The European Union is committed to an open and rules-based multilateral trading system, with a modernised WTO at its core. The EU supports an ambitious and realistic package for the 12th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC12), and expects all WTO members to make a constructive contribution, according to their needs and capacities. The Council […]
EU-US strengthen coordination on export controls on Russia
The European Commission and the US Commerce Department have agreed to strengthen coordination on the enforcement of export controls on Russia, building on the excellent cooperation under the US-EU Trade and Technology Council. In a meeting in Brussels, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, US Ambassador to the European Union Mark Gitenstein and Assistant Secretary […]
Main results of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) – 3 June 2022
WTO reform and preparations for the 12th WTO ministerial conference Ministers discussed preparations for the 12th World Trade Organization ministerial conference (CM12), which will take place in Geneva from 12 to 15 June 2022 against the backdrop of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers expressed broad support for the Commission’s suggested line of action for the 12th ministerial conference, in particular […]
Suspension of EU import duties on Ukrainian exports set for fast-track approval
The International Trade Committee gave their green light on Monday for a one-year suspension of all EU import duties on Ukrainian exports to support the country’s economy. MEPs in the International Trade Committee approved a proposal of the temporary trade liberalisation of Ukrainian products, in the wake of Russia’s war of aggression that is hampering Ukraine’s ability […]
Council updates EU fishing rights for 2022 to reflect agreement with UK
The Council has adopted a regulation updating the EU’s fishing rights for 2022 to incorporate the agreement reached with the UK in December 2021. The regulation sets out the final total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for member states in the Atlantic and North Sea, taking into account fish stocks subject to bilateral consultations. Changes to the previous year’s TACs […]
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 […]
Europe’s priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries
Following the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 January 2022, the European ministers set several objectives and priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries. Agriculture – Priorities of the French presidency These priorities include, on the one hand, the reciprocity of trading standards – in other words, ensuring (chiefly by means of ‘mirror […]
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 […]
EU reinforces its leading position in global agri-food trade
2020 marked another improvement in the EU’s leading position among the world’s biggest exporters of agri-food products. On the import side, the EU has become the third largest importer after the United States and China, according to a report published on september 8th 2020 was an exceptionally challenging, yet successful year for EU agri-food trade, which […]