News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Given a range of other immediately dangerous security crises looming around the EU, not least with next-door Russia over Ukraine, EU member states have been slow in coming together to discuss in depth the lingering crisis over China’s unofficial embargo on exports from Lithuania. But it’s now happened. What the …
The rapporteur on the coming new EU legislation aimed at tackling distortive foreign subsidies Christophe Hansen presented his draft report on Thursday (13 January) at a hearing that included French trade minister Franck Riester. The rapporteur wants to go fast. He also tabled amendments that seek to minimise international frictions …
Is the French government finally realising that blocking progress in bilateral trade agreements might not help its much-touted ‘strategic autonomy’ and supply chain resilience agenda that defines the country’s current rotating EU Council presidency?
Borderlex will be in recess as of tomorrow (22 December) for about a fortnight due to the festive season. So we are fast-forwarding our usual Friday Week in Brussels column for you…
Welcome to the last working week of the year 2021. Moment of truth on the Appellate Body for the Biden administration Today (Monday 20 December) the Dispute Settlement Body in the World Trade Organization will meet for the last time of the year. Two new panels are set to be …
A festering crisis over trade with Lithuania is helping proponents of the EU’s recently announced anti-coercion instrument make their case in Brussels.
Members of the European Parliament adopted its second report on the EU’s planned International Procurement Instrument by a very solid majority of 590 in favour. The vote gives a mandate to the legislature to begin talks with the Council – i.e. the member states – and the European Commission to …
The strictly ‘multilateral’ dimension of the World Trade Organization seems to be in a rut, with the postponement of the 12th ministerial conference having thrown negotiations on issues such as fish subsidies or agriculture into further uncertainty. But, postponement or not, WTO crisis or not, a large subset of members …
During the first six months of 2022 the trade policy dimension of France’s rotating presidency of the Council will single-mindedly focus on its climate dimension.
The European Commission tabled a long-awaited ‘anti-coercion’ instrument for the Council and European Parliament to assess and adopt. The unprecedented EU move is welcomed in foreign policy expert circles yet raises a range of new questions for the EU’s institutional setup and the global trading system.
