Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-IV§85 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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In recent years, the EU has developed an ambitious bilateral agenda, which complements and reinforces its efforts within the multilateral trading system. Throughout the process, the EU is paying particular attention to the scope and depth of its trade agreements, to ensure they take into account the needs of today's economy, as well as of the economic realities of its partners and paying attention to full compliance with WTO rules, while supporting and promoting EU values and standards: the promotion of human rights, health and consumer protection and sustainable development, including labour rights and environmental protection.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-V§4 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU will continue playing an active role in implementing Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the SDGs within the EU and in development cooperation with partner countries. In particular, the EU will continue its efforts to implement the Trade and Sustainable Development chapters of its trade agreements more effectively, including through civil society mechanisms.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-V§5 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU and its Member States have begun a review of their 2007 joint Aid for Trade strategy, with a view to increasing the mutual supportiveness between development co-operation and trade agenda. The review is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017. The revised strategy would remain linked to the Aid-for-Trade Initiative and respond to the new 2030 Agenda, with the aim of further fostering EU values of social protection and environmental sustainability together with inclusive economic growth. The revised strategy might also seek to introduce differentiation in addressing in a more strategic manner the specific trade-related needs of various partner countries, notably the LDCs.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-Summary§10 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
Not specified |
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(...) Total state aid (excluding transport and agriculture) by member States increased from €60 billion in 2012 to €91 billion in 2014, largely due to an increase in aid for environmental protection (including energy saving). (...)
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Energy
Environment
Conservation
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-Summary§15 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The latest reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, which took effect on 1 January 2014, established a legal commitment to sustainable fishing levels, a ban on discards (the landing obligation), and measures to reduce overcapacity while continuing the use of multi-annual recovery and management plans. In February 2017, there were 12 plans combining different fisheries management tools, including a maximum sustainable yield, the landing obligation, technical measures, and total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas. In 2014, 31 stocks out of 59 were fished in accordance with estimates of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and, by 2020, the TAC for all stocks are to be based on MSY estimates. EU fishing outside of EU waters is to be based on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, while the EU cooperates with third countries and international organizations on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing worldwide.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-I§23 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU continues to follow its Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. As such, it has set priorities and targets for certain aspects of the economy, these are:
(...)
• Climate change and energy sustainability: greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990 levels, 20% of energy coming from renewables, 20% increase in energy efficiency; (...)
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Climate
Sustainable
Energy
Emissions
Renewable
Green
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-I§24 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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(...) Regarding Europe 2020 goals, most of the progress has been observed in the areas of climate change and energy sustainability and education. (...)
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Keywords
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Climate
Energy
Sustainable
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-Box-II.1 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Box 2.1 Objectives of the updated trade and investment policy strategy
The EU will focus attention on, inter alia, achieving the following: (...)
(iii) A trade and investment policy based on values by:
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• Expanding measures to support sustainable development, fair and ethical trade, and human rights, including by ensuring effective implementation of related FTA provisions and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. (...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-II§18 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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While the EU reiterates the importance of the WTO as the central and pre-eminent forum for developing and enforcing the rules of global trade, it has moved away from a "single undertaking" approach by announcing that it will seek more issues-based negotiations at the multilateral level and limited plurilateral initiatives (still ultimately open to all WTO countries) to achieve gradual improvements to international trade rules. The international negotiations with other WTO Members on the plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) , the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) [8] are also seen by the Commission as stepping stones to further liberalization in this area of trade in goods and services as well as trade-related aspects of intellectual property.
[8] Since July 2014, the EU and 16 other WTO Members have been negotiating the EGA to remove barriers to trade in environmental or "green" goods.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-II§25 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU's preferential FTAs go beyond trade in goods. The new generation of EU FTAs cover goods, services, intellectual property, investment, government procurement, access to energy and raw materials, customs and trade facilitation, competition (including subsidies and state-owned enterprises), and regulatory cooperation. They contain commitments on customs duty reduction, access to services markets – to be able to fully take advantage of the tariff engagements, and tools to reduce or eliminate "non-tariff barriers" such as technical regulations or unjustified sanitary barriers. In addition, the EU emphasizes areas which are important in terms of values such as sustainable development and the protection of human rights.
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