A lot can happen in just a week – and when it comes to trade, most of what’s happening these days involves the US. This week was no exception, as India complained about American duties on steel and aluminium, and the Trump administration initiated a national security probe into automobile …
Trade defence
Week ahead in EU trade: FAC trade, China BIT, Brexit, Japan
China and the EU will resume talks on a bilateral investment treaty this week – but don’t count on much news from the discussions. The main stories are likely to come instead from tomorrow’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, as ministers debate and decide on a range of trade-related issues including …
Beyond Brussels: Japan threat to retaliate over US metals duties – more bark than bite?
Japan may follow China by striking back against US steel and aluminium tariffs to the tune of $409 million, signalling that Tokyo is tired of trying to win an exemption from the levies through diplomacy. But the fact that Japan is weighing retaliation doesn’t mean it will actually act on …
EU’s lapsed duties on Pakistani PET are illegal, WTO Appellate Body says
European antisubsidy duties on a Pakistani plastics ingredient that expired three years ago breach global trade rules, the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body said today, upholding a previous ruling. The fact that the tariffs have lapsed means no action is required by either Islamabad or Brussels. But appeals judges’ …
Week ahead in EU trade: INTA, Brexit, investment screening
Two events will happen in Brussels this week that merit close attention: the European Parliament’s international trade committee will discuss a range of headline-worthy issues during its two-day meeting and the Working Party on Trade Questions will discuss investment screening. The churn on Article 50 negotiations between the EU27 and …
Beyond Brussels: WTO tensions deepen over intellectual property, steel, Appellate Body
The World Trade Organization’s General Council meeting on Wednesday highlighted the deepening rift between the US and other members over steel, intellectual property and Appellate Body nominations. There seems to be no way out of the crisis for now.
Beyond Brussels: Oversupply of Chinese goods doesn’t hurt global trade, study finds
China may use subsidies to prop up a range of domestic industries, but oversupply in these sectors has little impact on global trade, a Swiss-based trade watchdog says in a new report on the current steel glut and protectionism.
New EU dumping methodology is illegal, Chinese, Russians and Saudis say
The EU can expect legal challenges against its new law to protect the bloc against dumped and subsidized imports. That message came out loud and clear during a meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices. The European regulation, which entered into force on 20 December, establishes …
WTO: EU, US and Japanese silence on steel measures speaks louder than words
The EU, the US and India came under fire today for measures to protect their steel and solar cell industries. But what’s more interesting is what wasn’t said during the meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Safeguards Committee. WTO members criticised the EU’s ‘safeguard’ investigation into steel as well …
Week ahead in EU trade: INTA, MIC, Mercosur, Tunisia, trade remedies, UK customs union
Put on your seatbelt and get prepared for a crazy ride this week.