The EU is struggling to find a consistent, coherent and efficient strategy approach to the US administration’s choking off of the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body and to its unilateral tariffs on steel and aluminium. There is a lot of back-and-forth in the background – both in Brussels and …
Internal EU politics
EU requests consultations in WTO against planned US metals duties
The EU is engaged in a highly contortionist political exercise ahead of an expected final decision by the US administration on whether to make temporary exemptions on import duties on steel and aluminium permanent. Among the exertions is a notification to the WTO today.
A week in Brussels: Malmström grilled in Paris, aluminium forum
It’s been mainly a week of background shuffling on Trump tariffs in the EU. Here some other interesting bits of news of interest to our readers. Macron party takes on Malmström on FTAs Trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström was in Paris on Tuesday doing the rounds on trade policy, …
A week in Brussels: Culture goods, procurement, Sri Lanka
This week was comparatively quiet. It was Easter, after all. There’s been some movement on the wider global trade war front. Don’t forget to read up on our two articles here and here. The headlines of these articles’ may say ‘China’ or ‘Japan’, but the pieces include a lot …
Comment: EU should keep cool over Trump’s steel tariffs
When responding to the president of the United States’ decision to impose tariffs on EU steel for purported national security reasons the EU should focus on not harming the World Trade Organization further, argues Christofer Fjellner.
Brexit Notes: German business steps up trade demands on new government
Germany is leaving behind a period of six months of wait-and-see on major policy areas and has finally installed a new coalition government. For Berlin, Brexit is now starting to be one of the country’s top European priorities. The trade aspect of the UK’s withdrawal, transition period and future …
Berlin nominates pro-business leaders to trade portfolio
Peter Altmaier’s nomination at the helm of Germany’s powerful economics ministry today comes as no surprise. Angela Merkel’s former chief of staff takes over from a ministry held until recently by the SPD, as part of the coalition deal that gave the even mightier finance ministry to the centre-left’s Olaf …
Section 232: German centre-right divided over EU retaliation plans
The European Commission is communicating loudly on its intentions should US President Donald Trump follow through on his intention to slap import duties of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium from Europe. Will Germany buy it? As widely reported and discussed on this website, the EU intends to …
The week in EU trade: Mercosur update, data, trade ministers
This week was truly packed with activities and events related to trade. The key focus has been Brexit – the transition period and future EU-UK relationship. These topics we now cover separately in dedicated articles and a new series of blogs, the Brexit Notes. The other key focus this week …
Interview: Moisa hopes for swift ratification of Singapore deal
There are clear signals from member states that the EU-Singapore free trade agreement, concluded in 2015, is on track to be ratified in the coming months. MEP Sorin Moisa shares his views with Borderlex’s editor Iana Dreyer on why and how the accord could and should be ratified. Where …