Unrivalled coverage of European trade policy
Sunday, October 21, 2018
One of the more eye-catching aspects of the UK government’s recently launched consultation on its post-Brexit trading future was its stated ambition to ‘potentially’ join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as CPTPP. The 11-nation pact was identified as a priority for the UK in negotiating new …
The United Kingdom today formally circulated its first tariff schedule as a would-be standalone member of the World Trade Organization, independent from the European Union. WTO members have three months review the schedule and raise objections if necessary. The UK wants to have its own schedule ready ahead of Brexit …
The EU and Japan signed their long-awaited economic partnership agreement in Tokyo today. The deal was flanked by announcements that both sides had finalised work to recognise each other’s data privacy regimes – also called ‘adequacy decisions’ – to complement the trade agreement. The moves were well received in policy …
Both the United Kingdom and the United States want to start free trade talks as soon as possible once Britain is out of the European Union. But the scope and outcome of any such trade negotiation depends on the future UK-EU relationship, while both British and US business interest for …
The European Commission hopes to finalise preparations on the apportionment of tariff rate quotas between the EU and the UK by the end of the year to make sure all practical procedures are in place before Brexit date. During a discussion with MEPs, a commission official said the bloc needed …
The World Trade Organization is holding meetings today to examine the United Kingdom’s bid to become an independent member of the Government Procurement Agreement. The EU is also accelerating the pace of splitting its tariff schedule from the UK’s. On Tuesday, EU member states gave the European Commission the …
With few countries running to the UK offering to open their markets, growing nationalist populism and authoritarianism across Europe, and protectionism on the rise domestically, Britain faces some tough choices on how to move forward with its trading arrangements. The UK may do better to seek a new customs union …
The calendar is a bit thin this week, though some news could come out of the two-day European Council meeting about WTO reform and Brexit. And it’s anyone’s guess what we might expect from the US and its unpredictable leader after China’s central bank said yesterday that it would unlock …
Like the rest of the world, Switzerland is wondering how the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union will shape up after it leaves the EU next March. Yet more than for any third country, for the Swiss, a lot depends on the future UK-EU trading arrangements. The uncertainty …
The European Commission regularly sends notices to businesses to help them prepare for Britain’s departure from the EU as part of its so-called Brexit preparedness activities. A technical notice on ‘rules of origin’ released today is bound to send shivers across industries ranging from autos to chemicals. Industries with …
