Trade – FEPS Post Summit Briefing: European Council, 28 June 2018

On trade, and in light of President Trump’s attacks on trade multilateralism, the Council’s consensus […]

04/07/2018

On trade, and in light of President Trump’s attacks on trade multilateralism, the Council’s consensus on ‘preserving and deepening the rules-based multilateral system’ is to be applauded. The WTO system clearly needs to be strengthened and reformed in order to reinvigorate multilateral trade negotiations, rather than destabilising them. Multilateralism is an important part of a global progressive agenda. The Council’s call for a reform of the WTO as an institution is hence a step into the right direction giving a clear sign that the EU resists protectionist initiatives coming from Washington. While protectionism is clearly not the answer, we must ensure that global trade and investment benefit the many and not the few, that it promotes development, reduces global poverty and raises living standards.

The Council’s call for a legislative proposal on the screening of foreign direct investments to be adopted as soon as possible is a good signal. Such a framework is not considered as a form of protectionism, but an instrument to ensure a fair global trade system that provides a level playing field and does not allow social and environmental dumping. In the current situation, China is exploiting the fact that the European market is open to Chinese goods and investments, while European firms face more and more limitations on exports and investments towards China. To promote EU-China trade relations, the progressive response should not aim at punishing China, but at building fair and just relations within the existing multilateral system. The progressive duty is to re-regulate globalised capitalism so that globalisation serves democracy rather than undermining it.

Read the full briefing

Photo: @EuropeanUnion

Find all related publications
Publications
24/06/2025

Serbia’s civic awakening: the 2024-2025 student protests in focus

Friends of the Western Balkans series
23/06/2025

Europe’s strategic role in global development

A call for ambition and reform
17/06/2025

Lessons learned from the Recovery and Resilience Facility for a future European fiscal capacity

The creation of the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) as a response to the pandemic […]
11/06/2025

Social Democracy with(out) people

Possible strategies for survival and expansion of the Polish left
Find all related news
News
16/05/2025

Joint statement by the Friends of the Western Balkans (FoWB)

Ljubljana, 16th May 2025 We, the Friends of the Western Balkans (FoWB) – representatives of […]
25/04/2025

Call for tender – Editorial services for FEPS recurrent flagship publications

This call for tender is now closed
13/03/2025

Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented

FEPS Position Paper on European defence
10/03/2025

FEPS reaction to the Roadmap on Women’s Rights

On Friday 7 March, the European Commission presented its Roadmap for Women’s Rights ahead of […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

L’Europa del futuro: se ne parla a Siena. “Il dialogo per affrontare anni difficili”

by La Nazione 19/06/2025
"The Europe of the future: discussed in Siena. ‘Dialogue to tackle difficult years’" FEPS will be among the think tanks participating in this new edition of the Siena Vision conference

Europe’s Demographic Crisis: What’s Next for the Ageing EU? with László Andor

by Moving Europe Podcast 19/06/2025
FEPS Secretary General László Andor joins the Moving Europe Podcast to discuss Europe’s aging population and the demographic challenges it faces — including the consequences for pensions, healthcare, elections, regional disparities, and migration.

L’Europa del futuro: se ne parla a Siena. “Il dialogo per affrontare anni difficili

by La Nazione 04/06/2025
FEPS, and FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues, participation in the 6th Siena Conference on the Future of Europe is discussed in this article

An EU budget for growth and cohesion

by Encompass 02/06/2025
FEPS SecGen László Andor discusses the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework proposal for Encompass