EU External Trade

Latest business news about European Union External Trade policies.

The European Union is committed to ensuring that the European economy is open to the world and competitive on the world stage. It supports a strong multilateral trading system as the most effective means of managing trade for the benefit of all.

FACT SHEETS

The EU and External Trade

• The EU's Generalised System of Preferences
• The EU and the WTO: The Doha Round Agreements

The EU's Bilateral Trade Agreements

• EU Trade Relations with China
• EU Trade Relations with Japan
• EU Trade Relations with Russia
• EU Trade Relations with Turkey
• EU Trade Relations with the United States
• EU-ACP Trade Relations

Useful Links

Quota Consultation

Online customs tariff database (TARIC)

Contacts

LATEST NEWS

Pakistan textiles lifted by WTO trade waiver — 12 February 2012, 13:39 CET

It makes a change, but Pakistani textiles boss Asghar Hussain is pleased. A year ago, recession, power cuts and poor security forced him to sack most of his workers.

EU pressures India over Iran nuclear programme — 10 February 2012, 15:16 CET

The EU on Friday pushed India to use its influence to get Iran to resume talks over its disputed nuclear drive, a day after New Delhi said it wanted to boost trade with the Islamic republic.

Iran, free trade pact top EU-India summit agenda — 09 February 2012, 23:13 CET

The European Union looks set to push India at a summit Friday to use its commercial and diplomatic influence to try to bring Iran back to the negotiating table over its disputed nuclear programme.

Anti-dumping: What is Zeroing? - guide — 06 February 2012, 21:16 CET

In 2004 and 2007, the EU launched WTO disputes against the US for the use of a methodology called "zeroing" in the calculation of anti-dumping duty rates. The EU's initiative was followed by a number of countries including Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam who lodged similar cases. The WTO Appellate Body has consistently condemned the practice of zeroing over the past decade as unfair. The US now finally committed itself to comply with the main elements of the WTO ruling, by removing zeroing in all ongoing and future cases.

US bows to EU, Japan in 'zeroing' trade row — 06 February 2012, 21:16 CET

The United States on Monday said it has bowed to demands from the European Union and Japan to end its controversial "zeroing" anti-dumping practice.

EU says China may become its biggest market in 2012 — 06 February 2012, 11:19 CET

The EU ambassador to China said Monday the Asian powerhouse could become Europe's biggest export market this year, overtaking the United States, as Beijing boosts domestic demand.

US, EU must deepen economic ties to fight crisis: Clinton — 04 February 2012, 22:44 CET

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Saturday for Europe and the United States to trade more and urged them to "work harder" together to battle economic crises.

Brazil posts $1.29 billion trade deficit in January — 01 February 2012, 22:17 CET

Brazil posted a $1.29 billion trade deficit last month, as imports rose sharply and exports to the debt-hit European Union slumped, official statistics showed Wednesday.

WTO approves two-year trade waiver for Pakistan — 01 February 2012, 23:54 CET

The World Trade Organization has approved a waiver allowing 75 Pakistani products duty free access to European markets for two years to help textile exports after devastating floods in 2010.

WTO Case on export restrictions of raw materials in China - guide — 31 January 2012, 23:19 CET

The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 30 January confirmed the findings made by a Panel in July 2011 that China's export restrictions on several industrial raw materials are in breach of WTO rules. The WTO found that China's export restrictions are not justified for reasons of environmental protection or conservation policy. Today's final ruling was welcomed by Europe's trade chief.

EU backs German, British goal of US free-trade deal — 30 January 2012, 21:41 CET

European Union leaders gave their backing on Monday to calls from Germany and Britain to pursue ambitious talks on a free-trade deal with the United States.

German firms expect exports growth this year: report — 29 January 2012, 14:18 CET

Germany, the world's number two exporter, expects healthy growth in foreign demand for its goods thanks to booming emerging markets and a nascent US recovery, according to a report Sunday.

Bosnian economy set to suffer from Croatia's EU entry — 25 January 2012, 10:45 CET

Bosnia's struggling economy could take a hit from neighbouring Croatia's EU entry next year as Zagreb will likely have to ban Bosnian imports that do not comply with strict EU quality rules.

EU urges China to join WTO procurement deal — 17 January 2012, 12:34 CET

The EU on Tuesday called on China to adhere to a new agreement reached by members of the World Trade Organization to further open up government procurement -- a market worth hundreds of billions of euros.

EU's Ashton to hold trade, security talks in India this week — 15 January 2012, 18:25 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will pay a two-day visit to India this week to discuss trade and security cooperation ahead of a summit next month, her office said on Sunday.

EU, US meet as fresh Airbus sanctions loom — 14 January 2012, 00:10 CET

US and European officials held crunch talks in Geneva on Friday, in an effort to stop a long-running aerospace trade war from escalating via fresh multi-billion dollar US sanctions against Europe.

EU trade chief faces tax probe over Italian home: reports — 10 January 2012, 14:12 CET

Belgian tax authorities are investigating European Union trade chief Karel De Gucht over his purchase of a second home in Italy's Tuscany region, Belgian media reported on Tuesday.

Europe steelmakers file complaints against China — 09 January 2012, 15:34 CET

European steel-makers have filed an anti-subsidy complaint against cut-rate China imports blamed for undermining the EU industry, the European Steel Association said Monday.

German trade surplus grows as exports rise — 09 January 2012, 11:46 CET

The German trade surplus grew in November as foreign demand for German-made products remains surprisingly robust, despite the deepening eurozone debt crisis, official data showed on Monday.

EU extends trade preferences to Balkans — 30 December 2011, 19:08 CET

The European Union on Friday renewed trade preferences to the western Balkans until 2015, giving nearly all products from the region duty-free access to the 27-nation market for four more years.

EU greenlights first political, trade deal with Iraq — 22 December 2011, 22:42 CET

The European Union said Thursday it had authorised the signing of a first-ever contractual relation between the bloc and Iraq.

Airbus aid dispute: EU, US talks in January — 22 December 2011, 17:02 CET

The United States and the European Union will hold talks in January after Washington accused EU governments of failing to eliminate illegal subsidies to Airbus, trade officials said Thursday.

Italy's external trade deficit halves in October — 22 December 2011, 16:09 CET

Italy's trade deficit with countries outside the European Union fell by almost half in November to 1.2 billion euros from 2.1 billion euros in November 2010, new data showed on Thursday.

China says it opposes EU airline emissions charges — 22 December 2011, 12:52 CET

China Thursday joined Washington in opposing a plan by the European Union to impose carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1, warning it risked sparking a trade war.

EU, US lock horns on Europe airline emissions charges — 21 December 2011, 22:52 CET

Europe and the United States headed for confrontation Wednesday after the EU won key legal backing for its proposal to slap carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1.