Trade Ministers of the European Union Member States will meet on Monday 9 November by videoconference to discuss relations with the United States and China and the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
While the result of the presidential election in the United States was not yet known at time of going to press, the EU Council will try to make progress on the thorny issues in EU-US relations.
According to a European diplomat, whatever the outcome of the elections, the obstacles and problems between the two partners, which have accumulated over the last few years, will still be live issues. Ministers are expected in particular to discuss the position to be taken on the Airbus/Boeing dispute between the EU and the United States. The WTO last week authorised the EU to adopt tariff retaliation measures against the US (see EUROPE 12589/10).
The ministers’ meeting will also focus on the negotiation of the comprehensive investment agreement with China, the 33rd round of negotiations of which took place from 19 to 23 October. The Member States will try to make progress on the subject in the hope of reaching an agreement before the end of 2020, as the European Council of 1 and 2 October wished. According to a European source, “the chances of getting there are still 50%”. The EU noted that China had made progress on a number of issues over the summer, but that efforts remained to be made, in particular to balance trade relations. The next round of negotiations will take place from 16 to 20 November.
As part of a public consultation launched by the European Commission, Ministers will discuss the progress of the European Trade Policy Review. The consultation is open until 15 November and is expected to help shape a new direction for EU trade and investment policy. In this review, the reform of the WTO is an essential element the EU hopes to build on in order to strengthen its position in world trade.
Finally, the EU Council will take stock of the current legislative texts, in particular the agreement reached in trilogue on compliance with international trade rules (see EUROPE 12592/14).
See the EU Council agenda: https://bit.ly/3k6GNd3 (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)