EU members continue to be deeply divided over the issue of granting China market economy treatment in antidumping. “The situation in the Council is complicated”, Peter Žiga, Minister of Economy of Slovakia, told MEPs this morning, referring to the China file. “The issue of granting China market economy status is of …
EU FTAs & bilateral ties
EU to remove Belarus textile quotas
As part of its recent political rapprochement with Belarus in the aftermath of the crisis in Ukraine, the EU has not only partially lifted sanctions on leaders in Minsk. The EU is also moving to repeal existing textile import quotas from the country. Belarus welcomes the move.
In brief: Mid week TTIP update
This is TTIP week in Brussels. Below mid-week bits and pieces of updates. In this fourteenth round of talks in rainy Belgium negotiators are ploughing through thousands of pages of texts with the aim to have an outline of the final TTIP agreement in place. For those familiar with …
Commissioner Malmström sidesteps tricky files in first Beijing speech
No talk of China market economy treatment, or an investment agreement, let alone an FTA with China in Malmström’s inaugural speech in Beijing.
TTIP: European business alliance in call for “constructive approach”
Creative thinking is needed to make progress in TTIP, business groups say. The Business Alliance for TTIP, which includes the European Small Business Alliance, the European Round Table, the European Services Forum, Business Europe, the Trans-Atlantic Business Council, Eurocommerce, Eurochambres and AmChamEU, is calling for tangible progress in TTIP …
Reports: Tanzania backs out of EU EAC deal over Brexit
In brief: Rwanda’s New Times reports that Tanzania has decided to pull out of the EU East African Community deal. The agreement was slated for signature on 18 July. More to follow.
Exclusive: Gardner – possible to have “main building blocks” of TTIP by end 2016
In brief: US Ambassador to the EU Anthony Gardner believes the main building blocks of TTIP can be negotiated by end 2016, though he admits agreement on procurement and geographical indications still far off. Asked by Borderlex whether he thought it realistic for the EU and US to conclude …
TTIP Round 14 held under the shadow of Brexit, leaving out services
The EU and the US are holding a fourteenth round of TTIP negotiations. Few expect significant breakthroughs in the now three-year-old talks. Negotiations are deadlocked over bread-and-butter market access issues in agriculture, services, and procurement. Fundamental disagreements persist on rules on investment or on intellectual property rights (geographical indications). The UK’s …
18th EU China Summit – avoiding the difficult topics
EU leaders are preparing for the annual EU China summit, to be held in Beijing on 12th and 13th July. Trade Commissioner Malmström will be in the delegation travelling there. Few concrete steps are expected at the event on trade policy. However, the issue of the EU recognising China as …
CETA: Commission caves in to member state political pressure, declares deal is ‘mixed’
The Commission’s intentions to declare CETA an EU-only agreement, loudly announced last week by President Jean-Claude Juncker, have backfired. Amidst a pushback from powerful member states, including France and Germany, the Commission has decided to declare CETA “mixed” and prioritised its coming into force provisionally as early as possible. …
