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EURATEX, EBCA & AAFA Joint-Statement

| EURATEX, EBCA and AAFA are opposed to the imposition of additional tariffs on Travel Goods,Travel Goods, Textiles, & Clothing products in both the EU and US

G20- Agreeing to reforming the WTO

| For the first time, all leaders agreed on the need to reform the WTO at the G20 Summit. However, the real challenge lies ahead.

Data Flows in FTA's

| From the design to the delivery of products, cross-border data flows are key in the supply chains of branded clothing.

Industry groups call for action to upgrade the EU-Turkey Customs Union

| EBCA joined AmCham EU, amfori, APPLiA, DIGITALEUROPE, ESF and FESI in releasing a statement calling for action to upgrade the EU-Turkey Customs Union.

#10 - Workers threatened by globalisation need support, not protectionism

| recourse to protectionism “to bring back jobs” is not a solution as the number of jobs put at risk will outnumber those directly protected and cause economic damage.

#9 - Trade makes shopping cheaper

| International trade makes both sides of the trade better off: It facilitates economic growth in exporting countries and increases purchasing power on the import side because consumer prices fall.

#8 - Engagement helps making trade more sustainable, not sanctions

| Modern trade agreements increasingly include provisions pertaining to sustainable development, which gives rise to questions about their effective implementation and enforcement.

The European Union gives green light for phase 2 of Brexit negotiations

| After long and arduous negotiations on 7 and 8 December, the European Commission and the UK government reached an agreement to move on to the 2nd phase of Brexit negotiations, which would involve the

Vietnam FTA: Legal scrubbing till April

| The trade agreement between EU and Vietnam may be sent for approval by Parliament and Council in April.

#7 - TRADE DEFENCE INSTRUMENTS ARE MEANT TO PROTECT THE EU ECONOMY. OFTEN, THEY ACHIEVE THE OPPOSITE.

| Trade defence measures such as antidumping are not well suited to modern international production chains, easily harm the EU economy and consumers.

EU adopts modernisation of trade defence instruments

| An agreement was reached between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament on the modernisation of the EU's trade defence instruments.

CETA: Joint review of T&SD chapters

| Commission asks for joint review the enforceability of CETA’s T&SD chapters in response to promises made in October 2016 when the Walloon regional parliament threatened to derail the agreement.

#6 - Trade makes poor countries richer

| From 1996 and 2016, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita tripled in Least-Developed Countries. Much of this can be attributed to an increase in trade and foreign investment.

#5 - Trade helps to avoid conflict

| When countries trade with each other, they are less likely to engage in conflict. Some argue this contributes to international peace. This claim shouldn't be exaggerated but there is some truth to it.

#4 - Tariffs are like a tax which hit poor people hardest

| Tariffs are like a tax hitting low income households hardest: the poorest lose 1.6% of income after tax.

#3 - Trade stabilises the economy of developing nations

| Export diversification stabilises currency earnings and enhances economic growth, especially for countries at the lower end of the value chain.

#2 - 31 Million EU jobs are supported by exports. And these pay nicely.

| 31 Million jobs in the EU are supported by exports and trade with the world, highly skilled and well paid they help modernising the economy.

#1 - Trade makes the world better off. It should be more popular.

| When a firm or an individual buys a good or a service produced abroad at lower cost, living standards in both countries increase. Societies gain when countries trade.

Slow progress with Mexico

| he Commission published its report from the fifth round of negotiations with Mexico. Rules of origin remain sticking point.

Brexit: Delay in trade talks likely as EU grows impatient with perceived UK unpreparedness

| EU and UK officials have raised concerns that the EU-UK future trade relationship won’t be discussed until December following the third round of negotiations.

Juncker SOTEU speech to include new approach to investment protection

| During his annual state of the EU (SOTEU) speech on 13 September, Commission President Juncker will outline his vision for the future of Europe with trade as one of the key topics.

Vietnam: Progress in ratification procedure anticipated for Autumn 2017

| The Commission maintains its timeline for legal scrubbing as well as approval by the Council and Parliament of the Vietnam FTA by autumn of this year.

Preliminary discussion on tariff rate quotas during second round of Brexit negotiations

| Despite the EU’s hard stance of not negotiating trade until the second phase of Brexit discussions, negotiators began to raise certain aspects of trade in goods.

Commission makes the case for non-sanction enforcement of TSD

| Earlier this month, the European Commission announced its plans of opening a debate on trade and sustainable development in EU trade agreements.

Full liberalisation on textiles, increased market access for footwear in EU-Japan FTA

| Negotiators agreed to fully liberalise tariffs on textiles and will apply at the entry into force of the agreement.

Brexit negotiations start off without a bang; trade on the agenda as early as October

| The UK has seen a flurry of activity in the last three weeks with its general election, forming of new government as a result of the election, and the start of Brexit negotiations.

Review of EU investor protection rules could affect ratification of EU-Vietnam FTA

| Following the opinion by the Court of Justice of the EU, the Commission is currently reviewing its approach to some provisions on investment protection.