AmChamEU’s annual transatlantic conference is one of the go-to meetings for the transatlantic trade policy and business community in Brussels. This year’s event displayed yet again how challenging it is to keep the EU-US economic and trade conversation on a smooth track.
Author: Iana Dreyer
Blog: Is the Net Zero Industry Act protectionist?
There have been concerns that the regulation draft the European Union released today in response to the United States might contain discriminatory and WTO-incompatible provisions. At first sight, the Net Zero Industry Act does not appear to do so. However, the way the regulation’s provisions on ‘access to markets’ are …
EU eyes critical raw material duty suspensions as part of new strategy
The European Commission released today a long-announced critical raw materials communication and a flanking Critical Raw Materials Act. The document spells out how the EU is planning to reduce its vulnerability to disruptions to critical raw materials supplies as demand for these products is inexorably rising as it rolls out …
THINK TANK: Solar, China and embedded carbon; Korea-ASEAN, trade facilitation and fish
One of the most interesting publications of trade policy think tanks and research institutions this week is by the Hinrich Foundation and delves into the global solar panel supply chain. The OECD has updated its trade facilitation database and the International Institute for Sustainable Development has released a detailed explainer …
Opinion: Stop obsessing about Washington, make better climate, China policies
The European Commission obtained very little from Washington in terms of concessions on the Inflation Reduction Act this week. There is in fact, little the EU can do to see the United States change course. In many ways the whole diplomatic episode around US clean tech subsidies that began in …
EU sharpens retaliatory toolbox against US, foreign green tech distortions
The European Commission is an expert in brokering political compromises over seemingly technocratic topics. And it delivered this week yet again. This time it is about the question of what to do about the Biden administration’s decision to pour billions into subsidising green technology investments to meet its net-zero climate …
Week in Brussels: Critical raw materials focus
The EU is getting serious in securing its future supply chains as it eyes a few net-zero deadlines in 2030 and 2050 as well the phase-out of the combustion engine for automobiles in only thirteen years. This is heavily impacting its industrial, trade and investment policy – and that includes …
Agriculture: WTO members to focus on ‘food security’ deal ahead of MC13
There is only one year to go until the next WTO ministerial conference in the United Arab Emirates and the new chair of the agriculture pillar of MC13 has plenty on his hands to work with.
UPDATED: UK, EU agree Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and European commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced an agreement in principle over how the protocol on Northern Ireland included in the EU-UK Withdrawal agreement is to function.
INTERVIEW – Schwab: EU, US should focus on issues of mutual interest
Susan Schwab, chair of the board of directors of the National Foreign Trade Council and former United States Trade Representative, sat down with Borderlex’s Iana Dreyer in Washington to discuss US-China and EU US relations.