European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Our role

The Directorate-General for Trade helps to develop and implement the EU's trade policy. We are part of the European Commission, and along with the EU's Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, we aim to shape a trade environment that is good for people and for business.

This means we are working to:

1. Create a global system for fair and open trade

The World Trade Organisation has helped shape a system of global trade rules that keeps the global economy open for trade as well as reflects and respect the needs and concerns of developing countries.

The network of agreements and obligations overseen by the World Trade Organisation, helps ensure that trade is open, predictable and fair.

EU trade policy works to maintain the global trading system and to ensure it adapts to a fast-changing world.

2. Access markets for European companies, their workers and investors

We seek to create growth and jobs for Europeans by increasing their opportunities to trade with the world. This is particularly important in the context of current economic conditions.

EU trade policy aims to open new markets for European exporters, workers and investors through trade agreements to reduce the tariffs and other barriers to the markets of our trading partners. We work closely with countries outside Europe to -

• remove persistent problems for exporters,
• open up new opportunities for European investment, and
• reduce counterfeiting and piracy of European goods.

3. Make sure others play by the rules

Because international trade rules are designed to ensure that trade is fair, it is vital that they are respected. We represent and defend European interests in the court system of the World Trade Organisation, helping ensure that WTO obligations are met.

We are also responsible for making sure that the imports that enter the EU are traded at fair prices and that they do not cause unfair damage to European companies and their workers.

4. Ensure trade is a force for sustainable development

We are committed to actively helping people around the world trade their way out of poverty. Europe has opened its markets to all imports from the world's poorest countries, and works actively to help developing countries build the capacity to take advantage of trade.

We also use our trade policy to reinforce other important international goals:

• supporting the fight to protect our environment and reverse global warming;
• striving to improve working conditions for workers in developing countries; and
• ensuring the highest standards of health and safety for the products we buy and sell.