Overview

Do you want to know more about DAGs? Go check our LinkedIn post!

The former Spanish foreign minister released a book titled "The Trade Handbook: Making Trade Work for Prosperity, People and Planet". Read here her wide-ranging interview with Borderlex at the global trade organisation’s annual Public Forum held last week in Geneva.

SOCKSSS is a small company founded in Sweden. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement eliminates tariffs on socks, giving this Swedish firm the chance to be competitive in a market with huge potential for fashion and design.

Trade is not only about closing deals, it is also about keeping track of the commitments we make with our trading partners. Listen to his full Bloomberg Radio interview below to find out what he does and how he does it.

Join us for the 2026 edition of Trade Policy Day to discuss how trade policy can help promote stability, resilience and growth in an uncertain world, balance strategic openness with greater autonomy, and keep EU industry competitive while avoiding protectionism. More details on registrations will follow soon!

Representatives from trade unions, business organisations, environmental groups and other civil society organisations are invited to the public session of the Civil Society Dialogue Forum between the European Union and Central American countries.

The purpose of this meeting is to exchange with civil society on the EU’s new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation.

The European Commission has published a call for expression of interest to facilitate the procurement of studies and analytical work in the area of trade, the potential development of analytical tools for trade policy, carrying out trade policy related surveys and peer reviews. Kindly note that this call remains open until 2 December 2022.

In Vilnius this week, the focus was on how Lithuanian businesses can make the most of EU trade agreements. From exports to Korea and Canada to economic security and resilience, trade policy is about creating opportunities and supporting key sectors of the economy.

The EU and Malaysia met last week for the fourth round of free trade agreement talks, moving closer to a comprehensive, modern partnership. Covering goods, services, investment, digital trade, and sustainability, the negotiations aim to open markets, strengthen rules, and create fresh opportunities for businesses on both sides.

Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič brought industry, trade groups and the Commission together to discuss how the EU Customs Reform can work in practice. Stakeholders backed the Reform’s ambition for a simpler, more digital and resilient customs union, while welcoming the Customs Data Hub and Trust and Check regime as tools to cut red tape and boost competitiveness.

On the 17 of May the Commission published its biennial Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in third countries. Based on these findings, the Commission will focus its efforts and resources on the specific areas of concern in these countries, with the aim of improving IPR protection and enforcement worldwide.

Would you like to be part of a community of labour, environmental and business group experts? The call for expression of interest for the DAGs has been extended to 9 May COB!

Would you like to be part of a community of labour, environmental and business group experts? The call for expression of interest for the DAGs has been extended to 9 May COB!

Read the opening statement by Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis at the European Parliament plenary debate on the global COVID-19 challenge.

At a breakfast meeting in the European Parliament with MEPs and a broad range of local authorities and civil society organisations, Cecilia Malmström stressed the importance of fair and ethical trade schemes. She argued they were an essential part of the EU's broader efforts to ensure responsible supply chains that respect human rights, labour rights and the environment.

Join the next Access2Markets live training Seminar to learn how to make full use of the platform’s tools and services. The session will cover import and export requirements, trade barriers, the ROSA Rules of Origin Self-Assessment tool, My Trade Assistant and a live Q&A session.

Join a live, hands-on training on how to get the most out of the Access2Markets platform. The session covers import/export tools, trade barrier listings, contacting the Single Entry Point, trade stats, ROSA, My Trade Assistant (including procurement, services, and investment), the TDI SME Helpdesk—and wraps up with a live Q&A.

Join our live training on EU-Canada trade and get hands-on guidance for the Access2Markets platform — from import/export sections and the Canadian Tariff Finder to ROSA, TED, CanadaBuys, and MyTradeAssistant. The session wraps up with a live Q&A to answer your questions.

We're asking stakeholders for feedback on the type of evidence importers should provide to demonstrate where steel was originally melted and poured. This is an important part of the new EU Steel Regulation and its objective of increasing transparency in steel trade.

We are inviting stakeholders to contribute to the Sustainability Impact Assessment of the EU–Thailand FTA. Citizens, civil society, businesses and trade unions are encouraged to share views on the potential economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts. The consultation is available in all EU languages and in Thai.

EU agri-food companies and producers are invited to join Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen on a high-level mission to Thailand (Bangkok). The mission will offer insights into Thailand’s market access conditions and highlight new business opportunities for EU agri-food and beverage products in the context of the EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement.

Saving the WTO will require EU-led alliances, better subsidy disciplines and new plurilateral routes, even if some initiatives sit outside the WTO.

Last week’s episode featured an off-the-podium midday press briefing discussion with Olof Gill on the EU–Mercosur agreement. More insights coming soon. Stay tuned!

"The World Trade Organization is at a crossroads. We’ve been talking about reform for years, but, without a robust commitment to carrying out a comprehensive reform, the WTO will become irrelevant..." Check out this blogpost by Myrto Zambarta on the WTO's current state of play.