News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The EU joined more than a dozen World Trade Organization members in denouncing the Trump administration’s threat to impose import duties on vehicles and car parts, saying such a move would seriously disrupt the world market and harm global commerce. Japan also suggested that such tariffs – which the …
Australia’s landmark win over Big Tobacco at the World Trade Organization paves the way for other countries to roll out similar laws requiring plain packaging for cigarettes and cigars. Yesterday’s ruling could also have implications for alcohol, sugary drinks and junk food packaging. WTO judges concluded in an 800-page …
The European Union’s heads of government significantly amended their conclusions on trade policy in the night from Thursday to Friday, offering more detailed guidance on what they want in terms of World Trade Organization reforms – a goal the EU formally set itself this spring. The Council officially remains silent …
European Commission vice president Jyrki Katainen prepared the groundwork for an EU-China summit in mid-July during today’s high-level economic and trade dialogue meeting in Beijing. The dialogue, initially set up in 2008, has never been much more than a talking shop. But it looks like this time could be different. …
The year-long stalemate over the process to appoint Appellate Body members is debilitating the World Trade Organization’s top court and may eventually lead to a paralysis that would have “profound implications” on panel proceedings as well, says Appellate Body Chairman Ujal Singh Bhatia.
The calendar is a bit thin this week, though some news could come out of the two-day European Council meeting about WTO reform and Brexit. And it’s anyone’s guess what we might expect from the US and its unpredictable leader after China’s central bank said yesterday that it would unlock …
A top European Commission trade official painted a bleak picture of transatlantic relations to a European Parliament committee today, saying US import duties on steel and aluminium as well as possible tariffs on foreign cars and car parts are “clearly detrimental” and potentially catastrophic for world trade. The outlook …
So far, six World Trade Organization members have lodged complaints challenging President Donald Trump’s assertion that tariffs on steel and aluminium are needed to protect US national security. They are broadly similar, but hardly identical, and some of the differences are quite noteworthy. More members have ganged together in …
After the disastrous Group of Seven summit in Canada, the EU will need to find ways to keep calm, focus on saving the WTO’s dispute settlement system and address some of the root causes of its disputes with the US – not least Germany’s current account surplus, argues Iana Dreyer.
Expect plenty of post-Group of Seven summit articles in the aftermath of the two-day meeting that ended in the escalation of a clash over trade and US President Donald Trump’s refusal to endorse a communique. Closer to home, the focus will be on meetings of the Council, the Trade Policy …
