The European Union appears determined to make a major point about trade policy at the G20 summit in Osaka, which opened today (27 June) in Japan. Negotiations to conclude a trade pact with the South American bloc Mercosur are continuing after marathon meetings with ministers today. The signs are a …
WTO crisis and reform
Week Ahead in EU Trade: China, trading system, G20 and the WTO
This week EU and Chinese negotiators are meeting for a 21st round of talks on the EU-China investment agreement. The two sides have brought discussions forward on market access (national treatment), investment protection and sustainable development. Beijing and Brussels vowed to accelerate their investment negotiations last March – let’s see …
Long read – Self reliance: the emerging EU trade policy trend in a hostile world
The European Commission no longer seems to trust global norms, fora or rule-making negotiations to uphold its interests in digital, competition, industry and trade policy. In fact many norms hardly exist and won’t likely emerge so quickly. The EU’s executive arm has been rethinking its policy toolkit and is seeking …
Beyond Brussels: Appellate Body members rebuff Walker process reform proposals
A new fault line is emerging in the crisis of the World Trade Organizations’ dispute settlement system. The European Union, which tabled proposals aimed at strengthening the Appellate Body’s independence – and won over China and India over to its ideas last year – is now facing a coalition of …
Week in Brussels: Trilateral, WTO services, Mercosur
There’s been movement on WTO issues this week. The EU has triggered Plan B on the appellate body, and the Paris meeting of trade ministers also helped WTO members bring a few other ongoing files forward.
EU to launch talks for alternative WTO appellate mechanism
The European Commission is preparing the EU for life without the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body.
Week Ahead in EU trade: US auto tariff deadline, e-commerce, New Zealand, Mercosur
We are looking at a packed week in EU trade. There will be two important negotiations rounds and a few critical meetings in Brussels.
International trade: EU must start preparing for the worst and resist own Trumpian sirens
After European elections later this month, the challenge in Europe will be to keep our nations’ own Trumpian instincts at bay and position ourselves as a safe haven in a turbulent world, writes Iana Dreyer.
Key WTO members converge on idea of circumscribing Appellate Body role
The mediation process over the crisis of appointments of departing members of World Trade Organization Appellate Body members initiated last February by New Zealand’s veteran trade diplomat David Walker has visibly channelled discussions over the most divisive issue currently in the WTO onto a path of constructive proposals. On Tuesday …
Week in Brussels: EU, China, US and the new world (dis-)order, Rules of Origin
As many people in the policy world are taking time off between Easter and the many holidays coming up in May, it’s been a good week to reflect on the state of the world – and of the trading system. We are likely to face very rocky times indeed. For …
