The European Union is putting forward a minimalist bilateral trade agenda with the United States, choosing instead a to seek to work with Washington on broader global issues.
EU trade policies
EU ASEAN to upgrade their relationship, set up palm oil working group
Suddenly it all happened. Commenting on the outcome of an EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting today on social media, Gunnar Wiegand, who leads Asian affairs at the European External Action Service said the gathering was “not a routine meeting, but a historic step”. Strategic partnership and palm oil dialogue Due to, among …
Week in Brussels: Strategic plan, lobster deal, EP on TPR, Australia, Mercosur
Good afternoon, an overview of interesting trade policy developments in Brussels this week. 35% of EU exports to be covered by trade agreements in 2024 and other strategic objectives The European Commission’s trade directorate released its 2020 ‘Strategic Plan’ this week. The document spells out how the body will approach …
EU pharmaceutical strategy eyes supply chain monitoring legislation
The European Commission released a new strategy paper that sums up its approach to seeking greater resilience for the European Union during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade is a major area of intervention.
EU Digital Governance Act seen as creating onerous data transfer conditions
It’s been quite a journey within the European Commission. Today’s final version of the EU’s long-awaited Data Governance Act organises the EU’s ‘data economy’, setting rules on how personal and other sensitive data are shared and handled across the single market. The aim is both to stimulate data sharing and …
WTO Corner: Ottawa Group eyes Joint Statement on trade and healthcare
The Ottawa Group, an informal network of countries interested in discussing reforms at the World Trade Organization established in early 2019 is seeking improvements in the way trade in healthcare products is handled beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic. The signatories are eyeing a possible Joint Statement in early 2021, which …
Blueprint for a green trade agenda
A series of papers published by the think tank Europe Jacques Delors puts forward proposals that aim to strengthen environmental protection within an open international trading system. Borderlex’s Iana Dreyer exchanged views with one of the papers’ co-authors Geneviève Pons.
Korea to EU: labour commitments in FTA not a legal obligation
The European Union brought its first dispute under a bilateral free trade agreement against Korea. The EU alleges that Korea’s failure to ratify several International Labour Organisation core conventions, in particular Convention 87 on freedom of association of workers, is a breach of its terms under their 2010 trade pact. …
DG Trade mulls self-initiating labour and environment breach investigations
The European Union is considering launching unilaterally investigations into breaches of environment and labour or ‘sustainable development ‘ commitments – of its trading partners.
Biden administration trade policy and the EU: what to really expect?
The European Union’s political establishment is relieved that the Democratic candidate to the White House Joe Biden has won the United States elections this month. While improvement of political relationships is in the offing, a there will be no miraculous return to close and harmonious relationships across the Atlantic. And …
