Priority

EU-US trade talks

Quote from Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

We need a fair partnership, but not a deal at the expense of the environment and European standards. The Commission and the Council are undermining the EU's negotiating position by trying to avoid a transparent debate out of fear of public opinion. We will help to ensure that this does not happen.

en | de | es

Read

The EU must not bow to Trump's delusional trade tariffs

TTIP reloaded

The Commission is breaking its promise not to negotiate trade deals at gunpoint. The Trump Administration has its finger on the trigger, threatening to increase steel tariffs further if negotiations do not move fast enough. The EU must maintain its position as the world's leading trading bloc and not bow to the whims of Donald Trump's delusional approach to trade.

en | de | fr

Read

JEFTA imports old mistakes

EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement

The Japan-EU Free Trade Agreement (JEFTA) between the European Union and Japan does not represent a forward-looking and sustainable trade policy, which is why the Greens/EFA Group have voted against it in the European Parliament today.

en | de | fr | es | it

Read

A step towards greater European sovereignty

International trade/Foreign investment screening

"At a time when European Member States increasingly rely on foreign investment in strategic sectors, it is essential for the EU to acquire information sharing and coordination tools to defend our economic and political sovereignty." Reinhard Bütikofer, Greens/EFA Member of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament, comments on the agreement on exchange of information.

en | fr | de | es | it

Read

Ending corporate abuses: why Europe must support a UN Treaty

Towards a UN binding treaty on business and human rights

Globalisation heavily relies on the exploitation of workers in developing countries by Transnational Corporations. However, when these workers' human rights are abused, it is basically impossible for them to achieve proper redress. International pushes for the creation of a UN binding treaty on business and human rights seek to redress this profoundly unequal dynamic and end corporate impunity.

Read

EU-Japan Agreement

Preliminary Review on behalf of the Green/EFA Trade Working Group

The EU-Japan deal will be publicly presented as a symbol of an open, liberal trade regime, in contrast with the protectionist measures taking place in the US and elsewhere. The attack on the rules-based international trading system makes it all the more important for the EU to embed its’ values and live up to its commitments for sustainability and ecological responsibility in the agreements it signs. Based on the following analysis, we conclude that the EU-Japan agreement is another missed opportunity to fulfil this often-cited mantra.

Read

Shipping containers stacked on a ship leaving San Francisco Bay — PD

An agreement that perpetuates mistakes

EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JEFTA)

Tomorrow (17/07/2018), the EU and Japan will sign the biggest bilateral trade deal in history, covering almost one third of global GDP with implications for over 600 million people. Once ratified, JEFTA will be incredibly difficult to amend.

en | de | fr

Read

23409.greening the streets — © Udo Weber

Green Trade for All

A Greens/EFA paper

Green trade policy needs to identify the first bold steps on the path to bring us closer to an ecological vision for trade. Such steps should be developed as much as possible at the multilateral level, including proposing the necessary changes to the existing rules of the world trade system as embodied in the WTO.

en | es | nl | de

Read

EU must fight illegal trade measures at the WTO

Trump EU trade tariffs

"The US has imposed illegal measures that must be challenged in the WTO. The EU has spent enough time trying to placate a US administration hell-bent on upending global cooperation on trade,"

en | de

Read

EU must remain united in defence of multilateralism

Trade

The European Parliament will this evening hold two key debates on trade - on President Trump’s trade tariffs and the EU’s new anti-dumping legislation, which is due to be voted on tomorrow. The Trump administration is due to make a final decision on tariffs for steel and aluminium from the European Union on 1 June.

en | es | fr | de

Read

European Union must defend multilateralism

Trade dispute with the USA

The European Union must use this postponement as an opportunity to vigorously defend multilateralism. The EU should take this case to the World Trade Organization. To counter Trump’s reckless protectionist agenda, the EU needs a common strategy.

en | de

Read

We need to stand up for the values of fair trade

Trump trade tariffs

Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamberts and Ska Keller respond to reports that the EU will be exempt from tariffs on steel and aluminium.

Read