The EU trade policy machinery is definitely back in action after a slow-ish start to the year. Here some selected updates on developments this week by Iana Dreyer and Rob Francis.
Canada and CETA
IISD: Canada, EU should seek negotiated agreement on border carbon adjustment
Canada is preparing to introduce a carbon border adjustment measure whose contours are not yet known. Canada and the European Union vowed at a bilateral summit mid-June to “exchange on respective approaches to carbon pricing and WTO-compatible border carbon adjustments”. A think tank is now making concrete proposals on how …
EU, Canada launch raw materials dialogue, to talk CBAMs, deepen CETA
The European Union and Canada held an overnight summit, which concluded with agreement to cooperate in a wide range of areas including health, climate change, trade and international security.
Week in Brussels: EP TRIPS waiver, CETA architects, CETA dairy, Saudi US MEG
With trade relations with the United States and United Kingdom – via Northern Ireland – in focus this week, it’s easy to get distracted. So here other notable developments in EU trade policy this week: EP TRIPS waiver politics, MRA for architects with Canada, Canada dairy, new anti-dumping duties on …
Canada and EU prepare ground for mutual recognition of architects’ qualifications
The European Union and Canada have started negotiating a mutual recognition agreement on the professional qualifications of architects. The proposed deal is part of CETA, the EU-Canada trade accord that has been in force provisionally since 2017.
Week in Brussels: IPI, China, French Senators on CETA, DG Trade musical chairs
This has been an intense week in European Union trade policy, with the continuous transatlantic file rolling on, a lot of action in Geneva, the EU and the ACP group finally concluding their post-Cotonou agreement and the European Parliament active on a variety of trade files. MEPs voted to resume …
EU risks fresh trade rows over GI status for ‘halloumi’ cheese
The European Commission has risked complicating its ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with Australia and New Zealand by authorising a Cypriot cheese speciality as a new geographical indication. This move also opens up a new potential area of conflict in its relationship with the United Kingdom.
Week in Brussels: Irking like-minded partners on vaccines exports, EU Mercosur stasis, CETA
As everyone in Europe prepares for a second semi-locked down COVID-19 Easter, one must say it hasn’t been the most glorious of trade weeks for the European Union – except for a specific CETA performance.
Week in Brussels: Biden effect on Northern Ireland, CETA, Netherlands and friends
It’s been one of those mega-weeks in trade again, culminating perhaps with Joe Biden beaming into the European Council last night to say hello. Nothing concrete came out of this meeting. Official statements indicate this was mostly about bonding and setting lofty common goals such as working together on COVID-19 …
Week in Brussels : MEP UK TCA walkout threat, Vaccine uproar, CETA in Ireland & France
Drift. That’s the best way to describe the week in European Union trade policy. European Parliament threatens EU UK TCA walkout A perpetual crisis over border checks in Northern Ireland is now a possibility, with this week’s UK decision to unilaterally extend a grace period for intra-UK border checks until …
