About: trade negotiations
Brazil tells the EU ‘it won’t move’ on Mercosur talks without ethanol and beef
Brazil insists that it will not table a new offer as part of the ongoing EU-Mercosur talks until a proposal on beef and ethanol is on the table. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Rights abuses revealed in EU free-trade candidate Malaysia
A leading candidate for a free trade agreement with the EU has been accused of a major crackdown on human rights, in what could be a test case for Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström’s new focus on an ethical dimension to FTAs.
Germany calls for more TTIP transparency
The President of the Bundestag has called for more transparency in the TTIP negotiations, otherwise he will vote against the trade agreement. EURACTIV Germany reports.
National Front joins anti-TTIP lobby
The National Front launched a campaign against the transatlantic trade pact this week, two years after negotiations began between the EU and the United States. EURACTIV France reports.
TTIP still a hard sell in Paris
Cecilia Malmström this week fielded questions from French MPs on the transatlantic trade deal. Despite determined French opposition, she hopes for a breakthrough that would see the agreement signed before the end of President Obama's mandate in 2017. EURACTIV France reports.
Paris caught meddling in TTIP arbitration debate
France has blamed a communication "failure" after EURACTIV revealed the existence of a letter instructing French MEPs how to vote on the controversial question of ISDS. Paris tried to rectify the error by sending another confidential letter to MEPs on 4 March. EURACTIV France reports.
France makes U-turn on TTIP arbitration
Paris has warned French MEPs not to shut the door on Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms by voting against ISDS. EURACTIV France reports.
TTIP: Health sector braced for ‘damage control’
SPECIAL REPORT / While EU-US trade talks are expected to generate great economic benefits on both sides of the Atlantic, the impact of a trade agreement on the EU's healthcare systems will surely be negative, experts warn.
EU, China to ink clean coal deal at summit
Leaders from China and Europe will sign a new Science and Technology Agreement at next week's summit in Nanjing, where progress is also likely on a major near-zero emissions coal project.
EU trade pact with South Korea faces criticism
The European Union and South Korea today (15 October) signed a long-awaited trade pact potentially worth 100 billion euros ($149 billion), but the agreement has attracted criticism from industry.
New UK commissioner vows to rescue trade talks
The UK's commissioner-designate Catherine Ashton gave an assured performance during a three-hour grilling at the European Parliament yesterday (20 October), where she promised to rescue global trade talks if approved as the EU's new trade commissioner.
Banana deal raises chances for WTO breakthrough
A week of intense discussions in Geneva has brought World Trade Organisation countries closer to a global trade pact. But disputes between the world's emerging economies threaten to scupper chances of achieving a deal this week.
Hopes high for ‘last chance’ world trade talks
Only a few question marks remain in stuttering, six-year long negotiations on freeing up global trade, top EU and US trade officials said ahead of another "crunch" WTO ministerial meeting on Monday (21 July).
Low expectations for Bush’s last EU-US summit
Climate change and trade will top the agenda of the EU-US summit on 9-10 June. But no real progress should be expected before the new US President takes over next year, predicts President George W. Bush's former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta in an interview with EURACTIV.
EU business, farmers criticise new WTO proposals
Despite optimism from World Trade Organisation officials that new negotiating drafts presented on 19 and 20 May will act as a "springboard" towards achieving a global trade pact, the EU and its major trading partners have reacted cautiously.
EU, US expect trade progress on Davos sidelines
The World Economic Forum, which starts in Davos today (22 January), could help towards achieving a much-awaited breakthrough in WTO negotiations on freeing up global trade, top EU and US trade officials have announced.
EU, ASEAN to push for trade deal despite Myanmar discord
European and Southeast Asian leaders agreed to step up efforts towards concluding a deal establishing what would be one of the largest free-trade zones in the world, at a bilateral summit in Singapore. But talks were overshadowed by disagreements about how to deal with the military dictatorship in Myanmar following its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in September.
EU lowers trade expectations from ex-colonies
European foreign ministers are expected to agree on Tuesday (20 November) to conclude watered-down free trade agreements with countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), as an end-of-year deadline on existing preferential arrangements threatened to disrupt trade relations.
Interview: EU still sees hope for world trade talks
The Commission's top trade official, David O'Sullivan, expressed optimism that the WTO Doha Round of global trade talks could come to a successful conclusion this year, after three weeks of behind-the-scenes technical negotiations in Geneva in September appeared to show some signs of progress.
EU urges developing countries to sign up to free trade deals
As the deadline for ACP countries to conclude controversial Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU draws closer, the Commission and EU business interests called on anti-poverty activists to put an end to their "caricatural" criticism of negotiations, which they insist are essential to eradicating poverty.
EU trade chief: WTO deal would ease financial turmoil
Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson expressed his optimism that a long-awaited deal on freeing up global trade could be achieved shortly, saying that an agreement was required in order to boost economic confidence following the crisis in international financial markets.
EU gives cautious welcome to draft compromise in WTO trade talks
World Trade Organisation mediators have tabled a compromise package on possible tariff and subsidy cuts in an attempt to salvage the troubled Doha Round - aimed at freeing up global trade.