Brussels, 23/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 June - European Trade Policy Day - European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström unveiled the main lines of her communication on a revised strategy for the EU's trade policy, promised for the autumn.
This is firstly about assessing how to make trade policy “more inclusive”, guaranteeing more transparency in the trade negotiation processes, and how to make it “more effective”, both for SMEs and consumers, to fight against new types of trade barriers and improve access to energy and raw materials, as well as green goods and services, and to boost digital trade and facilitate the movement of staff providing services.
The second area for action targets guaranteeing the protection of human rights, labour rights and the environment, and the development of poor countries and regions. “The communication should make even more explicit that the EU social model is not in doubt”, Malmström stated, saying that her strategy will have to detail how the Commission wants to bring progress to her draft of “deep reform” for the current system for the protection of investment, to support the responsible supply of EU companies and to ensure that the free trade agreements negotiated and concluded by the EU “fully support respect for inalienable human rights”.
In addition, the new strategy should update the trade negotiation agenda. At the same time as reaffirming EU support for the multilateral process at the WTO, the EU will have to “finish our ambitious bilateral agenda” by concluding agreements with the USA, Japan and Vietnam, by deepening the Asia-Pacific strategy, and by stepping up its involvement with the whole area, including Australia and New Zealand. It will have to continue its trade programme with Africa, which is “vital” for the EU, and with Latin America, including the modernisation of agreements with Mexico and Chile. (Emmanuel Hagry)