News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Saturday, April 26, 2025
It’s been an intense week in trade policy in Brussels, focused on preparations of the Trade and Tech Council with the United States to be held late September 2021. This week saw the launch of the first EU-wide Indo-Pacific strategy. The latter was overshadowed by a blow to French interests …
The European Union’s trade policy plans in the Indo-Pacific strongly focus strongly on the digital aspect of things, a new Communication unveiled today confirms. The EU is rolling out its Global Gateway – a pendant to China’s Belt and Road – through a new strategy initially requested by the EU’s member states. …
The European Commission and External Action Service are planning to unveil a proposal to start Digital Economy Partnership Agreement negotiations with Korea, Japan and Singapore as part of the European Union’s new Indo-Pacific strategy. The EU is also considering launching data privacy legislation “adequacy” negotiations with India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, …
Brussels in rushing to wrap up or move specific trade file to the next level before the summer break which begins late July. EU ASEAN to meet in Q3 to discuss region to region FTA ‘parameters’ Well, nothing came out of it apart from good intentions. The EU and ASEAN …
The EU-Korea free trade agreement came into force ten years ago in July. This was the first in a generation of ‘deep’ trade agreements Brussels has negotiated since then, each agreement stirring more political controversy at home. It also set the tone in shaping what is today’s ‘model’ EU FTA. …
European Parliament sets up new UK Contact Group; EU Vietnam civil society dialogue postponed until further notice; France, Germany and Netherlands want even tougher rules on company takeovers by digital platforms.
The European Union’s adoption of a Strategy for cooperation the Indo-Pacific in April 2021 is a milestone. But it lacks a much-needed reassessment of its trade policy in the region, especially as regards to ASEAN and Taiwan.
It’s been another intense week on the EU trade beat, with a revamped partnership with Japan, the collapse of EU Switzerland talks, MEPs voting on trade and health, and much more. Here other notable developments or bits of news on EU trade and G7, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and trade …
The European Union and Japan held a bilateral summit on Thursday (27 May 2021), which ostensibly aimed to give new impetus to an already rich and diverse economic and political relationship.
Despite its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan’s geostrategic significance has only increased with the pandemic and the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, writes Zsuzsa Anna Ferenc. But is Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation sustainable in a world paralysed by COVID-19 and torn by a race for critical technologies?
