Last year the European Commission launched a major review process of the European Union’s trade policy to help contribute to a resilient and sustainable EU economy after the coronavirus pandemic.
The review process looked at strengthening relationships with key trading partners, creating global trade opportunities for small EU businesses and reinforcing the contribution of trade policy to climate change, sustainable development and the digital transition. There is no strong Europe on the world scene without a strong industry, competitive at home and abroad in fair competition with other partners.
This review came to an end today with the formal presentation of renewed trade policy presented by Executive Vice President, Valdis Dombrovskis.
The European Paper Industry hopes that this new EU trade policy will improve market access via the conclusion of ambitious Free-Trade Agreements (FTAs), addressing unfair competition on the EU Single Market and abroad, and addressing level-playing field aspects as top priorities.
A strengthened focus on implementation and enforcement of trade agreements, a strong toolbox of instruments to address unfair practices and promote a level playing field will be crucial.
The pulp and paper industry requires a level playing field with third countries but also a regulatory framework that allows industry to stay and expand in Europe, here are our priority asks:
- The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement should be fully implemented, with a pragmatic approach to solve trade disruptions and facilitate supply chains functioning between the EU and the UK
- With a strong Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter, the EU-Mercosur FTA should be ratified as soon as possible
- At multilateral level, the negotiations for an Environmental Goods Agreement should be relaunched and ways to deal with industrial subsidies should become a priority
- At bilateral level, the EU should explore options to include targeted provisions on trade in environmental goods and services, including tariff reductions and addressing non-tariff barriers and work with other countries to harmonise standards, labels and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the commercialisation of green products and services
We welcome the higher climate ambition embedded in this trade policy review. In relation to this, the EU Commission will propose in June this year a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), to protect a number of energy-intensive industries from the risk of carbon leakage i.e. businesses transferring production to other countries with laxer emission constraints due to the costs related to climate policies in Europe. If this carbon leakage materialises, there will be no reduction in global emissions, and this will frustrate the efforts of the EU and its industries to meet the global climate objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Climate change mitigation targets can only be achieved if all countries – EU and non-EU – contribute to it. The same burdens placed on EU manufacturing must apply equally to goods imported for consumption in the EU.
Finally, we call for this trade policy review to positively impact the revamped EU industrial policy. An ambitious EU industrial policy should contribute to the consolidation and resilience of the EU strategic value chains and ecosystems and the strengthening of the EU as a trading power.
Balanced climate, energy and raw materials policies, supported by an ambitious trade strategy, are essential for competitiveness, sustainable growth and employment, supporting innovation and investment by industries.
RELATED NEWS
