Trade

Economy 22-12-2023

Expert on EU-Mercosur deal: Argentina needs green investments, not rules

Est. 4min

Marcela Cristini, senior economist at the Argentinian Foundation for Economic Investigations in Latin America (FIEL), argued that the new Argentinian government would favour the trade deal between the EU and Mercosur but that the EU's ecological requirements went too far. As …

Economy 18-07-2023

Germany wants to persuade France over merits of EU-Mercosur deal

Est. 5min

The German government wants to convince a hesitant France that the merits of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement - currently being discussed at the EU-CELAC summit - are worthwhile, Franziska Brantner, the parliamentary state secretary in charge of trade at the Economy Ministry, told EURACTIV in an interview.

Canfin MEP: ‘Europe must put in place policies to protect, promote green industries’

Est. 8min

With its upcoming Battery Directive and carbon border tax, the EU has the opportunity to build the foundations of Europe's future green industrial policy and respond to America’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), says Pascal Canfin.

John Kerry: Carbon border tariffs are ‘a legitimate idea to have on the table’

Est. 10min

The EU’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism is a “legitimate” instrument to consider, and the United States are “exploring it” as well. “It may be a tool that we have no choice but to employ if other countries are not going to be serious enough about reducing carbon,” John Kerry told EURACTIV in an interview.

Global Europe 03-12-2021

Socialist think tank chief: pandemic global failure but EU good example

Est. 5min

The EU “should lead by example” for the recovery from COVID-19 but needs to face its own shortcomings to curb existing and new social inequalities, FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues told EURACTIV in an interview.

Central Asia 17-11-2021

Trade Minister of Kazakhstan: As WTO chair, we will push for consensus on reform

Est. 7min

In an exclusive interview, the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov discussed the upcoming WTO ministerial under the chairmanship of his country, EU-Kazakhstan economic relation, and carbon border tax.

Global Europe 15-11-2021

Foreign Minister: Uzbekistan is promoting ‘pragmatic relations’ with Afghanistan

Est. 15min

In a wide-ranging interview, Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov discussed his country’s relations with the EU, the situation with "fraternal neighbour" Afghanistan, regional cooperation, and strategies for a 'Third Renaissance' of Uzbekistan.

Global Europe 09-09-2021

Chizhov: Russia is well-placed to play a constructive role in Afghanistan

Est. 16min

In a wide-ranging interview, the Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov discussed Afghanistan, the ‘Crimea Platform’, carbon border tax, COVID and vaccines, and the new political season.

Economy 18-08-2021

Trade policy must be sustainable or lose public support, says Parliament’s trade chief

Est. 6min

EU lawmakers must put sustainability at the heart of the bloc's trade policy or risk losing public support for it, says Bernd Lange. And that means having civil society at its heart, adds the German lawmaker who chairs the European Parliament’s International Trade committee.

Agrifood 25-05-2021

Wojciechowski: CAP reform ‘a new chance’ for small, medium sized farms

Est. 11min

As negotiators from the European Parliament, Council and Commission kick off this week's jumbo trilogue in an attempt to seal a deal on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, EURACTIV spoke to Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski about his expectations for the week ahead.

Global Europe 05-05-2021

Ambassador: EU and South Korea born to be best like-minded partners

Est. 11min

Climate change is likely to be a key area to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EU in the coming years, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Yoon Soon-gu, told EURACTIV in an interview about multilateralism, climate cooperation and the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Global Europe 21-12-2020

OECD candidate: The US is back as ‘guarantor’ of international liberal order

Est. 7min

With the new US administration, Washington has again taken up its role as a guarantor of multilateral system, former EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou who runs for the OECD top job, told EURACTIV.com in an interview. “I think it has become very …

MEP Canfin: EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism ‘is not a tax’

Est. 9min

The European Union’s future carbon border adjustment mechanism must mirror the EU’s own carbon market price and structure in order to be compatible with WTO rules, says Pascal Canfin.

Economy 21-10-2019

There is no crisis, we expect growth in 2020, says Germany’s Altmaier

Est. 5min

In an interview with EURACTIV Croatia, German Federal Economy Minister Peter Altmaier spoke about the forthcoming EU presidencies of Croatia and Germany, the controversial zero growth ('Schwarze Null'), and the cooperation with the Western Balkan states.

Economy 14-10-2019

Rioja president: ‘We will stand behind our wine producers’ in EU-US tariff war

Est. 6min

Concha Andreu, the president of La Rioja region, made her first visit to Brussels last week, just after the US announced fresh tariffs on European exports, including wine produced in her region. She told EURACTIV.com she is confident Europe will support the region, whose economy is heavily dependent on the wine sector.

EU-China 02-10-2019

Chinese official: ‘Without a strong WTO, connectivity means nothing’

Est. 5min

The EU and Japan have launched a new strategy to strengthen ties between Europe and Asia, seen as an alternative to China’s ‘Belt and Road’. But in view of the ongoing global trade disputes, for senior Chinese diplomat Xuejun Guo, the priority is nonetheless the renovation of the World Trade Organisation’s appellate body.

Azerbaijan 05-09-2019

Ambassador: ‘We should be more creative’ in finalising Azerbaijan-EU trade deal

Est. 8min

It took 20 years for the EU and Mercosur to sign a trade agreement. “We don’t want to wait that much,” says the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the EU, urging the European Commission to drop its “bureaucratic matrix” thinking. "We don't hide our names," he insists.

CETA 24-07-2019

Top arbitration lawyer: CETA’s arbitration mechanism reflects international agreements

Est. 4min

Louis Degos, an international arbitration lawyer, spoke to EURACTIV France about the French National Assembly's ratification of CETA, the EU-Canada free trade agreement, which, in case of disputes, would resort to the use of often confidential arbitration procedure.

Railways 30-04-2019

‘One Belt, One Road, One Million’: Rail chief plans to connect Europe to China

Est. 5min

The 'New Silk Road' has the potential to make trade between China and Europe more competitive by rail than by sea. EURACTIV Germany spoke to transport boss Alexey Grom about the development of the Eurasian railway project, the 'New Silk Road' and its expansion towards Europe.

Economy 22-01-2019

PwC chief: ‘I do think that tensions between US and China will continue’

Est. 5min

Pessimism is growing among CEOs, noted the latest global survey published on Monday by PwC, a consultancy firm. In an interview with EURACTIV.com, the global chairman of PwC, Bob Moritz, recommended companies and governments to focus on execution in order to truly turn risks into opportunities.

Azerbaijan 04-12-2018

Official: Azerbaijan is ready for chairing Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022

Est. 8min

Azerbaijan, a supporter of multilateralism and international cooperation, will chair the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022, with international peace and security as the top priority issues, a senior official from the country told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Economy 12-10-2018

Ambassador Zhang: China will do more to strengthen IP protection

Est. 13min

China and the EU are “in the same boat” when it comes to preserving multilateralism, China's ambassador to the EU, Zhang Ming, stressed in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with EURACTIV.com, which also addressed next week's ASEM summit and China's relations with its Asian neighbours.

Economy 27-07-2018

Bullmann: ‘No victory for Juncker or Trump, but a breather’

Est. 4min

German Socialist MEP Udo Bullmann praised the EU and US talks on trade relations. But in an interview with EURACTIV media partner Der Tagesspiegel, he also insisted that "we do not live in a command economy" and warned that the European Parliament will have to be involved with any future talks.

Brexit 08-03-2018

Trade expert: Jersey holds the key to unlock Brexit dilemma

Est. 9min

Could the Channel Islands hold the key to unlocking the Brexit puzzle? Trade expert Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform tells EURACTIV that Jersey's 'strange relationship' with the EU could be an acceptable 'half-way house'.