The international trade committee debated the EU China Comprehensive Investment Agreement – also known as CAI – for the first time since its conclusion last December. A cross-political group consensus is emerging: the EU needs to move first in other areas of policy affecting its China economic and political relationship …
Internal EU politics
Week in Brussels: CETA, France, ECT, China, EPAs
This week has seen two ‘strategic’ initiatives: the launch of a new paper on EU-US relations and the upgrading of EU-ASEAN relations post RCEP. Here other developments of potential interest. Dombrovksis talks to French Senate – Paris CETA ratification date unclear Nobody knows yet when the French government will put …
Week in Brussels: Strategic plan, lobster deal, EP on TPR, Australia, Mercosur
Good afternoon, an overview of interesting trade policy developments in Brussels this week. 35% of EU exports to be covered by trade agreements in 2024 and other strategic objectives The European Commission’s trade directorate released its 2020 ‘Strategic Plan’ this week. The document spells out how the body will approach …
INTA Chair Bernd Lange hopes for US return to multilateral system
As ballots were still being counted in the United States presidential elections, Borderlex’s Sarah Anne Aarup spoke to the European Parliament’s international trade committee chair Bernd Lange (S&D). Lange is also rapporteur on EU-United States trade relations.
EU institutions conclude deal on trade enforcement
The European Union will very soon have a revamped ‘enforcement regulation’, a hitherto hardly known legal instrument that allows the bloc to retaliate against countries contravening international trade norms and not cooperating in legal disputes and thus protect itself against ‘appeals into the void’ at the World Trade Organization. The …
Week in Brussels: New TDI cases, RoOs, Australia, sustainability debate
It looks like the EU’s ‘enforcement’ agenda for trade rules and trade agreement is now gradually being rolled out. There’s been a lot of discussion on the future direction of trade policy in the European Parliament. Find out more below! By Sarah Anne Aarup and Iana Dreyer.
EU-US lobster deal on hold until after US elections
The EU-US mini trade pact known as the ‘lobster deal’ may not receive the European Parliament’s green light until after the United States elections, according to European lawmakers in the international trade committee meeting today (15 October). In a U-turn, INTA committee chair Bernd Lange (S&D) expressed doubts about endorsing …
Post-COVID 19: Positions on trade harden in European Parliament
A vote on a low-key European Parliament report this week turned into a major battle over the direction of trade policy in a post COVID-19 world. It worked as a catalyst, revealing growing rifts reaching right into the political centre-ground on European trade politics in a turbulent time. Green goals …
MEPs approve Dombrovskis’ new role as trade chief
Today, MEPs in the European Parliament plenary approved Valdis Dombrovskis as the EU’s new trade chief with 515 votes in favour, 110 votes against and 70 abstentions.
EU Mercosur trade pact hits first European Parliament hurdle
If you think that, because Valdis Dombrovski’s nomination to become the next trade commissioner of the EU was relatively smooth sailing in the European Parliament, MEPs will make life easy for him, you are mistaken. A group of MEPs had amendments successfully adopted in a plenary vote on Tuesday (6 …