Member states of the European Union formally endorsed a mandate for the Commission to start treaty negotiations with the United Kingdom to seal their long-term post-Brexit relationship. These will start as soon as next week. The United States is eager to start its own talks with Britain as soon as …
Author: Iana Dreyer
Week in Brussels: Update on a jumble of trade files
Export Control regulation could be finalised next March The EU’s digital – and other – industries are watching with some anxiety as an overhaul of EU export control rules is showing signs of life. The Croatian presidency finalised a compromise-building process among member states regarding a variety of rules that …
Enforcement regulation: stuck in a rut
If you expected a rapid-reaction ‘big bazooka’ coming out of the European Commission to respond to the current Appellate Body impasse and allow the EU to ‘defend its interests’ as soon as this year – then you forgot that you were in the EU. When the capitals are divided – …
E-commerce: EU hopes an initial joint text can be agreed by MC12
European negotiators involved in the ongoing talks on e-commerce among a subset of World Trade Organization members made relatively upbeat comments about the state of negotiations that hope to set rules for the global digital economy in the 21st Century. Speaking to MEPs on Wednesday in Brussels, Phil Hogan said: …
EU strategy for data (re)emphasises fight against data localisation requirements
The EU unveiled two policy strategy papers today on its approach to artificial intelligence and to data that might seem as a disappointment to hard-core proponents of European ‘digital sovereignty’. But will come as a relief to many digital industries and to trading partners that feared a protectionist turn in …
Hogan announces transparency push, closer links with industrial policy
In his first appearance in the international trade committee of the European Parliament trade commissioner Phil Hogan laid out his vision on where he wants to see trade policy move under his leadership. His were preliminary thoughts, as the new Irish trade commissioner promised further details in a new “policy …
EU enforcement regulation: demand for broader scope dampens prospect of quick fix
Did you expect the European Union to quickly come up with a revamped ‘enforcement regulation’ ? Don’t hold your breath. France, among others, wants this to become a bigger piece of legislation than originally envisaged by the European Commission.
EU Thailand free trade agreement: member states want mandate revised
The European Union is preparing to re-launch free trade agreement negotiations with Thailand, a key member of the South East Asian grouping ASEAN.
Week Ahead in EU trade: INTA week, CETA, services
Good morning, a few things to watch out for this week. On Tuesday, the Dutch lower house will vote on the ratification of CETA, the flagship trade agreement with Canada signed in 2016 and which is already partially in force. Though the Dutch are famed for being a trading nation …
ASEAN: the EU needs to get its human rights vs trade priorities right
Some week-end reading after many developments this week on EU ASEAN trade: Vietnam FTA, trade preference withdrawal for Cambodia, GSP reports on Myanmar and the Philippines, and an EU ASEAN Senior Officials meeting. Commentary by Borderlex editor Iana Dreyer.
