The EU Stuck Between Trade Openness and Strategic Autonomy

Summary:

The European Union’s new trade policy motto of Open Strategic Autonomy is defined as ‘EU’s ability to make its own choices and shape the world around it through leadership and engagement, reflecting its strategic interests and values’. A vague definition, which suits the various sensitivities across EU member states. Yet, deeds not words are what will define EU’s Open Strategic Autonomy.

The EU policymaking machine has been busy churning regulations in pursuit of this vision. Examples of these policies are the anti-coercion instrument, the international procurement initiative, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the foreign subsidy regulation, the corporate sustainability due diligence, the enforcement regulation for trade disputes and the deforestation initiative.