Europe

New World Trade Organization rules aimed at reining in trade practices that harm the environment are likely to be negotiated only among a plurilateral group of members in the short term, a top Canadian agriculture official said on Wednesday, even as analysts push for countries to do more.

China still “has work to do” on intellectual property rights protection improvements mandated under its phase-one trade deal with the U.S., the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says in its annual National Trade Estimate, an exhaustive list of concerns about trade barriers worldwide.

The United Kingdom and India defended their digital services taxes this week after the U.S. on Friday announced it would seek comments on a list of tariffs it could impose on a handful of countries in retaliation for DSTs, which the U.S. says unfairly target major American tech companies.

 “Our partnership on facilitating trusted data flows will support economic recovery after the global pandemic, to the benefit of citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”

U.S. and European leaders should not waste the window they have in the coming years to solidify the trans-Atlantic relationship and reshape – and revitalize – the deep economic ties to ensure they continue to be the foundation of the global economy, analysts argued on Wednesday.

The USTR and her counterpart addressed “large non-market economies,” aircraft subsidies, WTO reform and more.

Newly installed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Monday took her first step toward meeting the Biden administration’s goal of better trans-Atlantic ties, speaking with her European and British counterparts about how to resolve aircraft subsidy disputes and how trade policy can combat climate change, as well as issues related to China and cooperation on World Trade Organization reform.

“Next stop: finding solutions on future subsidies for the aircraft sector,” said the EU’s trade commissioner.

“First insist upon a truly meaningful dialogue with the European Union and other WTO members to explore why the Appellate Body felt free to overreach,” the former WTO ambassador writes.