It will be a particularly active week today on the Brussels trade front. EU-UK TCA, Northern Ireland, INTA committee The EU-UK machinery might be getting back into gear amidst noises that London and Brussels are working constructively on a settlement on how to resolve current implementation issues. The European Parliament …
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Week in Brussels: Uzbekistan, palm oil
It’s been a slow start after Easter, but the trade policy machinery in Brussels is gradually getting back into gear. Turkey Only a few weeks into calmer waters a new storm broke out in the EU-Turkey relationship. While the news is about about protocol matters and Sofa Gate, one of …
EU Turkey customs union negotiation revival – what’s at stake
Ever since preliminary talks with Turkey on ‘modernising’ its customs union with the European Union were initiated seven years ago, the issue has disappeared and resurfaced with the ebb and flow of a turbulent bilateral EU-Turkey relationship. The project was recently revived – so what’s at stake?
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.
Towards a climate club
For the EU’s ambitious climate policy to be successful, the EU must join forces with as many international partners as possible in a climate club. In this club members agree on a minimum price for CO2 emissions, trade freely amongst themselves, but apply a carbon border adjustment mechanism – or …
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.
EU-Australia FTA: talks on procurement, services, rules of origin make headway
The EU and Australia are continuing to make gradual progress towards a bilateral free trade agreement.
Will the EU-US conversation on tech and trade take off?
To divert a phrase by former US Ambassador to the EU Anthony Garner: last week-end the United States Trade Representative defused some hand grenades, but kept some ticking.
Week Ahead: WTO questions, EU UK deadlines
Trade policy will quiet down this week as the Easter week-end beckons in Europe. Borderlex itself will go fully quiet on Friday (2 April) and come back on Tuesday (6 April).
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 …