On Friday (11 November 2016) member states have come close to clinching a compromise over the reform of trade defence instruments in the EU, namely on the highly controversial issue of whether to remove the so-called lesser duty rule. The final shape of the compromise has started appearing in a Council …
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EU Mercosur talks moving slowly ahead in shadow of Brexit
Argentina hopes to finalise revived EU Mercosur free trade negotiations within two years. “In terms of negotiations, we are optimistic, we can move forward on a good path, maybe one or two years”, Argentina’s Commerce Secretary Miguel Braun told reporters last week. Mercosur hopes to move on to a separate agreement …
In brief: Bangladesh mulling FTA with EU
Bangladesh’s textiles industry is pushing for a free trade agreement with the EU. According to local press reports, the country’s Textiles Secretary Rashmi Verma said she “is in constant touch with the Ministry of Commerce to pursue and FTA with the EU to boost international trade especially in the textile …
French digital council asks for TTIP suspension
The head of France’s advisory body on digital issues, the Conseil National du Numérique, said that TTIP is skewed in favour of US tech giants and called for a halt to the negotiations, echoing similar French government calls to that end. In an interview with Les Echos, France’s leading business daily newspaper, Mounir …
The week ahead in EU trade policy
This week (19-23 September) will not only be packed, but also decisive for EU trade policy. Today Monday (19 September), Germany’s social democratic party, Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partner, is deciding whether it wants to back the Canadian trade agreement negotiated by the EU, CETA. The deal now needs to be …
In brief: Vienna comes out against CETA and for a halt to TTIP talks
Ahead of crucial Council meetings late September on CETA and TTIP, Austrian social-democrat Chancellor Christian Kern said he would oppose CETA ratification in the Council. “This will be the next conflict in the EU Austria will cause”, he told local media. On Wednesday (31 August), centre-right Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said …
In brief: EU Brazil deal over Croatia accession clinched after three years of EU membership
On Tuesday 19 July, Brazil and the EU clinched a deal in the WTO that expanded the South American bloc’s access to the EU market. After Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the country’s imports of products like beef and sugar were subject to higher tariffs and to stricter quotas. It …
“Unravelling CETA” campaign in EU Parliament
A group of 8 MEPs from the centre and far left have launched a campaign against CETA called Unravelling CETA. The MEPs are from France, led by maverick French socialist Emmanuel Maurel, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Germany. The objectives of the campaign are not set out clearly, but the …
Sri Lanka on lengthy path to regain GSP Plus status
Since Sri Lanka has applied to regain its lost GSP Plus status. The government that came into power last year is aiming to break with the previous Rajapaska government’s track record on governance and human rights. After atrocities committed against the Tamil rebellion in 2009, the EU suspended the extra …
Employer groups and labour unions coordinate views on China market economy status
The Commission is set to hold a crucial meeting that will shape its decision on whether to grant China market economy treatment in its antidumping rules as Beijing thinks is required under its WTO accession terms. There’s been a flurry of lobbying and pushing and shoving in Brussels ahead of …
