TRADE RELATIONS

22 December 2020

Prospects for new tariffs, quotas or other restrictions on imports from Vietnam got a boost on 16 December when the U.S. Treasury Department issued a report finding that Vietnam has manipulated the value of its currency. More

hktdc research

Ways and Means Trade Counsel Nominated as Next U.S. Trade Representative

15 December 2020

President-elect Biden announced on 10 December his nomination of Katherine Tai, chief trade counsel for House Ways and Means Committee Democrats since 2017, to serve as the next U.S. trade representative. Tai is fluent in Mandarin and previously served at USTR as chief counsel for mainland China trade enforcement, part of a seven-year stint at the agency before she moved to Capitol Hill. More

hktdc research

Post-Brexit: EU and UK Agree on Certain Provisions Concerning Northern Ireland

11 December 2020

On 7 December 2020, the co-chairs of the EU-UK Joint Committee, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and the UK Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Rt Hon Michael Gove, held a political meeting to address the outstanding issues related to the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. More

hktdc research

EU and UK Struggle to Come Up With a Trade Deal in Last Phase of Post-Brexit Negotiations

04 December 2020

On 2 December 2020, the EU’s chief negotiator in the post-Brexit trade deal negotiations, Michel Barnier, sought to reassure a number of EU Member States that he would protect the EU’s interests in the final phase of negotiations with the UK. This final phase of negotiations is currently underway in London, ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. More

hktdc research

The UK’s Latest Trade Agreements and Ongoing Trade Negotiations with Third Countries

03 December 2020

Since announcing its withdrawal from the EU, the UK has successfully negotiated numerous trade agreements and continues to actively engage in trade negotiations. As the UK will no longer benefit from trade agreements between the EU and third countries after 31 December 2020, it is working to reproduce the effects of such agreements in order to ensure the continuity of trading arrangements for UK businesses. More

hktdc research

Little Progress Made on EU-China Trade Talks

30 June 2020

Mainland China and the EU held their 22nd bilateral summit on 22 June 2020 via videoconference, discussing trade and investment, climate change, the digital sector, and the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The summit took place among ongoing tensions, most recently exacerbated by the EU’s publication of a White Paper on foreign subsidies on 17 June, and the European Parliament’s call for EU action over its concerns for Hong Kong. More

hktdc research

USTR Updates Congress on U.S. Trade Negotiations

23 June 2020

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently updated Congress on on-going and potential U.S. trade negotiations. Among other things, he acknowledged that mainland China is not currently on pace to buy the amounts of U.S. agricultural and energy products that were agreed under the phase one trade agreement, due at least in part to the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. More

hktdc research

Brexit: EU-UK Trade Talks at a Stalemate over Disagreement on So-called “Level Playing Field”

20 May 2020

On 15 May 2020, after the conclusion of the third round of trade talks between the EU and the UK, both sides stated that negotiations had become deadlocked over the UK’s refusal to commit to EU environmental, social, labour and regulatory standards. The stalemate underlines the lack of progress that has been made so far. The two sides remain deeply divided ahead of a high-level summit due to take place between EU leaders and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in June 2020. More

hktdc research

The United Kingdom Introduces its Trade Bill

09 April 2020

The United Kingdom has introduced its Trade Bill. It was announced as an important element of the UK’s post-Brexit independent trade policy. The Trade Bill covers the following fields: (i) government procurement; (ii) implementation of trade agreements; (iii) trade defence; and (iv) data collection and sharing. Overall, the Trade Bill contains measures that are intended to provide continuity and certainty for UK businesses and consumers in a post-Brexit scenario. More

hktdc research

USTR Highlights Mainland Chinese Policies, Other Concerns in Annual Trade Barrier Reports

07 April 2020

USTR recently issued its annual National Trade Estimate report, which describes significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, foreign direct investment and e-commerce as well as the actions being taken to address those barriers. The NTE report covers significant barriers, including those that may be consistent with international trade rules (e.g., very high tariffs), affecting U.S. exports to 59 countries, the EU, Hong Kong and certain other locations. More

Page of 6