Informal Trade Foreign Affairs Council: 5 October 2018
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The Minister for Trade Policy (George Hollingbery)
The Informal EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) took place in Innsbruck on 5 October 2018. The agenda covered the WTO, EU-US trade and EU trade agreements. I represented the UK at the meeting. A summary of the discussions follow.
On WTO modernisation, the discussion confirmed that the most urgent issue was unblocking appointments to the WTO Appellate Body. Many WTO members were looking to the EU for leadership on this matter. I reaffirmed the UK’s support for the rules-based trading system, commended the Commission’s concept paper on WTO modernisation, and called for engagement with the wider WTO membership.
On EU-US trade, discussion was on the agreement set out in the EU-US joint statement following President Juncker’s visit to the White House and progress since July, noting that the near-term focus was on voluntary regulatory co-operation with full respect for domestic legislation. A limited tariff liberalisation was on offer from the EU, provided it focused only on industrial goods. I expressed opposition to US measures on steel and aluminium and threatened measures on autos, offered support to the Commission’s approach of prioritising regulatory co-operation, and agreed with others that there should be no lowering of standards.
On ongoing FTA negotiations, the priority for the Japan EPA to be approved by the European Parliament was highlighted. Attendees also expressed continued support for the range of other EU trade agreements.
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