EU's 5-Year Trade Policy to Prioritize U.S. Non-Tariff Barriers, Enforcement
On November 9, 2010, the European Commission laid out its five-year blueprint for a European Union trade policy to help revitalize Europe's economy, reduce trade barriers, and to take a more assertive approach to ensure the benefits of trade reach European citizens.
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EU to Address Non-Tariff Barriers, Focus on Enforcement, Finish FTAs, Etc.
According to EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht, this trade strategy will include the following six priorities:
Tackle non-tariff barriers with U.S., China, etc. - deepen relations with major trade partners, such as the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. The primary focus with these countries will be on tackling non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.
More focus on enforcement - a greater focus on enforcement, using all appropriate means to stand up for EU rights and to ensure that trade rules are fairly applied to all.
Complete WTO, FTA negotiations - complete the current EC negotiation agenda over the next few years at both the multilateral level through the World Trade Organization in the form of the Doha Round and bilaterally with a particular push in 2011 on trade deals with India, Canada, Ukraine and Mercosur.
Market access - help European businesses access global markets by setting up a mechanism to redress the balance between open markets in the EU (for example in public procurement) and more closed markets with its trading partners.
Negotiate investment provisions - address the needs of EU investors outside the EU by looking at negotiating comprehensive investment provisions with key trading partners, such as India, Canada, Singapore as well as China and Russia.
Trade preferences - setting a broad development- trade agenda that spells out in 2011 how trade can continue to support development through a new framework for important trade preferences for developing countries.
EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht presentation, dated 11/09/10, available here.