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.
South Asia & ASEAN
Week in Brussels : G7, digital deals, China, Taiwan, TDI
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 …
EU and India to launch trade, investment protection, GI talks
The European Union and India agreed to relaunch their stalled free trade agreement negotiations at a bilateral summit held virtually on Saturday (8 May 2021).
Week in Brussels: Mercosur time horizon, Korea, India
A week with meaningful developments on transatlantic, digital and – not least – the EU-UK front. Here other updates… Dombrovskis eyes 2022 for ratification of EU Mercosur trade pact Speaking at an event hosted by the Portuguese presidency of the European Council in cooperation with BusinessEurope and its Brazilian counterpart …
Interview: Pursuing the bigger picture in Asia
Now that the European Union has inked an investment agreement with China it needs to take a big-picture geopolitical approach to the rest of the Asian region and a forward-looking approach to transatlantic relations, argues Reinhard Bütikofer in an interview with Borderlex.
MEPs to keep China, Vietnam investment and trade agreements under human rights watch
The European Parliament released a series of motions for resolutions on human rights in foreign countries this week. Two could have direct consequences for existing EU investment and trade agreements if MEPs consider that the human rights situation in the relevant countries is deteriorating. China investment deal ratification tied to …
EU ASEAN to upgrade their relationship, set up palm oil working group
Suddenly it all happened. Commenting on the outcome of an EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting today on social media, Gunnar Wiegand, who leads Asian affairs at the European External Action Service said the gathering was “not a routine meeting, but a historic step”. Strategic partnership and palm oil dialogue Due to, among …
Cambodia’s garment manufacturers sue EU over preference withdrawal
This summer, the European Commission withdrew trade preferences granted to Cambodia. Cambodia benefited from duty-free-quota free trade under the EU’s Everything-But-Arms aimed at the world’s poorest countries. The partial withdrawal affects one fifth of the the South East Asian country’s garment and shoes exports. Despite calls this summer to take …
EU, India set up High-Level Dialogue to help unblock trade and investment impasse
The European Union and India decided today to upgrade their diplomatic relationships on a variety of fronts during a virtual bilateral summit between the Indian prime minister and the heads of the European Council and Commission. A bilateral ‘dialogue’ will be the main vehicle driving the process. The meeting between …
Week in Brussels: Hogan on US, France and CETA, Cambodia, CTEO
It’s been one of those relatively low-key weeks on trade in Brussels – which only prepare the ground for more intense meetings and developments later on. Hogan back in action To start with: Phil Hogan is back! After a ‘purdah’ period imposed on him by his bosses while he was …
