Thai civil society organizations submitted an open letter on 23 January 2026, provides critical feedback on the Draft Inception Report of the Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) for the proposed EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The letter highlights key concerns regarding the adequacy and balance of the SIA’s current scope and methodology.
ECVC warmly welcomes today’s vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in which MEPs voted in favour of requesting an opinion from the Court of Justice of the European Union on the compatibility of the proposed EU–Mercosur agreement.
Trump is using tariffs and trade threats to bully other countries in order to maintain US global power. Even though existing trade rules were shaped by US corporations, recently this hasn’t been enough to guarantee US dominance, so Trump is turning to brute force.
The European Commission has launched new legal steps against several EU countries over energy-related obligations, including continued participation in the Energy Charter Treaty.
The two governments signalled interest in advancing conversations on a possible trade agreement involving China and Mercosur—an idea long discussed in the region but complicated by bloc dynamics.
Indonesia’s membership opens new opportunities to access international dispute resolution mechanisms, strengthen its role in shaping international law, and nominate Indonesian legal experts as arbitrators within the PCA.
While this deal aims to strengthen trust in digital trade, attention needs to be paid to ensure strong and consistent consumer protection on both sides.
The EUSDTA delivers high-standard rules for digital trade and facilitates secure flows of data across borders, providing greater legal certainty and clarity for businesses and people transacting in the digital economy.