News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
The EU is transfixed by the trade war with the United States. This week was comparatively quiet in terms of trade meetings or negotiations – but the next couple of weeks will be packed. This week we’ve written on what World Trade Organization members have been telling the US …
The political drama unfolding over planned US auto duties looks like a replay of this spring’s steel and aluminium tariff saga, just on a much grander scale. Let’s not expect a resolution of the transatlantic trade crisis so soon, comments Iana Dreyer. The US, the EU and (mainly) Germany …
The EU joined more than a dozen World Trade Organization members in denouncing the Trump administration’s threat to impose import duties on vehicles and car parts, saying such a move would seriously disrupt the world market and harm global commerce. Japan also suggested that such tariffs – which the …
This is one of those weeks when it looks like little is happening on the European trade agenda. Don’t be fooled, it’s not time to go fishing – especially in light of the EU’s warning that US tariffs on foreign cars could lead to global retaliation against up to $300 …
Australia’s landmark win over Big Tobacco at the World Trade Organization paves the way for other countries to roll out similar laws requiring plain packaging for cigarettes and cigars. Yesterday’s ruling could also have implications for alcohol, sugary drinks and junk food packaging. WTO judges concluded in an 800-page …
The European Union’s heads of government significantly amended their conclusions on trade policy in the night from Thursday to Friday, offering more detailed guidance on what they want in terms of World Trade Organization reforms – a goal the EU formally set itself this spring. The Council officially remains silent …
It’s been an eventful week in Brussels, culminating with the ongoing European Council – which we will cover separately. The fear of US tariffs on autos, that the multilateral trading system will unravel and China, and frustrations at the slow pace of Brexit negotiations (here and here) have all dominated …
European companies exported an additional €4.8 billion in goods and services last year thanks to the removal of a record number of trade barriers, the European Commission says. But EU exporters noted a dramatic increase in protectionism in 2017, as trade partners including China, Russia and South Africa created more …
European Commission vice president Jyrki Katainen prepared the groundwork for an EU-China summit in mid-July during today’s high-level economic and trade dialogue meeting in Beijing. The dialogue, initially set up in 2008, has never been much more than a talking shop. But it looks like this time could be different. …
The year-long stalemate over the process to appoint Appellate Body members is debilitating the World Trade Organization’s top court and may eventually lead to a paralysis that would have “profound implications” on panel proceedings as well, says Appellate Body Chairman Ujal Singh Bhatia.
