Reconciling bilateral trade agreements with multilateralism
Christina Langhorst, Analysen und Argumente, No. 45, Sankt Augustin, Oct. 25, 2007
Editor: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.
With its communication “Global Europe – competing in the world” the European Commission has realigned its trade policy. While in 1999 the former Commissioner for External Trade, Pascal Lamy, had declared the multilateral approach within the framework of the WTO as the only and exclusive strategy to trade liberalisation, the new strategy (released in October 2006) regards bilateral trade agreements as an option: They make it possible to “proceed faster and further in promoting openness and integration” than is currently the case in multilateral negotiations with all WTO member states. Which opportunities and which risks are connected to these agreements? What can the EU do to secure its international competitiveness while at the same time maintaining the WTO’s relevance?
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Elisabeth Enders
Elisabeth Enders
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