The EU’s trade ministers are meeting in Brussels on Thursday 30 May. They will in part echo the ministers responsible for competitiveness who met a week earlier. In essence, the session on Thursday 30 May will focus on the link between trade and competitiveness. EU-Africa relations and the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are also on the agenda. On the legislative front, the ministers will adopt the regulation that will lead to higher tariffs on certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural products (see EUROPE 13414/13).
Trade and competitiveness
In his report on the internal market published in April, former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta spoke of the need, in his view, for a more strategic approach to trade agreements. For him, ratification procedures should also be reviewed to anticipate blockages.
These proposals form a basis of reflection by the ministers. In particular, they want to consider how the EU’s trade policy can support businesses facing difficulties arising from the current geopolitical challenges. The issue of access to critical raw materials will also be raised. This is happening at a time when the EU is stepping up its efforts to diversify its sources of supply in this sector.
The EU’s trade policy is currently very focused on the signing of partnerships on raw materials (see EUROPE 13418/5), but also on the use of trade defence tools vis-à-vis China. Industrial competition from Beijing, but also from Washington, distorted by substantial subsidies, is leading Europeans to rethink their strategy. The degree of firmness and determination to react to this competition should be raised on Thursday by several countries.
Trade and investment relations with Africa
The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council was keen to put this issue on the agenda. Several countries claim that not enough emphasis is placed on relations with Africa. The ministers are expected to reflect on how to become an even more attractive partner for the African continent. One of the objectives is also to identify geographical areas which are not covered by trade or investment agreements with the EU and which deserve attention.
As an example of the direction the Member States want to take with Africa, they will reportedly formally approve the Economic Partnership Agreement with Kenya (see EUROPE 13361/12).
Further work at the WTO
The 13th WTO ministerial meeting ended in failure on all the major issues under negotiation. That’s why the ministers want to draw lessons from this episode. They are expected to ponder on the next steps, in particular the reform of the organisation.
In recent weeks, ideas for methods have been put forward to the WTO with a view to achieving results by the end of the year (see EUROPE 13410/13).
In addition, another subject could be on the ministers’ agenda on 30 May: the EU regulation against imported deforestation. This is being criticised at the WTO for its negative impact on international partners, but also within Member States themselves. According to a European diplomat, it is highly likely that some delegations will raise the subject. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)