Australians do master the art of trade diplomacy. The government of Australia has clearly embraced post-Brexit UK and promised London there would be a bilateral free trade agreement between Australia and Britain. London is jubilating: yes we have friends! From Australia, no brashness like New Zealand PM John Key’s statement that the United …
Author: Iana Dreyer
Why Germany won’t likely reject CETA
CETA currently stands good chances of adoption in the expected forthcoming national ratification process in Germany. Germany’s political parties are preparing to grapple with the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – CETA – with Canada. The junior coalition governing party SPD is bracing for a showdown on CETA as its leadership …
In brief: Client Earth criticises European Parliament legal opinion on investment court in CETA
The freshly released European Parliament legal service’s opinion on the EU’s investor court system put forward in its Canadian trade agreement CETA was bound to displease investment arbitration and investment treaty critics: it indeed declared the system compatible with EU law. The environmental NGO Client Earth, an activist critic of international investment protection treaties, released a legal opinion …
What the European Parliament legal service says about CETA’s investment chapter
A report by the European Parliament’s legal service released early September considers that the controversial chapter on investment protection in the Canada EU CETA trade agreement is compatible with EU law. The question of legality of international arbitration tribunals and international courts has become a touchy topic with the controversy over …
In brief: TTIP – Juncker pledges negotiation continuation – France tones down calls for suspension
EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the Commission intended to continue negotiating the transatlantic trade agreement TTIP despite calls from some EU member states to halt the talks. Washington and some capitals in the EU hope to finalise the three year old talks by the end of the year. …
Australia offers UK trade agreement and technical assistance
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed that his country was keen on concluding a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom as quickly as possible after the latter leaves the EU. Both sides also confirmed Australia is providing technical assistance to Britain on trade negotiations. This coming week (5 …
Japan sets out post Brexit wish-list
The Japanese government very unhappy the United Kingdom for its decision to leave the European Union after last June’s referendum to that end. Tokyo has asked both parties to keep the UK’s economy as highly integrated as possible with the Single Market in their forthcoming Brexit negotiations. A frank and stern document released during the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, …
Exclusive: Justice directorate says no to free data flows in trade agreements
No to free data flow language in trade deals, the Commission’s justice department argues, pitting it against the trade directorate.
In brief: This week’s Brexit update
The British government has started working on its self-appointed task to leave the EU. Many have chided, mocked and criticised the government for having “no plan”. Now it is working on it. After a first cabinet meeting held by Theresa May on Wednesday, we start having some indications of where this …
Spanish and French MEPs on collision course with Commission over Ecuador banana stabilization mechanism
Bananas only interest a minority of trade aficionados. And Latin American bananas even less. But these tend to be the source of major international legal and political conflicts involving the EU. That was the case in the WTO in the 1990s and 2000s when Central Americans and Ecuador sued the EU, …
