its cans, the company is increasingly worried about it brewing trade war, particular since it makes more than 50% of its profits by exporting a certain type of urban core. we are very upset about these tariffs,

because it is that increased cost tremendously. and if a trade war and is used, that is very dangerous talk companies like ours. and brooklyn brewery is not alone. across the united states, people tried to work out the impact that donald trump's ta riffs out the impact that donald trump's tariffs could have on the bottomline. the uncertainty stems not so much from steel and aluminium imports, but rather what could happen ina imports, but rather what could happen in a trade war. already, the european union has threatened to slap tariffs on everything from american bourbon to motorcycles. but some say that is a small price to pgy- some say that is a small price to pay. your talk to certain people in certain export sectors and they will be waving the worry flag. and i don't doubt that that will happen. but as a practical matter on an economy wide basis, this is not going to have a meaningful impact. this week, the us trade deficit hit

a nine—year high, offering further motivation for donald trump and his america first trade policy. when we are down by 30 billion, a0 billion, 60 billion, 100 billion, the trade war hurts them, it does not hurt us. that is the problem with trade wars. there is always someone who gets hurt. and it is not easy to guess who that is going to be. let's they were the subject of trade. 0ne let's they were the subject of trade. one year after america's sudden withdrawal from the global tpp trade pact, the remainers are due to sign a new deal today to virtually eliminate tariffs in a market place worth close to rorting trillion dollars. —— $1a trillion. it's seen as an antidote to growing us protectionism under president donald trump as he prepares to implement tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. the original trans—pacific partnership, or tpp, boasted 12 countries bordering the pacific ocean.

but president trump pulled out after coming to power, leaving 11 nations to rebrand the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans—pacific partnership. it may lack america's clout, but still has marketplace of 500 million people, worth close to $1a trillion. it would abolish tariffs on seafood, wine, sheep meat, cotton wool and manufactured goods across the region. while changes to intellectual property rules, something the us demanded, could leave the door open for president trump, he has said he'd consider returning if america got a better deal. iamjoined by i am joined by suzanne spears. thank you for coming in. also, we must note that as america exited, canada and its addition to this. so tell us how significant this is. —— is very

important, but italy were canada demonstrating a number of countries from both north america and other regions in the pacific are very committed to free trade. they are still committed to the roads of the ruled, as they say, of the global economic order, which is what this trade agreements and blazes. and when they announce this agreement, having taken years to negotiate, with barack having taken years to negotiate, with ba rack 0bama having taken years to negotiate, with barack 0bama spearheading negotiations at the time he was in office, they always talk about the degree to which they will boost the individual economies, the great they will see and the growth in trade etc, how people will benefit. will it be much fruit, do you think? yes, we do see the trade does in fact increased gdp in the economy is in question. they have been a number of studies show that this trade agreement alone will boost trade and

investment very dramatically, such that at least by about a 1% increase in gdp forthe that at least by about a 1% increase in gdp for the countries involved. now, on the other hand, quite clearly, there are downsides both to globalisation at large, as long as two trade agreement like this. the important thing is that this trade agreement doesn't mean to address some of the downsides, with trade standards and environmental standards, and it does actually — could because she did as something which is the new generation of global free which is the new generation of globalfree trade which is the new generation of global free trade agreements. but as you know, during the campaign, the united states, and then another and thatis, united states, and then another and that is, these trade agreements have become sort of the symbolism of globalisation and of the dangers of oui’ globalisation and of the dangers of our economic system today. and it really is important that there are voices that counter that narrative and ensure that they represent the other side. just briefly, in your opinion, is the us missing out by not being a part of the dpp? in my

opinion, yes. —— tpp. ithink not being a part of the dpp? in my opinion, yes. —— tpp. i think some of the economic advisers to donald trump who have in fact resigned... gary cohn? emac exactly. they really felt that this is throwing the grenades into the global economic system. suzanne spears, thank you for your analysis. of course, there is more on our website about this story, trade, what is happening. we have a business live page which has all the stories as they break in business. now, that sex sells. —— sex sells. it's an old mantra, but one which the car industry has been wedded to for decades. at international motor shows it's still common to see beautiful, elaborately dressed women striking poses next to whatever machine a company really wants to show off. but in the 21st century, in the age of #metoo, is this still appropriate?

we asked a few women attending this week's show in geneva. setting up to the competition are the three lovelies trying it out for comfort. it is not a good situation right now to find some woman like that. but at the same time, women are responsible of themselves. they made their choice. ideally, you would go to knowledgeable people who know about the product. people should be talking about the cars are not looking for nice things that are there to look at that aren't cars, necessarily. i was a glamour model myself when i was very, very young. and i quite like it. i think the cars and beautiful, but i think you

need a little bit extra to bring them to life. so i'm not against it. i think they add just a little bit, a bit of spice. so we asked you to your opinions on this. many of you have been in touch. let's a look at a tweet from james. either regular viewer. touch. let's a look at a tweet from james. either regularviewer. he says... interesting. loads of you have been in touch. we have more on this in the news briefing later. now let's brief you some other business stories. french companies caught discriminating against women over pay will be given three years to close the gap or face fines under new labour proposals. the government revealed the planned crackdown to unions and employers on wednesday, giving them a month to iron out details.

if passed by parliament, the measure will be rolled out by 2020. china's exports unexpectedly surged at the fastest pace in three years in february, suggesting its economic growth remains resilient even as trade relations with the united states rapidly deteriorate. china's exports to the world surged aa.5 percent compared with the same period last year, while import growth was a disappointing 6.3 percent. i'll be back with the news briefing ina i'll be back with the news briefing in a moment. do stay with us. domestic abusers could be banned from drinking alcohol

and electronically tagged, as part of new government plans to crack down on the problem. the home office has outlined measures including the first statutory definition of this kind of abuse, as well as new domestic abuse protection 0rders. the bbc‘sjon donnison has more. this woman suffered a decade of abuse at the hands of her second to make partner. jinder nepean hospital more than a dozen times. she said that she used to grow her french long to cover the black eyes. some people asked me why didn't get out sooner. people asked me why didn't get out sooner. if you leave a relationship, you really want to be looking over your shoulder? per person could still be after you. because he already told me that he would say when it is over. and then he threatened me and told me he would organise for somebody to throw acid in my face. in 2015, the man was eventually jailed for various in my face. in 2015, the man was

eventuallyjailed for various bodily harm and assault after euleen‘s sister contacted the police. almost 2 million people in england and wales, most of them women, experience domestic abuse last year. —— experienced. the government wants to make it easier to prosecute the prosecutors to make offenders. among the proposals, broadening the legal definition of domestic abuse to include physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, but also economic abuse. tougher sentences for cases involving children. and you protection orders to allow police and courts to intervene quickly when abuse is suspected. the consultation period will last 12 weeks. jon donnison, bbc news. injust over 15 minutes, in just over 15 minutes, we have brea kfast. in just over 15 minutes, we have breakfast. that is that six o'clock. charlie stayt and naga munchetty will have all the day's news,

business and sport. that's coming up injust 15 minutes. you would be briefing from bbc news. hero the headlines... the white house has indicated a slight softening of donald trump's planned tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, as republicans press the president to abandon his proposals. anti—terror police in britain are trying to establish the origin of a nerve agent used in an attempt to murder a former russian spy and his daughter. now it is time look at the stories that are making the headlines in media across the world we begin with. the metro: a new reports that a nerve agent was used to try to murder a former russian spy and his daughter. both sergei and yulia skripal remain critically ill in a uk hospital. and on the guardian website its international women's day and in the year of #metoo and time's up, the 8 march will b e a rallying charge that keeps

the spotlight on women calling for change. they are multiple protests and marches happening around the world. the telegraph also cover‘s women's day with calls for britain to close a "funding gap" which is preventing women from launching their own businesses. a coalition of uk business leaders and entrepreneurs are warning the government to put money aside to boost female entrepreneurship. meanwhile, also in the guardian thousand of female shop workers are demanding up to £30m in back pay from fashion retailer. the women say the jobs they do are comparable to those of men working in warehouses who are paid more. and finally on the engadget website if you own an alexa—powered device, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was haunted: users have been

complaining that their devices would laugh randomly or simply refuse to do what they were asked. thankfully amazon has confirmed that it's aware of the problem and is "working to fix it." i have heard of people i'm plugging alexa alexa because she is just misbehaving. with me is dr stephanie hare who's an independent risk analyst let's start with the story dominating the uk throughout the week, this nerve agent now it has