‘Trade for All’ – All for Trade? The EU’s New Strategy. College of Europe Policy Brief #3.16, January 2016

Gstöhl, Sieglinde (2016) ‘Trade for All’ – All for Trade? The EU’s New Strategy. College of Europe Policy Brief #3.16, January 2016. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Executive Summary > The ‘Trade for All’ strategy presented in late 2015 is the culmination of a decade-long re-orientation of EU trade policy towards more competitiveness, including a shift to reciprocal free trade with developing countries. > The rise of the emerging economies and the stagnation of the Doha Round contributed to a proliferation of deeper and more comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements. > While EU trade policy has become more strategic, aiming at bigger partners, it has not yet found a way to deal with China and Russia. > ‘Trade for All’ also aims to respond to the heated debates about the TTIP negotiations by promoting transparency and high standards of protection. > Finally, implementing a ‘more responsible’ EU trade policy will require a convergence of rhetoric and action through a reconciliation of values and interests.

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