China and EU-US trade relations dominated the news this week. Here’s a selection of what else happened. EU to face new Russian WTO complaint over steel anti-dumping duties This week in Geneva, Russia requested a panel in a dispute filed in February 2017 against the EU’s anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled …
South Asia & ASEAN
Cambodian rice producers sue European Union over rice safeguards
In January 2019, the European Union reintroduced restrictive quotas on imports of rice from Cambodia and Myanmar following a complaint from Italy that these were harming its own rice growers. Cambodian rice farmers won’t just let that pass. So-called Indica rice from the two countries is now subject to a …
Week in Brussels: Australia and New Zealand FTAs, Cambodian textiles, US-Japan-EU trilateral
This week was dominated by news on European trade defence policy and by a shift in sentiment in Britain over a customs union with the EU – with ramifications for the Department for International Trade. Other bits of news below. EU-Australia negotiations: third round The EU and Australia held a …
EU sues India and Turkey at WTO over tariffs and intellectual property violations
The European Union is suing India over recent tariff increases above its bound rates in the World Trade Organization. Brussels is also filing a case against Turkey due to what the EU thinks is WTO-inconsistent treatment of its pharmaceutical companies. India tariffs Since 2014, India has been gradually increasing import …
A week in Brussels: Brexit, IPI, where is the Vietnam FTA?
So, dear friends, we are going into a week-end with the United Kingdom ready to default into a no-deal Brexit on 12 April. Or most likely there will be a long extension of its EU membership, and potentially general (and European) elections…. This week was dominated by wrangles between France …
Week Ahead in EU Trade: Brexit, EU US, China, Myanmar and Cambodia
This week’s main focus will be on Brexit, EU-US relations, and China. Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, will also be on the agenda. Brexit and FTA rollovers The House of Commons might vote a third time on Britain’s withdrawal agreement with the EU on Tuesday or Wednesday if prime minister Theresa May …
Palm oil growers mull WTO action on EU RED II
Palm oil growers have signalled they could take the European Union to the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body over its new biofuels regulation. The EU is preparing a definitive version of a ‘delegated act’ pertaining to its new Renewable Energy Directive that sets the environmental criteria required for biofuels …
Week in Brussels: Brazil retaliates, New Zealand, FTAs, Myanmar
This week’s special focus has been transatlantic trade negotiations (here and here) and Brexit-related British trade policy (here, here, here). But we also got an update on EU Taiwan relations. Below other noteworthy news or updates. Brazil retaliates against EU steel safeguards We are facing another episode in the global steel trade …
EP: Singapore trade pact does less well than EPA with Japan, better than CETA
The European Parliament gave its assent to the EU Singapore free trade agreement, to a separate investment protection agreement, and to a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement today. The trade pact did less well than the EU Japan Economic Partnership Agreement voted in last December. The Singapore FTA received 425 votes …
Blog: 750 mn euros Italian auto sector losses and other trade numbers
Tired of gloomy trade news? Let’s have some fun today. Here four numbers worth playing around with this week. 750 000 000 That’s the number of US $ worth of economic output Italy alone could lose should the United States close off its market to German autos and parts. The …
