CEEV’s response to the European Commission’s communication on Trade Policy Review

CEEV welcomes the publication of the new trade strategy on 18^th February, and the commitment of the Commission to an open, sustainable, and assertive trade policy in the next decade.

As representative of the EU’s top agri-foodstuff in terms of exports, CEEV reiterates the main trade priorities for the EU wine companies:

• • Keep championing open trade and find new markets for EU wines, as an essential part of the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
  • Secure trade relationship with key partners (i.a. relaunch the Transatlantic Partnership, enlarge the geographical scope of the trade strategy to include India and ASEAN economies).
  • Set ambitious trade targets first, contribution to other EU policies’ objectives being ancillary to the trade purpose.
  • Revitalize WTO.
  • Create trade tools to compensate industries unfairly punished in unrelated WTO trade disputes.
  • Promote EU and international OIV wine standards through trade agreements to strengthen the EU’s regulatory impact and enhance the competitive advantage for EU exporters.
  • Ensure the effective removal of longstanding hurdles resulting from poor enforcement of commitments.

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