The EU requested a WTO dispute settlement consultation on Russia’s antidumping duties. The move was announced yesterday. The case reveals several interesting facts about Russia’s economy and car sector. The rising number of dispute settlement cases at the WTO initiated by both the EU and Russia is often perceived as geopolitical. Indeed, the case coincides …
EU trade policies
Analysis: The European Parliament in EU trade policy – its real powers and possible role after the May 25 elections
[sh_light_text ]The European Parliament (EP) has gained much more power in decision-making on trade policy in the European Union (EU) since the Lisbon Treaty came into force in late 2009. Ghent University’s Lore Van den Putte, Ferdi De Ville and Jan Orbie have analysed its behaviour and decision-making patterns over …
Comment: Canada-EU CETA – what’s left to be done and why it matters
The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) won’t solve Europe’s energy woes nor end Canada’s reliance on the American market. But both sides have plenty to lose if the agreement is left to languish. Very importantly, CETA sets a new bar for managing investor-state relations. If CETA’s extra specification …
News update: Russia tests the waters of WTO dispute settlement with EU complaints
[sh_light_text ]Less than two years after becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia has filed two complaints with its dispute settlement body in Geneva that target the European Union, Russia’s main trading partner. These complaints concern antidumping duties and a package of EU laws that govern the …
Blog: What do poor countries have to fear from TPP and TTIP?
The mega-regional trade deals that are currently being negotiated by the United States (TPP, Transpacific Partnership Agreement) and the EU (TTIP, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) are a game aimed at bringing big emerging markets such as Brazil, India, China to the trade negotiating table after a dozen years of …
Analysis: EU-Japan free trade talks after today’s summit
[sh_light_text ]Today’s European Union-Japan summit in Brussels is running smoothly. Negotiations for an EU-Japan free trade agreement will probably continue, as signalled by the President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso today. The shrill tones that accompanied the launch of the talks a year ago in Europe have faded …
News update: Take-aways from last week’s TiSA talks
By Iana Dreyer and Jennifer Freedman Governments involved in negotiations to liberalise trade in services (TiSA) reported significant progress during the seventh round of negotiations in Geneva last week. But the actual extent of substantial market liberalisation the countries eventually agree still remains uncertain. Though technical and commercially-focused, …
One week in existence: Africa, India, TiSA, TTIP, global value chains
Borderlex is now one week old! As you enjoy the quiet extended May Day week-end, you might want to read or re-read some of the pieces that shed light on current affairs in European trade policy: The African Union rejected the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements this week. Peter Draper and …
EU-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations – ways out of the looming impasse?
[sh_light_text ]Europe’s drive to conclude the long-standing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with sub-Saharan Africa could fail. Its bargaining position is weakening visibly as an economically dynamic African continent is being courted by China, India, Brazil and the United States. This complicates the already complex relationships with partners who still …
Analysis: EU-India free trade agreement: can it be revived?
[sh_light_text ]Despite talks of a potential revival of the stalled Europe-India free trade negotiations after the general elections in India this month, its chances remain very low. Blockages in India’s investment policy and the European Union’s reluctance to open its doors to Indian professionals in the information technology sector will be hard …
