EU External Trade

News and information about the European Union's trade policy.

Markets for agricultural products: Bananas — 16 December 2009, 15:55 CET

The European Union's common organisation of the market in bananas allows the EU market to receive satisfactory supplies of quality bananas at fair prices for producers and consumers and ensure a balance between the various sources of supply.

Export of cultural goods — 10 December 2009, 16:45 CET

In order to ensure that EU exports of cultural goods are subject to uniform checks, this Regulation makes the presentation of an export licence compulsory for their export outside the customs territory of the European Community.

Common rules for imports into the EU — 08 December 2009, 00:55 CET

This Regulation aims to establish common rules for imports into the European Community based on the principle of the freedom of import and to define the procedures enabling the Community to implement, where necessary, the surveillance and safeguard measures required to protect its interests.

Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets — 08 December 2009, 00:44 CET

The common organisation of agricultural markets in the European Union provides a single legal framework governing the domestic market, trade with third countries and rules regarding competition.

EC Action Programme Customs 2013 (2008-2013) — 04 December 2009, 12:02 CET

The European Community action programme Customs 2013 (2008-2013) aims to support the development of a pan-European electronic customs environment which ensures that customs activities match the needs of the EU internal market, guarantees the protection of the financial interests of the EC and increases safety and security.

Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets — 22 December 2009, 13:06 CET

The common organisation of agricultural markets in the European Union provides a single legal framework governing the domestic market, trade with third countries and rules regarding competition.

Adoption of the WTO agreements — 01 December 2009, 19:25 CET

By Council Decision 94/800/EC, the Council of the European Union adopts the legal texts resulting from the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations concluded through the signature of the Marrakesh Final Act and the creation of the World Trade Organisation.

Anti-dumping measures — 08 December 2009, 01:04 CET

Regulation (EC) No 384/96 aims to transpose the provisions of the new agreement on the implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (1994 Anti-dumping Agreement) into European Community law with a view to ensuring appropriate and transparent application of the new anti-dumping rules.

Anti-dumping measures — 01 December 2009, 19:26 CET

Regulation (EC) No 384/96 aims to transpose the provisions of the new agreement on the implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (1994 Anti-dumping Agreement) into European Community law with a view to ensuring appropriate and transparent application of the new anti-dumping rules.

Common rules for imports into the EU — 15 December 2009, 12:48 CET

This Regulation aims to establish common rules for imports into the European Community based on the principle of the freedom of import and to define the procedures enabling the Community to implement, where necessary, the surveillance and safeguard measures required to protect its interests.

Common rules for EU exports — 01 December 2009, 19:24 CET

This Regulation establishes common rules for exports from the European Community (EC) based on the principle of freedom of export and to define the procedures enabling the Community to implement, where necessary, the surveillance and protective measures required.

Russia-EU Trade - Eurostat — 16 November 2009, 11:33 CET

The 27 Member States of the European Union had their deficit in trade in goods with Russia halved in the first six months of 2009. Russia is the third trading partner of the EU.

Free Trade Agreement with South Korea - briefing — 15 October 2009, 15:25 CET

European businesses have for some time asked for better terms of access to key Asian markets. Responding to these calls, EU Member States authorised the Commission to negotiate new ambitious Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India, Korea and ASEAN countries. In April 2007 EU Member States authorised the Commission to negotiate an ambitious and comprehensive FTA with South Korea. After eight rounds of formal negotiations the two sides have today initialled the agreement.

Turkey Investment Climate 2009 — 15 October 2009, 16:33 CET

The Government of Turkey (GOT) views foreign direct investment as vital to the country's economic development and prosperity. Accordingly, Turkey has one of the most liberal legal regimes for FDI in the OECD. With the exception of some sectors (see below), areas open to the Turkish private sector are generally open to foreign participation and investment. However, all investors – regardless of nationality – face a number of challenges: excessive bureaucracy, a slow judicial system, high taxes, weaknesses in corporate governance, sometimes unpredictable decisions made at the local government level, and frequent changes in the legal and regulatory environment.

The Euro and International Financial Markets — 02 October 2009, 21:31 CET

The euro is a key global currency which has an important role in international financial markets. It is used widely by third-country governments and private actors worldwide as a currency of choice for their reserves, their borrowing and for trade.

New vision for EU-Latin America relations - briefing — 30 September 2009, 18:21 CET

The European Commission has presented a renewed policy designed to strengthen the EU-Latin America strategic partnership. With its Communication "EU-Latin America: Global Players in Partnership", the Commission assesses the state of play of the bi-regional relationship and outlines the targets and objectives for the coming years. In view of the next EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit to be held in Spain in spring 2010, it identifies and provides new orientations and policy recommendations to tackle challenges affecting both regions, such as climate change, the economic and financial crisis, energy security, and migration. Furthermore, the Communication proposes the setting up of the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF) which would have a leverage effect to mobilise resources from financial institutions to finance projects in energy infrastructure, including energy efficiency and renewable energy systems, transport, environment and social cohesion.

Financing for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

The 2002 Monterrey Consensus is the partnership between developed and developing countries to find ways of financing development that will meet the Millennium Development Goals. The EU, which provides over half of all official development assistance worldwide, made a number of commitments to achieve this consensus.

Policy Coherence for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

When exploring ways to accelerate progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the European Union (EU) considers how non-aid policies can assist developing countries in attaining the MDGs. The EU activity in this field is not only a key political commitment in the context of the MDGs, but also has a firm legal basis in the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 178).

Free Movement of Goods in the EU — 23 July 2009, 09:32 CET

The principle of free movement of goods is one of the cornerstones of the internal market. This principle implies that national barriers to the free movement of goods within the EU be removed.

Directorate General for Trade - contacts — 20 July 2009, 12:55 CET

Trade-related information sources

Trade and Development: the Doha Development Agenda — 20 July 2009, 12:10 CET

The agenda of the Doha Round is much broader than past global trade negotiations and is specifically targeted at addressing the needs of developing countries.

The EU and the WTO — 20 July 2009, 12:07 CET

The WTO and the multilateral trading system are the core focus for EU trade policy. The EU believes that a system of global rules is the best way to ensure that trade between countries is fair and open.

The EU's Generalised System of Preferences — 20 July 2009, 11:46 CET

The EU's Generalised System of Preferences is a trade arrangement through which the EU provides preferential access to the EU market to 176 developing countries and territories, in the form of reduced tariffs for their goods when entering the EU market.

The EU-ACP Trade Relations — 21 July 2009, 12:09 CET

Economic Partnership Agreements: A New Approach in trade relations between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP).

The EU's Trade Relationship with the United States — 08 July 2011, 17:17 CET

The European Union and the United States have the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. The size and importance of these trade ties make the EU and the US the key players in the global trading system.