Recent changes to the powers of the United Kingdom’s Trade Remedies Authority and last-minute hiccups in its prized accession to the CPTPP hide a deeper truth about the country’s trade policy.
Perspectives
Perspectives: Green and resilient industry challenge requires stable policy mix
EU policy makers need to think more long-term about their policy mix to achieve industrial competitiveness, greening and resilience. Knee-jerk reactions to what others are doing are not the way to go.
Perspectives: We can say good-bye to Singapore-on-Thames
As the EU moves closer to ensuring it has the power to take swift action against the UK in case of breaches of Brexit agreements, the likelihood it will need to do so is receding. In particular, fears over large-scale deregulation through the UK’s proposed Retained EU Law Bill are …
Perspectives: Adjusting to a new world of trade rules
Complexity and ambiguity are the new reality of global trade policy.
Perspectives: Northern Ireland – What’s needed to get a deal over the line
The EU and the UK are investing strongly in finding an arrangement to address some British concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated in the 2019 Brexit agreement. As things stand, reaching a deal will be very difficult. Succeeding however would draw a big prize for the UK’s diplomatic relationships …
2023 in trade policy – looking beyond the constraints of the electoral cycle
The year 2023 should offer political space for key trade policy files involving the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States to come to fruition ahead elections in 2024. Global trade policy is in a parlous state: this should also be a year for serious reflection about what …
Perspectives: US has abandoned multilateralism, EU must not follow
Since President Trump’s election in 2016 there has been a concerted effort from other countries to save the WTO from the US moving against the fundamentals of the global trading system. As 2022 ends it is clear that these efforts have been only partially successful – to say the least. …
Perspectives: Britain shifts to a more realistic trade policy stance
Recent political debates show that British politicians are finally starting to grasp the nature of trade-offs inherent in trade policy whilst stakeholders eye a future Labour government for change in policy direction.
Perspectives: Can the EU really finalise deals with Australia and Mercosur?
The recent Brazilian election has renewed hopes that the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement can be ratified in the next twelve months. EU negotiators hope to complete free trade agreement negotiations with Australia within the same timeframe. Rising protectionism within the EU may however dash those hopes.
Perspectives: How to realistically improve bilateral EU-UK trade relations
Recent political turmoil in the United Kingdom has encouraged a number of Brussels policy-makers to start thinking about how to shape closer relations with the European Union’s former member. This also reflects changes in mood in the UK. But strengthening bilateral relationships will take time and small, gradual steps.
