“Trade for All” is the new trade and investment strategy for the European Union, proposed by the European Commission: it’s a new approach, that builds on Europe’s trade track record: in fact more than 30 million jobs already depend on exports outside the EU, while it has been estimated that 90% of future global growth will happen outside Europe’s borders. This is why, according to the Commission, the new strategy that will make trade agreements more effective could also support the creation of jobs in Europe.
The target is to to promote a more effective trade policy and to deliver new economic opportunities; more transparent in terms of communication and opening up negotiations to the public; and able to address not just interests but also values.
The strategy announces a range of initiatives and the EU’s programme of negotiations. The top 12 are as follows.
Effectiveness
1. Updating trade policy to take account of the new economic realities such as the digital economy and the importance of services.
2. Supporting mobility of experts, senior managers, and service providers.
3. Setting up an enhanced partnership with the Member States, the European Parliament and stakeholders to implement trade and investment agreements better.
4. Including effective SME provisions in future trade agreements.
Transparency
5. Extending the TTIP transparency initiative to all the EU’s trade negotiations.
Values
6. A clear pledge on safeguarding EU regulatory protection and a strategy to lead the reform investment policy globally.
7. Expanding measures to support sustainable development, fair and ethical trade and human rights
8. Including anti-corruption rules in future trade agreements.
Programme of negotiations
9. Reenergising multilateral negotiations and designing an open approach to bilateral and regional agreements, including TTIP.
10. Strengthening our presence in Asia and the Pacific, by setting ambitious objectives with China, requesting a mandate for negotiations with Australia and New Zealand and starting new negotiations with the Philippines and Indonesia.
11. Ensuring EPAs are implemented effectively and deepening relationships with African partners that are willing to go further and with the African Union.
12. Modernising existing agreements with Turkey, Mexico and Chile and the Customs Union with Turkey.
