The Commission is working through its trade agreements amidst heavy headwinds. A ministerial meeting on the Environmental Goods Agreement in Geneva failed to deliver a deal this week-end. Whether other trade and investment projects will materialise is not clear…. Below, the key files to watch this week. …
Asia
GSP Plus – Philippines, Pakistan and Sri Lanka under EU scrutiny
The EU will examine three countries under its GSP Plus scheme in early December: the Philippines, Pakisan and Sri Lanka. The Philippines have come into the crosshairs of those concerned about recently elected president Duterte’s human rights track record. Duterte’s ordering of extra-judicial killings in a bloody crack-down on drugs-related crime has raised …
Belgium to request opinion on ICS from ECJ after Singapore ruling
The Belgians are fighting internal tussles over how to follow up on the internal compromise achieved between the federal government, the Flemish regional bodies and the Wallonians ahead of the signature of the EU Canada trade pact CETA early November this year. Charles Michel has tabled a motion in …
Vietnam Ambassador heard by Wallonian parliament
The parliament of Wallonia is hearing the views of Vietnam’s Ambassador to the EU today (1 December 2016). After having been in the limelight as the regional Belgian parliament that almost scuppered the EU Canada CETA deal late October, the Namur-based legislature has stepped up its scrutiny of all free trade …
WTO panel on Chinese export restrictions established
Despite Chinese misgivings, the EU is pressing ahead with its dispute against China’s exports restrictions on a variety of raw materials and metals. China initially refused to establish a dispute settlement panel, arguing its new 2017 export quotas were in line with WTO law and aimed at protecting the environment. …
Trump world hovers over next steps in EU China investment and trade moves
Germany’s prosperous port city of Hamburg is the host of a German-European-Chinese summit, the Hamburg Summit 2016 this week. The swanky event takes place against a backdrop of rising questions over international stability, US-China relations, and investment frictions in EU-China relations. A city open to China Hamburg is positioning …
We’re too busy! says Commission to Taiwan
With the giant TTIP and TiSA negotiations off the agenda in the coming months and possibly years one would believe trade officials in the European Commission would have some extra time on their hands to deal with other negotiations and trade files. Yet there’s one file they are clearly …
In brief: EU India – what’s the noise all about?
Much has been said about the recent termination by India of its bilateral investment treaty with the Netherlands’s contribution to the stalling of attempts to revive and EU-India free trade accord (BTIA). In fact it’s not the terminations that are determinant here. It’s the substance of the FTA. India …
EU “sleeping” on China Belt and Road project – former Europe Minister
Bruno Macaes, a former Europe minister of Portugal and author of a forthcoming book entitles We are all Eurasians Now, says the EU should pay more attention to China’s industrial policies in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. With the United States retreating on the global trade policy scene in …
EU Japan FTA gives signs of life
There is movement behind the scenes on the EU Japan FTA, under negotiation since 2013. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet is reportedly gearing up work on the final steps to finalise the talks – which have hinged on final auto and agriculture issues. Now that the Diet in Tokyo ratified the TPP …
