The EU is considering reviving region-wide free trade negotiations with ASEAN. If Brussels is not to fail again in this endeavour as it did a few years ago, a fresh, flexible approach, to negotiations, respectful of local political realities, is overdue. The more so as the EU has significantly lost …
Asia
Analysis: Beyond the law: the politics of the EU’s debate on China’s market economy status
Legal considerations will likely come second only in determining whether Brussels will grant China the market economy status it feels entitled to obtain in its trade relations with the European Union. By Iana Dreyer.
Blog: 6 take-aways from EU minister’s meeting on trade #Doha #TTIP #Vietnam #Japan #CETA #Russia
In Brief: WTO dispute settlement panel to be established in EU-Pakistan plastics case
A simmering dispute between the EU and Pakistan over Brussels’ countervailing duties on imports of polyethilene plastics from the South Asian nation will now be adjudicated in a formal WTO dispute settlement panel. China and the US are third parties in the case. Ravi Kanth in Geneva.
EU Vietnam FTA: rice carve-outs and ‘double transformation’ rule of origin in sight
Ongoing European Union (EU)-Vietnam free trade negotiations are reaching a critical point. Although negotiations have advanced well so far, the most difficult part of the talks still lies ahead of Brussels and Hanoi, a hearing at the EU parliament revealed. Some idea of the likely carve-outs from trade liberalisation in this politically sensitive deal for …
Pakistan requests WTO panel in dispute on EU plastics trade defence measures
Pakistan has asked the World Trade Organization to establish a dispute settlement panel against the European Union which allegedly violated global trade rules by imposing “provisional and definitive countervailing duties” on imports of certain plastics from Pakistan. Ravi Kanth reports from Geneva.
In brief: As EU Japan trade talks go: European cheese and meat exports already made easier
The EU Commission announced today that Japan changed a sanitary standard for bacteria called Listeria Monocytogenes.
Comment: EU-China trade and investment files – another five years of impasse?
In a speech to the Brussels business community, Cecilia Malmström set out the European Commission’s approach to China. The trade commissioner’s talk indicates there will likely not be much change in the way Brussels deals with the giant Asian country. European businesses wanting the EU to open more markets in China for them might …
In brief: EU announces advances on sustainable development in FTA talks with Vietnam
The EU Commission announced that advances were made on a chapter on sustainable development in a planned free trade deal with Vietnam. In a statement, the body in charge of negotiating the agreement for Europe said: “The chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development contains robust provisions, including: commitments to the …
European trade policy: outlook and challenges for 2015
[sh_light_text ]The new year festivities in Europe are over. In 2015 the EU will face a busy trade policy agenda and some daunting challenges in fulfilling its objectives and promoting its interests. We outline some of them.[/sh_light_text]
