GSP, GSP Plus, EBA

A week in Brussels Australia & New Zealand EU FTAs & bilateral ties GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Latest news Mercosur Myanmar

Week in Brussels: Brazil retaliates, New Zealand, FTAs, Myanmar

This week’s special focus has been transatlantic trade negotiations (here and here) and Brexit-related British trade policy (here, here, here). But we also got an update on EU Taiwan relations. Below other noteworthy news or updates. Brazil retaliates against EU steel safeguards We are facing another episode in the global steel trade …

Cambodia Commentary - all GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Latest news Myanmar Social & human rights

Cambodia: Is the EU serious about human rights or is it just fending off a new competitor?

The EU is threatening to suspend imports from Cambodia due to human and labour right violations. But the products under discussion for suspension are precisely those where the EU has a track record of entrenched protectionism.  This looks like a clear case of double standards, opines Iana Dreyer.

A week in Brussels Cambodia GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Latest news United States

Week in Brussels: US trade deal mandate update, Cambodia, Japan, olives

This week was all about transatlantic trade, biodiesel (here and here), the CETA investment court,  Brexit preparedness and UK FTA rollovers. Below other important news. EU-Japan FTA comes into force Business and governments in the EU and Japan are cheering. The largest-ever trade agreement so far came into force today. Here, our …

Agriculture Cambodia GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Latest news Myanmar Safeguards

Will commission break limbo on Myanmar and Cambodia rice safeguards?

EU governments are split in the face of proposals by the European Commission to reapply import protections on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar following an import surge from these countries.  The two Asian countries, which qualify as least-developed countries, benefit from duty-free imports of rice under the EU’s General System …

Cambodia GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Latest news Myanmar Thailand Vietnam

Blog: Malmström on human rights, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam

The EU recently initiated steps to remove trade preferences reserved for the world’s poorest countries  that were granted to Cambodia and Myanmar. One wonders: is this the right policy course? The policy would lead to the potential laying off of thousands of workers in apparel factories. These have been sprouting …

GSP, GSP Plus, EBA Philippines South Asia & ASEAN Sri Lanka

In brief: Sri Lanka gets GSP+ back, Philippines fears losing it

Sri Lanka regained its lost ‘GSP Plus’ status on Friday (19 May 2017).   The country lost the preferential market access status in 2010 following government human right abuses in the context of its crackdown on the Tamil Tiger rebellion.   Since 2015, the new government under Ranil Wickremesinghe has fought hard …