News and analysis on trade policy in Europe
Thursday, May 19, 2022
The brand-new EU-UK trade agreement in many ways epitomises a defensive turn in EU trade policy in a world where its geostrategic certainties – not least the comfort of the US security umbrella – have been shaken and the global pandemic exposed its vulnerabilities. But turning defensive is not enough. …
This opinion piece reacts to and debates four key criticisms expressed in various media outlets in recent days of the EU-China investment agreement currently seen as in the final stages of negotiations.
The European Union can contribute a lot in addressing the ‘China challenge’, argues Peter Chase. The United States should seize the opportunity to work more closely with Europe – and here’s how.
There is a discrepancy between the enforcement of labour standards and the other obligations concerning trade, investment and intellectual property in the European Union’s free trade agreements. Here’s how we think that gap can be overcome, write Giovanni Gruni and Marco Bronckers.
Dmitry Grozoubinksi on what comes next in the nomination process for the World Trade Organization’s top job. We are now off to the races, but the finishing line is still far away…
The flagship USMCA trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico is coming into force on 1 July 2020 How does this agreement deal with environmental issues? Bashar Malkawi and Shakeel Kazmi walk us to the key provisions in USMCA on environment – contrasting them with other trade agreements, …
If we want a green and digital economic recovery post COVID-19 we need international trading partners such as Mexico and rules-based trade with a reformed World Trade Organization at its heart, argues Kevin Verbelen.
The European Union is investing political capital the African Continental Free Trade Area. What’s the state of play in getting the world’s largest free trade area off the ground? And why does the project matter so much for Europe? By Françoise Guei.
The WTO’s General Council meets this week. It will hear US gripes about the world trade body and receive proposals to improve it. One of the ‘solutions’ Washington has envisaged for itself is to withdraw from the institution’s Government Procurement Agreement. What would this mean in practice?
As ‘green room’ meetings take place in Geneva this week to – likely unsuccessfully – secure progress on the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body crisis, the US administration’s ongoing project to give trade wonks an aneurism may be about to enter a new chapter: the US is considering raising their …
