Brexit negotiations start off without a bang; trade on the agenda as early as October
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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
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Following the opinion by the Court of Justice of the EU, the Commission is currently reviewing its approach to some provisions on investment protection.
CJEU opinion on Singapore: Brings back much needed clarity
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The European Court of Justice (CJEU) qualifies non-direct foreign investment and investor state dispute settlement mechanism as competences shared between the European Union and its Member States.
Bangladesh: Graduation impact assessment expected next year
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The Bangladesh government announced its intention to launch a detailed impact assessment of the country’s graduation from least developed country (LDC) status.
Commission threatens to suspend EBA for Bangladesh due to labour rights violations
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The European Commission threatened to begin a formal investigation which could lead to withdrawal of Bangladesh’s trade preferences, due to Bangladesh’s failure to comply with a number of ILO labour r
Turkey: Commission calls for mandate to launch customs union modernisation
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On 25 January, a round table discussion was held in European Parliament, co-organized by the European Neighbourhood Council, Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association and MEP Kati Piri
Turkey: Commission requests Council mandate to modernise customs agreement
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The European Commission has formally requested a mandate from the European Council to open negotiations with Turkey on modernising and extending the scope of its Customs Union agreement with the EU
Japan: Renewed expectations, progress hinges on CJEU decision on mixed agreements
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The Japanese side has expressed anxiety in relation to potential ratification hurdles a deal could face, such as the events that unfolded in the CETA saga.
Malaysia: PM Confident EU-Malaysia FTA Talks Will Resume by End of 2016
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Malaysia is confident that EU-Malaysia free trade talks will resume by the end of 2016, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib stated during an official visit to Germany in late September.
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EU diplomats have hinted that the 17th round of talks on the EU-Japan trade agreement which concluded on 30 September could break the current deadlock.
African countries will lose preferential treatment if no further progress is made on EPA ratification
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The Commission has decided to withdraw the Market Access Regulation for the countries that have not taken the necessary steps towards ratifying the Economic Partnership Agreements. I
CETA is a mixed agreement according to Member States
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Member States agreed to consider CETA as a mixed agreement – meaning that some of its provisions fall into the competences of the Member States and not of the European Union.
Council conclusions on responsible global value chains
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In the conclusions adopted by the Council on 12 May 2016, Member States call on the Commission to further support actions aimed at enhancing private sector engagement...
Compromise on mandatory marking of origin rejected by Member States
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The Product Safety and Market Surveillance package is still blocked at Council level as Member States remain divided on the key issue of mandatory marking of origin.
EU-Philippines FTA: first round to take place in May 2016
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The first round of negotiations is expected to take place on 23-27 May of this year in Brussels. Most of the chapters will be discussed between the negotiators as...
