Germany is the first among the ‘big’ EU member states to be on track to ratify the trade agreement with Canada commonly known as CETA. The country’s parliament’s ratification approval today comes after years of domestic debate and many misgivings in Germany about the trade agreement – in particular its …
Germany
The new German government and trade policy – how much change is afoot?
Germany, the European Union’s economic powerhouse and most populous country, will soon have a new government. This opens a new political chapter after sixteen years of a centre-right-led coalition headed by the towering figure of Angela Merkel. One can expect a lot of continuity on how Germany approaches EU trade …
Altmeier manages expectations for remaining 2020 EU trade agenda
“A presidency is not a government,” quipped the German economy minister in an exchange of views with members of the European Parliament’s international trade committee on Thursday (3 September). Peter Altmeier, who further oversees Germany’s industrial and energy policy, also pointed out that rotating Council presidencies taking place in the …
German presidency and trade: strong emphasis on sovereignty issues and bilateral trade agenda
The German government officially released its fifteen-page work programme for the coming six months as it prepares to take over the rotating European Union presidency. To say the least Germany’s presidency comes at a very critical time for the EU. Berlin’s text largely aligns with the EU’s general direction of …
France, Germany on medical supply chains, Schengen, WTO health initiative
Today’s mainstream media will mainly focus on the budgetary dimension of a political agreement reached between Germany and France today on policies to help the European Union’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Week in Brussels: Andean community, EU-US cheese GIs war, Singapore FTA in Karlsruhe
This column was written with input from Chris Horseman. This has been an eventful week, with EU-US trade frictions, e-commerce, Mercosur, the Energy Charter Treaty, Australia and New Zealand, and WTO fish talks featuring high on the agenda. Below are other notable developments. Andean countries safeguard commodities exports to UK …
Week Ahead in EU trade: EU-US gas trade, CETA investment court, Tunisia
One gets many ‘Out of Office’ messages these days: between Easter and the many coming holidays in May, including this week’s May Day, a large number of people take time off from work. Yet the policy churn continues. Below are the three main items to watch in EU trade this …
Commission hopes for swift mandate for US trade talks – debate on fish, speed and WTO continues
Member state trade ministers gathered in the Romanian capital Bucharest today to take stock of current European Union trade files. The most pressing issue on the table was the EU-US trade relationship. But capitals also discussed the way forward for the World Trade Organization and other bilateral trade files. Despite …
EU-US steel: US ready to talk about talks, but still wants small quota
A ‘deal’ could be materialising between the Washington and Brussels ahead of the 1 June deadline for US tariffs on steel and aluminium to kick in. It is not yet clear whether all EU member states would approve the arrangements, or if it would hold within the US administration. …
Brexit Notes: German business steps up trade demands on new government
Germany is leaving behind a period of six months of wait-and-see on major policy areas and has finally installed a new coalition government. For Berlin, Brexit is now starting to be one of the country’s top European priorities. The trade aspect of the UK’s withdrawal, transition period and future …
