Directorate-General for Trade

Market access

Creating new opportunities for EU exporters – large or small - in markets abroad is a key part of the European Commission's work. The changing nature of modern trade means that many of the trade barriers European exporters face are not just the traditional import tariffs or quotas but discriminatory regulations or standards. Tackling them takes a great deal of political and technical expertise and collaboration between European businesses, the European Commission and European governments.

This is why in 2007, as part of the Global Europe trade policy strategy, the European Union's Market Access Strategy was strengthened and adapted and the Market Access Partnership launched. The centre-piece of this new approach is a new decentralised partnership between the Commission, Member States and business on the ground in Europe's most important export markets where local expertise makes trade barriers easier to identify and address. As part of this strategy, a Market Access Database, provides an online record of barriers under examination in EU trading partners.

Key elements of the Market Access Partnership include:

• Closer and more action-oriented cooperation between the European Commission, Member States and business, including the establishment of EU Market Access Teams on the ground in countries outside the EU, both to identify trade barriers before they appear and tackle existing obstacles to trade. New working groups were also established to examine particular problem sectors or issues. Co-ordination, coherence and transparency are central to this new partnership.
• Better prioritisation of resources, focusing on certain target markets, key sectors or issues
• Better use of opportunities presented by negotiations – in particular in the Doha Round and the new generation of EU Free Trade Agreements - to make progress on non-tariff barriers.
• Tougher focus on the enforcement of global and bilateral trade rules – through the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO, bilateral dispute settlement arrangements and Europe's trade barrier regulation.
• A more efficient and transparent service to business, including more systematic registration and follow-up of cases and an improved Market Access Database.

The new partnership has already delivered success stories, and the European Commission publishes a regular newsletter updating on work being undertaken.

Supporting information

Results of the public consultation

• Market Access in a Global Economy
  • Public consultation
  • Results of the public consultation

Reports

1. Implementing the Market Access Strategy - Annual report 2008
   • Abstract: The annuall progress report on the implementation of the renewed Market Access Strategy (which was issued to the 133 Committee on 6 February 2009, m.d. 80/09) gives a detailed overview of our activities in 2008 and provides a list of successful barrier removals, including in the area of services, IPR and government procurement. As 2008 has been the first full year of implementation of the Market Access Partnership, a strong focus has been on improving our working methods and instruments as well as enhancing our communication efforts.
   • 01 May 2009
   • Format: PDF
2. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON THE EXTERNAL DIMENSION OF THE LISBON STRATEGY FOR GROWTH AND JOBS - Reporting on Market Access and setting the framework for more effective international regulatory cooperation
   • 16 December 2008
   • Format: PDF

EU Annual Reports on US Trade Barriers

1. Report 2008
   • Format: PDF
2. Report 2007
   • Format: PDF
3. Report 2006
   • Format: PDF