News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
The new European Union proposal on prohibiting products made with forced labour triggered a discussion about the role of national authorities in its enforcement. This is only one example of the significant implementation and institutional challenges raised by Brussels’ new unilateral trade policy agenda.
Brussels has vociferously criticised provisions in the recently enacted US Inflation Reduction Act that provide a subsidy to consumers buying vehicles assembled in North America. EU leaders should be cautious in how they now proceed and avoid disagreements over climate change measures that descend into endless Airbus-Boeing style trade disputes.
Governments are facing tough decisions as rising energy prices threaten household and business budgets alike. This is a crisis of modern trade requiring serious consideration of what EU economic security means, and how trade policy should be adjusted accordingly.
There was an outcry in both Houses of Parliament in their last week before the summer recess over the absence of debate for the UK-Australia FTA and the prospect of a low-ambition trade agreement with India. The government’s approach to parliamentary scrutiny could turn into a risk factor for the …
There was a time when energy, climate and trade policy were considered largely separate. This is now changing.
Both the United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed free trade agreements with New Zealand this year. While there are many differences in text – some particularly striking such as in agriculture market access – these shouldn’t be exaggerated. The UK and EU competing for trade agreements might even …
With the recent conclusion of negotiations with New Zealand one can say that the European Union’s free trade agreement agenda has come back to life. But there are new challenges ahead for Brussels’ trade policy, not least making FTAs fit alongside unilateral measures that seek to regulate global markets or …
The United Kingdom government’s stated ambition to be a global free trade leader looks a distant prospect. Its trade policy lacks internal consistency, not least because it has not been given sufficient consideration.
Since a deal was reached at the World Trade Organization last Friday the trade policy community has been debating if has been achieved is only patching up the system or a good outcome that proves global deals can be reached. What is clear is that the WTO will never solve …
The UK’s departure from the EU has left smaller pro-free trade member states without a champion. Upcoming EU presidencies offer an opportunity for some rebalancing of priorities, but institutional realities will not reverse the tide. Pro free trade champions need to give more thought to this issue and eye the …
