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EU-UK trade flows: Continuities, changes and trends
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), which entered into force in May 2021, governs the EU's relationship with the UK, following its withdrawal from the EU. In addition to the European Commission evaluating the implementation of the TCA on an annual basis, Article 776 of the TCA provides for a joint review of the deal's implementation five years after its entry into force, in 2026. On 20 November 2024, the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s Conference ...
Euro exchange rate policy in the face of currency coercion threats
This paper outlines the European Union’s institutional framework for defining and executing an active euro exchange rate policy, against the backdrop of a potential policy shift by the United States. It outlines the emerging US debate on linking exchange rate policy with trade and security objectives and provides a background on past currency interventions by US and other central banks such as the Plaza Accord. The final part opens a discussion over the functioning and limits of the EU’s legal framework ...
Clean trade and investment partnerships: A new instrument in the EU's trade policy toolbox
The European Commission has announced a range of new trade partnerships – the clean trade and investment partnerships (CTIPs) – to bolster the EU's competitiveness, diversify supply chains and boost economies. CTIPs are the latest instrument in the EU's set of trade tools the Commission calls 'alternative forms of engagement', and to which experts also refer as 'trade-related agreements' or 'mini trade deals'. They are meant to complement the EU's vast network of trade agreements through a faster ...
What to make of the 2025 US tariff policy?
When Donald Trump was elected President of the United States (US) for the second time in 2024, the world knew that tariffs would again be the US trade policy instrument of choice. Two months into his second term, the President announced universal tariffs on aluminium and steel; a month later, on cars and car parts; and on 2 April 2025, reciprocal tariffs ranging from 11 % to 50 % on imports from countries running a trade in goods deficit with the US, and universal tariffs of 10 % on imports from ...
Canada and Mexico: Economic indicators and trade with EU
This infographic provides insight into the economic performance of Canada and Mexico compared with the European Union (EU) and examines the trade dynamics between them. For 2024, the growth rate for Canada is expected to be at 1.3%, whereas Mexico is at 1.5%. The trend in inflation rates is continuing to decline, with estimates of 4.7% for Mexico and 2.6% for Canada. Overall trade relations between the EU, Canada, and Mexico have shown positive growth over the last two decades. Since 2020, both Canada ...
Following the United Kingdom's referendum on its European Union membership, in June 2016, and the UK's decision to leave the EU, a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was signed between the EU and the UK, in 2020. The TCA, in force since 2021, provides the framework for relations between the EU and the UK. In 2025, the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ will adopt – as it did in 2023 – a report on the implementation of the TCA, this time covering the period between January and December 2024. The report will follow ...
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ in EU external action
Based on its Treaties, the European Union (EU) has developed a multifaceted external action policy, and is seen as an important actor far beyond its borders. Through its institutions and Member States, the EU is active in international trade, humanitarian assistance, economic, financial, and technical and development cooperation, as well as through its common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and common security and defence policy (CSDP). Increasingly, the external dimension of internal EU policies ...
The future of rare earths mining in Ukraine
The US Trump administration has set its sights on Ukraine's vast mineral resources, and proposed a deal: to secure a portion of Ukraine's rare earths in exchange for US support in the war against the Russian aggressor. Ukraine is a candidate for EU membership, and an earlier 2021 strategic partnership means the EU also has a stake in the future of Ukraine's mineral sector. This briefing analyses the US and EU positions, to shed light on the potential future of rare earth mining in Ukraine.
EU energy relations with the Western Balkans
The six countries that make up the region known as the Western Balkans differ in terms of size, population, economy, energy mix and energy import dependency. At the same time, they share common elements because of their geographical proximity, and – in some cases – common policies adopted in the past. An example is their ageing infrastructure dating back to the 1970s, which was damaged during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. Another common element (except for Albania) is their reliance on solid ...
EU and Ukraine: Potential for stronger energy cooperation on the path to integration
Ukraine is the second largest country on the European continent after Russia. Its oil, coal and gas reserves, as well as its geostrategic position, ensured its important role in energy trade, both during the Soviet Union and after its collapse. However, Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine (since 2014), followed by a full-scale war of aggression against the country, have had severe human and economic impacts. In the energy area, for example, Russia's strategy has been to weaponise (e.g. the occupation ...