Yesterday, new facts and numbers of about international trade and investment policies came out of Geneva. A short UNCTAD-OECD report on G20 Investment Measures was published, and the WTO released its semi-annual report on trade measures as a means to track down protectionist tendencies. Borderlex is interested in how Europe is …
EU trade policies
Doubts arise on whether WTO ‘green’ initiative can deliver the goods
[sh_light_text ]The world’s biggest trading powers will begin talks next month aimed at clinching a global agreement to spur trade in environmentally-friendly goods as part of efforts to combat climate change. The initiative was launched in January 2014. While the US trade chief has said he expects negotiators to reach an …
EU’s globalised textile industry wary of “labyrinth” of trade rules in bloc’s bilateral free trade deals
Europe’s textile industry gave a luke-warm assessment of the EU’s current trade strategy centered on negotiating preferential bilateral free trade agreements (FTA). At a recent gathering in Brussels, industry representatives welcomed ongoing efforts by the EU to open markets abroad. But the cost of complying with new FTA’s rules is seen as …
Editor’s Comment: TTIP and Europe’s energy question
[sh_light_text ]Energy trade has become an important topic of discussion around the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. The crisis in Ukraine, Europe’s own energy crisis, and the US shale revolution have given the issue particular salience. Although TTIP can contribute to improving the EU’s energy challenges, it will certainly …
Analysis: Doubts, ambivalence and slack – Ukraine’s free trade deal with Brussels
[sh_light_text ]Kiev and Brussels are adamant both parties will soon sign their long-planned Association Agreement. Yet President-elect Petro Poroshenko sowed confusion early last week when he asked for some extra time before putting down his signature. Kiev’s ensuing reassurances hardly mask the fact that questions linger regarding the real benefits …
Blog: Ukraine – EU, waiting for the free trade deal sign-off
This week was marked by contradictory headlines from Ukraine. The newly elected president, Europe-friendly Petro Poroshenko, asked for a delay before signing the long-planned Association Agreement with the EU, which involves a “deep and comprehensive ” free trade deal (DCFTA), and towards which negotiations were finalised in 2012. Other statements from Ukraine followed saying Kyiv was ready …
State-owned companies and weak rule of law a rising concern of European firms invested in China
The latest report by the EU Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, the Business Confidence Survey 2014 reveals increasing pessimism of European companies invested in China as to their future business prospects in the country. The current economic slowdown is an important factor in explaining this perception, but a deteriorating business environment stands …
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) planned as political bloc according to Kazakh official
[sh_light_text ]This Friday, Russia – the European Union (EU)’s third largest trading partner – is due to sign a treaty that creates an Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) with Kazakhstan and Belarus. The treaty will come into effect on January 1, 2015 and builds on the customs union between the three countries, in force since 2010. Now-ousted Ukrainian President Yanukovich’s refusal …
Comment: Why an EU-China investment agreement would not be such a bad thing
[sh_light_text ]China and the European Union (EU) are currently negotiating an international investment agreement (IIA). Both parties place a lot of hopes in the treaty’s effects on foreign investment flows. But these effects will likely be limited. Nonetheless, concluding the agreement is a real opportunity to improve both bilateral and international investment rules, says …
Editor’s comments: Leaked document on oil, gas & raw materials in TTIP – What’s behind the non-news
[sh_light_text ]A “leaked” EU Commission negotiating text on energy trade in TTIP has made the headlines this week, and is being accused of promoting fracking, the controversial technique to produce shale gas, and US crude oil exports. Iana Dreyer explains why the real secret in this matter is that there is no secret. …
