The powerful constitutional court of Germany has rejected a series of NGO requests to have it block the German government from greenlighting the signature of the Canada EU trade agreement CETA scheduled for next week (18 October 2016). It also refused to give an injunction to the German government to refuse provisional …
Internal EU politics
In brief: Commission not expected to move on data flows in TiSA before end October
Sources close to the matter told Borderlex the Cabinet of Commission president Juncker is withholding tabling a text on data localisation to member states in view of advancing talks on the matter in trade agreements, and in particular the Trade in Services Agreement, in fear this could jeopardise the imminent adoption of …
In brief: One more week to CETA approval
The EU’s member states will decide next week (18 October 2016) whether to endorse a groundbreaking trade agreement with Canada. The deal has to be endorsed by all member states, then ratified by the EU Parliament and the 28 national legislatures. Next week the Council needs to give the green light …
Singapore BIT terminations under question in Court of Justice case on EUSFTA
A detailed report on the EU Law Analysis blog of the first hearing in the Court of Justice of the EU ahead of an eagerly anticipated legal opinion regarding the scope of the EU’s exclusive competence to conclude its 2013 free trade agreement with Singapore reveals that member state bilateral …
October 2016: decisive month for future of EU trade policy
The EU is entering a decisive month for its trade policy. Member states will need to decide what course to take on CETA, TTIP, and TiSA. Most obstacles to concluding these systemically important trade agreements lie within the EU itself and its ability to shape internal consensus on trade agreements. …
Netherlands and Ukraine Association Agreement – What to expect next?
Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the Dutch parliament’s lower house that he didn’t think it very likely that the Netherlands would ratify the EU Ukraine Association agreement. So, is this the end of the deal? Not quite yet: negotiations with the EU and Ukraine have only recently begun. Should the Dutch follow through …
French business says stopping TTIP talks would be “an act of extreme gravity”
Twelve French business federations have called for continuation of TTIP negotiations ahead of a crucial trade ministers meeting held in Bratislava, Slovakia, today. The move comes in reaction to declarations by French secretary of state in charge of trade, Matthias Fekl, that he would request a halt to the negotiations, and for a …
Bratislava trade meeting: no major decision expected on dumping and China MES
The key priority of trade ministers gathering at Bratislava on Friday (23 September) will be to garner sufficient support from member states to authorise the signature of CETA next month at a bilateral EU-Canada summit.
CETA: Business accuses Commission of not protecting treaties ahead of rocky member state endorsement process
On Thursday and Friday (22 & 23 September), EU trade ministers are set to decide whether to endorse CETA, and on the next steps for its ratification. Business is highly nervous about the prospects the Canadian trade deal awaiting signature and ratification. It is also highly dissatisfied about the Commission’s decision to declare it …
German Social Democrats greenlight CETA – ask for future revisions
Germany’s social-democratic party has endorsed the EU Canadian trade agreement CETA at a party convention on Monday (19 September). This move increases the chances that the treaty will be ratified by Germany, but does not give Brussels and Ottawa a blank cheque. The approval came after SPD …
