Rob Francis

Global business groups push back against EU industrial accelerator act - Borderlex - European trade policy American, Chinese and British industry associations said the European Commission’s sweeping new industrial legislation risks chilling investment, raising costs and breaching existing trade agreements.

No-one could have predicted this etc etc borderlex.net/2026/03/05/g...

EU, Thailand close chapters but market access issues still pending - Borderlex - European trade policy The EU and Thailand closed "in principle" the main text of three chapters — trade in goods, trade remedies and exceptions — during the eighth round of negotiations in Chiang Mai in the week of 2 February.

The latest #EUThailand FTA negotiation update

🇹🇭🇪🇺
By @robfranciseu.bsky.social

WTO panel: US IRA local content requirements are illegal - Borderlex - European trade policy You need to be a subscriber and logged in to view this content... Request a free trial subscription or Log in.

On the day that the commission unveils its "made in Europe" rules, a reminder that the WTO has already found previous "Made in US" rules to be, well, illegal borderlex.net/2026/02/02/w...

EU, Thailand close chapters but market access issues still pending - Borderlex - European trade policy The EU and Thailand closed "in principle" the main text of three chapters — trade in goods, trade remedies and exceptions — during the eighth round of negotiations in Chiang Mai in the week of 2 Febru...

Will the next trade agremeent the EU concludes be with Thailand? Erm....maybe. Some progress made at the last round but market access talks are moving at a slower pace. More by me here borderlex.net/2026/03/03/e...

Von der Leyen signals that Switzerland has won itself an exemption from the future “buy European” rules to be published on Wednesday (or maybe later, who knows) but is likely to still get clobbered with EU steel tariffs.

Th signing of the EU and Switzerland package of agreements overshadowed - obviously - by the Middle East. VDL speaks on this first before turning the package. Biggest Swiss political party opposes the agreement and is calling for a no in the future referendum

World Shipping Council says trade disruption is “likely” amid Middle East crisis and that the impact won’t be limited to the immediate area. “Longer voyages and changes to network rotations can lead to delays and scheduling adjustments across connected trades routes worldwide”

EU to provisionally apply Mercosur trade agreement: how and when - Borderlex - European trade policy The European Commission said it will provisionally apply the trade elements of the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement in the coming months, even though the European Parliament has yet to approve the de...

Trade policy really is the gift that keeps on giving for us trade hacks. If it's not the US or China, it's Mercosur. EC "launched" provisional application today, but this won't happen overnight - plan for a few months time, maybe longer. borderlex.net/2026/02/27/e...

EU to provisionally apply Mercosur trade agreement: how and when - Borderlex - European trade policy The European Commission said it will provisionally apply the trade elements of the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement in the coming months, even though the European Parliament has yet to approve the deal.

EU Mercosur trade agreement's provisional application: it's coming, and how and when it will come to pass. By @robfranciseu.bsky.social and @chrishorseman.bsky.social 

#EUMercosur

If commission does provisionally apply the EU-Mercosur pact, it will only concern those Mercosur countries which have ratified it (Argentina and Uruguay) - and not Brazil. Prov applicaiton will apply from the first day of the second month after M states notify EU of ratification

Any thoughts on whether the European Commission should go ahead and provisionally apply the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, now that Argentina and Uruguay have ratified it? Feel free to be as shouty and opinionated as you like

My son already has an ETA from October, valid for two years. I asked the home office if this ETA is now invalid. They had to consult, and came back to say it is valid but he should travel on a U.K. passport 🤷‍♂️

What if your kids are technically dual citizens because of a parent (me!) but they haven’t applied for a UK passport, were born abroad, and fundamentally have no links there? Are they liable to be prevented from entering the U.K.?

It's been too long since I did a meme. Time to end the drought

EU parliament, EU member states agree equal say on customs authority seat - Borderlex - European trade policy The European Parliament and EU member states struck a deal giving both institutions an equal role in picking the home city for the bloc's new customs authority. A final vote is set for 25 March.

European Parliament and member states to have equal say on selecting the seat of the future EU Customs Authority. Vote to take place on 25 March. Full details by me borderlex.net/2026/02/25/e...

📌date for your diary - EU institutions will vote on the location of the new European Customs Authority on 25-26 March. This will also be the date for the “final” 🤞🏻 trilogue on the customs reform

On EU-Mercosur, we’re getting to crunch time- Argentina will complete its ratification next week. So will the commission provisionally apply it? They don’t seem to know what to do. “We’ll be ready when they’re ready”. Hmm ok. So, next week then?!

The streaming of today's meeting of the European Parliament trade committee meeting with Maroš Šefčovič is, sadly, not working. A shame as it will surely be of interest to many beyond just the "Brussels bubble" given recent events in trade

EU trade chief @marossefcovic.bsky.social is worried about EP's delay to agreeing tariff reductions on US goods. "It is imperative we keep the process moving forward... A vote in Plenary in March must remain our target, under the condition, of course, that we get more clarity from the US"

European Commission introduces temporary (one year) duty free tariff rate quota for certain nitrogen based fertilisers and ther inputs to support farmers. Measure will last until mid-2027. Still needs to be agreed by parliament and member states. www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs...

European Parliament political groups agree to postpone a vote in committee to lower tariffs on US goods amid ongoing trade uncertainty. Groups will reconvene on Wednesday next week to assess situation.

You heard it here first (probably). New date is 4 March. One industry insider told me they don’t expect it before Easter

IEEPA tariffs will not be collected as of midnight tonight east coast time content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd...

Was on holiday last week, don't suppose I missed anything though...

Week Ahead: EU to mull response to Supreme Court ruling, INTA, WTO disputes, UK FTAS - Borderlex - European trade policy You need to be a subscriber and logged in to view this content... Request a free trial subscription or Log in.

This week:

👉🏼 @EU rethinks its approach to US post Supreme Court ruling
👉🏼 @WTO: China-India and China US disputes on agenda
👉🏼 🇬🇧 UK MPs debate FTAs

No. US side is now null and void, and the EU never implemented anyway. Back to square one.

Now a case of Schrödinger’s trade deal between the EU and the US. Does the parliament’s committee go ahead and vote on a deal which kind of, sort of, doesn’t exist anymore? #scotus

Industrial accelerator act delayed…until March. Rejected by 9 DGs and von der Leyen

No white smoke from the EU-Australia talks on an FTA. The engagement was "constructive and positive and allowed the two sides to converge positions on a range of issues". Good progress was achieved in narrowing gaps on a small number of outstanding matters."