Potentially dumb question: wouldn't the existence of a global magnetic field already imply the presence of a global electric field? Or is this discovery a separate unrelated electric field?
A permanent magnet produces magnetic field, but not electric field (unless it's electrically charged, but that's usually not the case), so no, magnetic field doesn't automatically imply electric field (charge).
I think OP is asking: if there's a static magnetic field but conductive stuff (say, the oceans) moves through it, doesn that not induce an electric field?
Not a physicist so this may not be related but AFAIU magnetic fields must change to produce current. Just having a magnetic field does not imply electrical current.