News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
The ratification by a large majority of MEPs of the European Union-Japan Economic Partnership agreement this week in Strasbourg is a boost to the morale of decision-makers battered by the ongoing transatlantic trade and gas ‘war’ – in which Germany is quietly starting to do some of the heavy lifting. …
It comes as little surprise that the World Trade Organization expects global merchandise trade to continue decelerating in the coming months – but it’s bad news, nonetheless. Mounting trade tensions, tighter credit conditions in key markets and waning business confidence have caused export orders to fall, the WTO said in …
The latest US report detailing Chinese policies involving the transfer of technology, intellectual property and innovation is full of “groundless accusations”, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce. The update, which stems from the Trump administration’s Section 301 investigation, was released a day after the US proposed stepping up scrutiny of …
The World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body will establish panels based on complaints filed by China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Norway, and Russia against United States tariffs on steel and aluminium introduced for national security reasons last spring. A Turkish panel request is still pending at the time of writing. …
The European Commission is preparing two formal negotiation mandates from member states as part of its talks with the United States to bring forward trade relations as part of a joint executive working group set up this summer to calm trade tensions. Chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia-Bercero said his department is …
One has to wonder what Cecilia Malmström heard in Washington this week that spurred her to step up her warnings about the urgency of modernising the World Trade Organization at a conference hosted by the French economics ministry today.
EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström reported “progress on regulatory cooperation” during her meeting with counterpart Robert Lighthizer in Washington yesterday. The two sides are seeking to strike bilateral deals to reduce red tape for trade at the border and avoid duplicative testing procedures. “We could see decisions already [in the] …
The White House is circulating a Section 232 report by the Department of Commerce on the national security implications of auto imports ordered by US President Donald Trump last summer for feedback among various US government departments. The move comes days after US midterm elections and following a trip over …
This week’s midterm election will probably have little impact on the Trump administration’s trade policies, though the Democrats have a role to play in ratifying the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and oversight of new trade negotiations.
A comparatively ‘quiet’ week in Brussels on trade. The week was eventful on the WTO and multilateral trade front, with Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs, Canada’s mini WTO reform summit, and the UK’s WTO tariff schedule dominating the headlines. Ottawa WTO meeting sets ball rolling on reform As expected, …
