Bruno Macaes, a former Europe minister of Portugal and author of a forthcoming book entitles We are all Eurasians Now, says the EU should pay more attention to China’s industrial policies in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. With the United States retreating on the global trade policy scene in …
EU trade policies
EU Japan FTA gives signs of life
There is movement behind the scenes on the EU Japan FTA, under negotiation since 2013. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet is reportedly gearing up work on the final steps to finalise the talks – which have hinged on final auto and agriculture issues. Now that the Diet in Tokyo ratified the TPP …
Updated: trade in the Parliament 21-24 November
The European Parliament is sitting in a plenary session from 21 t0 24 November 2016. A few agenda highlights: The Parliament will vote on a package of measures to combat wildlife trafficking on Tuesday (22 November). The report by MEP Catherine Bearder broadly endorses a plan presented by the Commission. It calls …
Malmström determined to table data flow text in TiSA
During a hearing at the European Parliament on Thursday (17 November 2016), trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström outlined her strategy to include digital issues in the EU’s trade policy, stressing work in the World Trade Organization and the need to tackle data flows in trade agreements. The Commission is determined to …
Trump factor: Commission also sees opportunity to advance own trade agenda
Trade professionals in Brussels are shocked and depressed following the victory of trade-sceptic Donald Trump in the US elections. The flagship but fledgling transatlantic TTIP is seen as frozen, or dead, at least for the time being. But some also see opportunity in this dire situation. The Transpacific Partnership Agreement …
TiSA conclusion in balance as France blocs data flow language
“France is blocking everything”, a source close to the Trade in Services Agreement talks told Borderlex. “I fear it is dead”. The early December deadline the 23 TiSA parties set themselves for a political conclusion of the deal appears unattainable. Several issues are coming into play: the political climate in the US …
Mexico and Uganda alcoholic beverages laws in EU limelight
The EU is looking after its alcoholic beverages industry in the WTO, the latest WTO meeting on technical barriers to trade reveals. The Commission is putting pressure on Colombia with a pending case on its domestic laws on alcoholic beverage marketing arrangements and taxes. Is it now setting its sights on Mexico and …
Malmström preparing trip to China – in bid to talk barriers and reassure China on TDI
Commissioner Malmström is sending Jean-Luc Demarty, the Director-General of DG Trade, to China to meet Chinese trade officials ahead of a planned meeting between herself and Mr Gao Hucheng, her Chinese counterpart, in the coming weeks. The move comes at a tense moment in bilateral relations as the EU …
The three Trump advisers to watch on trade
President elect Donal Trump has been putting together his transitional advisory team. The advisors he chose largely reflect views Mr Trump himself aired throughout his election campaign. We have: one Republican calling for NAFTA renegotiation, a steel magnate irate about China, and an economist accusing China of all ills, …
New French reform proposals on trade policy: more nationalism in offing?
France’s government submitted a set of proposals to reform the EU’s trade policy. The move comes after the protracted political process in the run-up to the signature of the flagship Canada-EU trade agreement CETA. During that process, a regional government of Belgium, held up CETA for several days and nearly toppled …
