A look back at a week dominated by a fierce internal EU fight over imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. By Rob Francis and Iana Dreyer.
Trade defence
Ukraine: Central European countries force EU into adopting import safeguard
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the countries that had imposed import bans on Ukrainian agricultural products over recent days that an emergency import brake is on offer to ensure that only goods from Ukraine destined for other EU countries or outside Europe can enter the bloc.
Week in Brussels: Business on due diligence, EU reopens Cambodia rice case
While everyone was away in Davos this week, business tried to seize the momentum on the coming EU sustainability corporate due diligence regulation and the European Commission acted to avoid having to repay Cambodian exporters duties paid as part a safeguard that was slapped down by the ECJ. By Rob …
Week in Brussels: Steel safeguard WTO compliance, Chips Act, Chinese beer kegs
The wheels of the EU trade policy machinery have started to churn again this week after the Christmas break. An update on various developments by Iana Dreyer and Rob Francis.
Landmark ruling: ECJ slaps down Cambodia rice import safeguard
It took three and a half years for the General Court in Luxembourg to rule that a now-lapsed three-year safeguard on imports of Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar was illegal. EU judges in essence said that the European Commission had not defined the allegedly hurt industry appropriately, that it …
Week in Brussels: China, Vietnam, steel safeguard
The securitisation of EU trade and investment policy is advancing. This week the European Commission announced it would look into tighter investment screening rules and potential outbound investment controls. Its planned anti-coercion instrument is also moving forward. And the debate on the Energy Charter Treaty is not abating. More on …
Week in Brussels: South East Asia, labour, Brazil quotas, trade defence, ECT
A big week in EU trade. Very Asia-focused, but not only. CETA and the Energy Charter Treaty were also in focus. By Rob Francis, Chris Horseman and Iana Dreyer.
Week in Brussels: Deforestation regulation outcry, steel safeguard revision, Petriccione loss
It’s still very quiet in Brussels but trade policy has started stirring ahead of a packed rentrée next week.
South Africa poultry trade dispute: panel rebuffs EU financial, customs union claims
August is traditionally quiet in European Union trade policy making. Here’s this month’s main Brussels trade story so far. A panel of arbitrators appointed under the 2016 Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community ruled on 3 August that an import safeguard on frozen chicken …
EU farmers want Commission to go further on fertiliser tariff relief
The European Commission announced it was planning to suspend import duties of 5.5% and 6.5% on nitrogen based inputs for fertiliser production. This is seen as a means to support food production and keep prices in check in response to the fallout of the war in Ukraine.
