News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Friday, May 2, 2025
EU governments are split in the face of proposals by the European Commission to reapply import protections on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar following an import surge from these countries. The two Asian countries, which qualify as least-developed countries, benefit from duty-free imports of rice under the EU’s General System …
The launch of dispute panels on US Section 232 panels has brought explosive bilateral power-playing by the US right into the heart of the World Trade Organization, argues Iana Dreyer.
G20 fallout December 2018 will be remembered as a decisive moment in European trade policy. Leaders came back to Europe from the G20 in Argentina over the week-end without securing a commitment by the big leaders to fight protectionism – although WTO reform is on the agenda of the world’s …
As the EU gears up for the crucial G20 summit in Buenos Aires, below other developments in the world of European trade. Don’t forget to read up on Chris Horseman’s pieces on the UK’s accession to the GPA in Geneva and the state of play in Britain’s rollover of EU free …
It comes as little surprise that the World Trade Organization expects global merchandise trade to continue decelerating in the coming months – but it’s bad news, nonetheless. Mounting trade tensions, tighter credit conditions in key markets and waning business confidence have caused export orders to fall, the WTO said in …
Early fears that Italy’s populist government would block the EU’s trade agreement with Canada have proven unwarranted. Despite Trump-style rhetoric and ‘Italy first’ approaches, the populist government in Rome seems to have fallen in line with other EU governments on trade since taking power six months ago. The government is split …
It was meant to be largely a technical exercise. It turned out to be more political than expected. The European Union is about to adopt a new regulation on safeguards on imports that will apply equally to all its new bilateral free trade agreements. A final compromise among the three …
Beijing and New Delhi are almost entirely on the same page with the EU when it comes to reforming the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body. But the US is not showing signs of relenting in its veto on appointments of new judges. Nor are China or India agreeing on the …
The G20, and the future of the WTO will be in focus this week in Brussels. There’s been no week-end for many in Brussels. On Sunday, the EU27 signed off on the package deal for Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. The Brexit deal includes: a status-quo transition period during which …
The latest US report detailing Chinese policies involving the transfer of technology, intellectual property and innovation is full of “groundless accusations”, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce. The update, which stems from the Trump administration’s Section 301 investigation, was released a day after the US proposed stepping up scrutiny of …
