Trade Policy Review – An Open, Sustainable and Assertive Trade Policy

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 18 February 2021, setting out a renewed trade strategy for the European Union (EU).

Further information:

The vision is supported by three core objectives:

• Supporting the recovery and fundamental transformation of the EU economy in line with its green and digital objectives;
• Shaping global rules for a more sustainable and fairer globalisation;
• Increasing the EU's capacity to pursue its interests and enforce its rights, including autonomously where needed.

This new strategy is to further integrate trade policy within the European Union's economic priorities in the framework of the twin green and digital transitions, specify trade policy's role in the post-COVID economic recovery and support the pursuit of the EU's geopolitical ambitions. As such, it also shows how trade policy supports the EU's open strategic autonomy (OSA).

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 18/02/2021: Commission sets course for an open, sustainable and assertive EU trade policy https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_644

European Commission: Questions and Answers: An open, sustainable and assertive trade policy (18 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_645

---

News

Reuters, 18/02/2021: EU puts WTO at centre of greener trade reform push https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2AI0T1

---

Commentary and Analysis

CNBC News, 18/02/2021: The EU says it’s going to get tough on trade — and that could have ramifications for U.S., China https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/18/eu-trade-policy-review-what-it-means-for-us-and-china.html

---