Aussenwirtschaft; Zeitschrift für internationale Wirtshaftsbeziehungen

Editorial Note

For the time being the Doha Round looks in serious trouble and with it the further development of the multilateral trading system. However, this does not mean either the end of trade negotiations or trade liberalisation. More and more nations are turning to regional and bilateral trade agreements to pursue their commercial and other interests. Arguably, until recently, one of the few exceptions to this trend was the European Union, and its trade negotiator, the European Commission.

'Global Europe': An Initial Assessment of the European Commission's New Trade Policy

The principal elements of the European Commission's recent Communication on its external trade policy (titled "Global Europe") are assessed in this paper. Certain shifts are discernible in the Commission's position, in particular as they relate to the prominence given to market access objectives and to bilateral and regional trade agreements. Even so, this latest Communication is probably best thought of as an evolution in the Commission's trade policy and not an abrupt break with the past. P...

Global Europe: Old Mercantilist Wine in New Bottles?

This paper analyses the European Commission's communication Global Europe and attempts to demonstrate that the substance behind the shift in emphasis towards bilateral trade policy is an extension of existing EU bilateral trade policy; that the shift is not convincingly justified by the analysis in the EU Commission papers; that the shift might be best thought of as an attempt to re-energise corporate sector support for trade liberalisation in the face of the suspension of the Doha Developmen...

The European Commission's Communication On External Policy: A Us Perspective

This essay will present the views of a US observer on the politics and substance of the European Commission's proposed new policies toward bilateral and regional trade agreements. It will contrast both the rationale advanced by the Commission and the underlying politics surrounding FTAs with the situations in the United States, particularly the record of the Bush administration "Competitive Liberalisation" policy. It will also describe additional political and security considerations that for...

The Eu's New Trade Strategy and Regionalisation in the World Economy

The "new generation of Free Trade Agreements" announced by the Commission of the European Community signals an intention to substantially extend the geographic coverage of its reciprocal, preferential trade agreements. We review the development of regionalism in East Asia by listing the existing bilaterals and those under negotiation and conclude that the EC's initiative will have minimal effect in this region. However, globally, there are two super-hubs, namely the EC and the US, each with i...

The Eu New Trade Policy and the Perspectives for an Eu-Mercosur Agreement

This article aims to address the European Union's new trade policy, expressed by the European Commission Communication "Global Europe: Competing in the World", and the ongoing negotiations to form the EU-Mercosur FTA. The Communication selected Mercosur as a priority, based on two economic criteria: The market potential and the level of protection against EU exports. Mercosur also considers such an agreement as a top priority in its agenda since it already has the EU as its main trade partner...

Russia's Relations with the Eu After Wto Accession

Russia's accession to the WTO next year will set the stage for a more active dialogue with the EU on deeper integration and trade liberalisation. In this respect the formation of a FTA with the EU is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for engaging Russia into an active dialogue on a broad range of political and economic issues. Other modalities of trade liberalisation, including regional cooperation and greater openness to investment would also need to be addressed. The delays in dra...

Observations On the Intellectual Property Component of the European Commission's New Trade Policy

This paper describes and analyse the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) elements in the recently announced EU new trade policy, which seeks to be more assertive in global trade. The policy's focus on IPR covers pushing for greater global harmonisation, the implementation of stronger standards in bilateral FTAs, and enhanced enforcement efforts in key developing countries. This policy is largely similar to the IPR emphasis in US global and bilateral trade policy, which has had a record of mixe...

Global Europe: Competing in the World: A Contribution to the Eu's Growth and Jobs Strategy

Growth and jobs, and the opportunity they create, are at the heart of the European Commission's agenda for Europe. They are essential for economic prosperity, social justice and sustainable development and to equip Europeans for globalisation. They are a core criterion by which citizens will judge whether Europe is delivering results in their daily lives. In 2005, the renewed Lisbon strategy set out the steps we must take in Europe to deliver growth and jobs. This internal agenda must be com...