This was the last week before the EU institutions slow down during the August break. Slow down, not shut down. After all, with a full-scale war on the bloc’s doorstep, the EU can ill-afford to close its doors for the duration of the summer break.
Chips Act
Week in Brussels: Moldova import duties suspension, chips act, Kyrgyzstan GSP status, Japan food imports, foreign subsidies
This was the penultimate week before the EU institutions break up for their summer vacation. It featured a packed and at times lively European Parliament session in Strasbourg and an EU-Japan summit in Brussels. On Tuesday the Australian government decided to hit the pause button on trade talks with the …
THINK TANK: EU subsidy and industrial policy focus
Think tanks in Europe this week have been busy scrutinising the EU’s recently very active subsidy-industrial policy nexus.
Comment: TTC 4 addresses some recent transatlantic crises over tech, green subsidies
The fourth meeting of the EU-US mega-talk shop called the Trade and Technology Council in Sweden has, in the eyes of most observers, been the most productive of them all so far. Although it hasn’t delivered on some big-ticket items, a slew of small deals and initiatives start revealing its …
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: Forced labour ban, Mexico Global Agreement, trilogues
It was a big week in EU trade, with the adoption of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument and a speech by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that is ruffling Chinese and some EU member state feathers. Oh and a deal with Kenya is on track. More below on some …
Week in Brussels: Ukraine, Australia, Chips Act
It’s been an intense week on trade in Brussels, with more action on the Ukrainian trade front, progress to report on Indonesia and Australia trade accords and a major piece of industrial policy legislation, the EU Chips Act, making headway. By Rob Francis with a little bit of input from …
Interview: EU Chips Act is yesterday’s answer to tomorrow’s problems
The Russian war in Ukraine, the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, and current geopolitical tensions are shining a light on countries’ economic and strategic dependencies, and no more so than on the supply of semiconductors. In response, the European Commission last year put forward its “Chips Act”, which promises €42 …
MEPs on Chips Act: joint decision-making, priority orders a last resort
The members of the European Parliament’s industry committee voted overwhelmingly to allow the European Commission to activate emergency measures in case of future shortages of semiconductors within the EU.
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.
