This has been a dense week in EU trade, with US relationships, Ukraine and Switzerland dominating the picture. But there’s a lot of other things going on….
Asia
FAC Trade: Critical raw materials mandate, China dialogue, Ukraine safeguard
EU trade ministers gathered today for one of their twice-yearly meetings in Brussels. Whilst often these meetings are a mere information exchange mechanism, this gathering yielded a few concrete decisions.
G7 to coordinate coercion responses while EU prepares economic security strategy
G7 leaders issued an exceptionally lengthy joint statement at a summit hosted by Japan in the city of Hiroshima that covers a range of topics from the war in Ukraine, to Taiwan, healthcare, food security and climate mitigation – to name some of the most important ones. One of the …
Week in Brussels: Indonesia, Kazakhstan, deforestation (and G7)
All eyes may currently be on the G7 summit in Japan – more from us soon on this one – but despite the public holiday in Brussels on Thursday there has still been trade policy activity in the EU capital this week.
EU, India eye semiconductor MoU
The EU and India agreed on a number of trade and investment policy cooperation topics for the next twelve months during their inaugural Trade and Technology Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. They are also aiming to conclude a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the semiconductors sector by September …
Week in Brussels: China and sovereignty on Europe Day, hazardous chemicals
Europe is becoming a new geopolitical battleground in the US China rivalry. Is it mere coincidence that China’s foreign minister Qin Gang was touring the European Union as the EU celebrated ‘Europe Day’ on Tuesday?
Week in Brussels: Trusted trader scheme audit, IRA
This week’s trade highlight in Brussels was a decision to introduce a temporary import safeguard on certain agricultural goods from Ukraine in five countries and until June – and a further decision to liberalise fruit and vegetables trade for Moldova. All this was capped by European Commission executive vice president …
Think tank: Oz-EU anti-coercion collaboration, EU firms and China
Here are a few highlights of recent think tank trade policy activity.
EU seeks digital upgrade for Singapore, Korea free trade agreements
The European Commission is requesting a formal mandate from EU member states to start negotiations to upgrade existing free trade agreements with Korea and Singapore by including legally binding new rules on digital trade.
Week in Brussels: TSD cooperation, EU-US, India, due diligence
Here some notable developments in EU trade policy in this quiet Easter week.