Trade

The EU's trade policy aims to increase the 'competitiveness' of European companies – by guaranteeing them access to raw materials through often secretive free trade deals and by making sure that regulations do not stand in their way. CEO is challenging this craze for so-called competitiveness, which we believe in reality advances the interests of corporate Europe at the expense of social and environmental justice.

Brexit trade deal: finance lobby allowed to work in secret

25.10.2018

All eyes may be on the 'Brexit' process, but far more attention needs to be given to the way in which post-Brexit EU-UK trade negotiations are being conducted. While corporate interests seek to shape the future trade deal in their own interests, the public remains in the dark.

Climate

Ein Vertrag, sie alle zu knechten

13.06.2018

Eine neue Studie von CEO und TNI zeigt, wie Konzerne dank des Energiecharta-Vertrags die Energiewenden blockieren können.

JEFTA: Ein exklusiver Handel zwischen EU-Unterhändlern und Großkonzernen

29.05.2018

In Kürze stimmen die EU-Mitgliedsstaaten über das von der Europäischen Kommission verhandelte EU-Japan Handelsabkommen ab. Doch viele Interessengruppen aus der Mitte der Gesellschaft sind während den Verhandlungen kaum zu Wort gekommen – Großkonzerne haben den grössten Anteil der Beratungstreffen mit den EU-Verhandler*innen für sich beansprucht.

Ruhe auf den hinteren Rängen! Die EU verhandelt Handelsverträge

24.04.2018

Im Gefolge der Aufforderungen nach Offenheit und Beteiligung der Öffentlichkeit bewirbt die EU-Kommission nunmehr ihre Handelsvertragsverhandlungen als transparent und die Öffentlichkeit einschliessend. Wesentliche Informationen über die EU-Handelsverträge werden den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern aber weiterhin vorenthalten. Sogar Regierungsmitglieder von Mitgliedstaaten beklagen sich regelmässig darüber, im Dunkeln gelassen zu werden. Zur selben Zeit geben die Multis und deren Verbände in den EU-Handels-Gesprächen weiterhin den Ton an.

Visions for a new food and trade system

17.04.2018

On the occasion of the International Day of Farmers' Struggle, we have jointly with allies prepared five short visions for a sustainable, healthy and fair food and trade policy to restart this important debate.

EU trade policy must be more democratic, say 162 organisations

05.02.2018

162 civil society organisations from across Europe have called for European trade policy to be made more democratic. Only a democratic and transparent process from its inception has the potential to ensure that trade and investment agreements will benefit all.

Dodgy Deals

19.12.2017

CETA has now been provisionally applied. Our new mobile and desktop game Dodgy Deals lets players face some of the dangerous features of trade deals like CETA and shows what is at stake.

Big Business Brexit: Corporate interests still dominate Brexit and trade lobbying

13.12.2017

91 per cent of meetings held by UK trade ministers (10/2016 - 06/2017) and 70 per cent of meetings held by UK Brexit ministers have been with business, too often big business, interests. This corporate bias in ministerial access is part of an ongoing trend.

Brexit bonanza: Lawyers encouraging corporations to sue UK & EU member states

25.09.2017

Brexit could become a cash cow for law firms that make millions when corporations sue nation states via trade and investment agreements. They're paving the way for Brexit-related corporate claims against the UK & touting the UK as a gateway for future investor claims against EU member states.

Welcome to JEFTA!

11.09.2017

The European Commission is negotiating trade deals and it is currently finalising a deal with Japan, the Japan-European Union Free Trade Agreement or JEFTA.Regulatory cooperation in JEFTA has the potential to be detrimental to our democracy, giving big business more rights to be involved in lawmaking at an earlystage.

New report: The corporate attack on the movement for trade justice

07.09.2017

Our new report exposes how corporate lobbies and think tanks have gone on what appears to be a concerted attack against NGOs and the movement for trade justice.

Business bias in secretive UK-US trade talks - blueprint for post-Brexit UK-EU trade negotiations?

24.07.2017

UK trade secretary Liam Fox has come under fire for the strong business bias of his Department for International Trade's lobby meetings, as he launches unofficial trade negotiations with the US today - a bias that raises questions about the way a possible post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal might be skewed in the interest of Big Business.