Despite Chinese misgivings, the EU is pressing ahead with its dispute against China’s exports restrictions on a variety of raw materials and metals. China initially refused to establish a dispute settlement panel, arguing its new 2017 export quotas were in line with WTO law and aimed at protecting the environment. …
World Trade Organization
EU asks for ‘reasonable period of time’ to implement Argentina WTO ruling
The EU was rebuffed by the WTO’s Appellate Body, which upheld a dispute panel ruling stating that the EU’s antidumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Argentina were illegal. The Appellate Body criticised the way the EU calculates and construes input costs for the products under investigation. The matter …
Russia requests establishment of panel on EU antidumping measures
Russia has requested that the WTO establish a dispute settlement panel to settle a dispute it launched in 2015 on antidumping measures in the EU concerning fertilisers and metals products (background here). At stake are the EU’s so-called cost-adjustment methodologies, which have been rebuffed by the WTO in a …
Environmental Goods Agreement talks near uncertain endgame
The seventeen WTO members participating in the plurilateral Environmental Goods Agreement negotiations are trying to reach a final deal on a list of ‘green goods’ slated for tariff eliminations. It is not going to be easy. The green goods list builds on an original group of 54 product lines identified by APEC. A final …
In brief – TiSA ministerial meeting cancelled
TiSA negotiators have reportedly given up on concluding negotiations this year. Ambassadors in Geneva decided to cancel a planned round of final talks late November and a ministerial meeting on 5 & 6 December where the deal was to be sealed. It appears that the election of Donald Trump …
Updated: trade in the Parliament 21-24 November
The European Parliament is sitting in a plenary session from 21 t0 24 November 2016. A few agenda highlights: The Parliament will vote on a package of measures to combat wildlife trafficking on Tuesday (22 November). The report by MEP Catherine Bearder broadly endorses a plan presented by the Commission. It calls …
Malmström determined to table data flow text in TiSA
During a hearing at the European Parliament on Thursday (17 November 2016), trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström outlined her strategy to include digital issues in the EU’s trade policy, stressing work in the World Trade Organization and the need to tackle data flows in trade agreements. The Commission is determined to …
TiSA conclusion in balance as France blocs data flow language
“France is blocking everything”, a source close to the Trade in Services Agreement talks told Borderlex. “I fear it is dead”. The early December deadline the 23 TiSA parties set themselves for a political conclusion of the deal appears unattainable. Several issues are coming into play: the political climate in the US …
Mexico and Uganda alcoholic beverages laws in EU limelight
The EU is looking after its alcoholic beverages industry in the WTO, the latest WTO meeting on technical barriers to trade reveals. The Commission is putting pressure on Colombia with a pending case on its domestic laws on alcoholic beverage marketing arrangements and taxes. Is it now setting its sights on Mexico and …
In-depth: How TiSA is shaping up
This new Borderlex in-depth report offers an overview of where TiSA appears to be heading less than two months ahead of the trade in services negotiations’ expected conclusion. For PRO subscribers only.
