The European Union’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization João Aguiar Machado confirmed that Brussels was preparing to unilaterally rescind Russia’s most-favoured-nation rights enjoyed as part of its membership of the global institution.
EU FTAs & bilateral ties
Blog: A quasi-embargo on Belarus exports to EU
Amidst all the shattering economic and financial sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has not imposed restrictions on imports of Russian goods so far. But neighbouring Belarus is probably about to see a de facto embargo on all its headline exports to the EU. …
Blog – Ukraine: A few thoughts on the EU’s Russia sanctions
The coming hours will be critical in defining how the European Union will react to Russia’s ruthless and bloody attack on Ukraine. At the time of writing this article, Thursday late evening, it is becoming clear that as heads of state gather in Brussels, the announced economic and financial sanctions …
Interview: United States and Europe can do a lot together in the Indo-Pacific
The United States will soon announce plans for an Indo-Pacific economic framework as part of its new strategy for the region. Europeans have also developed their own Indo-Pacific strategies. There is scope for transatlantic cooperation on trade and economic issues of common interest. Asia Society’s Wendy Cutler shares some thoughts …
Lithuania: EU launches wide-ranging WTO case against China trade blockade
The EU has moved faster than expected in launching a legal dispute at the World Trade Organization in relation to Chinese restrictions on exports from Lithuania following a political row with the country related to the opening of a representative office for Taiwan in Vilnius last year. The move is …
Blog: Is the EU’s FTA agenda unfreezing?
Is the French government finally realising that blocking progress in bilateral trade agreements might not help its much-touted ‘strategic autonomy’ and supply chain resilience agenda that defines the country’s current rotating EU Council presidency?
Festering Chinese Lithuania blockade emboldens anti-coercion instrument proponents
A festering crisis over trade with Lithuania is helping proponents of the EU’s recently announced anti-coercion instrument make their case in Brussels.
EU and Singapore to prepare the ground for digital partnership talks
The EU and Singapore will soon formally start preparing the ground to start negotiations towards a digital partnership agreement. These ‘scoping’ talks will be held within the framework of an already existing two-year-old bilateral free trade agreement and form part of a dedicated working group under the deal’s Joint Committee.
Comment: The new Japan-US-EU ‘trilateral’ underwent a pandemic mutation
The relaunched Japan-US-EU trilateral conversation aimed at developing new rules related to so-called ‘non-market’ behaviour in international markets is shaping up to be very different from the pre-pandemic initiative launched during the Trump administration.
Japan, US, EU relaunch trilateral engagement on industrial subsidies
The European Union, the United States and Japan have agreed to resume dormant talks aimed at agreeing on joint principles related to industrial subsidisation, which they would like the World Trade Organization to endorse in a potential future reform process.
