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Europe

Bilateral deal-making involving European governments.

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


’India, UK need new free trade pact’
Britain and the European Union urgently need an unprecedented new free trade pact with India, the UK’s leading organization representing 240,000 businesses and 80 of the FTSE’s 100 companies has demanded.
Mandelson plans bilateral trade deals despite WTO setback
The European Union will use bilateral trade deals to "road test" measures deemed too sensitive to be included in the stalled global WTO liberalisation negotiations, Peter Mandelson said last night.
Sceptics fear political ties that bind free trade
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

    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.