EU trade ministers are meeting in Bulgaria. The EU-ASEAN Business Summit and ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting will focus on trade and investment ties between the two regions. More details below: Foreign Affairs Council Trade EU trade ministers will have two main issues in mind at a meeting that …
Asia
Mercosur in German NGO limelight
The EU is in the final stages of free trade negotiations with the South American bloc Mercosur. It is readying for the adoption of a new trade agreement with Japan and Vietnam. Anti trade agreement campaign groups have recently stepped up their activities to fight these agreements. A joint …
Vietnam and EU blame each other for delay in FTA ratification process
Some people are getting impatient about the slow pace of ratification of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement that was inked in 2015. Now, Vietnam and the European Commission are pointing fingers at each other over the delay. The ‘legal scrubbing’ of the trade deal has dragged on for more …
US Section 232 remedies seen as threat to EU aluminium, steel sectors
US proposals on how to punish foreign steel and aluminium exporters for unfair trade practices miss the point and would do more harm than good, European Aluminium says. Global excess capacity – specifically in China – is the “root cause of the main challenges” that the aluminium industry faces …
Week ahead in EU trade: Indonesia, Mercosur, Brexit, ‘conflict’ minerals, Vietnam
It’s going to be a packed week in Brussels, with everything from continuing trade talks with Mercosur and Indonesia and a new round of Brexit negotiations. And the European Parliament’s trade committee will also have a couple of busy days this week. EU, Indonesia to exchange tariff offers …
A week in Brussels – Taking on China – South America – ASEAN – Trade Valentines
With many people out of town skiing it’s been comparatively quiet in Brussels town itself. A lot happened actually outside of Brussels. Trade pros even got time to write #TradeValentines poems. EU and US join Japan in plans to take China to WTO over tech protectionism A new …
EESC resolution adds to pressure on FTA partners to respect ILO conventions
The European Economic and Social Council almost unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday calling on the EU to step up its efforts to give greater weight to labour and environment chapters – known as TSD chapters – in its free trade agreements. This move adds to a rising number of calls on …
China MES case may ride on negotiating history of WTO accession protocol
The negotiating history of China’s World Trade Organization accession protocol could play a central role in the outcome of Beijing’s WTO complaint about EU dumping methodologies, according to a new study that pinpoints weaknesses in the US and European interpretation of the controversial Article 15. Weihuan Zhou and Delei …
Bernd Lange takes the long view
In an interview with Borderlex, the European Parliament’s international trade committee chief Bernd Lange explains what he hopes to achieve before the European elections next year.
Beyond Brussels: UK-China, state of the union, solar tariffs, NAFTA, RCEP
May, Xi discuss trade barriers UK Prime Minister Theresa May said today that she and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the importance of removing barriers to commerce, especially for British food, drink and financial services, as the two countries move toward a post-Brexit trading relationship. May, speaking at a business summit …