News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Friday, April 25, 2025
Trade ministers from the world’s top 20 economies will gather today in the coastal Argentine town of Mar del Plata to discuss issues such as e-commerce and inclusive global value chains in the agricultural sector. But there can be little doubt that the $500 billion firestorm brewing between the US …
Just a week after President Donald Trump announced that the US and Mexico had agreed to update some parts of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that “no NAFTA is better than a bad NAFTA deal for Canadians”. But as Trump threatens to push …
Like the proverbial nail in the coffin, the US announcement this week that it would not back the reappointment of Appellate Body member Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing may signal the end of the World Trade Organization’s highest court as we know it. As one trade lawyer put it, the Appellate …
Turkey is definitely not playing chicken when it comes to standing up to US pressure. Ankara has responded to a US decision to double duties on Turkish steel and aluminium by raising its own tariffs on nearly two dozen American products, announcing a boycott of US electronics such as iPhones …
Pretty much everyone seems to agree now that the World Trade Organization needs a facelift. However, there is anything but agreement on just how to do it.
The Trump administration’s trade complaints against import duties applied by Canada, China, the EU, Mexico and Turkey on US goods are short and sweet – and almost identical. Washington argues that the measures are discriminatory and, except in the case of Mexico, they exceed permitted duty rates. The US lodged …
US tariffs on Chinese goods kicked in today. So did Chinese duties on US products. Chalk up at least another two trade restrictions that will be added to the World Trade Organization’s next semi-annual listing of barriers erected by Group of 20 economies. Earlier this week, the WTO issued …
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 …
Relations between the US and many of its trade partners were bad enough that there was really no need to add fuel on the fire by tossing out fresh incendiary comments. But that’s just what US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross did yesterday by calling for an even “more painful” environment …
So far, six World Trade Organization members have lodged complaints challenging President Donald Trump’s assertion that tariffs on steel and aluminium are needed to protect US national security. They are broadly similar, but hardly identical, and some of the differences are quite noteworthy. More members have ganged together in …
