Two big countries dominated the agenda on trade in Brussels this week: the United States and China. Both topics are not unrelated. In this regard, a lot happened in the WTO – see Jennifer’s stories here, here and here. Another topic that has kept EU leaders busy is the bloc’s …
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The EU’s eight dividing lines over investment screening
This week, the European Parliament’s international trade committee debated the 474 amendments tabled by MEPs on the EU’s investment screening legislation. Our analysis of the amendments and of the debate reveals there are eight key dividing lines in the EU over the proposal tabled by the European Commission last autumn. …
In brief: EU starts monitoring aluminium imports, US beef quota noise
There are only a few days to go before the EU learns whether it will manage to sidestep US duties on steel and aluminium. In March, the Trump administration granted the bloc and five countries temporary exemptions from tariffs adopted on national security grounds until 1 May, hoping to extract …
New EU dumping methodology is illegal, Chinese, Russians and Saudis say
The EU can expect legal challenges against its new law to protect the bloc against dumped and subsidized imports. That message came out loud and clear during a meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices. The European regulation, which entered into force on 20 December, establishes …
Beyond Brussels: WTO rulebook revamp touted as way to tackle overcapacity
It’s time for the World Trade Organization to study the impact of state-owned banks giving low-cost loans to state-owned industries to boost demand during recessions, US-led group of five WTO members says.
Intense agriculture lobbying as Mercosur talks resume
There is intense lobbying in Brussels on beef, sugar and ethanol this week as dormant trade talks resume with Mercosur, the South American bloc.
Comment: UNCITRAL and the future of ISDS – fix it or nix it?
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law has an opportunity this week to keep pace with the other developments around the world challenging ISDS by using bold and creative thinking. Such innovation is not beyond UNCITRAL’s mandate, argues Rob Howse. Nothing unites critics of globalization these days …
Blog: EU-Mexico agreement – key elements
The European Commission has released an 18-page document on the EU-Mexico free trade deal that was concluded over the weekend. Here are the distilled contents of the modernisation exercise, with yours truly’s knee-jerk reactions and annotations. Negotiators will work over the coming months on a final pact ready to …
WTO: EU, US and Japanese silence on steel measures speaks louder than words
The EU, the US and India came under fire today for measures to protect their steel and solar cell industries. But what’s more interesting is what wasn’t said during the meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Safeguards Committee. WTO members criticised the EU’s ‘safeguard’ investigation into steel as well …
Week ahead in EU trade: INTA, MIC, Mercosur, Tunisia, trade remedies, UK customs union
Put on your seatbelt and get prepared for a crazy ride this week.