April could see a slowdown in decision-making in trade policy in Brussels. But this does not mean there will be less anxiety over two major files: EU-US trade relations and Brexit. In April we will also see new developments on EU-Chile and EU-Tunisia trade negotiations and on e-commerce. Continued EU-US, …
Internal EU politics
Capitals eye April for EU US trade negotiation mandates
“France is testing the patience of others to limits” said a member state official in Brussels today. The statement captures the mood in Council as Paris is seen as the last country dragging its feet in the process of authorising the European Commission to initiate trade negotiations with the United …
EU-US: MEPs in Strasbourg to vote on definitively ditching TTIP
The European Parliament will vote next Thursday on a motion for a resolution on EU-US trade negotiations that will offer the political background music to a highly contentious process.
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 …
Centre-right MEPs support EU US trade talks, over-rule INTA chief
MEPs in the international trade committee voted today on a report that will help guide member states of the European Union decide whether to launch trade negotiations with the United States.
EP: Singapore trade pact does less well than EPA with Japan, better than CETA
The European Parliament gave its assent to the EU Singapore free trade agreement, to a separate investment protection agreement, and to a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement today. The trade pact did less well than the EU Japan Economic Partnership Agreement voted in last December. The Singapore FTA received 425 votes …
2019 will be about defining a new role for global rules in EU trade
The overarching question shaping European trade policy outcomes this year will be: what role for international trade and investment law for global business and the work of trade diplomats? This issue will be central in the four major files with which European trade policy will grapple: the future of the …
Social Democrat split casts shadow over EU-Japan EPA ratification
The European Parliament’s leaders sat down today to confirm that the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement and EU-Japan Economic Partnership were going to be put to MEPs for ratification next Wednesday in Strasbourg as planned. But persistent splits in the Socialists and Democrats group still cast a shadow over ratification.
Commentary: Italian populists are falling into line with EU on trade
Early fears that Italy’s populist government would block the EU’s trade agreement with Canada have proven unwarranted. Despite Trump-style rhetoric and ‘Italy first’ approaches, the populist government in Rome seems to have fallen in line with other EU governments on trade since taking power six months ago. The government is split …
Update: Friday’s trade ministers’ meeting, EU-US, Mercosur, investment screening
The Brussels trade bubble is focusing on what will happen at the ‘FAC Trade’ on Friday. The biannual trade ministers’ meeting is above all a stocktaking and brainstorming exercise. The culminating point will be the traditional lunch, where the conversation will focus on EU-US trade relations. Apart from transatlantic relations, …
