News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Sunday, April 27, 2025
European lawmakers are in for a busy week, with key debates and plenary votes planned on key issues including looming US tariffs on steel and aluminium and how to protect the bloc from dumped or subsidised imports from non-EU trade partners. INTA to vote on investment screening draft …
A lot can happen in just a week – and when it comes to trade, most of what’s happening these days involves the US. This week was no exception, as India complained about American duties on steel and aluminium, and the Trump administration initiated a national security probe into automobile …
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. …
China and the EU will resume talks on a bilateral investment treaty this week – but don’t count on much news from the discussions. The main stories are likely to come instead from tomorrow’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, as ministers debate and decide on a range of trade-related issues including …
This has been another big week in EU trade. Member states managed to cobble together a joint approach to US President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariff threat. The EU lost two World Trade Organization cases – the big-ticket Airbus case and the more symbolic Pakistan plastic pellets case …
Japan may follow China by striking back against US steel and aluminium tariffs to the tune of $409 million, signalling that Tokyo is tired of trying to win an exemption from the levies through diplomacy. But the fact that Japan is weighing retaliation doesn’t mean it will actually act on …
The EU has offered to negotiate a trade agreement with the US in return for a permanent exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs. But chances of success are limited. What is more, the EU-US row over the tariffs is becoming the lesser problem in the wider transatlantic relationship, writes Iana …
The trade week in Brussels was relatively quiet, with many professionals away due to holidays. The trade policy churn nonetheless continued, with COREPER and the Trade Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday instead of their standard Wednesday, when all institutions closed for Europe Day. Member states examined the Australia and …
The World Trade Organization’s General Council meeting on Wednesday highlighted the deepening rift between the US and other members over steel, intellectual property and Appellate Body nominations. There seems to be no way out of the crisis for now.
A read through amendments tabled by trade committee members in preparation of a report on and trip to China highlights Europe’s divisions vis-à-vis the Asian country. One of the few areas of consensus is support for Taiwan. A delegation of European parliamentarians is in China this week to assess EU-China …
