Tensions between the US administration and EU leaders are on the rise, as the US appears to attack in particular Germany on the trade front. Governments in the capitals and EU leaders have started responding. President Trump’s chief trade adviser Peter Navarro accused Germany of currency exploitation, the Financial …
North America
In brief: US and EU agree on pharma deal – WTO TRIPs waiver for pharmaceuticals comes into force
The EU and US have finalised an agreement among regulators today that mutually recognises each party’s ‘good manufacturing practices’ for pharmaceuticals. Pharma was also source of news from Geneva today. The EU-US agreement, initially part of the regulatory package of the now dormant Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement is an update to a …
EU, US say TTIP can be concluded conditional on “political will”
“The progress we have achieved so far gives us confidence that, with continued engagement by both sides, and with the political will to prioritize long-term gains for our economies and our broader relationship, the United States and the EU could achieve what we set out to do in 2013: conclude …
Last ditch attempt to overcome row over CETA Joint Committee ahead of Parliament ratification
Shadow rapporteur for the left-of-centre S&D group, Romanian MEP Sorin Moisa, has been trying to defuse a fresh crisis brewing in the group over CETA ahead of a trade committee vote. The disagreement is about the powers of the treaty’s coordinating body, the so-called Joint Committee. Moisa believes clarifications offered …
In brief: Trump threatens German carmaker’s planned Mexican operation with punitive tariffs
US president-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take the reins of power on 20 January 2017, has told Germany’s top tabloid newspaper Bild Zeitung, that BMW, one of Germany’s top carmakers, would face a 35 percent import duty on 3 Series sedans it is planning to start building in San …
Transatlantic : EU and US make last trade gestures before Obama administration folds
An era of uncertainty opens in transatlantic relations, as in exactly one week President Obama (20 January 2017) will hand over the reins of power to Donald Trump. The US administration will focus on settling into working mode and not enter major trade negotiations for several months at least. US trade policy is also expected …
German constitutional court refuses to block CETA provisional application
Blocking the ratification process of CETA would be highly damaging to the EU’s international standing, Germany’s top judges believe. The ratification process of CETA, the EU-Canadian trade pact, is in full swing, as the European Parliament prepares to sign off on the agreement in the coming weeks. CETA is expected …
EU Mexico FTA – Brussels reveals first negotiating priorities
The Commission has published six negotiating texts it tabled to Mexico after first round of talks held this year with the North American country aiming at modernising their 2001 free trade agreement. The texts tabled reveal the EU’s priorities: rules of origin, public procurement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, energy and raw …
Data, labour mobility and innovation at heart of TABC concerns over Brexit
The Trans-Atlantic Business Council has released its member’s views on what they want to see preserved once the United Kingdom leaves the EU, a process which is expected to start in the spring 2017. The business group highlights issues related to the knowledge economy: labour mobility, data, and research and innovation. …
Bulgarian socialist-drafted employment committee report rejects CETA
The European Parliament is preparing its ratification of the contentious EU Canada free trade agreement CETA. While it is a generally received notion that CETA will likely muster enough votes to form a majority in favour of ratifying the deal, the process in the Parliament will not be smooth sailing. …
