The European Commission is expected to propose an extension of an export control mechanism – which it calls a “transparency and authorisation mechanism” – for COVID-19 vaccines until the end of the year.
Author: Robert Francis
Von der Leyen confirms EU intention to ban imports of products made with forced labour
The European Commission will propose a ban on products made with forced labour, as announced today by its president Ursula Von Der Leyen during her annual State of the Union address in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. Von der Leyen also announced a new digital connectivity strategy called Digital …
Final preparations for EU-US Trade and Technology Council take shape
With just over two weeks to go until the inaugural meeting of the Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council, there remain many unanswered questions around just who will attend and the exact issues to be discussed.
MEPs sharpen up their positions on the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism
In today’s first public exchange of views in the European Parliament on the European Commission’s proposed carbon border adjustment measure, MEPs raised issues related to competitiveness and jobs, the timeline for phasing out free allocation of emissions, the sectors covered by the proposal, and export rebates.
EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences to be toughened up
The European Commission is soon expected to release a proposal for a revision of its Generalised Scheme of Preferences. The key aim is to strengthen monitoring and enforcement to ensure recipient countries strictly follow their obligations under the arrangements. A subset of GSP beneficiaries will most likely be expected to …
WTO MC12: Okonjo-Iweala seeks fish, pandemic response and agriculture results
Fisheries, pandemic response, and agriculture will be the main priorities for the World Trade Organization’s 12th Ministerial Conference towards the end of the year, according to its Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
EU carbon border adjustment: the hurdles that still need clearing
Rob Francis on carbon border adjustment’s next steps in the European Union.
Kleimann: A successful Article XX defence of the EU’s CBAM is not off the cards
As the dust settles on the Commission’s raft of climate proposals released last week (14 July), commentators and experts are now beginning to analyse them in depth and, in the case of the carbon border adjustment measure at least, assess its compatibility with the World Trade Organization rule-book and the …
Commission: CBAM “fully in line with international trade rules”
The European Commission says its proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism complies with the World Trade Organization rule-book. The proposed regulation obliges EU importers of cement, electricity, fertilisers, iron & steel, and aluminium from third countries to purchase annual emission allowances. Their cost will depend on the degree of emissions embedded …
James Bacchus: The WTO simply must prove that it can do something, not just talk
James Bacchus spoke with Rob Francis about the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, trade in medicines and medical products, how the Biden Administration is progressing on trade policy – and the World Trade Organization in all this.
