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 …
European Parliament
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 …
Dombrovskis delivers solid hearing in bid for EU trade chief post
The nominee to become the European Union’s next trade commissioner impressed the international trade committee of the European Parliament with his grasp of policy detail and concrete answers to thorny questions in one of the bloc’s most sensitive policy areas.
Mercosur: Bernd Lange says agreement should be put on ice
Mercosur is nowhere near to being ratifiable, according to the European Parliament’s international trade committee chair Bernd Lange.