Good morning. Brussels continues to have this ‘interregnum’ feel about it as it prepares for leadership change at the top. Legislative work is slow. A newly elected European Parliament is only gradually getting organised to work on trade. The primary focus is on politics: the parliament is preparing hearings with …
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In brief: WTO arbitrator report in Airbus case circulated
The arbitrator nominated by the European Union and the United States to determine the amount of trade Washington may impose tariffs on in response to the EU’s non-compliance with a WTO Appellate Body ruling has circulated his report to the parties today. The report still needs validation by the WTO’s …
Blog: WTO Section 232 panel reports not out before US elections
We all know it. The World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body can’t cope with an overload of disputes. 2018 saw a surge in requests for consultations and dispute panels which an understaffed system now needs to digest. While the rules setting out the functioning of the WTO’s dispute panels stipulate …
Singapore eyes digital deal with EU after trade pact entry into force
Singaporeans have been kept waiting for years for a trade agreement concluded years ago with the European Union to finally come into force. While the deal is expected to bring a variety of economic benefits, there is a sense that it already starts being outdated. Singapore is keen to more …
Week Ahead: Commission, Airbus-Boeing, IPI, Brexit saga
The wheels of the Brussels machinery are gradually starting to churn again. So here a few useful items to watch out for this week. On Tuesday, European Commission-elect Ursula von der Leyen will announce who she wants to serve on which vacant new commissioner post. Mainstream expectations continue to be …
Week in Brussels: Ideas market bids for Commission attention
The ritual early September rentrée week in Brussels was all about who will get which jobs in the incoming European Commission. There is a sense that the European Union is at a historically critical juncture. Preoccupations centre on transatlantic relations, China, US-China, Brexit and populism. This is set to have …
US reset with EU doesn’t remove auto tariff or Airbus WTO retaliation threat
US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland in meetings with European Commission officials in October 2018. Credit: EC.The United States administration is making significant diplomatic efforts to bring crisis-ridden transatlantic relations onto a better footing. On Tuesday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met nominee to head the European Commission Ursula …
EU capitals and parliament eye Mercosur, China, Vietnam, US and Brexit as trade priorities
The incoming European Commission plans to put the fight against climate change front and centre in its next five-year tenure. But signs are the EU’s executive arm will be squeezed in between capitals – many of which might want to go slow on controversial files such as a carbon border …
Week in Brussels: Duties on fasteners from Malaysia 2.0, elephant trade, G7
It’s been a fairly quiet week in Brussels as befits any last week of August in Europe. But quiet weeks are good moments for ‘interesting’ moves by the European Commission’s antidumping directorate. This week we saw among others an extension of bike antidumping duties from China on grounds that look …
Bicycles: 30 years of trade protection for a profitable EU industry
Today the European Commission extended for another five years anti-dumping duties on bicycles imported from China. The duties, which range from 19.2% to 48.5% also apply to imports from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Cambodia and the Philippines inasmuch as they involve Chinese inputs. Japanese and Taiwanese-owned companies operating out of …
