It’s been an eventful week, dominated by the new EU trade strategy or Trade Policy Review. Below, other important developments…
Energy & Environment
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.
Malaysia launches WTO dispute against EU’s renewable fuels directive
Malaysia has followed its neighbour Indonesia in taking WTO action against the European Union’s renewable fuel directive, in a fresh challenge to the legitimacy of Brussels’ flagship biofuels programme.
Week in Brussels: MEP scrutiny of EU-UK TCA, carbon border measure, Korean surimi
EU UK TCA: European Parliament wants more scrutiny powers and more time European Parliament committees scrutinised the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement this week. The series of meetings culminated in a joint meeting of the foreign affairs and international trade committee on Thursday. This kick-starts a formalised consent procedure involving …
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 carbon border measure: initial political battle lines drawn up
The debate over next year’s announced European Union ‘Carbon Border Adjustment Measure’ is slowly gearing up. While nobody knows what measure will be put forward in the end – what we already know now is that it portends a major political battle next year over the future of existing EU …
Week in Brussels: CETA, France, ECT, China, EPAs
This week has seen two ‘strategic’ initiatives: the launch of a new paper on EU-US relations and the upgrading of EU-ASEAN relations post RCEP. Here other developments of potential interest. Dombrovksis talks to French Senate – Paris CETA ratification date unclear Nobody knows yet when the French government will put …
Ingredients for a climate-friendly trade policy
UC Berkeley economist Joseph Shapiro is of the view that trade policy is “sending the wrong price signal” by bolstering trade in dirty goods in comparison to cleaner products, especially in Europe. Speaking to Borderlex’s Sarah Anne Aarup, Shapiro said that rather than raising trade barriers on dirty goods, focusing …
Of letterbox investments and renewable energy: status report on ECT modernisation
State of play in and analysis of a renegotiation of a Eurasian energy trade and investment treaty – a process where not everything is always at it seems. By Sarah Anne Aarup and Iana Dreyer.
Week in Brussels: EU US, anti-dumping cases, Russia market distortions, deforestation
By Sarah Anne Aarup and Iana Dreyer. A selection of trade policy developments in the EU this week.
