TRADE RELATIONS

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

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

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

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