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.
Agriculture
Progress over post Brexit agriculture quota splits as Brussels wraps up talks with Washington
One of the most challenging trade issues arising from the UK’s departure from the EU – the question of what to do about existing EU28 tariff rate quotas for mostly agricultural goods – appears to be on the way towards being resolved. The European Commission announced on Monday (8 March) …
European Commission eyes new FTA chapter on sustainable food systems
The European Commission is rolling out a new sustainable farming strategy as part of its Green Deal. That policy, like many other EU policies before, is set to spill over into the EU’s trade policy.
Week in Brussels: FTA report, China GIs, Western Balkans
After a week dominated by EU-US trade news, here some other developments in trade policy in Brussels. By Sarah Anne Aarup and Iana Dreyer.
Week in Brussels: EU-UK roundup, Angola, pigmeat and wheat
After an extended summer break, our Week in Brussels column is back in action to wrap up busy weeks in European Union trade. This week : EU-UK, Angola joining the EU SADC EPA and the good COVID-19 crisis for some EU agrifood exports.
EU reintroduces maize tariffs, spares soya as low prices trigger automatic adjustments
The European Commission acted on Monday to re-impose tariffs on a key United States import product – but don’t worry, it’s not a new front opening up on the transatlantic trade war, it’s just the Common Agricultural Policy. Imports tariffs have been re-imposed with effect from 27 April on maize, …
EU, UK join WTO group pledging fight against food export curbs
The European Union has joined with 23 other World Trade Organization members in pledging not to impose food export bans in response to the crisis in food distribution which the COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed in some sectors. The commitment was issued in the form of a WTO joint statement, coordinated …
EU exports of GI food products booming – but is its trade policy helping?
The European Union has boosted its exports of food and drink products with protected geographical indications by 62% over the last seven years, according to a new European Commission report. The study sheds some interesting light on the political and commercial drivers behind the EU’s controversial policies on GIs and …
EU Trade Policy Review: Heavy criticism of agri-food ‘protectionism’
Is the European Union a progressively-minded bulwark of the rules-based trading system, or a trade leviathan which reverts to unscientific ruses to keep competitors out of its most sensitive markets? The answer appears to be that it is both of these things simultaneously – at least if the latest World …
Week in Brussels: EU US, Vietnam, Cariforum, 1 year EU Japan
It’s been a week full of hoo haa around EU US agriculture trade. The EU put a bit of antidumping into its digital strategy. The European Parliament ratified the EU-UK withdrawal agreement on Wednesday and offered a moving good-bye ceremony to Britons. In London, Union Jack flags are being waved …