Singaporeans have been kept waiting for years for a trade agreement concluded years ago with the European Union to finally come into force. While the deal is expected to bring a variety of economic benefits, there is a sense that it already starts being outdated. Singapore is keen to more …
South Asia & ASEAN
EU tightens up its steel safeguard regarding developing countries
The European Commission announced a general tightening of its global steel safeguard on 14 August in the afternoon – in other words, when nearly everybody in Brussels and Geneva was on holiday. The timing of the announcement is not entirely innocent; had the measures been announced in September, there would …
EU-Indonesia: Trade talks continue below the radar
Trade negotiations between the European Union and Indonesia continue, despite deep splits between Brussels and Jakarta over issues ranging from palm oil to technical barriers to trade.
EU member states give green light to Vietnam trade and investment pacts
It took three and a half years since the negotiations were first finalised, but here we are: the EU’s member states has given the green light to the EU Vietnam free trade agreement and investment protection agreement. This paves the way for official signature and the ratification process in the …
Week in Brussels: Vietnam, banana pesticides, ISDS awards and state aid
This week we saw developments on the EU China market economy case, Mercosur, the UK GSP scheme, fishing and Korea. What else happened?
Week Ahead in EU trade: E-commerce, Vietnam, Indonesia
The main EU trade policy items to watch out for this week are: e-commerce, Indonesian FTA, Vietnam FTA and IPA.
EU Vietnam agreements – presidency hopes to clear FTA by end June
The Romanian presidency of the European Union is hoping to see the EU Vietnam free trade agreement agreed by member states and ready for signature with Hanoi by the end of June. Bucharest appears less confident a separate investment protection agreement can be agreed by the Council by the same …
WTO case against new EU biofuels regime under way, say sources
“It will come. And soon,” a source close to the Indonesian government said when asked if and when Jakarta would file a dispute at the World Trade Organization in response to the EU’s new rules on biofuel mixes being released today (21 May). Tuesday was the final act of a …
Week in Brussels: Cambodia, Eastern Partnership, FTA calendar updates
This week, World Trade Organization ambassadors met in rue de Lausanne in Geneva for the General Council meeting. It was mainly a meeting to – literally –‘ confront’ views on the state of the organisation and on how to reform it. We partly covered the Appellate Body discussion.
Week in Brussels: Chile, Cuba, Indonesia
EASTER BREAK: Borderlex journalists also need a break. So we will be off taking a rest for a few days, and back reporting and commenting on European Union trade policy next Tuesday. Happy Easter! What else happened this week in EU trade? EU could challenge new US-Cuba measures at WTO …