The export authorisation scheme for personal protective equipment (PPE), first introduced in March this year, to ensure adequacy of supply of such products in the EU in times of the coronavirus pandemic, ceases to apply, as planned, from today (26 May).

Today, the Commission is introducing a new system to monitor the imports into the EU of certain steel and aluminium products. The objective is to allow a rapid analysis of import trends, ahead of official Eurostat statistics.

The EU has nominated Prof. Joost H. B. Pauwelyn as its candidate for the pool of 10 standing arbitrators for the multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA), a stopgap solution in the absence of an operational WTO Appellate Body.

EU trade defence measures are effective in reducing unfair international trading practices, according to an annual report published today by the European Commission.

Today, the EU and other WTO members have formally notified the ‘Multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement’ (MPIA) to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notification marks the start of the application of the MPIA to disputes arising between the participating WTO members.

The European Union and Mexico concluded today the last outstanding element of the negotiation of their new trade agreement.

In a continued commitment to transparency, the EU informed the WTO about coronavirus-related EU and Member States initiatives on 24 April. These include measures to address the economic consequences of the pandemic. This follows the notification on a first round of measures on 7 April this year.

Today, the Commission published a new export authorisation scheme for personal protective equipment (PPE).

The current world health crisis will result in a decline of 9.2% in EU exports and 8.8% in EU imports from third countries in 2020, according to the EU Chief Economist note, based on the estimated decline in GDP worldwide.