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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/08/facts-eu-trade-policy-brexit-referendum
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| The facts about EU trade policy lost in the Brexit kerfuffle The facts about EU trade policy lost in the Brexit kerfuffle | |
| (17 days later) | |
| Britain’s EU referendum campaign rarely got into the fine print of European trade policy. When the leave campaign talked about trade it was mostly to complain that the EU was rubbish at negotiating deals. The remain side talked a lot about the single market and very little about the EU as a trading power. | Britain’s EU referendum campaign rarely got into the fine print of European trade policy. When the leave campaign talked about trade it was mostly to complain that the EU was rubbish at negotiating deals. The remain side talked a lot about the single market and very little about the EU as a trading power. |
| So what are the facts? The EU looks after trade policy on behalf of 28 member states. In theory, the European commission is all powerful on trade; in reality there is a tug of war between Brussels and national governments for mastery of the EU’s commercial policy. | So what are the facts? The EU looks after trade policy on behalf of 28 member states. In theory, the European commission is all powerful on trade; in reality there is a tug of war between Brussels and national governments for mastery of the EU’s commercial policy. |
| The commission negotiates trade deals, but only after EU leaders have handed down a mandate. Final deals need to be approved by ministers and the European parliament. Increasingly, national parliaments have a say: up to 40 national and regional assemblies, including Belgium’s six parliaments, could vote on the EU-Canada trade deal. | The commission negotiates trade deals, but only after EU leaders have handed down a mandate. Final deals need to be approved by ministers and the European parliament. Increasingly, national parliaments have a say: up to 40 national and regional assemblies, including Belgium’s six parliaments, could vote on the EU-Canada trade deal. |
| The EU has 34 trade agreements covering 60 countries according to the commission. This tally includes single-country deals, such as agreements with non-EU Norway and Switzerland, or further afield, South Africa and South Korea. Also included are provisional deals with Ukraine and Georgia, trade deals that have been approved by EU institutions but have yet to be voted on by national parliaments. Dutch voters recently voted down an EU treaty with Ukraine, although the trade parts of the deal have already entered into force. | The EU has 34 trade agreements covering 60 countries according to the commission. This tally includes single-country deals, such as agreements with non-EU Norway and Switzerland, or further afield, South Africa and South Korea. Also included are provisional deals with Ukraine and Georgia, trade deals that have been approved by EU institutions but have yet to be voted on by national parliaments. Dutch voters recently voted down an EU treaty with Ukraine, although the trade parts of the deal have already entered into force. |
| Beyond this, the EU has embarked on 19 trade negotiations covering 52 countries. By far the biggest and most controversial is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Talks are expected to intensify in the autumn, as both sides make a final push before Barack Obama leaves office. Trade talks are also under way with Vietnam and Japan, while Brussels hopes to upgrade an existing agreement with Mexico. | Beyond this, the EU has embarked on 19 trade negotiations covering 52 countries. By far the biggest and most controversial is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Talks are expected to intensify in the autumn, as both sides make a final push before Barack Obama leaves office. Trade talks are also under way with Vietnam and Japan, while Brussels hopes to upgrade an existing agreement with Mexico. |
| Further down the line, the EU hopes to start trade talks with seven countries, including Australia. | Further down the line, the EU hopes to start trade talks with seven countries, including Australia. |