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borderlex.net
Borderlex
@borderlex.net
1.7K followers 810 following 4.5K posts
The leading news and analysis publication in international trade policy in Europe, covering the EU, UK, EFTA countries and the WTO.
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borderlex.net
Borderlex's "Best of" the year 2025 articles - Among the most read:

Here an oped by Tim Groser, Steve Verheul and John Clarke on "Operationalising Ursula von der Leyen’s #CPTPP ambitions"

Comment: Operationalising Ursula von der Leyen’s CPTPP ambitions - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Commission president's proposal to cooperation with the twelve countries of CPTPP trade accord needs full endorsement. Initial steps should involve a standstill agreement that commits 39 countries to safeguard multilateral trading rules, write Tim Groser, Steve Verheul and John Clarke.
f.mtr.cool
December 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
borderlex.net
Among our 2025 most read articles (no paywall) -

An interview by @ianadreyer.bsky.social with Ignacio Garcia Bercero

Key message: 

👉 European Parliament can help rebalance  EU US deal 🇪🇺 🇺🇸

Garcia Bercero: European Parliament can help rebalance US deal - Borderlex - European trade policy
Ignacio Garcia Bercero on the EU-US trade deal
f.mtr.cool
December 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
borderlex.net
“(...) EU will decide if the it has the will to be a pole in an ever harsher multipolar world. Can it decide on the use of Russia’s frozen assets? Will it approve the Mercosur agreement?”

If not now, when?

Blog: Garibaldi’s ten thousand? Or Napoleon’s? - Borderlex - European trade policy
Ten thousand farmers with their tractors, smoke bombs and rotten potatoes descended on Brussels today to protest an EU heads of state meeting to determine the funding of European farming for the next seven years. Also on the agenda: future funding of Ukraine.
f.mtr.cool
December 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
borderlex.net
What's up with the farmer's hoo-haa in Brussels? On the farmer's protests in Brussels this week.  #Mercosur #EUfarming

Comment by John Clarke

Blog: Garibaldi’s ten thousand? Or Napoleon’s? - Borderlex - European trade policy
Ten thousand farmers with their tractors, smoke bombs and rotten potatoes descended on Brussels today to protest an EU heads of state meeting to determine the funding of European farming for the next seven years. Also on the agenda: future funding of Ukraine.
f.mtr.cool
December 19, 2025 at 6:58 AM
borderlex.net
New Delhi increasingly under fire for blocking investment facilitation agreement adoption.

And everything else you need to know ahead of the next #WTO ministerial conference in Yaoundé. #MC14

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

Contours of MC14 debate on WTO reform emerge - Borderlex - European trade policy
WTO members endorsed a framework for ministerial debate on reform at this week's general council meeting in Geneva, bringing into focus the issues ministers will confront at the 14th ministerial conference in Cameroon on 26-29 March.
f.mtr.cool
December 19, 2025 at 6:49 AM
borderlex.net
OK, Something. A debate on reform. What is shaping up ahead of the @wto.org 's next ministerial meeting...

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

Contours of MC14 debate on WTO reform emerge - Borderlex - European trade policy
WTO members endorsed a framework for ministerial debate on reform at this week's general council meeting in Geneva, bringing into focus the issues ministers will confront at the 14th ministerial conference in Cameroon on 26-29 March.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
borderlex.net
India increasingly under fire for blocking investment faciliation discussions. And everything else you need to know ahead of the next #WTO ministerial conference in Yaoundé. #MC14

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

Contours of MC14 debate on WTO reform emerge - Borderlex - European trade policy
WTO members endorsed a framework for ministerial debate on reform at this week's general council meeting in Geneva, bringing into focus the issues ministers will confront at the 14th ministerial conference in Cameroon on 26-29 March.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
borderlex.net
Our founder’s take on how the EU is pursuing its #economicsecurity
December 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Borderlex
davidheniguk.bsky.social
Lest anyone might think I didn't spread the harsh critiques around, my favourite @borderlex.net piece of the year was suggesting that the EU is not a trade superpower, but is in fact the only genuine middle power of trade policy. It also isn't coping too well... borderlex.net/2025/11/19/p...
Perspectives: The EU is not a trade superpower – how to make the best of it - Borderlex - European trade policy
Brussels is institutionally under-powered and over-fragmented to take on the existential trade and related security challenges it is facing. Reshuffling the same old approaches is not working. Continu...
borderlex.net
December 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Borderlex
borderlex.net
Path is now clear for capitals to decide if yes or no EU can sign long-sought EU Mercosur trade deal:  agriculture import safeguard was approved by institutions last night...

#EUMercosur

EU Mercosur deal: Council pushes back on MEP 'mirror measures' for safeguard - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Union's institutions agreed not to impose 'mirror measures' on Mercosur countries in the context of its future trade agreement with the South American bloc.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM
borderlex.net
Path is now clear for capitals to decide if yes or no EU can sign long-sought EU Mercosur trade deal:  agriculture import safeguard was approved by institutions last night...

#EUMercosur

EU Mercosur deal: Council pushes back on MEP 'mirror measures' for safeguard - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Union's institutions agreed not to impose 'mirror measures' on Mercosur countries in the context of its future trade agreement with the South American bloc.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM
borderlex.net
UK 🇬🇧 💡 electricity exempted from EU carbon border #CBAM charges come next January

👉 but other products not….

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social

British electricity exempted from EU CBAM charges - Borderlex - European trade policy
United Kingdom electricity exports to the EU will be exempted from carbon border adjustment levies as they kick in next January. This follows on the conclusion of a framework bilateral EU-UK agreement on electricity trading.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 6:57 AM
borderlex.net
EU #CBAM - as duties kick in next month, Brussels has already started expanding the carbon border levy's product scope....

More from @robfranciseu.bsky.social 

Commission expands carbon border measure, proposes fund for EU producers - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Commission proposed expanding the scope of the bloc's carbon border adjustment mechanism to include downstream products such as machinery and appliances.
f.mtr.cool
December 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Reposted by Borderlex
robfranciseu.bsky.social
Mirror clauses did not make it into the final safeguard legislation for Mercosur - at least not as a condition for Mercosur exporters to the EU. The commission must issue a statement on aligning production standards. The question is: will this be enough to persuade everyone to sign the thing!
December 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
borderlex.net
British electricity exempted from EU carbon border #CBAM charges come next January

…. but other products are not….

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social

British electricity exempted from EU CBAM charges - Borderlex - European trade policy
United Kingdom electricity exports to the EU will be exempted from carbon border adjustment levies as they kick in next January. This follows on the conclusion of a framework bilateral EU-UK agreement on electricity trading.
f.mtr.cool
December 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
borderlex.net
Everything you need to know about the update to the EU’s carbon border adjustment measure

How about washing machines being covered too?

#CBAM

https://f.mtr.cool/inysauukuv

By @robfranciseu.bsky.social
Commission expands carbon border measure, proposes fund for EU producers - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Commission proposed expanding the scope of the bloc's carbon border adjustment mechanism to include downstream products such as machinery and appliances.
f.mtr.cool
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
borderlex.net
Comment by @davidheniguk.bsky.social 

British government "unlikely to turn around perception that wider UK trade policy will deliver little"

"Ten years after the referendum (....) all roads lead back to Brussels."

Perspectives:  UK trade policy sets sights on Brussels - Borderlex - European trade policy
The United Kingdom’s post-Brexit ‘global Britain’ trade policy has not delivered the expected results nor offered a good alternative to deep ties with the European Union. In the British debate, ten years after the referendum, all roads are leading back to Brussels.
f.mtr.cool
December 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
borderlex.net
Today's the day when EU capitals need to decide if they accept European Parliament 'mirror clause' in side legislation on import safeguards tied to the #EUMercosur agreement...

Details by @robfranciseu.bsky.social here 👇

Mercosur safeguard: EU parliament tables ‘mirror clause’ requirement - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Parliament adopted a position which introduces ‘mirror measures’ into an EU import safeguard mechanism devised to counter the potential negative impact of agricultural imports from Mercosur once the trade deal is in force.
f.mtr.cool
December 17, 2025 at 6:52 AM
borderlex.net
What's in the upgraded UK Korea trade deal:

- digital trade rules
- new origin rules for autos 🚗 #Roo
- financial, ☎️ telco rules
- customs rules
- movement of ppl
- food safety
- investment protection
- Paris Agreement on climate 🌳

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

London and Seoul modernise trade deal with auto, digital rules - Borderlex - European trade policy
The UK and South Korea upgraded their free trade agreement. Novelties include rules on digital trade, financial and telecommunications services, customs facilitation, movement of company personnel, food safety, investment protection and sustainability.
f.mtr.cool
December 17, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Reposted by Borderlex
borderlex.net
European Parliament adds 'mirror clause' in side legislation on import safeguards tied to the #EUMercosur agreement

Possible clash w member states & w deal itself.

@robfranciseu.bsky.social 

Mercosur safeguard: EU parliament tables ‘mirror clause’ requirement - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Parliament adopted a position which introduces ‘mirror measures’ into an EU import safeguard mechanism devised to counter the potential negative impact of agricultural imports from Mercosur once the trade deal is in force.
f.mtr.cool
December 16, 2025 at 5:32 PM
borderlex.net
UK 🇬🇧 , Korea 🇰🇷 modernise free trade deal. New:

- digital trade rules
- new origin rules for autos 🚗 #Roo
- financial, ☎️ telco rules
- customs rules
- movement of ppl
- food safety
- investment protection
- Paris Agreement on climate 🌳

By @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

London and Seoul modernise trade deal with auto, digital rules - Borderlex - European trade policy
The UK and South Korea upgraded their free trade agreement. Novelties include rules on digital trade, financial and telecommunications services, customs facilitation, movement of company personnel, food safety, investment protection and sustainability.
f.mtr.cool
December 16, 2025 at 5:49 PM
borderlex.net
So now we really know what the US government wants out of the @WTO: end its foundational most-favoured nation principle....

@chrishorseman.bsky.social on Washington's filing to the Geneva trade body

Insight: US takes aim at MFN principle in WTO shake-up - Borderlex - European trade policy
The United States has declared that the World Trade Organization's most favoured nation principle is "unsuitable for this era" and should be abandoned as part of a fundamental overhaul of how the organisation operates.
f.mtr.cool
December 16, 2025 at 5:41 PM
borderlex.net
European Parliament adds 'mirror clause' in side legislation on import safeguards tied to the #EUMercosur agreement

Possible clash w member states & w deal itself.

@robfranciseu.bsky.social 

Mercosur safeguard: EU parliament tables ‘mirror clause’ requirement - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Parliament adopted a position which introduces ‘mirror measures’ into an EU import safeguard mechanism devised to counter the potential negative impact of agricultural imports from Mercosur once the trade deal is in force.
f.mtr.cool
December 16, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Borderlex
robfranciseu.bsky.social
Mirror clauses really could feature in the EU-Mercosur pact. Or maybe member states will strike them down. Or maybe France will insist on it. Or maybe member states won't sign it after all. This thing, man...anyway, this is what happened today borderlex.net/2025/12/16/m...
Mercosur safeguard: EU parliament tables ‘mirror clause’ requirement - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Parliament adopted a position which introduces ‘mirror measures’ into an EU import safeguard mechanism devised to counter the potential negative impact of agricultural imports from Mercos...
borderlex.net
December 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM
borderlex.net
UK gov "unlikely to turn around perception that wider UK trade policy will deliver little"

"Ten years after the referendum (....) all roads lead back to Brussels."

@davidheniguk.bsky.social 

Perspectives:  UK trade policy sets sights on Brussels - Borderlex - European trade policy
The United Kingdom’s post-Brexit ‘global Britain’ trade policy has not delivered the expected results nor offered a good alternative to deep ties with the European Union. In the British debate, ten years after the referendum, all roads are leading back to Brussels.
f.mtr.cool
December 16, 2025 at 12:45 PM