Comercio internacional

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International trade is governed by a complex mixture of global rules agreed under World Trade Organization and bilateral and multilateral agreements. The free trade agreements are having a growing impact on citizens' rights. Under the Lisbon Treaty, EU trade policy must be conducted within the framework of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action, including promotion of the rule of law, human rights and sustainable development.

We believe that this trend should be a guiding principle in EU trade negotiations and in trade relations. The fact that we at the EESC reconcile the positions and views of business, workers, professionals, farmers, consumers and other important stakeholders contributes real added value. We are in a position to efficiently relay the opinions of civil society and interest groups to international policy-makers both during negotiations and in the implementation of trade agreements. We have set up a Follow-up Committee on International trade to ensure that civil society has a say in the shaping of EU trade policy. We are also managing the Domestic Advisory groups set up under the trade and sustainable development chapters of the EU "new generation" trade agreements. These groups, composed of civil society representatives (from inside and outside the EESC) are responsible for identifying trade and sustainable development-related problems in the implementation of a trade agreement.

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    33/2016

    The EU-China Round Table's 14th meeting was hosted by the EESC in Brussels on 18-19 May 2016. The Round Table was set up in 2007 following a Decision taken by the 9th EU-China Summit, which acknowledged that the exchanges and cooperation between the EESC and its Chinese counterpart, the China Economic and Social Council (CESC), formed an integral part of the EU-China relationship. Topics on the agenda included ...

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    Can European trade and investment policy promote sustainable development and social justice at home and abroad? 

    Setting out its positive agenda for business while insisting on the importance of promoting European values, the European Commission’s new ‘Trade for all’ Communication is a timely update on EU trade and investment policy, according to a recently published opinion by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

  • Yesterday's seminar at the EESC’s Brussels headquarters discussed strengthening EU-Japan cooperation, dealing with the common challenge of migration and the role of civil society in implementing the EU-Japan FTA. During the seminar, aimed broadly at strengthening ties between the EU and Japan on key issues such as trade and migration, the Vice-President of the EESC Gonçalo Lobo Xavier called for a representative delegation of Japanese civil society organisations to travel to the ...

  • Fostering international trade is beneficial for companies, consumers and employees. In 15 years' time, 90% of global demand will come from outside the EU. Therefore, establishing a simple and predictable trade policy should be a priority for the EU as one of the main factors in boosting growth and creating new jobs. The participants at the conference on the Role of international trade in the reindustrialisation of Europe discussed the future of EU trade policy, the role of FTAs and how to revive European industry through trade and investment. The conference took place in Milan on 26 October and was organised by the EESC Employers' Group, together with Confcommercio and AICE (Italian Association of Foreign Trade).

     

  • The Employers' Group welcomes the Commission's new trade strategy presented today by Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström. "The European Commission listened closely to key concerns raised by Civil Society and the strategy represents a positive agenda for business" – stated Jonathan Peel, Member of the Employers' Group and the EESC rapporteur on the review of the EU Trade Policy.

  • The 12th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) took place on 10 April, 2025 at the EESC.

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    10th Joint Events of the EU DAG and representatives from the domestic mechanisms of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, and Civil Society Public Session

    Domestic Advisory Groups of the EU and three Andean countries – Colombia, Peru and Ecuador – held their virtual Joint Meeting on 4-5 November 2024.

  • New mandate, new challenge - reaffirming TSD amid economic security ambitions

    The third edition of the EESC Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) took place on Thursday, 5 December, from 13:45 to 17:30 at the EESC premises in Brussels. Under the theme "New mandate, new challenge: reaffirming TSD amid economic security ambitions," this year's Forum focused on ensuring that the EU's economic security agenda is consistent with and delivers for TSD. As we welcome a new EU Commission, this is the moment to influence policy direction and ensure that trade policy fosters resilience and security alongside long-term development and social justice for all partners. 

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    Domestic Advisory Groups of the EU and six Central American countries held their Joint Meeting in Brussels on 17-18 June. The DAGs took part in a Workshop focused on two pertinent topics: Corporative Sustainability Due Diligence and the EU Deforestation Directive. During the Joint Meeting the DAGs discussed their role and functioning, in particular in view of the full application of the Association Agreement. The delegates exchanged good practices and debated the consequences of the full application of the AA for civil society sensu largo and on the work of the DAGs. Important part of the discussion was dedicated to the space for democracy and the role of civil society and advisory groups in strengthening democracy and rights.

    The DAGs adopted the Joint Declaration.

  • The 4th annual All DAGs meeting took place on Monday 18 April 2024 09:00-13:00 at the EESC premises in JDE62.
    This was the first All DAGs meeting of this DAG mandate which welcomed the newer DAG Members, as well as more experienced ones. It was a unique opportunity to gather all EU DAG Members and EU institutions as one TSD community, to openly exchange ideas, challenges, and aspirations. The meeting featured, among others, CTEO Denis Redonnet and DDG Maria Martin-Prat, DG Trade.