There has been a lot of talk about EU trade defence policy recently. The focus is on the EU’s recent steel safeguard measures. In Brussels and some member states such as France, Italy, and increasingly in Germany, the public discussion focuses on the ‘defence’ aspect of the EU’s trade remedies …
Author: Iana Dreyer
More WTO members announce retaliation against EU steel safeguards
The European Union introduced a safeguard against imports of steel last January. The move was made in response to the United States import restrictions on steel under Section 232 in 2018 and aims to avoid the European market from being flooded by metal diverted away from North America. But Brussels’ …
EU sues India and Turkey at WTO over tariffs and intellectual property violations
The European Union is suing India over recent tariff increases above its bound rates in the World Trade Organization. Brussels is also filing a case against Turkey due to what the EU thinks is WTO-inconsistent treatment of its pharmaceutical companies. India tariffs Since 2014, India has been gradually increasing import …
Week ahead in EU trade: EU-US, China, Chile, Tunisia, E-commerce
April could see a slowdown in decision-making in trade policy in Brussels. But this does not mean there will be less anxiety over two major files: EU-US trade relations and Brexit. In April we will also see new developments on EU-Chile and EU-Tunisia trade negotiations and on e-commerce. Continued EU-US, …
A week in Brussels: Brexit, IPI, where is the Vietnam FTA?
So, dear friends, we are going into a week-end with the United Kingdom ready to default into a no-deal Brexit on 12 April. Or most likely there will be a long extension of its EU membership, and potentially general (and European) elections…. This week was dominated by wrangles between France …
Comment: We won, both losers said
If it weren’t for the amounts of money involved in the case and in the fifteen-year-old legal saga, one could dismiss the triumphant statements made by the European Union and the United States after yesterday’s Appellate Body ruling as childish boasting. What’s important now for the future viability of the …
Capitals eye April for EU US trade negotiation mandates
“France is testing the patience of others to limits” said a member state official in Brussels today. The statement captures the mood in Council as Paris is seen as the last country dragging its feet in the process of authorising the European Commission to initiate trade negotiations with the United …
Venezuela crisis adds fuel to WTO dispute settlement crisis
Some trade policy experts have warned that World Trade Organization cases involving national security topics could destroy the institution. A new incident in Geneva shows that at the very least it’s getting rockier by the day for the rules-based system for adjudicating trade disputes. Such warnings were made as the …
EU 5G cybersecurity recommendations complicate EU-China investment game
The European Union released new recommendations to member states related to strengthening the security of its 5G networks. But will this complicate the EU’s investment negotiations with China further? A lot of this will be mediated by one factor: the United States. The new EU recommendations are part of a …
Week Ahead: China, Australia, WTO
Another intense trade week lies ahead. The China saga continues China displaced transatlantic relations as the big-ticket item at last week’s European Council. It looks like China could make new headlines again. After dropping by Italy on Saturday, where Chinese president Xi Jinping and Italy’s head of state Sergio Mattarella …
