On Thursday, 21 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will take part in the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council in its Trade configuration in Brussels, Belgium. On its agenda – a further increase in the EU’s import tariffs on products originating in Russia and Belarus, the future of EU trade policy, the EU-United States trade relations, and the prospects of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reform.
Sweden, together with seven EU Member States – Latvia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania and Poland – will call on the European Commission to continue its work on increasing tariffs for imports of Russian and Belarusian products into the EU, in order to weaken Russia’s ability to receive revenues from trade and finance its war against Ukraine.
Discussions on the future of EU trade policy will focus on the EU’s free trade agreement negotiations, with particular attention paid to the ongoing negotiations, including those with slow progress.
In view of the U.S. presidential elections held this past 5 November, the meeting will address the current situation in transatlantic trade relations.
EU trade ministers will also take stock of progress in WTO reform and latest developments, including the selection process of the next WTO Director-General.
About the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)
- The EU Foreign Affairs Council in its Trade configuration addresses matters of the EU’s trade relations with third countries, including trade in goods and services, the commercial side of intellectual property rights, aspects of international public procurement and foreign direct investment rules. Meetings are chaired by the minister responsible for trade of the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
- The meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) on 30 May 2024 approved a Council Regulation increasing customs tariffs on cereals, oilseeds and derived products of Russian and Belarusian origin as from 1 July. State Secretary Andris Pelšs: EU must continue to reduce Russia’s revenues and its ability to finance its hostilities in Ukraine
- Latvia, together with other EU Member States, continues actively maintaining on the EU agenda the issue of further tariff increases for as wide as possible range of products originating in Russia and Belarus, thus reducing Russia’s revenues from trade and ability to finance its hostilities in Ukraine.
- The WTO Director-General’s current term comes to an end on 31 August 2025.