On Tuesday 2 March, the European Trade Ministers will discuss the review of the European Union’s trade policy on the basis of the communication submitted by the European Commission on 18 February (see EUROPE 12661/1, 12660/4).
“The objective is to have ministers’ view and prepare the draft conclusions that Portuguese presidency of the EU Council intends to get adopted in May” said a European source on Monday 1 March. According to her, the initial reaction of the EU Member States’ ambassadors to the proposals was “generally positive”.
In the face of competition from key trading partners, the Commission now intends to make its voice heard by defending its particular interests both in its internal market and on the international stage. It also advocates the inclusion of the climate challenge into European trade policy, notably through the inclusion of provisions on compliance with the Paris Agreement and chapters on sustainable development in future bilateral trade agreements. A proposal on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage abroad is to be announced by the summer (see EUROPE 12650/7).
The Commission also advocates an in-depth reform of the functioning of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala took office on Monday as director general of the international organisation, replacing Brazilian Roberto Azevêdo.
Meeting until Tuesday, the WTO General Council is expected to decide whether a Ministerial Conference will be held in December despite the difficulties related to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also consider the request from South Africa and India for an exemption from intellectual property rights on coronavirus vaccines in order to maximise global production. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal and Mathieu Bion)