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Decolonising EU trade relations with the Global Souths?
28-Feb-2025 Journal of Contemporary European Research
This article thinks reflexively about the decolonial option and the ruptures it triggers as to what EU trade policy is and the colonial logics sustaining ‘normative’ and ‘geopolitical’ narratives on/by the EU as a trade power.
The new Canada-Ecuador trade deal pushes anti-democratic trade policy
27-Feb-2025 CCPA
Amidst all the chaos brought on by Trump’s tariff threats, Canada’s federal trade minister celebrated a minor win this month: the finalization of a trade agreement with Ecuador.
EU-Mercosur Agreement: Old pledges, new potential impacts for food systems and a just transition
27-Feb-2025 IATP
The EU-Mercosur Agreement continues with the narrative that it ensures environmental clauses and climate commitments, in practice it implements measures that could divert means and resources that could otherwise be used for a genuine, just, ecological and inclusive transition.
Re-imagining trade for people and the planet
24-Feb-2025 rabble.ca
Progressive new trade policies and agreements driven by global environmental objectives, as well as decades-old attempts through the United Nations General Assembly to reshape the global trade system and decolonize it, offer some direction.
Trade deal fueling resource grab? 120+ groups from Europe and Indonesia sound the alarm
18-Feb-2025 European Trade Justice Coalition
Over 120 civil society organizations and trade unions from Indonesia and Europe today call on the Indonesian government and the EU to stop the negotiations for the Indonesia-EU free trade agreement – the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The organizations warn that this agreement threatens the environment, climate, and the rights of women, Indigenous Peoples, workers, small farmers and fisherfolk.
Good for mining but bad for democracy? Why Indigenous groups in Ecuador oppose free trade deal with Canada
17-Feb-2025 CBC
Ecuador’s largest Indigenous organization is vowing to fight a now-concluded free trade agreement with Canada, warning it could encourage human rights abuses in the ecologically and culturally diverse South American country.
IEU CEPA: A threat to the environment, indigenous peoples, and biodiversity
21-Jan-2025 Indonesia for Global Justice
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) and WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) released a joint statement raises critical concerns about the proposed Indonesia-EU CEPA. It highlights the potential negative impacts of the agreement, particularly when coupled with Indonesia’s Omnibus Law, on the environment, Indigenous communities, and biodiversity.
Indonesia welcomes WTO ruling on EU curbs on palm oil biofuel
21-Jan-2025 Antara News
Indonesia won a WTO case against the EU regarding discriminatory biofuel regulations. The WTO ruled that the EU unfairly treated Indonesian palm oil-based biofuel, which the EU had deemed unsustainable due to deforestation concerns. This ruling is expected to impact the EU’s anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) and potentially speed up trade negotiations between Indonesia and the EU.
The EU’s lust for Indonesia’s nickel supply
7-Jan-2025 EU Observer
The EU desires open access to Indonesian nickel, crucial for its green transition, yet criticizes extractive practices in the Global South. Indonesia, however, seeks to develop its own processing industries and restrict raw material exports.
The Mercosur trade deal risks derailing the EU’s plan to protect the world’s forests
23-Dec-2024 Client Earth
The EU-Mercosur trade deal does not only contradicts the EU’s flagship legislation against global deforestation but will potentially force the European Commission and EU Member States into legal and political disputes over its implementation.
JBS, the Brazilian meat giant set to benefit from EU-Mercosur trade deal
18-Dec-2024 Le Monde
The Brazilian multinational JBS, the world’s leading producer of animal proteins, is ready to use the trade agreement to increase its presence in Europe, which accounted for around 7% of its exports in 2024.
EU deforestation law to be delayed as new threat emerges from EU-Mercosur trade deal
17-Dec-2024 Greenpeace
In the annex to the trade and sustainable development chapter of the EU-Mercosur agreement, several provisions entail fundamental changes in how the EUDR will work in practice.
“Shocking and sad”: how corporations use investment agreements to block decarbonisation in the Global South
12-Dec-2024 Land and Climate Review
Experts talk about investor-state dispute settlements, which allow fossil fuel companies to bring multi-billion dollar lawsuits against countries that pass green policies.
How to buy a piece of a lawsuit and impoverish a country
10-Dec-2024 Inside Climate News
Investors buying into claims against governments are winning huge payouts. Developing nations, and the environment, are losing big.
Bringing together social and environmental demands in the fight against FTAs
2-Dec-2024 bilaterals.org
In order to put an end to free trade agreements, it is essential to continue to link the different struggles for the defence of territories and their natural resources, for the social demands of the people, for life and for peace.
Disputed grounds: Gold mining, resistance and investment arbitration in Türkiye
15-Nov-2024 SOMO
Large-scale mining projects highlight complex tensions between states, foreign investors, and local communities, leading to environmental and social risks for communities.
EU-Mercosur trade deal likely to fail both consumers and farmers on sustainability goals
13-Nov-2024 BEUC
The deal is likely to fail to safeguard consumer interests and align with the EU’s sustainability goals.
Labor, environment pushed at FTA talks with EU
23-Oct-2024 Malaya Business Insight
The Philippines and the EU are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA). The first round of talks focused on trade in goods, services, investment, and other areas. Both sides aim to conclude the negotiations soon. The Philippines hopes to increase market access for its services in Europe. The EU and the Philippines previously negotiated an FTA but stalled in 2017.
Third-party funder is the only winner in Odyssey Marine Exploration’s suit against Mexico
21-Oct-2024 Inequality.org
The country will likely have to pay over $30 million to an American litigation firm because it wanted to protect its environment from harmful seabed mining.
French MPs in Strasbourg and Paris, ramp up pressure on France over Mercosur deal
21-Oct-2024 Euronews
As a deal with Mercosur countries looms, French MPs in Strasbourg and Paris ramp up pressure on France over environmental and agricultural concerns.