Trade & Society
Ties with Europe are America’s geo-economic base
US President Joe Biden travelled to Europe this week amid signs that the transatlantic economy is proving remarkably resilient to disruptions generated by Putin’s war on Ukraine, the pandemic, congested supply chains, and energy price spikes, writes Dan Hamilton.
Britain and Europe must engage with key emerging markets
The Russian invasion of the Ukraine will destabilise world trade just recovering from the pandemic. That means that the EU and UK should pursue new economic partnerships, argues Geoffrey Van Orden.
Join forces at EU level for sustainable international supply chains
European business and union leaders need to work together to foster sustainable international supply chains, write Petra Bolster-Damen, Piet Fortuin, and Ingrid Thijssen.
It’s time for EU firms to capitalise on the growing Asia-Pacific market
The EU's small businesses have a golden chance to move in the booming Asia-Pacific market, writes Karen Reddington.
Representative Action Directive: deficiencies that need to be fixed
The Representative Action Directive aimed to protect consumers from abusive trade practices still faces deficiencies that need to be addressed, writes Dr Polykarpos Adamidis.
An EU trade policy for true change on the ground
If we want EU trade policy to become truly sustainable before the end of this legislature, the Commission and the Council need to step up their game, a group of MEPs write, presenting their New Year’s resolution to contribute to global fairness.
Put co-innovation at the heart of EU green external relations
The EU needs to intensify its cooperation on green innovation with other parts of the world, writes Mats Engström.
Why EU needs a stronger commitment from Member States to build efficient capital markets
The European Commission expressed commitment to stronger and more deeply integrated financial markets with its action plan on capital markets union (CMU) published one year ago. This objective cannot be achieved without a strong commitment from the EU Member States, even more crucial now, as Europe recovers from the COVID-19 crisis.
Between legality and reality: Mediterranean lessons for EU external action
The reaction to the European Court of Justice’s latest ruling on Western Sahara shows the Union can keep calm and carry on if it focuses on what it is able to achieve instead of aiming outside of its purview, writes Elena Valenciano.
Nothing is more blah-blah-blah than the EU’s ‘sustainable’ trade policy
You can put all the sustainability principles you like in trade deals but without means for control, monitoring, enforcement or legal consequences for a failure to comply, they aren’t worth a thing, writes Adélaïde Charlier and Deborah Osei-Mensah.
Provenance and heritage in the EU: why we should preserve European products of origin
The EU should ensure that our continent’s craft heritage is protected and easily identifiable internationally, writes Sebastiano Costalonga.
A chance for a transatlantic reset
The Trade and Technology Council marks an opportunity for de-escalation and bridge-building in the troubled transatlantic relationship, writes Anna Michelle Asimakopoulos.
How to make a success of the EU carbon border adjustment
The EU has clearly fallen short in communicating its upcoming carbon border levy abroad, including on how it intends to use the revenues raised by it. Fortunately, it still has time to fix these shortcomings, write Anne Gläser and Oldag Caspar.
No CAP reform without trade reform
Negotiations to attempt to align the next phase of the Common Agricultural Policy to the EU Green Deal drag on. Yet the goal of a truly sustainable European agricultural policy will only be achieved alongside a courageous trade policy, argues Thilo Bode.
Does Switzerland try to friendzone the EU?
The Swiss Federal Council decided to withdraw from the framework agreement with the European Union. It is now imperative to clarify that both sides pursue a completely different kind of relationship, writes Stefan Legge.
The EU carbon tax could create a new era of trade wars
Europe's carbon border levy to increase the cost of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU could push the Global South towards less restrictive trade deals, ultimately causing more harm to the environment, writes Muhammed Magassy.
Mercosur trade deal threatens to wreck EU’s climate credibility
To pass the EU-Mercosur deal in its current state would set an horrific precedent for future trade deals currently under negotiation and fly in the face of the EU’s landmark Green Deal, write Laurence Tubiana and Ani Toni.
The new EU trade strategy: What’s actually new?
The new EU trade strategy unveiled by the European Commission contains much to be welcomed, but not much that is new, writes Isabelle Brachet.Promoted content
ASEAN-EU strategic partnership: a new path of upgraded relations
Under the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Brussels tightened relations with ASEAN agreeing on a Strategic Partnership. Current trade agreements negotiations with several ASEAN countries and the EP push for a region-to-region FTA give a glimpse...
EU and US should join hands to make global trading system sustainable
For four years, trade irritants mounted as we lived under the threat of a fully-fledged transatlantic trade war – never more than a late-night tweet away. A rare moment is here at last to rejuvenate the way global trade operates, writes Cathy Novelli.
The EU must not greenwash the future destruction of the Amazon
As the political divide over the Mercosur trade deal widens, its advocates argue that shelving it will damage the EU’s credibility. The opposite is true, writes Perrine Fournier.
The best basis for re-setting EU-US relations
What’s the quickest win for the Biden Administration and Europeans looking to turn a page after years of turmoil? Daniel S. Hamilton has the answer: settle the Boeing-Airbus dispute.
The Brief, powered by Facebook – On trade, politics is still king
The European Commission likes to proclaim itself a defender and promoter of free trade and the review of EU trade policy, the public consultation on which closed last week, is only likely to double down on that promise. But the...