In a speech to the Italian house of representatives, the minister of economy Carlo Calenda explained today (16 June) the ins and outs of TTIP, and took on some of the criticisms of the negotiating process, while also offering some interesting updates on the state of negotiations in specific agri-food …
EU trade policies
Jean Claude Juncker in Russia: tough talking – but talking
The president of the EU Commission took a controversial decision to accept to give a keynote speech at the annual St Petersburg Economic Forum today (16 June 2016). The speech he delivered today there sent two types of messages: to EU audiences, that there is a need to “talk with …
#FunFact EU posts sardine trade deficit, EUMOFA
Lovers of Mediterranean food fare take note: the EU posted a sardine trade deficit of €100 million, a new report by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture highlights. “The deficit is attributable mainly to the import of canned sardine but also, to a lesser extent, to the …
Iran: US sanctions seen as obstacle to trade and WTO accession
The Parliament is preparing to debate Iran in the next Plenary session on 22 June. MEPs Marietje Schaake and Bernd Lange have prepared an Oral Question, expressing worry about barriers to EU business from continued US sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. In October 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of …
INTA: Left-right divide over SADC Economic Partnership Agreement
There is a clear left-right divide over the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and six Southern African countries signed last week in Botswana. In a debate on the deal in the European Parliament on 15 June, Alexander Lambsdorff (ALDE, Germany) said the EPA was “a successful agreement”. Lambsdorff hailed …
CETA: Dutch MPs call on Commission to wait for Singapore CJEU verdict before applying Canadian deal provisionally
Members of the upper and lower house of the Dutch parliament have called on the Commission to wait for the verdict of the Court of Justice of the EU before applying CETA ‘”provisionally” and to clarify the notion of what timeframe the notion of “provisional” entails. CETA, the EU …
EU’s new investment protection provisions in FTAs under renewed civil society fire – ETUC rejects CETA – TNI chastises ICS plans in EU Mexico
The investment court system proposed by the EU its new trade agreements’ investment protection chapters has not placated civil society groups, despite the reforms of the previous system, based on international investor-state arbitration. These reforms were adopted after a civil society and EU Parliament and (in particular) German outcry against …
MEPs want to make labour and environmental standards mandatory in EPAs with ACP countries
On Wednesday (15 June), the trade committee in the European Parliament will examine a report on the future of EU-ACP relations as Europe and Africa Caribbean and Pacific countries prepare the ground for a framework of relationships “beyond 2020”. The EU and African countries are in the process of …
Is it technically possible to conclude TTIP in 2016 ?
The US administration and many EU leaders want to finish TTIP negotiations in 2016. A detailed look at the state of play in the talks indicates that despite substantial recent progress in the negotiations, TTIP is not ripe for conclusion this year. By Iana Dreyer.
New Monthly Brief: Can TTIP be concluded in 2016? Evidence from the negotiation process
Borderlex PRO just published its latest : Monthly Brief Can TTIP be concluded in 2016? Evidence from the negotiation process On 27 May 2016, G7 leaders pledged to conclude Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations in 2016. This brief takes a plunge into the complex TTIP negotiation process that …
