Views on what should be included in the coming revamp of a trade ‘enforcement regulation’ tabled by the European Commission late last year are still wide apart.
EU trade policies
MEPs signal initial support for EU-US lobster deal
Spokespeople for the largest political groups in the European Parliament’s international trade committee are signalling endorsement for the ‘lobster for lighters’ deal inked by former European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
EU dual-use export control regime overhaul makes headway
European institutions hope they can soon finalise long drawn-out negotiations to expand the scope of the European Union’s 2009 dual-use item export control regulation to cover cyber-surveillance and human rights abuses. The latest version of the regulation foresees room to introduce restrictions on exports in emerging technologies.
Steel, WTO leader selection, Mercosur at trade minister’s table
Protecting the steel industry, what to do with the EU Mercosur trade pact and finding common ground in the WTO director-general selection process were among the main topics discussed by trade ministers in Berlin today at an informal meeting hosted by the German presidency of the Council.
Week in Brussels: Pharma reshoring, textiles and GSP, Moldova meat
With input from Sarah Anne Aarup. This week we saw an EU-China summit deliver some progress on the lengthy path towards a bilateral investment agreement. It also revealed that rules-based international trade is Chefsache in the Commission, with president von der Leyen dwelling extensively on the matter in her State …
China investment agreement – breakthroughs on ‘level playing field’
If one is to believe Charles Michel, Angela Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen, today’s online Leaders’ Meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping was productive.
EU-US: Dombrovskis hopes to build on lobster-lighters deal momentum
There is a small hiatus in EU trade policy as the European Commission awaits final confirmation of Valdis Dombrovskis as the next commissioner in charge of trade policy. But the Latvian top commission executive has played his care-taker role in full since late August and taken charge of the EU’s …
Week in Brussels: EU-UK roundup, Angola, pigmeat and wheat
After an extended summer break, our Week in Brussels column is back in action to wrap up busy weeks in European Union trade. This week : EU-UK, Angola joining the EU SADC EPA and the good COVID-19 crisis for some EU agrifood exports.
China turns up volume on EU business environment for its companies
A report by the China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union reveals a few key Beijing ‘asks’ in current negotiations as EU China meetings and negotiations are set to intensify this autumn.
Dombrovskis nomination to trade post signals continuity, priority to US and China relations
Valdis Dombrovskis will not take over the European Commission’s trade portfolio as a novice. But his tasks will be challenging. The former Latvian prime minister served as vice-president of the European Commission during the last political term in 2016, overseeing financial, Euro zone issues as well as investment. In this …