The EU-Mercosur Association Agreement is being much talked about and commented on in Europe. But little is actually happening concretely on the path towards ratification of a controversial political and trade agreement that was inked in the summer 2019.
EU trade policies
Week in Brussels: IPI, China, French Senators on CETA, DG Trade musical chairs
This has been an intense week in European Union trade policy, with the continuous transatlantic file rolling on, a lot of action in Geneva, the EU and the ACP group finally concluding their post-Cotonou agreement and the European Parliament active on a variety of trade files. MEPs voted to resume …
Opinion: Post-Cotonou agreement trade provisions are shockingly asymmetrical
The European Union and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries concluded negotiations to update the framework agreement that shapes their political and economic relationships on Thursday (15 April 2021). This post-Cotonou agreement is all about political cooperation on anything ranging from human rights to migration to ‘peace and …
Biden-era transatlantic trade cooperation faces headwinds
United States-European Union political relations have seen a noticeable improvement since Joe Biden took over at the White House in Washington. Discussions are intense in the area of climate change and on security – not least on international sanctions. On the trade policy front there was one US gesture that …
Comment: Quo Vadis Energy Charter Treaty?
The Energy Charter Treaty needs to make a success of its ongoing modernisation process in the coming five years, writes Urban Rusnák.
Week in Brussels: Uzbekistan, palm oil
It’s been a slow start after Easter, but the trade policy machinery in Brussels is gradually getting back into gear. Turkey Only a few weeks into calmer waters a new storm broke out in the EU-Turkey relationship. While the news is about about protocol matters and Sofa Gate, one of …
EU Turkey customs union negotiation revival – what’s at stake
Ever since preliminary talks with Turkey on ‘modernising’ its customs union with the European Union were initiated seven years ago, the issue has disappeared and resurfaced with the ebb and flow of a turbulent bilateral EU-Turkey relationship. The project was recently revived – so what’s at stake?
Week in Brussels: Irking like-minded partners on vaccines exports, EU Mercosur stasis, CETA
As everyone in Europe prepares for a second semi-locked down COVID-19 Easter, one must say it hasn’t been the most glorious of trade weeks for the European Union – except for a specific CETA performance.
Will the EU-US conversation on tech and trade take off?
To divert a phrase by former US Ambassador to the EU Anthony Garner: last week-end the United States Trade Representative defused some hand grenades, but kept some ticking.
Week in Brussels: Biden effect on Northern Ireland, CETA, Netherlands and friends
It’s been one of those mega-weeks in trade again, culminating perhaps with Joe Biden beaming into the European Council last night to say hello. Nothing concrete came out of this meeting. Official statements indicate this was mostly about bonding and setting lofty common goals such as working together on COVID-19 …
