The United States’ crashing into a submarine agreement Australia concluded with France, getting Paris kicked out of it and replace it with its own nuclear-powered technology, all done in secret and revealed suddenly last week is a shock to everyone.
EU trade policies
Week in Brussels: MEP China report, ASEAN, Dombrovskis in Geneva
It’s been an intense week in trade policy in Brussels, focused on preparations of the Trade and Tech Council with the United States to be held late September 2021. This week saw the launch of the first EU-wide Indo-Pacific strategy. The latter was overshadowed by a blow to French interests …
EU sets sights on Indo-Pacific to roll out its digital ambitions
The European Union’s trade policy plans in the Indo-Pacific strongly focus strongly on the digital aspect of things, a new Communication unveiled today confirms. The EU is rolling out its Global Gateway – a pendant to China’s Belt and Road – through a new strategy initially requested by the EU’s member states. …
EU extends China aluminium foil AD duties to Thailand, to suspend flat-rolled product duties
The move comes as the EU executive has practically decided to suspend import duties on another aluminium product: flat-rolled items from China.
Anti-coercion instrument climbs up Commission’s autumn to-do-list
The European Commission is preparing to table a new regulatory proposal towards a so-called ‘anti-coercion’ instrument at the end of 2021. The European Parliament’s international trade committee is all set up to pick its fights over the new piece of legislation.
EU to seek deeper digital trade ties with Indo-Pacific partners
The European Commission and External Action Service are planning to unveil a proposal to start Digital Economy Partnership Agreement negotiations with Korea, Japan and Singapore as part of the European Union’s new Indo-Pacific strategy. The EU is also considering launching data privacy legislation “adequacy” negotiations with India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, …
Comment: Strategic foresight report heralds tightened investment, trade policies
The European Commission released a 2021 Strategic Foresight Report. This report is is an important signalling device on where Brussels intends to take the EU in the coming years with the blessing of its most powerful member states. And that path clearly heralds a trend towards more investment and trade …
EU trade defence policy shifts focus to stronger enforcement
The European Commission released its annual report on its trade defence activity. Every year, the piece highlights key trends in the overall direction of this line of policy. While the quantity of trade defence cases has risen slightly, the focus of the Commission is on better enforcement of existing measures …
MEPs to face off over aims of international procurement legislation
MEPs are sharpening up the European Parliament’s position ahead of negotiations with the Council and the European Commission aimed at finalising a long-awaited regulation that would potentially put up barriers for bidders on public procurement markets in Europe.
Autumn 2021 EU trade policy: in the shadow of German elections
The European Union’s trade policy agenda will be overshadowed by a hiatus in the coming months as the Franco-German duo faces domestic elections. Nonetheless, pathbreaking legislation ranging from procurement to supply chains could still make headway.
