News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
The process of ending intra-European Union bilateral investment treaties has created much bitterness and resentment between the European Commission and member states as well as among EU capitals. It is now coming to an end although a big battle still lies in an Energy Charter Treaty context. The long-standing internal …
November deadlines missed Europeans and Britons were spared Brexit for Halloween this Friday as the United Kingdom seeks a way out of its political impasse through elections later this year. There are also signs that the United States will seek a way to avoid slapping tariffs on EU autos in …
The week so far has been about much more than the new Brexit deal… Singapore FTA on track for member state approval EU Ambassadors gave cleared the way for capitals to approve the EU Singapore free trade agreement on Wednesday (23 October 2019). The ratification process for this agreement is …
The stink the United States and other advanced countries have been putting up in recent months at the World Trade Organization appears to be achieving some results. China and other countries have started listening. The behaviour and status of developing countries in the global trading system, industrial subsidies and state …
Tonight’s vote in the British parliament marks a milestone. The United Kingdom now seems on track to leave the European Union with an agreement. The risk of a ‘no deal’ Brexit on Halloween remains. But doesn’t look too likely. With a first positive vote on an Article 50 agreement on …
“Do you think that because people are dealing now with the digital economy, with e-commerce, that tomorrow you will have an agreement? Think again. We’re in for the long term on these things,” said the World Trade Organization’s Director General Roberto Azevêdo during a panel discussion at his organisation’s annual …
It’s been a horrible week for trade aficionados. The US said no to proposed WTO Appellate Body reforms, US tariffs on EU exports are kicking in, and one had to follow the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement negotiations. The final Brexit deal implies customs contortions in Northern Ireland which many policy wonks …
The General Council of the World Trade Organization had an extensive discussion of reform proposals for the institutions’ Appellate Body put together by David Walker, New Zealand’s envoy to the institution in Geneva. The ball is now in the camp of the members to take further decisions in the coming …
Foreign ministers of the European Union agreed to upgrade relationships with the South East Asian country Thailand at a meeting in Luxembourg today. Among others, the upgrage involves resuming trade agreement negotiations. These had begun in 2010 but were halted after the Council asked the European Commission to suspend negotiations …
Airbus, transatlantic This week in European Union trade politics will be dominated yet again by ‘Airbus tariffs’ and the general state of transatlantic trade relations. Today, the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization is set to authorise retaliation by the United States after it won its case against …
