[sh_light_text ]Transparency, public services, liberalisation of the cross-border movement of construction and road transport workers, and data protection, are among the key items flagged by the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), a deal currently under negotiation in Geneva among more than twenty World Trade Organization …
Services
In brief: EU announces moves to deepen economic relations with rich neighbours
The EU has announced today that it will launch negotiations to deepen economic ties with its rich neighbours.
Fit for the city? Trade policy and today’s urban economy
[sh_light_text ]Cities are increasingly the locus of the world economy. Since 2007, more than half the world population has been living in cities. The world is continuing to urbanise rapidly. But are today’s trade policies and free trade negotiations up to the task of catering to cities’ needs? A panel …
Public procurement, environmental and health services new items for next round of TiSA talks
[sh_light_text ]’Plurilateral’ negotiations on services trade liberalisation (TiSA) are steering ahead as a ninth round of talks is being prepared in Geneva. Jennifer Freedman reports on what’s expected to be on the table in the next round of talks, scheduled on 21-25 September.[/sh_light_text]
Flash news: Shanghai free zone liberalises 51 more sectors
The Shanghai Municipality has delisted 51 of 190 sectors that were still restricted for foreign investors in the country’s China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (CSPFTZ). That zone was established one year ago. We learned the news from the European Chamber of Commerce in China. The ECCC recently criticized the excessive length of the list of exceptions …
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 …
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 …
EU’s backing for China to join TiSA talks ups ante at next week’s negotiating round
[sh_light_text ]The European Union’s support for China to join negotiations on a Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) intensifies pressure on the US, which has opposed letting Beijing to participate in the plurilateral talks to liberalise the services trade. China’s involvement, along with initial market-access offers from TiSA participants, will be …
Editor’s Column – Global value chains: Is Europe’s trade policy fit for purpose?
[sh_light_text]Is European Union (EU) trade policy fit for the 21st century global value-chain world? The way we view international trade is changing. Today’s most competitive businesses are those which are plugged into transnational production networks. Trade policy thus increasingly needs to focus on reducing the costs of doing business internationally …
