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  1. Negotiations

Europe

Bilateral deal-making involving European governments.

last update: May 2012
photo: Mehr Demokratie e.V.

Sceptics fear political ties that bind free trade
10-Oct-2006 Financial Express
Perhaps the best explanation of why bilateral trade agreements are so popular comes from Pascal Lamy, who was the predecessor to Peter Mandelson as Europe’s trade commissioner. Mr Lamy, now director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is fond of saying: "Politicians tell you that when they sign a bilateral agreement with a pal, they get on TV. When they are the 149th minister around the table at the WTO, they don’t get on TV."
Bilateral agreements in EU trade policy
10-Oct-2006 DG Trade
Speech by Peter Mandelson at the London School of Economics on 9 October 2006
New strategy puts EU trade policy at service of European competitiveness and economic reform
4-Oct-2006
The European Commission has today adopted a new strategy to integrate trade policy into the European Union’s competitiveness and economic reform agenda. The policy review (Global Europe: competing in the world) sets out a strategy for opening new markets abroad for EU companies to trade and ensuring that European companies are able to compete fairly in those markets.
EU’s Mandelson opposes Merkel’s plan for transatlantic free trade zone
4-Oct-2006
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson voiced his opposition to plans by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to create a transatlantic free trade zone, reported the Handelsblatt.
Mandelson announces EU bilateral trade drive
4-Oct-2006
Often caught between the whims of protectionist and liberal member states, the European Commission on Wednesday firmly tied its colours to a liberal mast proposing a trade policy revamp focused on new markets and stamping out protectionism.
EU to seek bilateral trade deals in Asia as part of policy revamp
4-Oct-2006
The European Commission said it will seek bilateral trade deals, particularly with Asian partners, as part of a policy revamp.
Merkel for EU Agreement with US
2-Oct-2006
With the Doha Round of trade talks threatening to come to naught, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come up with a plan B: a free-trade zone with the US. Such a zone would encompass 60 percent of the global economy.
France eyes bilateral trade deals after WTO failure
22-Sep-2006 Reuters
France intends to target the Gulf, India, Asia and the Mediterranean basin in a push towards bilateral trade deals following the collapse of global free trade talks, Trade Minister Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday.
Mandelson call for bilateral EU-Asian trade agreements
18-Sep-2006 FT
Peter Mandelson, the European Union trade commissioner, will today call for the EU to negotiate new bilateral trade deals with countries in Asia, a further sign that hopes of a successful global trade agreement are dimming. The targets: India, Korea and ASEAN.
Struggling with globalisation, EU to take tougher line with trade partners
18-Sep-2006 Turkish Press
The European Commission is planning a more "hard-nosed" approach to breaking into foreign markets and ensuring EU exporters get a fair deal, including protection of their intellectual property, through better use of available trade instruments such as negotiating new free-trade agreements.

    Links

  • Amfori
    European business lobby group on foreign trade issues
  • Collectif Stop Tafta / CETA
    Site internet du collectif français Stop TAFTA, CETA et autres accords de libre-échange
  • ESF
    The European Services Forum (ESF) is a network of representatives from the European services sector. We are committed to actively promoting the interests of the European services sector and the liberalisation of services markets throughout the world in connection with the GATS negotiations.
  • Eurochambres
    Eurochambres, a European business lobby group, webpage on FTAs
  • FOEE: Trade
    Friends of the Earth Europe’s special web section on trade deals
  • Handelskampanjen
    The Norwegian Trade Campaign will oppose the current, neo-liberal trade policies and fundamentally reform the trade policy system.
  • Pour
    POUR est un collectif citoyen qui met à votre disposition des analyses et prises de position d’experts, de philosophes, de sociologues, de juristes, d’économistes, de représentants syndicaux, de cinéastes, d’éditeurs belges et européens sur les accords de libre-échange
  • Seattle to Brussels Network
    The S2B network was formed in the aftermath of the WTO’s 1999 Seattle Ministerial to challenge the corporate-driven agenda of the European Union and other European governments for continued global trade and investment liberalisation.
  • Trade Leaks
    Greenpeace’s leaked documents underline the strong objections civil society and millions of people around the world have voiced.