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Providing a sufficient volume of critical raw materials (CRMs) to European industry is a precondition for improving competitiveness, facilitating green transition of the economy and enhancing strategic autonomy. The EU adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), in force since 23 May 2024, which established benchmarks for increasing the EU′s self-sufficiency in producing CRMs throughout the different steps of the supply chain, from extraction to processing, to recycling. In addition, the EU aims ...

This briefing examines European Union (EU) trade in textiles and clothing from 2014 to 2023, covering both imports of new and exports of used goods. It shows that the EU remains highly dependent on imports in labour-intensive clothing segments, while remaining stronger in higher-value and technical textile products. The geographical focus reflects actual EU trade patterns: Asia is the primary source of new textile imports, while Africa and Asia are the main destinations for used textile exports. ...

EU-Mexico trade in both goods and services continued to grow in 2025 and reached an all-time high of €86.8 billion in goods and €29.7 billion in services. Rising EU imports of goods from Mexico compensated for a slight decrease in exports, and reversed the trend of a growing trade surplus, which still amounts to €19.1 billion in favour of the EU. Mexico ranks as the EU's 11th most important trade partner, with a share of 1.7 % of total EU trade with the world, while the EU ranks third on the list ...

Parliament is set to vote during its May 2026 plenary session on the provisional agreement on a regulation aimed at shielding the EU steel market from the effects of global over-capacity. For the products covered, the regulation introduces lower import quotas and doubles the customs duty applied to imports exceeding the agreed quota, increasing it from 25 % to 50 %. The regulation also introduces stricter product traceability requirements and provides for frequent reviews of its scope.

This briefing aims to discuss how the current legal framework applies to Territorial Supply Constraints (TSCs). Firstly, it will briefly discuss what TSCs are and how they might manifest themselves in practice. Secondly, it will illustrate the ways in which competition law has been applied and can be applied to TSCs. Thirdly, it will offer a perspective on tackling TSCs emanating from the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) legislation in the agri-food supply chain. Finally, it will summarise and offer ...

EU-US trade relations in 2025 were marked by frequent changes in tariffs on a variety of goods. Nevertheless, the value of total trade continued to grow compared to previous years and it reached an all-time high of €908 billion in goods and €827 billion in services. The EU's trade balance showed a record surplus of €200 billion in goods, and a record deficit of €139 billion in services. The US remains the EU's most important trade partner, with a share of 17.6 % of EU total trade with the world. ...

Overcapacities, particularly from China, are perceived as a threat to European manufacturers, distorting competition and straining bilateral trade. On the basis of a dynamic definition of ‘industrial overcapacity’, this study identifies overcapacities for most industrial sectors in China. Absorption occurs primarily through inventory accumulation, while six sectors with rising export-to-revenue ratios account for the large increase in China’s exports to the EU. At the same time, case studies of semiconductors ...

During the March II plenary session, the European Parliament is set to vote on its first-reading position on two European Commission proposals for two regulations implementing the EU's tariff commitments under the 2025 Framework Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), also known as the Turnberry deal. This would pave the way for interinstitutional negotiations.

This study examines the WTO’s economic and legal value for the European Union and draws policy implications for the European Parliament ahead of MC14. Economically, it shows how MFN non‑discrimination and bound tariffs reduce transaction costs and uncertainty for EU exporters – especially SMEs – and warns that a two‑tier system of bilateral ‘deals’ would fragment markets and penalise EU high‑value trade. It reviews recent quantitative evidence on the welfare and export gains from GATT/WTO Membership ...

This briefing provides an overview of the economic, financial, and monetary implications of US tariffs for the EU over the past year, as of the cut-off date of 25 February 2026. Given the high level of uncertainty, the analysis presented assumes a continued implementation of the EU-US framework agreement. The briefing and the analysis presented were prepared prior to the recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, and therefore do not take into account any subsequent market volatility or change in ...