Developments in EU trade policy this week by Iana Dreyer and Chris Horseman.
Australia & New Zealand
Week in Brussels: New Zealand, US countervails free EU CO2 emissions rights
It is quite a momentous week for trade in general and trade policy in the European Union in particular, with the future partnership agreement with the United Kingdom in the final stages of negotiation and indications that perhaps there might be ‘white smoke’ on a hitherto elusive EU China investment …
EU New Zealand: deal on some chapters, trickier challenges ahead
The European Union and New Zealand have welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on a number of chapters in the forthcoming new free trade agreement between the two sides. But the parts of the deal that have been wrapped up following two-and-a-half years of negotiations are, inevitably, among the least …
Week in Brussels: Strategic plan, lobster deal, EP on TPR, Australia, Mercosur
Good afternoon, an overview of interesting trade policy developments in Brussels this week. 35% of EU exports to be covered by trade agreements in 2024 and other strategic objectives The European Commission’s trade directorate released its 2020 ‘Strategic Plan’ this week. The document spells out how the body will approach …
NZ seeks ‘improvements’ on EU’s market access offer – but FTA talks make further progress
Negotiations on a free trade agreement the EU and New Zealand are moving slowly closer towards the end-game – but the issue of agricultural market access continues to cast a cloud over the discussions. Progress is evident in a number of sectors following the eighth and most recent round of …
Week in Brussels: China, Dutch Mercosur vote, Australia, Myanmar, Bangladesh
This week has been dominated by news and gossip surrounding the nomintion of a successor for the WTO’s outgoing director general. Today, Nigeria announced it was planning to nominate former finance minister and World Bank official Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – a high profile nomination to say the least. The nomination period …
EU unveils initial offer for New Zealand dairy products
Details of the European Union’s offer to New Zealand on tariff rate quotas for dairy products are emerging, as the two sides prepare next week for what will be an eighth round of negotiations in the current EU-New Zealand free trade agreement talks. The EU is proposing a 10-year phase-in …
EU New Zealand FTA: services pillar near completion after Round 7
FTA negotiations between the EU and New Zealand have been continuing, in defiance of the logistical challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. But despite continuing good progress, it will clearly be some time yet before the talks are wrapped up. The two sides completed their latest round of talks, the …
EU Australia FTA: data privacy, beef quotas latest flashpoints in negotiations
There are ‘dark clouds’ hanging over the current free trade negotiations between the EU and Australia, with data flows and beef quotas currently ranking as probably the two most difficult issues to resolve, according to Brussels insiders. Services offers A sixth round of negotiations between the two sides was held …
Week in Brussels: China, Indonesia, New Zealand, ESA
With input from Chris Horseman. The week in EU trade was dominated by preparations for trade agreement negotiations with Britain next month and Phil Hogan’s delicate trip to the United States. Hogan’s tweets mention meetings with members of Congress and the Senate and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The ‘big’ meeting …
