The European Commission has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices. By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)’ or ‘tap and go’), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on […]
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Negotiations on the future EU-Mexico trade agreement
A delegation of trade MEPs will be in Mexico to discuss the prospects for the modernized EU-Mexico agreement and other issues on the bilateral economic and trade agenda. Between February 22 and 24, a six-member delegation of the International Trade Commission (INTA) will meet with representatives of the Mexican Congress and government, industrial organizations, European […]
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Bivalve mollusk market resumes in the EU and USA
As from the end of this month, trade of molluscan shellfish – such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops – will resume between the EU and the US. Two EU Member States (Spain and the Netherlands) will be allowed to export molluscan shellfish to the US, whilst two American states (Massachusetts and Washington) can do […]
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EU challenges Russian export restrictions on wood at WTO
Today, the EU is requesting consultations with Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning export restrictions placed by Russia on wood products. The export restrictions consist of significantly increased export duties on certain wood products and a drastic reduction in the number of border crossing points through which exports of wood products can take […]
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Sparkling wine extra-EU exports see 6% dip in 2020
In 2020, the EU’s sparkling wine exports to countries outside the EU amounted to 494 million litres, a decrease with respect to the 528 millions litres exported in 2019. This was the first decrease in sparkling wine extra-EU exports in a decade (-6% when compared with 2019), where the pandemic significantly dampened wine trade growth as many bars and restaurants […]
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Spain’s top maritime freight transport and commerce in Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona
Weight of goods handled by EU ports dropped by 7% in 2020. In 2020, EU ports handled around 3.3 billion tonnes of goods in gross weight, a substantial decrease compared with 2019 (-7%). This fall can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions put in place across the Member States and worldwide. After reaching a new […]
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Commission fines former ethanol producer Abengoa € 20 million in cartel settlement
The Commission has fined the Spanish company Abengoa S.A. and its subsidiary Abengoa Bionenergía S.A. (together ‘Abengoa’) € 20 million for participating in a cartel concerning the wholesale price formation mechanism in the European ethanol market. Abengoa admitted its involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case. Abengoa, formerly one of the biggest […]
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New rules to increase toy safety
MEPs propose updating EU rules to ensure that toys sold on the European market do not put children at risk. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on a report on toy safety. The report contains proposals to strengthen current legislation and ensure that toys on the European market, including those imported from […]
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EU strengthens protection to prevent “economic bullying”
The European Commission has proposed a new instrument for a new, more powerful and agile trade weapon to be able to impose sanctions quickly and decisively against third countries that are subjecting an EU member state to “economic coercion”. This legal instrument is a response to the deliberate economic pressure to which the EU and […]
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