Europe’s Trade Policy: Can a Phoenix Rise From the Ashes?

Abstract:

TTIP is dead but CETA can still be saved.

European trade policy is in a shambles. There is little hope to rescue the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States, an arrangement once envisioned to be a ground-breaking agreement between the world’s two largest economic blocs. Public protests against TTIP also seem close to bringing down the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and it is uncertain whether even this deal, which was not thought to be controversial, will be ratified.

But the damage goes beyond single trade agreements. The past year and a half have damaged the European Commission’s influence over trade issues. While the European Commission‘s legal powers to negotiate comprehensive international trade agreements were increased as recently as 2009 with the Lisbon Treaty, Europe’s executive body seems now to enjoy less clout than ever before to push these agreements through.

ESO: Background information: 15th Round Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations http://www.europeansources.info/record/15th-round-transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-negotiations/

ESO: Background information: Austria, France propose restarting TTIP under new name http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-france-propose-restarting-ttip-under-new-name/

ESO: Background information: Statement by the European Commissioner for Trade and Canada's Minister of International Trade http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-the-european-commissioner-for-trade-and-canadas-minister-of-international-trade/

Social Europe, 20.10.16: Europe’s Trade Policy: Can a Phoenix Rise From the Ashes? https://www.socialeurope.eu/2016/10/europes-trade-policy-can-phoenix-rise-ashes/

EurActiv, 20.10.16: Does CETA’s saga spell the beginning of the end of EU trade policy? http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/opinion/does-cetas-saga-spell-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-eu-trade-policy/

EurActiv, 21.10.16: [Opinion]: CETA: A way out of European self-dwarfism http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/opinion/ceta-a-way-out-of-european-self-dwarfism/

EUObserver, 21.10.16: Ceta failure deepens EU trade crisis https://euobserver.com/economic/135609

EurActiv, 25.10.16: [Opinion]: CETA failure reveals Lisbon Treaty’s structural flaws http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/opinion/ceta-reveals-structural-flaws-of-lisbon-treaty/

Politico, 25.10.16: Wallonia sends EU trade policy back to the drawing board http://www.politico.eu/article/wallonia-eu-trade-policy-back-to-the-drawing-board-ceta-canada/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 25.10.16: CETA and Europe’s Paralysis http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/64938

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Ceta: Is the EU still capable of action http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168425/ceta-is-the-eu-still-capable-of-action

Blog: EuroppBlog, 26.10.16: CETA has laid bare the trade-off between free trade and national sovereignty in Europe http://bit.ly/2dUpJYK

Politico, 27.10.16: [Politico Caucus]: Influencers split on member countries’ power in trade deals http://www.politico.eu/article/caucus-influencers-evenly-split-on-member-countries-power-in-trade-deals-ceta-ttip-canada-europe-united-states-china/

ECFR: Podcast, 28.10.16: ECFR’s World in 30 Minutes: The blocking of CETA http://www.ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/ecfrs_world_in_30_minutes_the_blocking_of_ceta

ECFR: Commentary, 25.10.16: Why less Europe is no Europe - comparing the fates of CETA and MES http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_why_less_europe_is_no_europe_comparing_the_fates_of_ceta_7158

---