With the new Chips Act being the core EU trade policy news this week, here are some notable developments in Brussels.
Energy & Environment
EP CBAM battle lines drawn over timelines, export rebates, budget allocation
The European Parliament’s environment committee remains deeply divided on some of the key elements of the proposed EU carbon border adjustment mechanism as amendments to the Mohammed Chahim report are being drawn up.
Deforestation regulation: MEPs look to widen scope to processed products, UK imports
The European Parliament will push for an extension list of products covered by the European’s Commission’s draft regulation aimed at preventing certain commodities and products from being placed or made available on the EU market if they have caused or contributed to deforestation or forest degradation.
Week in Brussels: anti-coercion, CBAM, GSP
We’ve had an intense week in trade policy. That included a bumper international trade committee meeting, where existing leadership – chair and vice-chairs – were re-elected without much of a fuss. We published what we consider the key stories coming out of the meeting on due diligence and forced labour …
Perspectives – “Mirror clauses”: a new name for an old debate
The French suggestion to introduce “mirror clauses” in trade agreements is horrifying WTO purists but reflects the demands of many pressure groups. While this may be yet another instrument to delay the signature of free trade agreements, the idea of balancing open trade and wider societal considerations is not new …
Comment: ECT fossil fuel coverage faces test of EU energy vs climate choices
The outcome of the latest round of negotiations towards the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty reveals that there will be sufficient flexibility to allow natural gas to remain in place for the coming years as an energy source in Europe.
Week in Brussels : Hong Kong, G7 climate club, US, Canada
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.
CBAM: Parliament rapporteur seeks sweeping changes to original proposal
The European Parliament’s rapporteur on the proposed EU carbon border adjustment mechanism is insisting that only countries with “explicit carbon pricing policies” be exempt from the scheme, which is expected to start operation on 1 January next year. This is only one of a series of measures put forward that …
Week in Brussels: Angola, Ghana, ECT, Chinese subsidies in steel wind towers and glass fiber
That was a big week in EU policy. There was an intense European Parliament plenary session during which legislation that will affect trade policy and transatlantic or EU China relations, namely the Digital Markets and Digital Services act as well as the International Procurement Instrument. But there have been other …
Comment: Critical raw materials – a trade policy for sustainable supply chains
In a guest contribution for Borderlex, four Members of the European Parliament call for a trade policy that is better adapted to the European Union’s new Critical Raw Materials strategy as it rolls out its Fit-for-55 climate package. Concluding outstanding free trade agreements with Chile and Australia is seen as …
