The European Commission's latest annual report on trade and investment barriers in third countries, which was published on Monday 26 June, points out a 10% increase in barriers encountered by European exporters in 2016. By contrast, however, it also points out the lifting of 20 barriers to trade in 12 countries thanks to efforts as part of the market access strategy.
In 2016, European exporters noted a 10% increase in the number of barriers to trade they encountered. According to the report, the 36 barriers created in 2016 could affect EU exports that are currently worth around €27 billon. At the end of 2016, there were 372 barriers to trade in over 50 trade destinations worldwide.
Most of the barriers to trade and investment are in the G20 countries – headed by Russia, Brazil, China and India. Russia, India, Switzerland, China, Algeria and Egypt are the countries where most of the new protectionist measures were flagged up in 2016.
"It is worrying that G20 countries are maintaining the highest number of trade barriers. At the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg [7-8 July], the EU will urge leaders to walk the talk and resist protectionism. Europe will not stand idly by and will not hesitate to use the tools at hand when countries don't play by the rules", European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström stated.
By contrast, the strategy conducted by the Commission in partnership with the EU member states and industry to increase third country market access is bearing fruit: on Monday, the Commission announced the abolition of 20 barriers to trade and investment in 12 countries (such as South Korea, China, Japan, Argentina, Israel and Ukraine) for €4.2 billion. Most of the barriers listed concern food, drinks, automobiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and ICT.
For example, the EU obtained the suspension by China of Chinese requirements on labelling, which would reportedly have amounted to a loss of €680 million in exports; South Korea agreed to bring its rules on seat-size into line with international rules; and Israel allowed companies from the whole of the EU to request market authorisation and to export their pharmaceutical products. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)