World Trade Organization

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Trade wars: Trump’s national security argument to rock global trading system

A World Trade Organization case against the United States’ Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs is bound to rock the global trading system, writes Jennifer Freedman.   Despite President Donald Trump’s claim that US duties on foreign steel and aluminium would safeguard American jobs and revive domestic industry, there is …

Defensive trade policy Latest news Steel United States WTO dispute settlement

Section 232: EU Commission to reconsider cooperation with US on China

There is a sense of disillusionment in the upper echelons of the European Commission at the announcement that the president of the United States is planning to slap an all-round tariff on steel and aluminium imports that would affect more than 6 billion euros worth of European exports.   Among …

Beyond Brussels Latest news WTO dispute settlement

Beyond Brussels: From steel to Thailand including NAFTA and Vietnam

This has been a week overloaded with trade developments. There is lots of news – and speculation – floating around in the run-up to next week’s planning signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The big news from yesterday – US duties on foreign steel and aluminium – has sparked an angry reaction …

Latest news Steel United States WTO dispute settlement

EU’s Section 232 response: WTO-legal options are narrow

The EU’s top leadership reacted promptly to announcements in the US media that President Donald Trump will go ahead with slapping punitive import tariffs on steel. Trade retaliation of some form is expected from Brussels. The EU promises World Trade Organization-compatible moves. But here, the options are relatively limited, lawyers …

Latest news Steel United States WTO dispute settlement

In brief: EU readies responses for US Section 232 tariffs and Appellate Body crisis

The central topic on the minds of trade ministers during their informal meeting in snowy Sofia on Tuesday was the United States’s trade policies. The EU is readying a differentiated response to any possible import duties US President Donald Trump could apply to European steel and aluminium.   In February, …

'Week Ahead' and trade agenda Latest news South Asia & ASEAN UK trade policy WTO dispute settlement

Week ahead in EU trade: Foreign affairs council, EU-ASEAN, Article 50, WTO

EU trade ministers are meeting in Bulgaria. The EU-ASEAN Business Summit and ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting will focus on trade and investment ties between the two regions. More details below:   Foreign Affairs Council Trade   EU trade ministers will have two main issues in mind at a meeting that …

Latest news World Trade Organization WTO dispute settlement

Comment: Lamy’s ‘lonesome cowboy’ scenario won’t resolve Appellate Body impasse

Slow is often the norm at institutions such as the World Trade Organization, but efforts to fill vacant seats on the WTO’s Appellate Body really haven’t made a bit of progress. The reason for the standstill, as trade aficionados well know, is Washington’s refusal to support starting the process to …

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A week in Brussels – Taking on China – South America – ASEAN – Trade Valentines

With many people out of town skiing it’s been comparatively quiet in Brussels town itself. A lot happened actually outside of Brussels. Trade pros even got time to write #TradeValentines poems.   EU and US join Japan in plans to take China to WTO over tech protectionism   A new …

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China MES case may ride on negotiating history of WTO accession protocol

The negotiating history of China’s World Trade Organization accession protocol could play a central role in the outcome of Beijing’s WTO complaint about EU dumping methodologies, according to a new study that pinpoints weaknesses in the US and European interpretation of the controversial Article 15.   Weihuan Zhou and Delei …