The scale of the German population’s negative views of TTIP has surprised many. A recent survey by the Cologne-based economic think tank Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft has explored the following puzzle: Germans are as a general rules pro-free trade, but are sceptical of TTIP. How come? IW Köln’s economist Galina …
EU trade policies
Sri Lanka on lengthy path to regain GSP Plus status
Since Sri Lanka has applied to regain its lost GSP Plus status. The government that came into power last year is aiming to break with the previous Rajapaska government’s track record on governance and human rights. After atrocities committed against the Tamil rebellion in 2009, the EU suspended the extra …
East African Community EPA signature delayed
The East African Community Economic Partnership Agreement will not be signed, as initially planned, this week in Nairobi on the sidelines of the Nairobi investment summit hosted by UNCTAD. The EPA was concluded in 2015. The EU member states have endorsed the deal in June 2016, so has the …
Jordan garment exporters to benefit from more flexible EU rules of origin
To help Jordan cope with a massive influx of refugees from Syria by integrating them in the local labour market and hiring them in dedicated special industrial zones, the EU will ease the conditions under which Jordan may export goods duty-free to the EU. The move was made official during …
China MES: EU trade defence law to move “closer to American model”
Instead of risking not being in compliance with WTO rules by refusing to grant China market economy treatment in EU antidumping law, the Commission is seeking to overhaul its trade defence policy more broadly, and move it “closer to the American model of trade defence”, Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen …
In brief: EU launches new case against China raw material export restrictions
Brussels is following Washington on this one. Today, the EU notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with China over duties and other measures concerning the exportation of certain raw materials. This request follows on a similar one filed by Washington last week (13 July 2016). The move follows …
TiSA,TTIP: EU and US battle over “new services”
USTR is stepping up its offensive moves to get the interests of its competitive digital industry heard in international trade talks. The EU has already been feeling the heat in TiSA and TTIP as transatlantic negotiations move from Geneva to Brussels this week. New services are among the key issues …
Council endorses new EU China strategy – silent on market economy status
The EU’s foreign affairs council – FAC – meeting today has endorsed a new China strategy devised jointly by the European External Action Service and the Commission. Among others, the strategy endorses the idea of a future free trade agreement with China – provided current investment agreement negotiations are …
Parliament report: EU trade deals increase money laundering risk
A new research report commissioned by the European Parliament argues that free trade agreements increase the risk of money laundering. The report, Commissioned after the Panama Papers affair this spring, says that EU free trade agreements with emerging markets such as South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Central America, or South Korea …
CETA: Business group calls for provisional application
EU member states are considering whether to allow the Canada trade agreement CETA to come into force provisionally after the Council and the Parliament have ratified it. Not doing so would be a significant break with previous practice, which has so far involved provisional application those parts of ‘mixed’ trade …
