The EU US Trade and Technology Council has somewhat fallen off global headlines amid the war in Ukraine and the related fallout for the global economy, global supply chains and global politics. But despite its structural weaknesses as a forum to deepen economic ties across the Atlantic, it is defying …
EU FTAs & bilateral ties
WTO panel lenient on EU steel safeguard
Part Two of the recent Turkey-EU trade dispute settlement saga around pharmaceuticals and steel is ending today with a panel report that goes easy on Brussels in its handling of its 2018 steel safeguard measure. Even if the panel did not give the EU a clean slate in the way …
WTO: Turkey to appeal EU pharma case win in ad hoc arbitration mechanism
The MPIA will once again have to wait. But Turkey and the EU are setting a precedent by using an alternative World Trade Organization appeals mechanism to settle their legal scores as the appellate body continues to lie dormant.
Blog: A few considerations on the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia
After the fifth round European Union of sanctions against Russia enacted on Friday (8 April), one can almost say the EU, in sync with its allies, is enacting a blockade against the country whose government has invaded Ukraine and committed atrocious war crimes there. Russia itself has responded in recent …
Slumbering EU FTA agenda gets small boost from Ukraine war
Much is in flux in the European Union’s geostrategic – hence also trade policy – positioning following the war in Ukraine. A lot will also depend on how China positions itself on this matter in the coming weeks and months. But diversification of trade relationships is now on top of …
EU tightens trade noose on Russia in fifth sanctions package, eyes oil move
The European Union is preparing to impose a significant new package of trade sanctions against Russia following recent revelations of war crimes perpetrated by its army in areas where it had retreated in Ukraine in order to redeploy its forces to the east of the country.
EU, China mandate high level dialogue to advance ‘market access’ conversation
Today’s widely anticipated EU-China summit held via videoconference mainly offered a channel of direct communication between the leaders of the Council and the European Commission on the one hand and China’s president and vice-premier on the other, amidst rising political rifts between the two sides that have been building up …
EU, India prepare to launch trade, investment agreement talks
The European Parliament’s international trade committee has begun work on plans to negotiate a trade, an investment protection and a geographical indications agreement between the European Union. This comes as the European Commission and the Indian government are preparing the ground to start working on concrete legal treaty text proposals …
G7 calls off Russia MFN status in WTO – EU keeps oil embargo option open
The G7 group of countries vowed to deny Russia the benefits of most-favoured nation treatment it currently enjoys in the World Trade Organization. This move could be followed by further announcements by other WTO members in the coming days and weeks.
Russia: EU goes slow on extra sanctions, WTO rights, as Moscow curbs commodities exports
Russia is pushing back against the sweeping economic sanctions imposed on it by Western nations and some of their allies in the Asia-Pacific following its military attack on Ukraine. This is already having a chilling effect on further ambitions in Brussels to target Russia’s economic interests. Moscow is also piqued …