Free trade • Table.Briefings

Anthony Albanese, Premierminister Australiens, und EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen.

April 17th, 2026

Australia deal: Commission defends agreement against criticism

During the negotiations for the deal, the European Commission took into account the cumulative impact of free trade agreements on domestic agriculture.

By Antonia Zimmermann

Handshake between Donald Trump, on the right and Ursula von der Leyen. They agreed on a political deal to stabilise EU-US trade relations and ease global competitiveness concerns.

News | Trade war

April 14th, 2026

US trade deal: Start of trilateral negotiations

EU institutions are launching negotiations on the implementation of the US trade agreement. While the Council is seeking a rapid reduction in tariffs on US goods, the Parliament wants to link the reductions to stricter conditions.

By Antonia Zimmermann

News | Trade war

April 13th, 2026

US trade deal: EU institutions hold talks

The European Parliament and the Council are holding their first discussions on tariff cuts under the US trade deal. The Council is pushing for swift implementation, while Parliament wants to make the concessions conditional.

By Antonia Zimmermann

Feature | Free trade

April 7th, 2026

Free trade agreement: The status of EU negotiations with the Philippines

EU negotiations with the Philippines on a free trade agreement are moving forward, but there are still disagreements on some key issues, such as market access and competition.

By Antonia Zimmermann

News | Trade policy

March 31st, 2026

WTO: Ministerial Conference in Cameroon ends without a breakthrough

Despite being extended until Sunday night, the WTO Ministerial Conference was unable to make any progress on key negotiating issues. From an African perspective, the results have mixed implications.

By David Renke

News | Free trade

March 27th, 2026

EU-Australia agreement: DBV sees new sales opportunities

The German Farmers’ Association is more optimistic about the trade agreement with Australia than its European and French counterparts. However, sugar producers have voiced criticism.

By Julia Dahm

Feature | Trade war

March 27th, 2026

US trade deal: European Parliament sets conditions for agreement

The European Parliament has approved tariff reductions on US imports, but subject to certain conditions. The approval paves the way for further negotiations with the Council and the Commission.

By Antonia Zimmermann and Manuel Berkel

Maroš Šefčovič, Ursula von der Leyen, and Anthony Albanese, from left to right

Feature | Free trade agreement

March 24th, 2026

Free trade agreement: How the EU and Australia plan to work together in the raw materials sector

The agreement offers significant economic benefits through the elimination of tariffs and sends a geopolitical signal against protectionist trends.

By Antonia Zimmermann

Feature | Trade policy

March 24th, 2026

WTO Ministerial Conference: What the EU is aiming for – and what it can hope to achieve

At the WTO conference in Cameroon, the EU is aiming to secure reforms to update the rules governing global trade. The focus is on preserving the multilateral trading system, while at the same time re-evaluating existing principles.

By Antonia Zimmermann

March 7, 2026, Rome, Italy: A woman poses in front of a tractor with a sign reading Mercosur is the death of us farmers during a demonstration organized by the Coordination of Italian Farmers and Fishermen to protest the free trade agreement with Mercosur countries in Rome. Italian farmers, led by COAPI (Coordination of Italian Farmers and Fishermen), are demonstrating with their own agricultural vehicles against the European Commission s imposition of a free trade agreement with Mercosur countries and to denounce the profound economic crisis facing small and medium-sized local agri-food businesses.

News | Free trade

March 24th, 2026

Mercosur: Provisional application to take effect on May 1

The European Commission has completed the final formal step toward provisionally implementing the free trade agreement with the South American countries. The Mercosur countries are also in the process of completing their final steps.

By Redaktion Table