After the near-death experience of CETA, the controversial trade agreement with Canada that was almost toppled by the regional Belgian government of Wallonia, a group of academics has come out to defend the European democratic decision making process in trade policy. “The other side of the academic argument needed to be made”. That’s …
EU trade policies
Armenia and Moldova in EU pact realignments
This article was written in collaboration with Carmen Valache from our editorial partner, the Wider Europe specialist BNE Intellinews After calling off its deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) with the EU in 2013 in order to join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Armenia is now pursuing a revamped …
In brief: US and EU agree on pharma deal – WTO TRIPs waiver for pharmaceuticals comes into force
The EU and US have finalised an agreement among regulators today that mutually recognises each party’s ‘good manufacturing practices’ for pharmaceuticals. Pharma was also source of news from Geneva today. The EU-US agreement, initially part of the regulatory package of the now dormant Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement is an update to a …
In brief: EP trade committee extends mandate of leaders in mid-term elections
The European Parliament’s trade committee has not renewed its leadership in a middle-of-term election that follows on the change operated at the very top of the EU’s legislative body mid January in the aftermath of the election of the Italian Antonio Tajani (EPP) to the post of president. Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany) was reconfirmed as …
In brief: EU and Canada in pitch for international investment court at Davos
The EU and Canada are true to their pledge made during the CETA negotiation process to work together towards the establishment of an international investment court, with the aim to overcome international arbitration – otherwise known as ISDS – to settle disputes between international investors and host states. Trade commissioner …
EU free trade agreement negotiation round-up
“The trade agenda is not stopping”, a senior trade official in the Commission told trade professionals in Brussels today. The transatlantic TTIP and TiSA (Trade in Services Agreement) were suspended in late 2016. The incoming Donald Trump administration is leaving many United States trade partners orphans of the Transpacific Partnership and making protectionism victims – notably NAFTA’s …
EP: renewal of trade committee lies ahead
Signs are that relative stability is the name of the game at the trade committee – INTA – which is due to be renewed on Thursday 19 January. The European Parliament has been renewing its leadership. A new political configuration has emerged: the end of an informal ‘grand coalition’ arrangement between the two …
EU, US say TTIP can be concluded conditional on “political will”
“The progress we have achieved so far gives us confidence that, with continued engagement by both sides, and with the political will to prioritize long-term gains for our economies and our broader relationship, the United States and the EU could achieve what we set out to do in 2013: conclude …
Last ditch attempt to overcome row over CETA Joint Committee ahead of Parliament ratification
Shadow rapporteur for the left-of-centre S&D group, Romanian MEP Sorin Moisa, has been trying to defuse a fresh crisis brewing in the group over CETA ahead of a trade committee vote. The disagreement is about the powers of the treaty’s coordinating body, the so-called Joint Committee. Moisa believes clarifications offered …
EU initiated record number of trade defence investigations in 2016
Freshly released trade defence statistics show that the EU Commission has launched a record number of new antidumping and anti-subsidy investigations in 2016. EU trade defence authorities launched 24 new cases, the highest number in many years: the Commission initiated 19 cases in 2012, and 14 only in 2015. At least …
