Could T-shirts be the way to industrialise an African nation? Bénin is trying to achieve what few countries in the continent have managed: systematically transform raw materials into finished goods. via Financial Times on.ft.com/3Z9b17z

A strong China-bent to our weekly roundup this week: 📌China holds off from slapping anti-dumping tariffs on EU brandy - at least for now 📌EU and China sit down to discuss non-personal data flows borderlex.net/2024/08/30/wee…

One of the more underrated (IMO) achievements of the current mandate - and possibly more such agreements to come (looking at you Ghana)

Our Week Ahead column is back! Here is what you can expect for trade policy in Brussels, London & Geneva👇 🇪🇺: Steel, investment screening, Kenya #EPA 🇬🇧: MPs to grill Reynolds 🇨🇭: EFTA-Ukraine #FTA talks By Iana Dreyer @ianadreyer.bsky.social, Rob Francis & Chris Horseman borderlex.net/2024/09/02/wee…

EU and Indonesia are continuing to hold intersessional talks with a view to reach a trade agreement - but no new formal round has been scheduled yet. Reports in Indonesian press say 🇮🇩 trade minister eyeing an agreement next week. Seems unlikely IMO indonesiabusinesspost.com/lobby/trade-mi…

Dutch commissioner-elect Hoekstra likely to be given trade portfolio. Former Dutch foreign minister and current commissioner for climate, so something of a heavy hitter. NL traditionally liberal on trade.

Featuring the phrase “China hawk”

The European Commission will be an “economic security commission” says Maria Demertzis. Econ security means “diversification” and “standing on our own 2 feet”. Says that diversifying sources of critical raw materials will be “not so easy” #bam24

Interesting comments by Jeromin Zettelmeyer who says the EU could decouple economically from China but says that politically it would be very damaging. Maria Demertzis disagrees. “Why do we want to go back on trade? It could be harmful for us” #bam24

How do we know whether Europe is more competitive in the future? “More FDI” says CEO of EDF Luc Rémont. McKinsey speaker agrees. So it’s not about having the biggest company in the sector in the EU? asks moderator Fiona Scott Morton. Panel agrees #bam2024

Former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström repeats her call for the EU to join CPTPP as well as the ACCTS pact between Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland. Difficult given the EU’s tariffs on China-made EVs! More info on ACCTS 👇🏻 borderlex.net/2024/07/03/asi… #bam24

“We [the EU] need to move beyond trade agreements” says Bernard Hoekman. Says there should be a focus on issues that matter to developing countries. “Make trade closely linked to the development agenda” he says #bam24

The EU and the Caribbean countries have benefitted from the bilateral trade agreement but implementation issues remain, said the commission this week. My summary of the EC's assessment of the EU-CARIFORUM EPA 👇🏻borderlex.net/2024/09/04/eu-…

Apparently the authors wanted to avoid the term "mirror measures" as they believe the EU's animal welfare standards are actually already low - hence the call for the EU to adopt "import requirements". Mirror measures "is more of a political term" I am told

At the invitation of Roberta Metsola, EP leaders will exchange with the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the Commission’s structure and portfolios proposed on Wednesday 11 September from 8.00 to 9.30. (1/2)

Talks between the EU and Switzerland are “advancing at a good pace” according to the commission today. Despite some issues (e.g. free movement of persons) remaining “challenging”, both parties still aim to conclude the talks by the end of the year

Our weekly roundup of EU trade policy news including: 📌Report from EU agri experts calls for new agro-food trade strategy 📌EU agri trade balance update 📌EU-Korea IP tensions 📌US wants input on TTC borderlex.net/2024/09/06/wee…

The interval music during today's World Trade Forum in Bern is "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse. Surely no accident.